The young scholar Luga picked up the paper on the Mernos and quickly flipped through a few pages.
"This paper mainly covers Mernos behavior, along with their care and domestication. It doesn't seem to mention any differences between males and females, does it?"
Isis blinked. "Is that strange?"
Lamarck grunted. "If there were any obvious differences between males and females, the illustrations showing it from multiple angles would have included them.
But..."
The old scholar stared at the illustration on the paper's first page, a pained expression creeping across his face.
The image wasn't a proper set of reference views at all, but a piece of "concept art" showing a Mernos carrying a Hunter through the air.
"At any rate, we can't currently confirm whether this newly discovered Monster is a Mernos or a closely related species.
After all, the New World is home to Mernos, Barnos, Raphinos, and many other similar species. It wouldn't be unusual for a related species to remain undocumented.
Luga, take this paper on the Mernos to Bevis. Have him write to the Royal Academy for further comparison and confirmation."
Lamarck spoke as he stood, taking his coat from the back of the chair. "I'll go to the Guild myself to report this matter to the Guild Master and request support for an investigation.
Even if it truly is a Mernos, it's far too strange for a creature native to the New World to fly all the way to the Great Desert.
Oh, right. I almost forgot about you two."
As he put on his coat and prepared to leave, Lamarck paused and looked at Altaïr and Isis. "You can stay here and keep reading. I probably won't be gone too long."
"I'll come with you!" Isis eagerly started after him.
Compared with poring over endless texts, investigating an unknown Monster was far more interesting!
But then she caught Altaïr's peculiar look.
She understood the message in his eyes: "What about the Tigerstripe Zamtrios? Have you given up on ranking up?"
Isis's eager expression froze.
"You should focus on finishing what's in front of you first." Altaïr picked up the book Isis had tossed aside, put it back in her arms, and patted her shoulder encouragingly.
"Mr. Lamarck, I'll go with you. I'm not particularly busy these days, and I might be able to help."
"Mm, all right."
Lamarck nodded, then left the study with Altaïr and Luga.
Isis stared blankly at the book Altaïr had put back in her hands for several seconds. Then she gritted her teeth and returned to her studies.
—--
Once outside, Luga hurried to the research institute where the Royal Paleontology Scriveners were working, while Altaïr accompanied Lamarck to the Guild Hall.
As luck would have it, the mustachioed Guild Master had not taken his Mosswine for one of his aimless rides that day. Instead, he sat cross-legged atop the Quest Counter, leisurely puffing on a hookah.
Surprised to see Altaïr arriving with Lamarck, he waved them over.
"Not making the most of your precious time while the missus is away? What are you doing bringing this kid to see me?" the Guild Master teased, his mustache twitching as he spoke in his high, comical voice.
Lamarck, long accustomed to such ribbing, kept his expression perfectly neutral. "A Hunter found a previously unseen Monster less than twenty kilometers northwest of Loc Lac as the crow flies and brought back its head. I assume you're aware of this?"
"Oh, I know about it, all right. I was the one who told him to take that head and go find you scholars." The mustachioed Guild Master hopped down from the counter. "So, what did you make of it?"
"Based on the head's skeletal structure and the Hunter's description, our preliminary assessment is that it's a small Flying Wyvern, likely a Wingdrake or Snake Wyvern.
We suspect it may be related to the Mernos native to the New World, though this remains unconfirmed.
Regardless of what it is, this small Flying Wyvern is certainly not native to the Great Desert. I therefore recommend broadening the investigation and determining as soon as possible whether this is an isolated incident or evidence of a large-scale, abnormal migration.
If it's the latter, we must immediately report it to the Hunter's Guild headquarters and organize a dedicated investigation team to uncover the cause of the anomaly."
The grin on the mustachioed Guild Master's face slowly faded. "When it comes to ecology, you Royal Paleontology Scriveners are the experts. The Loc Lac Guild will support any measures you consider necessary.
What exactly would this expanded investigation involve? Dispatching Hunters to search each area separately?"
"Nothing so involved." Lamarck shook his head slightly. "With so little information at present, a dedicated investigation team would most likely come back empty-handed.
My idea is to circulate details of this unidentified Monster's appearance in the desert among all Hunters, members of the Loc Lac Rangers, and even merchants and travelers.
Anyone who spots signs of an unfamiliar Monster can record the location and report it to the Guild in exchange for a reward.
That way, we can gain a broad understanding of the situation around Loc Lac within a relatively short time."
"Ooh, I like that idea!" The mustachioed Guild Master clapped his hands vigorously.
Lamarck's proposal was clearly far more "cost-effective" than dispatching a dedicated investigation team. It suited the Guild Master's style perfectly.
"With Isis busy preparing for her promotion over the next few days, I don't have much else to do," Altaïr spoke up beside Lamarck. "I could take a small Sandship out to the hunting grounds where the Hunter found the unfamiliar Monster and look around. I might find some clues."
"I've got no objections." The mustachioed Guild Master stroked his whiskers. "But an exploratory assignment like this comes with almost no compensation, you know."
"I'm aware." Altaïr smiled. "I'm just a little bored and feel like heading out for a ride, that's all."
"Fine. Hmm? Wait." The mustachioed Guild Master was about to agree when something suddenly occurred to him.
He looked up at Altaïr suspiciously. "Don't tell me you're getting restless and using this as an excuse to follow Marydan and the others, then secretly investigate the Grimclaw Tigrex on your own?"
Altaïr froze for a moment, then looked both incredulous and exasperated. "What do you take me for? Some hotheaded, reckless teenager who charges in without thinking?
I know full well that, at my current skill level, I'd only be a burden to the high-rank Hunters if I secretly joined the investigation, or worse, I'd cause the entire operation to fail. Even if you gave me permission to participate, I wouldn't go.
Besides, if I really intended to sneak off, I'd simply borrow a small Sandship and sail straight out of the city. Why would I come to you for another excuse first?"
"Fair point." The mustachioed Guild Master nodded with a laugh, showing not a trace of embarrassment at having misjudged Altaïr. "Come to think of it, why not bring along that curvy Gunner? She's from Kamura Village, right? She has a dog and a bird. No one could scout faster!"
Altaïr had no answer for the shrewd old man, who never missed a chance to press an advantage. The moment Altaïr volunteered to work for free, the man's mind started racing, and now he was hinting that Altaïr should drag Nymera along too.
If Isis weren't busy preparing for her Rank-Up Quest, would this old man be trying to rope their entire squad into working for free?
"I don't know where Nymera went either. If I happen to see her, I'll mention it." Altaïr casually brushed the matter off.
The old man did not mind Altaïr's evasiveness. "If you can bring back valuable clues, the Guild will prepare some truly fantastic rewards for you."
"What kind of rewards?" Altaïr, who had only seen this as a way to kill time, immediately perked up.
"That depends on what you bring back, doesn't it? When have I ever let anyone walk away shortchanged?" The Guild Master wore his usual genial smile.
"True enough."
In most places, Guild Masters were retired Hunters or members of related professions. The old man before Altaïr, however, had been a prominent merchant in his day. His knowledge of Hunters and many matters concerning Monsters was limited, so by all rights he should have struggled to command respect.
Yet he enjoyed remarkably high standing among the Hunters of Loc Lac because he could always negotiate the best possible terms for them.
Since rewards were involved, roping Nymera in might not be such a bad idea after all.
She could use low-impact Bowgun Ammo such as poison rounds to knock small Flying Wyverns out of the air and let the poison finish them on the ground. That would keep the carcasses as intact as possible.
Exactly. If the opportunity arose, he would bring back a completely intact specimen and claim the best possible reward!
(Translated by yourtl.app)