Babel

With the dawn of a new day, Linnaeus and Co made their way back to the Guild branch office to learn whether or not they had passed their assessment. This was an important first step for gaining a foothold in the region as, without the Guild's support, joining the main expedition without a bit of fame or powerful connections was nigh-impossible.As could be expected of the early morning, the Guildhall was packed with several hundred people trying to either accept Quests or receive payment for those they had completed the previous day.Fortunately, the Guild had ten booths open so, despite more than a hundred people standing in line, it only took around twenty-to-thirty minutes before you were seen. As for everyone else, they were the members of various Parties and, unless it required them to be present, they just sat in the dining area, eating breakfast and steeling themselves for the coming day.Seeing Renka manning the station with the largest volume of people, Linnaeus decided to avoid the hassle of causing a potential scene by directly joining her queue, this time with Eliza, Emilia, and even Krone joining. They would all be registering with the Guild so, even if it would have been better have Eliza wait at the side, it wasn't really an option this time around.After waiting their turn in the queue, Renka pretended to have overlooked the towering figure of Krone, showing an expression of pleased surprise as she pulled out one of the files waiting on the side and said, "Good morning, Linnaeus. You're up bright and earlier today aren't you? I guess you and your Party are eager to learn the results of your assessment~?"Adopting a practiced smile of his own, Linnaeus nodded his head, answering, "We are a bit pressed for time. The expedition is in less than a month, after all..."Nodding her head in understanding, Renka pushed the folder of documents toward them while explaining, "Well, there weren't any issues with the goods submitted. Rather, your Party must have a pretty skilled Herbalist to have packaged them so neatly. As a result, your total reward is 4310 Soul Kindling and, if you haven't changed your mind, the contracts for Guild membership have already been prepared. I assumed you had no intention of staying in the area so I arranged four temporary contracts, each expiring within six months. It is the shortest contract we have, considering you aren't part of a famous Merchant or Mercenary group."Since they had already planned to stick around for a few months, building up their reserves of Soul Kindling, Linnaeus didn't think a six-month contract was that bad. He had heard from Yorgen that most contracts lasted for a minimum of two years but, as potentiates, Linnaeus and Co had a few unique privileges afforded to them as a result of the laws passed by the reigning families. Since they had only been granted authority due to their contracts with Tenebrae, they had the duty of ensuring potentiates weren't unfairly suppressed.Though Linnaeus hadn't informed Renka of their potentiate status, it didn't surprise him that she was able to figure it out. There were a number of ways to gain information so, rather than inquire as to how she learned of their status, he just nodded his head and said, "Thank you for your consideration, Miss Renka. It helps that you are so capable and astute..."Finding Linnaeus' words amusing, Renka released a rather 'hearty' laugh, primarily due to Eliza not-so-secretly nudging his side. She felt this group of kids was pretty interesting and, for the next few months, decided to tease them whenever the opportunity presented itself.Unfortunately, at least for the time being, she had a job to do so, with a long line behind Linnaeus, she handed out four copies of the contract before setting out a tray with a small golden pin. Binding contracts required an exchange of blood to validate them so, after ensuring there were no strange clauses within the provided documents, Linnaeus, Eliza, Emilia, and Krone all dripped a few drops of blood near their signatures.The moment the contract was signed and sealed, Linnaeus noticed his Status change to reflect his affiliation change from 'Free' to 'Briggs City Adventurers Guild' while, within the slot designating his Titles, he now had the secondary Title of 'F-Rank Adventurer'.If the Guild had been a powerful organization on the Outside or within the Tower, this affiliation could have provided numerous benefits depending on his Rank but, due to the unique nature of the Crucible of Souls, it only determined which types of Quests he could accept. After all, Level bonuses were impossible to obtain in a place where increasing your Level, through standard means, was all but impossibleWith the registration process completed, Renka gave an approving nod before pulling out a sheet of paper, explaining, "Few people prepare a Quest for immediately after becoming Adventurers so, to save you a bit of time, I can give you