Hi, sorry for the two part chapter 8. I just felt it needed to be split in half. Anyway, enjoy Chapter 9! ^_^

"What? Is that too unreasonable?,"

This time Clyne answered him,"An adventurer must have a guild card. The stat part is just an extra and won't show unless you let it, the main use of the card is identification. Without it you won't be able to take any quests at all, and even if you did, nobody would trust you."

"Okay... What about me taking any quest?"

"Well, as for that. To take any quest you'd need to be SSS rank and there are only five of those."

"What rank was that bear?", Ludius interrupted.

"Rank A, we couldn't kill it as rank A adventurers are rare and none of them came through town.",

"Can't I just be written down as SSS rank?", Ludius asked simply.

"To be SSS rank the card itself would have to deem you capable of that rank.

"Okay, then for now can I just take quests up to A rank. As for the card, I suppose I will need one."

"We could do that I suppose. Although we might not need to bother once we find out your rank...

To use an adventurers card you simply need to let a drop of blood fall on one of the cards.

Here I think I've got some spare somewhere.", Clyne replied looking through his desk draws.

"Ah, got one!", Clyne shouted whilst passing it to Ludius.

"Now put some blood on it."

---

Although QV did have blood physics, it was a greatly reduced feature as to make it more appropriate younger or weaker willed audiences.

Usually the rule was the amount of blood produced would be a quarter of what it would be in real life.

---

Ludius quickly pulled out his sword.

"*whistles* you never cease to amaze. Where did you get a sword that well made from.", asked Ed.

"Er... It was a present?.", and with that Ludius pressed his thumb against the blades edge and sheathed his sword. Next he pressed his thumb firmly against the card that Clyne had given to him.

After a moment, text started to form on the card.

===============

Adventurers Card

===============

Name: Ludius

Rank : S

Stats : ???

===============

"So what rank are you?", Ed inquired.

"S."

At this point it wouldn't be understatement to say that Ed and Clyne's jaws were almost touching the floor.

"S?! *cough* *cough*, I'm only a B rank myself.", Clyne managed to say.

"So~ can I take a quest now?", said Ludius cheekily.

"Y-yes of course!", quickly Clyne darted out of the room and Ludius could here him shouting down the corridor.

'Get me all the S rank quests... Yes S rank! Do I look like I'd make that mistake?!'

---

Spread out in front of Ludius were the quests assigned to a S rank or a party of A rank adventurers.

"Come on, choose one.", Clyne encouraged eagerly.

The quests were:

['Slay the monster that's terrorizing our villages!'

Slay the Rabbid Wind Wolf that's terrorizing Greendale and its surrounding villages.

RANK: S]

['I need some rare honey from a Hellsting bee nest to put on my toast!'

Go get some honey from a highly dangerous and deadly swarm of Hellsting bees.

RANK: S]

[Newly acquired:

'Escort needed for our merchant caravan. Expect frequent attacks. Other guards and mercenaries will be hired.'

Escort the Caravan to the Captital city of Alcasia in the Human Empire.

RANK: a large party of A ranks]

'Hmmm. As much as I like honey, I really don't want to fight something with Hellsting in its name and I don't want to go out of my way to deal with a big wolf.', Ludius thought, ' and I did plan to leave this village anyway...'

"I choose the escort quest.", Ludius said plainly.

"Excellent, I'm sure they would be glad to have you. Just take this notice with your to the Tavern and ask for a guy named Rowan. He is the head of the caravan.", explained Clyne.

"Thank you, then I'll be off.",

"Ludius.", Ed called. "Say buy to Sandra before you leave won't you?",

"Sure.", and with that Ludius put his hood back up before exiting the room and then the Tavern.

---

"Sorry Sandra, I have to go. I have things I need to do.",

"Will you come back?", Sandra asked longingly to the long white haired man.

After a pause Ludius responded, "Maybe, maybe not. Who knows?", and quickly Ludius walked away from Sandra as well.

---

Ludius stood outside the noisy Tavern and gulped. He really hated crowded places.

Suddenly a smile formed on his face, "Let's start doing some proper gaming then shall we!".

---