NOVEL NEXT Chapter 97 – Garl the Troublemaker IV
When Crowne entered the room, Ruth stared at him for a long time. She looked at Crowne from head to toe repeatedly. Until Crowne finally sat in the chair.
"Ah, you are the one who was given the task by Dorian to deliver the relic?"
Crowne nodded.
"Come forward. Just put it on the table. I will bring it to the research room," Ruth said.
Crowne immediately stood up and placed the relic he brought on the table exactly as Ruth requested. After that, he sat back down.
Ruth held the relic. She observed it for quite a while. She looked interested. Then she looked at Crowne again.
"Explain what you know about this relic," Ruth requested.
"You must have already received the report. So why should I explain it again? That is only wasting time," Crowne said firmly.
Ruth was surprised by Crowne's answer, but she laughed afterward. She then stored the relic and looked at Crowne with a serious gaze.
She was interested because someone dared to speak this way to her. She had already investigated Crowne before this meeting. She knew Crowne was only a low ranked adventurer.
And yet Crowne dared to refuse her request. That was interesting to Ruth.
"What did you say to me? It seems there is something you want to tell me."
"I want a retest. You can help me, right?" Crowne asked.
He really hoped this could change his rank. At least he wanted to become a rank A adventurer. He needed to enter Moonlight City to search for his mother.
Ruth did not immediately agree to Crowne's request. She also already knew about this matter from the letter given by Dorian, but she simply wanted to confirm it.
"What is your reason for wanting to raise your rank so badly? I think our device is not much different from the one in Stromhall City."
Crowne fell silent for a moment. Of course, he had never revealed this to anyone except people he trusted. Crowne let out a long breath. He felt that he had to say it.
"I want to enter Moonlight City. There is something I want to find there. Something very precious to me," Crowne explained briefly.
Ruth narrowed her eyes. "What is it?"
This time Crowne shook his head. "I cannot say it because it is my private matter. Even if you force me, I will not say it."
"Even if I promise to raise your level to rank A?"
Crowne went silent. He hesitated for a moment, but he immediately shook his head. He did not want to say it because it could expose the truth about who he was. Crowne did not want to be connected to the Valden family anymore.
"No. I still will not say it," Crowne answered firmly.
"In that case, I will not promise to raise your rank to rank A. Fight for it yourself. I will only give you permission," Ruth said.
She leaned her body against the back of the chair. She said nothing. She waited to see whether Crowne would change his mind, but after ten minutes the room was silent.
Ruth returned to sitting normally. She looked at Crowne again. "Are you sure?"
Crowne nodded. "Of course."
Ruth could not force him any further. She stood and walked toward Crowne. She patted his shoulder. "Come on. I will take you to the testing room."
Crowne immediately stood. "Thank you."
"Oh, someone as stubborn as you can say thank you after all."
"I am only stubborn. Not ungrateful," Crowne replied.
Ruth laughed loudly. She became even more interested in Crowne. She immediately guided him to the testing room. Crowne should have completed several missions first before retesting, but Ruth skipped that part.
**
Ruth looked at Crowne with one eyebrow raised. She was surprised by the result Crowne received. He only obtained rank F. It was extremely low compared to the average adventurer. It was even slightly above ordinary humans. Even weaker than some thugs.
Ruth was confused because according to the report, Crowne had defeated an A ranked monster in Doomsty City. He should have been equal to a low rank S adventurer or a high rank A adventurer.
"Was this the same result you got in Stromhall City?" Ruth asked.
Crowne nodded.
Ruth tested the device on herself, and the result was accurate. She was equal to a rank S adventurer. The device should not be broken. Ruth observed Crowne for a long time. She had two possibilities. Either Crowne really was weak, or something was wrong with Crowne, causing the device to fail to measure his strength level.
Ruth felt she had to perform another test. "This will not be done in any guild. Even here, no one has ever done this. But I will use my authority to conduct it," Ruth said.
"What is it?"
"Fight me."
Crowne smiled. He immediately nodded. He agreed to that. Ruth then prepared to take Crowne to the training room, but before leaving, Crowne tapped Ruth's shoulder. He wanted to say something first.
"Can I ask for your help first?"
"What is it?"
"Lyrica, Gorhan, and Meya are missing. Someone said they were sold to slave merchants. Can you help search for them? I do not want to be too late to save them," Crowne explained.
Ruth was shocked to hear that. She did not know these three names at all. That made her sure their ranks were below rank A. Ruth only remembered strong people. This made her hesitate to help because it would only waste time.
There were thousands of rank C adventurers. Losing two or three of them was nothing significant for the Adventurers Guild. In one week, more rank C adventurers would appear.
"They are part of the Adventurers Guild. They take missions and risk their lives to complete those missions. There is no way you would let them fall into trouble, right? I know they are only low ranked adventurers, but they are also human," Crowne said.
Ruth fell silent hearing those words. She felt something pierce her chest. Those words slapped her a little. It made her unable to speak. She stared at Crowne with a half empty gaze.
"The purpose of the Adventurers Guild being established is to protect humans who cannot be protected by the kingdom. If you allow the three of them to become slaves, then that contradicts the purpose of the guild," Crowne added.
Ruth laughed after hearing that. She patted Crowne's shoulder. "You are truly amazing. I never thought I would be lectured like this by a rank C adventurer." She then nodded. "Alright, I will provide assistance. Do not worry. This will be resolved quickly."
Crowne nodded. He thought this would take time. It turned out Ruth had more heart than he expected. It made him feel relieved.
"In that case, thank you," Crowne said.
He even bowed slightly to express his gratitude sincerely.