another D-Rank Quest. If you don't accept this one, you'll have to go back to the end of the line. There are a lot of people waiting so make your decision quickly~."Realizing his slight oversight, Linnaeus couldn't help but frown slightly but, after briefly considering his options, he ultimately turned to his Party, saying, "We should accept this Quest. We'll check the Quest Board on our way out and decide whether or not we want to accept anything else. For now, it is best to go with the options presented to us."Though he alluding to his true thoughts, what Linnaeus didn't say was, 'we should try to get on the good side of the Guild'. Since Renka had prepared something specifically for them, it would improve their rapport with her and, as a result, the Guild itself. If they wanted to make a name for themselves in the shortest period of time, obtaining recognition from influential Guild members was the optimal method.Eliza didn't like Renka but she wasn't an idiot so, immediately after Linnaeus' attempt to convince them, she nodded her head, adding, "We didn't have any trouble yesterday but it is always better to pace ourselves. Completing another D-Rank Quest would give us more time to familiarize ourselves with the territory around the Monster Ant Colony."With Eliza agreeing with Linnaeus, Emilia and Krone had nothing to say on the matter. Thus, after a very brief discussion, they accepted the Quest, much to the amused satisfaction of Renka. She then waved them off, forcing them to make way for the disgruntled duo who had been waiting next in line...Fortunately, while it was an opportunity to mess with them, Linnaeus was relieved to see that the Quest issued by Renka was well within their capabilities. It required them to collect an additional 50kg of Blacksweed or, if they wanted to save time, they could venture a little further into the Ant Colony, collecting a type of Fungi known as Ebony Glowshroom. Though it was significantly rarer than Blacksweed, they only needed to acquire 3kg of caps and 5kg of stems.After showing the Quest sheet to the rest of his Party, Eliza couldn't resist snorting through her nose and commenting, "That vixen is trying to turn us into beasts of burden. I wouldn't be surprised if she had connections with a local Alchemist and is using us to earn their favor."As it wasn't impossible, Linnaeus couldn't really refute Eliza's words. Instead, he nodded his head and, after placing the Quest sheet in his Inventory, shrugged his shoulders and said, "Even if that is the case, it isn't a bad arrangement for us. She seems to have a fair amount of influence with this branch so it is safe to assume she also has dealings with the main office as well. Since this is a Quest suitable for our Level and Rank, completing it has no real demerits."Hearing Linnaeus' reasoning, Eliza crossed her arms in a huff before muttering, "Did you think I was unaware of that? I didn't say we should forfeit the Quest...I just don't like that woman. We shouldn't let her pick and choose the Quests we complete. We're not her gofers..."Though she didn't particularly have any problems with Renka, Emilia also nodded her head, adding, "It might be a good idea to win the favor of someone with a higher rank but, if you want to become a capable Party Leader, you have to be the one making decisions. If you only listen to that woman's recommendations, it could become problematic later on."Linnaeus didn't share Eliza's and Emilia's concerns, as he was a pretty cautious person, but, as he had continuously advocated having everyone sharing their opinion, he couldn't simply ignore them and insist he knew what he was doing. Rather, there were many things he didn't know and, over the last few weeks, he had learned a considerable amount from both girls.After briefly organizing his thoughts, Linnaeus nodded his head, compromising with the concerned girls by saying, "We'll make sure to pick up Quests prior to joining the queue. Unless she provides us with something that can be completed alongside our other objectives, we'll continue going at our own pace. Even if we fail to join the main expedition, it isn't as if we'll have no way to increase our Soul Kindling. With a six-month contract, we have plenty of time to prepare for the next expedition, even if it is on a much smaller scale."Understanding that Linnaeus had compromised on her behalf, Eliza adopted a gratified smile and, despite several hundred other Adventurers present in the surroundings, she gave him a tight hug before planting a kiss on his cheek. She didn't mean this as a particularly intimate gesture but, if it would deter the 'vixen', even a little, she didn't mind embarrassing herself a little...Though there was much he wanted to say about Eliza's decision, Linnaeus decided it wasn't a good idea to do so in public. Instead, he halfheartedly returned her hug, an awkward smile on his face as he noticed Emilia eyeing him from the