Chapter 208: 'Contracted Beast' Token
....
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Dozens of sonic booms echoed out across the vast blue lands below, as exotic and unusual animals scattered in every direction upon the sonic booms reaching them!
....
"Hmm?" An ancient voice sounded out in a slightly inquisitive tone.
"Elara."
"I know, sir. We are checking the cause of the sounds right now." She responded in a frantic voice.
Her body zipped through the room, flipping through all the contacts she knew, attempting to target the source of such rapidly approaching sonic booms!
However, her efforts were instantly halted by the next words that came out of the old man sitting on a decrepit rocking chair.
"There is no need. It is just that MorningStar Adventurer we sent out not even five minutes ago," he muttered in a slightly astonished tone.
Even he himself couldn't believe what he was saying! Was that F-Rank Adventurer in the Peak Foundation Establishment Realm already done with his quest? Or did he fail to complete it?
Logic dictates that it was most likely the latter option, but why did he have a feeling that it was the first option??
"What?" Disbelief was etched on those pretty features of hers.
'He's already back? But how could that be? He just left! Is sir telling me that he dispatched a peak C-Rank subspecies of dragon in less than 10 minutes?
A Peak C-Rank dragon would be comparable to that of the average B-Rank Monster! He took care of such such a mighty beast in such a short time!? Impossible!!'
She seemed to fervently believe that this old man was simply going senile!
.....
"Here is the proof of completion."
Plop!
However, her beliefs were thrown to the side before they could even become tangible.
"..." She couldn't believe her eyes.
Two large, dark-red spiraling horns were laid right in front of herhorns that 'used' to belong to a beast that was even capable of contending with the average Early-Soul Transformation Realm Cultivator!
The BranchMaster's response to such a spectacle was, "I see"
"I predicted this, of course. But you let me down on your completion time. I thought you would make it back within 3 minutes, but it looks like you were a little short of my expectations." His 'knowing' voice echoed through the cryptic room as he looked off into the distance.
"Oh" Azmond began with an understanding look on his face. "We actually would've made it back by the three-minute mark, but 'we' got a little distracted on the way over."
His gaze immediately darted to the brown-eyed busty beauty that was attached to his left side.
|Tehee~| The culprit in question giggled a little before snuggling her head back into his robes.
"..."
Nonetheless, in spite of such shenanigans by Boundless, he never would've guessed that this mysterious old man would actually give out such accurate predictions.
'Is he actually some elusive, all-powerful master?'
He started to see the boastful old man in a new light.
However, said old man opened one eye and saw that look through his fox mask, and only one thought went through his weathered mind.
'He wants my money!'
"No extra rewards." He began with a serious expression.
"???" Azmond didn't know what this old dude was talking about.
The BranchMaster interpreted such confusion as disappointment, as his next words would be an 'attempt' at 'soothing' his frustrations.
"Hoho, don't worry, young man; I keep my promises. Even though you didn't quite live up to my expectations, that won't change."
He got out his 'wisened' words with a content expression before he figured he ought to reiterate something else.
"You still won't be receiving any additional rewards..."
He seemed really adamant on that last part.
An indifferent voice responded a few milliseconds later, "Okay, I understand."
Although he couldn't comprehend what this old dude was talking about, he just assumed it was one of the side effects of old age, and moved his attention to the three silver objects in the BranchMaster's hand.
"These are your new Adventurer Identity Tokens; take care of them," he announced before he threw the silver tokens in the direction of Azmond.
Ding!
He flawlessly caught all three of them, and the first thing he noticed was a few discrepancies between two of them and the last one. The first two had the symbol of two silver swords crossed over one another, while the last one had some sort of wolf-type monster on the front of it.
However, he didn't get long to brood over the matter as the owner of the ancient voice immediately noticed such a peculiar reaction to acquiring the silver tokens.
"If you're wondering why the last one is different from the other two, then it's because that one's for that little slime up there," he informed with a neutral expression as he pointed up to the black and gold slime on Morningstar's head.
"??" He thought over it for a moment before he understood what he was talking about.
"Ahh A different type of token for 'Contracted Beasts', huh? Does it have the same functions as the ones for humanoid-type beings?"
"Precisely, and yes, it does have the same privileges as those for humans. Beast tamers and anything similar to them are quite respected around here. Only second in status to Mages and every other profession in their tree line."
His antiquated voice was followed by him conjuring a little hologram-type spell with his hands, depicting those of a few different professions that stood at the top of the social hierarchy.
Although your cultivation realm was the first and foremost primary designator for your rank in this world, that didn't mean that it was the only deciding factor to determine your place in the World of Asterion.
Those with professions could oftentimes even allow individuals to leapfrog realms to fight those without professions!