As Wu Zhe hopped back onto his horse, he began searching for the building of the Silver Claw.
Three minutes later…
"Where the hell is it?" he muttered, annoyance in his voice as he glanced around. He felt like he had been circling the same streets over and over.
Wu Zhe suddenly pulled the horse to a stop, eying a boy nearby.
"Hey," Wu Zhe called out, tapping him on the shoulder.
"Hm?" The boy turned, eyeing him cautiously. "Oh… uh, hello? What do you want?"
"Do you happen to know where the Silver Claw is located?"
The boy immediately raised his hand toward Wu Zhe, clearly demanding payment.
Wu Zhe flicked a silver coin at him. Striking the boy's forehead before dropping into his grasp.
"Ow!" he yelped, rubbing his head while clutching the coin.
"It's the building near the large fountain," the boy said quickly. "You'll recognize it by the massive brown doors and the two silver talon statues on either side."
Moments later, Wu Zhe guided his horse down the street, retracing his path until a large fountain came into view.
He continued scanning the neighborhood until he finally spotted it. Two talon statues stood on either side of the massive door and gave the entrance an intimidating presence.
"This should be it," he muttered, climbing down from the horse and walking towards the massive door.
He reached the towering door and gave it a push, swinging it open, causing a creaking sound.
Inside, a tavern-like hall stretched before him, a receptionist's desk at the center, noticeboards lining the walls, and tables scattered with men drinking and talking.
The moment Wu Zhe entered, the chatter stopped, as dozens of heads turned in unison to stare at him.
"Are you lost, boy? This is the Silver Claw," a burly man said from beside the receptionist, his hairy chest out and his halberd leaning against the counter.
"Not at all. If this is the Silver Claw, then I've come to the right place," Wu Zhe answered calmly.
"What is the purpose of your visit?" the receptionist asked, eyeing him.
"I wish to join the Silver Claw."
The moment those words left his mouth, the entire tavern began erupting into laughter.
"Are you mad, child? Do you even know the average life expectancy of a hunter?" the burly man said scoffing.
"Some might say so…" Wu Zhe replied, unfazed.
"Tch. Suit yourself. Don't blame anyone if you die because of your own ignorance," the burly man said, shaking his head.
Ignoring him, Wu Zhe stepped up to the counter.
The receptionist studied him, thinking, 'Another child chasing great dreams of grandeur…'
She handed him a parchment.
Guild Hunter Contract
Hunter Privileges:
Joining Bonus: 10 gold coins upon initiation.
Beast Ownership: Any monster killed shall belong solely to the hunter, or the groups responsible for its death. Should any person, guild, or organization attempt to claim it, the Silver Claw is obligated to protect said ownership against any who seek to claim it.
Selling Bonuses: +30% gold when selling monster parts to the guild.
Guild Resources: Access to armories, training grounds, and crafting facilities.
Mission Rewards: Special assignments may grant bonus gold and rare materials.
Guild Support: Injured hunters shall be eligible to receive medical aid and monthly assistance from the guild.
Dangers and Risks:
Injury or Death: Monster hunting is inherently dangerous. Engagements may result in severe injury or, in the worst cases, death.
Equipment Loss: Weapons, armor, and other items may be damaged or lost during hunts.
Mission Failure: High-risk missions may fail, resulting in wasted resources or increased danger.
Danger and Risks Acknowledgment:
The signer acknowledges that monster hunting is inherently dangerous and may result in severe injury or death. The signer further acknowledges that weapons, armor, and other equipment may be damaged, lost, or destroyed during hunts, and that missions may fail, resulting in loss of resources or exposure to additional danger. The guild shall bear no responsibility or liability for any injury, death, equipment loss, or other damages incurred. By signing below, the signer accepts full responsibility for all risks associated with participation in guild activities and agrees that any costs, losses, or damages shall solely be at the hunter's own expense.
I, ____________, hereby acknowledge and agree to the terms listed above.
After carefully reviewing the contract, Wu Zhe signed it and returned to the receptionist.
I, Huang Yan, hereby acknowledge and agree to the terms above.
The receptionist glanced over it, then nodded.
"Alright. Follow me, Mr. Huang Yan."
"Heh… This is going to be a funny show to watch..." Most of the men in the tavern murmured, following along with the receptionist.
Soon, they arrived at what looked like a training ground, the entourage seemingly eager to witness something amusing. In the center stood the burly man Wu Zhe had seen earlier, a halberd tightly gripped in his hands.
The receptionist spoke, "Before you can officially join the Monster Hunter Guild, we'll need to assess your combat prowess. Based on that, we'll assign you a rank. From highest to lowest, it goes: Tier 1—Ascendant, Tier 2—Platinum, Tier 3—Diamond, Tier 4—Gold, Tier 5—Silver, Tier 6—Iron, Tier 7—Bronze, Tier 8—Copper."
"You'll be dueling Mr. Da Xiong, a Tier—7 hunter, using real weapons to simulate a true battle. You may pick any weapon from the rack, Mr. Huang."
Wu Zhe walked to the rack and selected a blade. He held it in his right hand, then he dropped the sword on his hilt to the floor.
Stepping into the center of the training ground, he pointed the tip of his blade toward the ground.
"Alright, kid. Just tell me when you're ready," Da Xiong said, his tone filled with mockery.
"I'm ready," Wu Zhe said, immediately lunging straight at him.
"Woah… that kid's fast!" one of the onlookers exclaimed.
Da Xiong was caught completely off guard.
He hadn't expected Wu Zhe to charge immediately, nor with such speed. By the time he reacted, Wu Zhe blade was already upon him. Instinctively, Da Xiong raised the tip of his halberd to block.
CLANG!