side. Fortunately, she had the wherewithal to restrain herself, at least when there was a large crowd of people, many eyeing her with covetous gazes. If she tried to repeat Eliza's display, it had the potential of causing Linnaeus a lot of unnecessary trouble so, for the time being, she began pointed her wrapped spear towards the Quest Board at the side of the hall.Eliza immediately regretted her decision but, with her unkempt hair, it was impossible to see just how red her ears had become. If she lowered her face slightly, it was difficult to even make out her expression so, using Linnaeus as a guide, she avoided making eye contact with other Adventurers, earning a few laughs and a couple of teasing remarks as a result.Fortunately, the early morning rush was known as such for a good reason so, rather than waste time teasing strangers, most Adventurers quickly went about their own business. Most had shown up at the Guild for a specific purpose so, while it was a funny moment, it wasn't all that important to them.By the time Linnaeus' Party reached the Quest Board, most people had stopped paying any attention to them, the exceptions being a few Adventurers who were drawn to Emilia's beauty. Since she didn't so much as spare them a glance, however, most of them eventually gave up as, with Krone towering over the average Adventurer, it didn't seem worth it to try and approach her forcibly. The Guild also had some pretty strict policies about rabble-rousing and other, more serious, offenses, so, in more ways than one, it simply wasn't worth it.With Eliza's embarrassing act quickly forgotten by most people, Linnaeus was able to memorize a few Quest objectives and, while he opted not to immediately accept them, there was no penalty for accepting and completing a Quest on the spot. So long as you had the requisite materials, the Guild didn't particularly care how you acquired them. Though exceptions would be made if you became a known exploiter of the system, they generally overlooked it. Thus, after picking and choosing a few overlapping Quests, Linnaeus' Party enjoyed a light breakfast before setting out, passing through the brisk morning mist alongside several other Parties with similar intentions...

Though it wasn't impossible to find Ebony Glowshroom in crevasses and large areas of persistent shadow, the vast majority could only be found within the Monster Ant tunnels themselves.The Monster Ant tunnels were a complex subterranean network that consisted of countless tunnels of various shapes and sizes. These came together to form a labyrinthine structure that, even after hundreds of years, had never been fully mapped.Venturing into the tunnels required a completely different skill set than what was required to fight on the surface as, outside of the main channels, it was possible for even Linnaeus to graze the ceiling if he put enough strength into his legs. For those like Krone, the tunnels felt claustrophobic and, if he had been the type to rely on speed, rather than power, the complex labyrinthine structure would be a true hell.For this reason, many Adventurers referred to the Monster Ant Colony's underground network as the 'Ant Hell', a place that represented a nightmare for both explorers and the Ants themselves. After all, these tunnels had served as the burial grounds for millions of Ants over the years, giving it a ghostly chill despite the palpable humidity.It was this combination of darkness and humidity that made the tunnels a veritable paradise when it came to cultivating various fungi, many of which had bioluminescent properies. In fact, without these mushroom colonies, visibility within the tunnels would be an absolute nightmare as, without [Night Vision], or a related Skill, seeing more than a few meters was impossible.With thirteen identified types of bioluminescent fungi commonly found within the tunnels, it was a lot easier than expected to find the type you were looking for. After all, while many mushrooms had a similar glow, the rarer variety had a slightly different hue, often coinciding with the names they had been given.Though it didn't exactly look black, Ebony Glowshrooms emitted a mysterious purple light that made other things in the area glow with false bioluminescence. This was the method they used to try and camouflage themselves, but, so long as you knew how to identify the pattern on their shrouds, it was easy to pick out Ebony Glowshrooms among the star-like ocean of fungi.The hardest part of collecting the coveted mushrooms was, as could be expected, venturing into the tunnels themselves. Most people were accustomed to fighting in open areas, so, to be forced into a confined network of tunnels and fight against monsters that could easily traverse the floor, wall, and ceiling, in equal measure, wasn't easy.Eliza's Magic was almost useless within the tunnel system, forcing her to rely on her heavy crossbow, but, fortunately, Linnaeus' and Emilia's