Mathers clicked his tongue at Matteo’s question, obviously not feeling all that cooperative that morning. As two of the small group spoke up, their vague words and questions were accompanied by the recruiter’s loud coffee slurping. An eyebrow was raised when Muu mentioned the Silver Light, but the surly man said nothing for a good few seconds after the quiet girl finished speaking. Even with the crowds of adventurers outside, the inside was still deafeningly quiet, the only sound being Mathers’s occasional sips and the ticking of a grandfather clock.

[b]“Tch.”[/b]

Finally, he moved, opening a cabinet and pulling out a sack of silver out. From a small chest on the table, the man extracted a necklace with a metal tag as well, tossing them both on the far end of the table for Muu to grab. Another sip was taken, the mug emptied, and he turned his resting bitch gaze onto the sole male of the party once more.

[b]“‘Guild Directories’ are five silver a piece.”[/b]

After some small mental discussion, Matteo stepped up hesitantly, playing the role of the token nice guy surrounded by cute girls. Five silver were extracted from his small pouch and, before any regrets could be had, Mathers swept the gleaming coins into his palm, depositing them into an unseen compartment beneath the desk. With that exchange done, the recruiter presented a thin, leather-bound book, gilded with silver and written in a cursive script that made it difficult to read.

The so called ‘Guild Directory’ was in truth ‘Census of Active Guilds within Andeave: 6th Edition’, denser than expected, with pages so thin that it felt as if they may tear when one turned them. But the information that the census had was the real deal. Not only were the most common guilds detailed within the pages, from warrior to mage to ranger to fiend knight to priest to thief, but their differing registration fees, as well as the locations of their main headquarters were detailed. The publisher must have been feeling particularly artistic, for well-drawn portrayals of these individuals were drawn on the pages as well, strapping young warriors and demure but comely mages. Further along were more unique guilds. Muu and Hannah would recognize the Order of the Silver Light in the pages, a young Gavriel depicted there, but there were also unfamiliar names such as ‘The Cabal of the Golden Dawn’, ‘The Monster Gourmet School’, ‘The Temple of the Flowing Waters That Sculpt Mountains’, and ‘Roxy’s Combat Dancing Academy’.

Indeed, these unique, fringe guilds were what made up the majority of the census, and it was rather difficult to tell how many of these were even useful for a fledgling adventurer. Still, the group had the book now, and Mathers snorted.

[b]“Now,”[/b] he said,[b] “are you done here?”[/b]

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