"The Metapetatto Jungle... it truly is a place brimming with life."
The tall huntress stepped off the boat and onto the pier via the gangway.
She took a deep breath of the humid air characteristic of the Jungle, heavy with the scent of damp earth, and looked toward her companion. "How about it, Athos? Do you find it too hot?"
It was currently the end of high summer, and the average daytime temperature in the Jungle exceeded thirty degrees Celsius.
On paper, that sounded like nothing; compared to the Great Desert, which surpassed forty degrees, or the Volcano which peaked over fifty, it could even be called cool.
However, the high humidity unique to the Jungle made it difficult for sweat to evaporate properly. One's skin was perpetually damp and clammy, making the sweltering heat feel twice as intense.
"I'm fine, meow," replied the tall Felyne with long, snowy-white fur, puffing out his chest. "If I couldn't adapt to even this much heat, I'd be far too soft, meow."
The huntress laughed and patted Athos on the back. "Let's go then, tough guy. First, we need to head to the Guild Hall and get in touch with that Professor."
"Meow!"
The moment she reached the entrance of the Guild Hall, the huntress's pace faltered slightly.
She looked up with a hint of surprise, taking in what was arguably the largest and most luxurious building in the entire city.
She was no simpleton; she had been to major cities like Dundorma, Minagarde, and Loc Lac, but she had rarely seen a Guild Hall built so... ostentatiously.
Was it to attract more Hunters? It seemed the leader of the local Guild was quite an ambitious individual.
"Moving here should be interesting," she muttered to herself before pushing the door open.
The instant she entered, the huntress sensed several gazes falling upon her. She didn't mind; as an outsider, drawing eyes was perfectly normal.
What she didn't notice, however, was that one particular gaze was analyzing her with extraordinary focus.
The force used to push the door was just right, not like those crude Hunters who shove so hard the door nearly flies off the hinges. Likely a person of quality and politeness.
Wavy hair that isn't messy in the slightest, a stiff collar, smooth hems, clean boots... an obsessive, meticulous personality.
The features are rugged, with a square jaw and a prominent, full forehead. Her conduct likely leans toward the upright and relatively serious type.
She looks to be around thirty. The weapon is... a Nargacuga Hammer! Ooh! A 5★ hunter? I must recruit her at all costs!
Wait... that Armor is the Guild Guardian series? Someone directly affiliated with Headquarters?
Her interest plummeted.
The Guild Manager, having completed her observation and series of judgments within a mere two or three seconds, withdrew her burning gaze and donned the standardized, professional smile of a guild receptionist.
Crossing her hands in front of her, she gave a slight bow to the huntress approaching the counter and smiled. "Hello. I am Noya, the Guild Manager of the Metapetatto Guild. Miss Hunter, how may I help you today?"
The huntress went blank. "...?"
What did this guild receptionist just say? She's the manager? "Hello, Guild Manager...?" The huntress's tone was uncertain, but she didn't think a sane guild receptionist would ever make such a joke.
"I am Olivia, a 5★ Hammer user. I've been dispatched by the Guild to hunt the Glavenus and assist with the follow-up investigation. This is my partner, Athos."
The huntress briefly introduced herself and her hunting companion.
Noya nodded, her expression remaining calm, though internally she thought: Here they are!
Altaïr had mentioned this to her a few days ago. He hadn't asked her to put in a good word; he only hoped she could give him a heads-up when the Guild's representative arrived.
Watch me settle this for them directly!
Noya maintained a polite, appropriate smile. "So it's you. The Professor mentioned this to me; he's been waiting for you for quite some time.
By the way, Miss Olivia, regarding the Glavenus hunt, will you be needing any assistants?"
"Assistants?" Olivia wasn't quite sure what she meant for a moment.
"It's like this: there is a three-person team that hopes to join this Glavenus hunting quest. Though they are young, they are already 4-star Hunters and have assisted the Professor with investigations more than once.
The Hyper Duramboros that recently caught the Guild's attention was captured by their team. They were also involved in the investigation of the Metapetatto Jungle abnormalities, so they are quite familiar with the local terrain."
Olivia raised a pale eyebrow.
Miss Noya maintained her smile.
For a moment, neither spoke.
After a few seconds like this, Olivia was the first to break. She asked curiously, "Guild Manager, you seem to think very highly of this team. Did they ask you to make this introduction?"
"Oh, no. They planned to come and discuss it with you themselves, but I thought if I could help facilitate this, I could earn myself a big favor from them," Guild Manager Noya said with a beaming smile.
She knew exactly how to handle Hunters with serious personalities like this.
Don't beat around the bush; speak plainly.
"You, the Guild Manager, earning a favor from them?" Olivia was stunned for a second, then burst into a hearty laugh. "Hahaha! It seems you really have an extraordinary amount of faith in them."
"I do!" Noya winked at her. "Everything I just said is absolutely true. If you have doubts, you can ask the Professor or other Hunters.
Saying they each have 5★ strength might be an exaggeration, but for the three of them to hunt 5★ Monsters together isn't a particularly difficult feat."
Olivia crossed her arms, her smile fading slightly. "And if I refuse? This sort of thing isn't exactly standard procedure. From my position, the probability of a refusal is much higher, isn't it?"
"If you were to refuse so firmly that even my word as Guild Manager carried no weight, then no matter how they pleaded, it would be pointless, wouldn't it?
Those kids are smart; they understand that too. So regardless of the outcome, my favor has already been earned! Teehee."
"...You really are something. This is the first time I've met a Guild Manager like you." Olivia pressed a hand to her temple and shook her head helplessly.
"If things are truly as you say, they would indeed be a significant asset during the hunt rather than a burden. From that perspective, I have no reason to refuse.
However, as for whether I'll actually agree, I'll still have to meet them first to see for myself."
"No problem! I'll have them find you later!" Noya agreed with a bright smile.
Since the other party had said that much, it meant the matter was already mostly settled!
Her explanation just now might easily leave the impression that she was a shrewd, calculating woman who twisted young Hunters around her finger.
But what did that matter? Miss Olivia wasn't going to stay in Metapetatto anyway. Let her have her negative impression; as long as it helped the boys get what they wanted, it was fine.
Olivia gave Noya a searching look and suddenly said, "You are a good Manager."
"Ah... caught me, have you?" Noya stopped trying to maintain her image as the perfect guild receptionist. She rested her chin on her hand, leaning over the counter.
Whether she was seen through or not would only affect her reputation in the other woman's eyes, and she didn't care about that.
"Whatever the reason, for a local Guild Manager to go to such lengths, those young people must have something remarkable about them."
Olivia nodded to Noya. "I'll go check in with the Professor first to get the details on the quest.
As for those Hunters you mentioned, I'll leave it to you to contact them. I'll have a proper talk with them."
"You got it! I'll call them over right now!"
The Guild Manager raised her voice and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Altaïr! Isis! Get over here! The person you're looking for is here!!"
(Translated by yourtl.app)