Blessing were easily adapted to fighting in confined areas.Having lived most of his life fighting within confined alleys and navigating underground waterways, Linnaeus was like a fish being returned to the water. His small stature made it easy for him to bound around the tunnels without suffering a penalty to his Agility, and, while it ate into his reserves a bit, he could easily form a [Barrer] to block off sections of the tunnel system if too many enemies arrived.Though she had never fought underground, Blessings related to water were exceptionally powerful in confined spaces. The Monster Ants had virtually nowhere to flee to and, though she far from the Level required to flood the cave system, Emilia's freezing attacks were doubly effective against the majority of Monster Ants, creatures that relied on hot and humid places to live comfortably.The only one to really struggle with fighting in the tunnels was Krone as, after trying to steal the traits of the Monster Ants, he realized they didn't actually have [Night Vision]. Rather, they relied more on their sense of smell to navigate, revealing countless pheromone trails that made little sense to the burly warrior.If Krone could learn to read the pheromone trails properly, Linnaeus felt it would provide them with an extreme benefit, but, as this wasn't exactly a reasonable expectation, he didn't both mentioning it. Instead, he had Krone watch their back, using his bulk and raw power to prevent any Ant from trying to ambush them.Fortunately, they had yet to encounter any of the more troublesome variants, which were typically found much further in, so Krone wasn't suffering too much. Had they encountered actual Soldiers or Majors, Linnaeus had little doubt that his [Barrier Aura] would be put to the test.While Krone could emulate the carapace of the Monster Ants, which reportedly had some resistance against the chemicals expelled by the Ants, it wasn't exactly wise to rely on such things. After all, no matter how many traits he borrows, Krone was still a humanoid, so, if he took acid spittle to the face, it would undoubtedly blind or suffocate him.If his [Barrier Aura] proved ineffective against the Monster Ants, Linnaeus would have little choice but to reconsider their approach. Currently, they were a little too reliant on his Blessing and, while it had been useful in most situations, it would be foolhardy to assume this would always be the case...Fortunately, at least for the time being, his Blessing was proving exceptionally useful as, despite their ability to traverse the walls and ceiling, the Monster Ants didn't have an easy way to circumvent his [Barriers]. They didn't actually seem to recognize them as an attack so, instead of trying to destroy them, they would often just pause in place, flicking the [Barrier] with their antennae as if they were confused.Since the Monster Ants relied more on pheromone trails than their eyesight, Linnaeus assumed his [Barrier] effectively 'cut' the pheromone trail. While they would quickly latch on to a different trail, a momentary pause was all he needed to bury his spear into one of their weak spots. This also taught him that, if he cut off the antennae of the Ants, they were virtually blind within the tunnels and, as a result, they would either stop moving or indiscriminately attack anything that moved.The person to benefit the most from this discovery was none other than Krone. It wasn't easy to swing around a large warhammer within the confined tunnel system so, after learning he could blind the Monster Ants, he began ripping off their antennae, to great effect.With their primary sense robbed from them, the Monster Ants would rip each other apart, grappling each other while using their fierce mandibles to cut through the limbs of 'enemy' Ants. This resulted in Krone releasing a rare laugh, but, as he had been growing increasingly annoyed at his situation as the rearguard, even Eliza didn't mind his outburst...Every time Linnaeus' Party stumbled across an area where the mushrooms glowed a distinctly purple color, he would do his best to seal off every access tunnel while Eliza dutifully harvested the requisite caps. They weren't just after Ebony Gloomshrooms, however, so it would take her several minutes to harvest and package everything. Emilia had tried to help, but, even with her powerful nose, she had a lot of trouble trying to distinguish between the different types of mushrooms.With practice, Emilia was confident she would be able to identify the mushrooms, not only on sight, but, from a great distance as well. She could already smell where Monster Ants would appear from, so, with a bit of time, she would be able to track down individual herbs and mushrooms, preventing them from having to wander around aimlessly.For this reason, Eliza tolerated Emilia's presence while she was trying to harvest, periodically forcing unusable caps towards the lingering Vanargandr for scent recognition and consumption. Since Emilia could eat virtually anything, she had effectively become Eliza's temporary disposal chute, destroying the evidence of her periodic failures.---Though their original intention had been to save time by collecting the rarer Ebony Glowshrooms, it took nearly six hours for Linnaeus' Party to retrace their steps and exit the subterranean system.Upon surfacing, Krone could be heard releasing a heavy, audibly relieved, sigh. He didn't proactively complain, but, fighting underground hadn't been easy on him. Without his [Perception] and the little light cast off by the various fungal colonies, he would have been fighting completely blind. While he hadn't taken much physical damage, there was a certain psychological strain present when fighting under such stressful circumstances, so, seeing the sky overhead, he couldn't help but feel relieved.Understanding his silent counterpart's anxieties, Linnaeus turned to Eliza and Emilia, stating in a voice he knew Krone would be able to hear, "We should avoid fighting underground too often. It might be different further in, but, along the periphery, the systems are too tight to fight freely."Though she understood what Linnaeus was trying to do, it would be too obvious if none of them offered their input. Thus, in response to his statement, Eliza issued a ruminating hum before nodding her head and saying, "I'm not particularly fond of fighting in confined quarters, but, if we keep at it, I should be able to awaken the [Night Vision] Ability. It's a little annoying that only you and Emilia are able to see in the dark..."Hearing Eliza's response, Emilia giggled playfully, her hand behinds her head as she mused, "Lin and I have a lot more in common than our [Night Vision]. Once he learns how to use the spear properly, we'll be able to bully all of our enemies together~."Even if Emilia was playing along with their skit, Eliza's brow began to twitch in response to her biting remark. To make matters even worse, Emilia 'hid' behind Linnaeus, a cheeky smile on her face as she mischievously giggled.Before the two girls could enter a spat, Linnaeus pointed out, "We should consider heading back to turn in our bounty. The other option is to hunt a few Monster Ants along the periphery, waiting until the sky begins to dim before our return. There are plenty of materials and Kindling to collect, even on the surface. Besides, I want to continue practicing my archery...will you help me out, Eliza?"Hearing Linnaeus asking for her assistance, Eliza immediately felt better, dismissing Emilia's earlier words as she adopted a haughty smile and answered, "Of course. My own Skill is lacking, but, if we work together, I'm certain we can both improve rapidly~."Without waiting for Linnaeus' response, Eliza began to pull him along by his wrist, seemingly with the intent to separate him from Emilia. As for the latter, her ears twitched a few times but, the smile on her face never faded away. Instead, she turned to Krone, saying, "We should catch up before they get themselves into trouble."With her words finished, Emilia pulled out her spear and, with characteristic swiftness, pursued the retreating figures of Linnaeus and Eliza. This left Krone standing alone, his dark eyes revealing a mix of emotions before he ultimately released a profound sigh and began trudging after the agile trio...---Under Eliza's guidance, Linnaeus actually managed to obtain the [Archery] Skill before it was time for them to head back. She had been 'very' insistent on teaching him, obviously intent on making them have more in common with each other, so, with a concerted effort on his part, Linnaeus managed to advance the Skill to LV1. This provided no discernible difference in his accuracy, but, it could become one of the foundational Skills that provided him a considerable attribute increase with every Level.Since he had the opportunity to increase his Skills, Abilities, and Magic without having to worry about increasing his Level, Linnaeus intended to take full advantage of it. While it might not seem like a good idea to have a variety of Skills, each requiring a serious effort to advance, the benefits they provided were too good to pass on. So long as he got them to LV20, they would provide bonus attributes with each Level, meaning he could, theoretically, reach a point where simply Leveling up made him more powerful than his peers.Fortunately, Linnaeus had Eliza, Emilia, and even Krone to help him develop his Skills, so, by the time he returned to the Tower, there was a chance he would develop upwards of seven different Skills. At the very least, this was an additional seven attributes per Level and, if he managed to get them all to LV50, he would be earning double that. All he needed to do was put in the requisite amount of effort to improve, but, considering what was at stake, Linnaeus had more than enough motivation to reach the top...no matter the cost.

By the time Linnaeus' Party reached the Guild branch office, the day had started to gradually give way to the night. Despite this, there was still plenty of activity around the Guild as people which, in the evening, served as a tavern where people could celebrate the day's earnings.Since Parties affiliated with the same Guild often worked together in order to complete difficult Quests, building rapport was instrumental to most Party's success. As a result, it was common to find dozens of Parties mingling together, each discussing various tactics and bragging about their individual exploits.When his Party passed through the double-doors of the Guild office, Linnaeus noticed they had drawn a fair amount of attention but, after a brief moment, most people just ignored them. The only exceptions to this were men eyeing up Emilia, as she was quite the beauty, but the presence of Krone was enough to deter most of them.Though there were several stations to receive and report Quests, most of them were only open during the busiest times of the day. Since the evening rush had yet to kick off, there were only three stations open, one of which contained the same red-haired woman from before.Linnaeus would rather avoid trouble than go seeking it out so, despite Eliza's insistence to join the woman's line, he had them go procure a table while he lined up elsewhere. This didn't exactly sit well with Eliza but, understanding Linnaeus' character, she ultimately gave up her petty endeavor and instead alighted to secure them a table along the periphery of the room.With his diminutive size and his ability to obscure his presence, Linnaeus managed to approach the desk of a handsome man with fair skin and long, pointed, ears. Each was tipped with tufts of white fur and, though it wasn't noticeable at a glance, Linnaeus noticed the back of the man's neck was also covered in a similar coating, indicating he was a hybrid species between an Elvaan and one of the various bestial tribes.Seeing a little kid arrive at his booth, the receptionist raised his brow in curiosity before asking in a polite tone, "How might I be of service, young sir?"Just as Linnaeus was about to report the completion of his Assessment Quest, the red-haired woman located further down looked toward him. This caused Linnaeus to internally sigh as, after spotting him, she shouted, "Hey, Alexi, let me take care of that kid. I dealt with him earlier in the day."Hearing his colleague call out to him, Alexi turned his attention toward the woman and, finding her smiling, a shiver ran through his body before he turned to Linnaeus and explained, "It seems your matter will be handled by Miss Renka. Please, if you would make way for the next customer, I would be grateful..."Though he was tempted to just leave and come back in the morning, Linnaeus got the impression that 'Miss Renka' was an influential woman within the branch office. Thus, while internally cursing the fact he seemed to draw unwanted attention at every opportunity, Linnaeus trudged over to Renka's counter with a deadpan expression on his face.After basically shooing away her previous customer, Renka tapped the top of her counter with the palm of her hand, saying, "Place the goods on the counter. We have a pressure sensor built in that can check the weight of objects. Since you arrived late in the day, you'll have to wait until morning for the quality check to be complete."Without bothering to respond verbally, Linnaeus hefted the two large bundles of herbs onto the countertop. He was curious about the pressure sensor but, correctly assuming she wouldn't just let him inspect the counter's construction, he resisted asking about it.Seeing the weight displayed on the small dial beneath her dest, Renka gave an approving nod before saying, "Your Party seems pretty competent. Most idiots only bring in the listed amount, causing them to have to venture out a second time when the quality of their goods didn't pass the Guild's evaluation. Since all of your herbs are neatly wrapped, you'll be getting a bonus for any excess Blacksweed."Since this was within expectation, Linnaeus just gave a curt nod before saying, "We will return in the morning to learn if we have passed successfully. Thank you for your assistance, Miss Renka..."Hearing the unnaturally pretty boy refer to her by name, Renka blinked in surprise before realizing Alexi had mentioned it previously. She made a mental note to punish him the next time they went out drinking but, for now, she stopped Linnaeus from leaving by saying, "You know, it isn't a good idea to act cold toward Guild representatives. We don't just keep tabs on whether or not a Party is skilled enough to complete Quests but, as we often work with civil and military officials, we have the duty of ascertaining the character of our affiliates. Do you think you'll get a spot on the main expedition if nobody likes you...?"Though he hadn't particularly cared about the first part of her statement, Linnaeus couldn't help but frown slightly at the latter half. Even if it made sense from a broader perspective, it was easy to interpret Renka's 'advice' as a veiled threat. Thus, after taking a long and deep breath to keep his calm, he turned back to face Renka, saying, "I appreciate your counsel, Miss Renka, but I'd rather not keep the rest of the line waiting. Unless there is something important to discuss regarding the assessment, I should be going..."Linnaeus was doing his best to be as polite as possible, something he had gradually been picking up through his interactions with Eliza, but it seemed to backfire this time as Renka just smiled in a knowing manner before saying, "You're a really level-headed kid, ain't ya? Being cautious is good and all but, a word of advice, learn how to introduce yourself properly in the future. You called me by name without ever saying your own. If you want to pretend you have manners, learn the basics of etiquette first, okay?"Realizing he had, indeed, never introduced himself, Linnaeus made a show of exhaling before adopting his best 'apologetic' look as he said, "You're right...I guess I'm just a little stressed out at the moment. If I offended you, know that was never my intention...also, my name is Linnaeus. It is nice to meet you, Miss Renka..."Hearing Linnaeus' response, Renka gave an approving nod before picking up her journal and saying, "It's nice to meet you, as well, Linnaeus. I have some expectations for you and your Party so I'll be looking forward to your exploits over the next few weeks."With her words finished, Renka began writing something down in her journal, though not before waving Linnaeus away in much the same way she had her previous client. This made it seem as if she was lackadaisical about her work but, considering nobody stepped in to try and correct her, it was safe to assume her status was marginally higher than the rest of the Guild staff present...After parting with Renka, Linnaeus made his way over to where his Party was sitting, a small table on the far end of the Guild's dining area. There, Eliza could be seen watching his approach with a mildly annoyed expression on her face. When he finally got within comfortable speaking distance, she wasted no time in asking, "What did that vixen want? You didn't make any strange promises with her, did you?"Before responding to Eliza's interrogation, Linnaeus took a seat at the table, his back facing the wall so he could see out over the entire hall. Only after he confirmed there were no people trying to listen in on their conversation did he answer, "I can't be certain but she seems to have a higher status than most of the other Guild personnel. She noticed me when I approached the far counter and forced the man to defer me to her. If possible, you should avoid antagonizing her, Eliza. The thing you are worried about won't happen so don't let her rile you up so easily."Though he hadn't exactly been harsh with his words, Eliza couldn't help but pout after Linnaeus had basically reprimanded her for jealousy. She puffed out her cheeks slightly but, deciding not to make a scene, she opted to just flag down one of the waitresses to order something to drink.Linnaeus knew Eliza would have some choice words for him once they returned to the Inn but, as there really wasn't anything to worry about, he wished she would stop antagonizing others. Even if someone actually tried to seduce him, it wasn't as if he was easily taken advantage of. Rather, if they approached him with those kinds of intentions, the likelihood of them getting anywhere near him was slim.Though he had made a few compromises when it came to dealing with Eliza and Emilia, Linnaeus didn't particularly care about the relations between men and women. His experiences with Saht had left an admittedly positive impression on him but, generally speaking, sex wasn't considered a 'significant' thing to most Slum dwellers. Though there were some people that fully committed to their deviancies, these were generally perverse people who wielded more power and authority than they deserved.Since he was no stranger to being propositioned, Linnaeus had an extreme tolerance towards the seduction attempts of licentious women. He had come to learn that most women who behaved in such a way were either very powerful or, at least in the Slums, acting as an agent on behalf of the various gangs or criminal organizations. There had even been a few female assassins who tracked him down so, contrary to his exploitable appearance, Linnaeus wasn't exactly a soft target when it came to being wiled by women...After eating a small meal and enjoying a few drinks, all while discussing their battle against the Monster Ants, Linnaeus ended up having to carry a drunk Eliza back to the Inn. Krone had also gotten a little drunk but, with his Blessing, combined with the cool evening air, he sobered up pretty quickly. As for Emilia, she was virtually immune to ingested chemicals and toxins so, even though she had proactively participated in a drinking contest, she was just as alert as usual.Fortunately, the public order even in a frontier settlement was surprisingly good so, while it made him a little uncomfortable having half his Party under the influence, Linnaeus' worries ended up being for naught. They reached the Inn without incident and, after a small 'battle' to get Eliza to prepare for bed, he ended up sandwiched between her and Emilia shortly thereafter.While some men proactively sought a harem, as it was a sign of prestige for the powerful and affluent, Linnaeus couldn't really see the point. He wasn't even in a relationship with Eliza and Emilia but, in spite of this, they created a fair amount of drama. Even now, while it was somewhat comfortable, their combined body heat caused him to sweat a considerable amount. This could be prevented if they wore proper attire to bed but, after obtaining lingerie, both Eliza and Emilia generally wore nothing but their bras and panties to bed.Though he wasn't completely immune to their charms, Linnaeus never even considered having any untoward thoughts toward either woman. Until he returned to the Tower and discovered the fates of Saht and his sister, he couldn't afford to be distracted by such things. It wasn't difficult to imagine Saht trying to kill Eliza and Emili, as she could be very overprotected, so, in the hopes of avoiding unnecessary drama, Linnaeus resolved himself to remain chaste until they were able to reunite.Linnaeus didn't want to become the type of man who betrayed the people he cared about, so, unless Saht herself was okay with it, he would never give in to the passion and whimsy of other women...

Chapter 82: Registration