Chapter 298: Was Recommended

Then there's the issue of the entrance fee.

When Twali said that the Hunter's Exam was open to all eligible, he means to anyone that could afford the entrance fee of 1, 000 in gold coins along with the recommendation of a Hunter.

Ned had the recommendation, what about the gold coins?

He's got 99 gold coins and 97 silver coins left stuffed in his pouch. Even if he didn't pay for the carriage, he needed 900 gold coins more to join the Exam.

Inside the quiet room, the two Hunter stared at Ned sitting opposite of him. Hunter Jo and hunter Ja were baffled after hearing Ned that he would join the Hunter's Exam.

"Aren't you too young for that?"

Hunter Ja nodded, the hybrid mage with iron spear seemed to get along well with Ned after he fell underground. His old and grumpy face was nowhere to be noticed.

A few moments later, Twali waved a hand to dismiss the two Hunter.

Hunter Jo and Hunter Ja nodded. They patted Ned before leaving the quiet room.

It wasn't just the Sudden Plate crowded with people, even Lord Sven's manor was filled with Hunters and returning Hunters from Raid.

But inside the quiet room, the room next to the barracks, all Ned could hear were murmurs coming outside the room.

Twali's dark hair got a little longer. Aside from that, the black servant sat with pride with his chest popping out.

After the two left, Twali began.

"I'm guessing you found the man named Roy?"

Roy died the moment he accepted his faith and became one of the beast dwellings in the Hive. There's no need for Ned to bring his name to their conversation.

"Yes."

"So, how did he survive all these years?"

"He didn't. He's dead."

Silence.

Twali nodded and didn't press the issue any further.

"But... I needed to pass the Hunter's Exam to continue my goals. Means, I can't back out now."

"Was it important that you join the Hunter's Exam?"

"Very."

Twali sighed Realizing that persuasion wasn't of use any longer, he gave up.

"I heard from Sujiro that Sasani left for the Capital?"

"About that..." He paused. Twali leaned forward to Ned and rested both his arms over the table. "I watched her wept. I watched her shed tears. And then, after a month, she overcomes sadness. Now, Lord Sven tasked her with utmost importance that will benefit the House. Ned... I think it's better she focused on the task at hand..."

The last time they talk, Ned could feel that something about Sasani was off like she was trying to hide something. She only asked to join the Raid with Ned for the last time, and then she would be gone to fulfill the task of their House, and it seemed that she has started doing it.

'I understand. It's better that I remain dead. This will give her focus."

"Thank you, Ned." Twali bowed and leaned closer to Ned. As a former slave, Twali thought of nothing but to fulfill the wish of his lord, his savior, and his Lady. Nothing could stop him to repay what Lord Sven did to him. That was why Lord Sven entrusted Twali the activities of their House in Sudden Plate.

"But not for long. Sasani will be happy to see you again."

Ned nodded with a smile. Ned understood Twali's intention, and he couldn't be bothered with trivial circumstances since he got bigger things going to prepare.

"I thought you were entrusted of Sasani's safety?"

"I am, yes." Twali retracted away from the table and threw his back back on the chair. Ned admired him as he wore his black vest with pride. "But one of our Hunter took the duty to guard Lady Sasani. Which was better than I have expected since Lord Sven asked his only Healer to do the duty. She is way better than me in terms of skill sets. Plus, she's a certified Healer of the Second Rank, so there's nothing I could ask for more of her."

Ned wanted to focus solely on the Exam. With that thought in mind, he focused and produced mana stones before Twali.

The stones clinked with Ned laying them over the table, ten Mana Stones glittering with light.

"My payment for the Raid I requested. I hope these are enough to cover all the expenses I have caused."

It was more than enough. Twali's dark pupils were tantalizing with the reflections from the mana stones. He took a calm breath and started to run his fingers on the stones. His eyes couldn't believe what he was seeing. Of course, he knew, they were real, it's just that... how many does Ned inside his spatial inventory... those were the statements his eyes were showing.

If only he knew that Ned had 19, 889 left. He might turn to Werewolf in an instant.

The hair on his arms stood while Twali tried to fell the stones in his fingers.

"Please give the Hallowguard my regards and let them have their stones appropriately. The rest... for you, Twali-sir."

Twali nodded and said, "You won't change your mind at all, Ned? You're always welcome at House Stormcrag. Lady Sasani will be more than happy if you join."

Sorry, Twali. But I don't concern myself on someone's happiness, Ned thought and shook his head in silence.

"Okay..." Twali sighed and hovered his palm above the stones. With a thought, the stones went to his inventory. "You really going to join the Exam?"

For one last time, Ned nodded and stood to leave the room.

"Wait."

Ned spun to meet Twali's eyes.

"Where are you going next? Have you been preparing for this? How about your weapons? Did you registered already?"

None. Ned was doing nothing. He was preparing but only for himself. He trained, his daily routines were followed. His mana was used in limited account, he even limits his energy to not be expanded just to prepare for the Hunter's Exam. But the truth, he wasn't prepared at all.

Weapons? He was going to look for it next.

Registration? Heck, he doesn't even have the gold.

Ned was confused if he should laugh over his carelessness or simply remain quiet to not involve Twali even further.

And as though he was reading Ned's mind. Twali pulled out something from his ring. A pouch of gold.

"These are my savings for years that I haven't used."

As a servant, Twali was still getting a salary in the number of gold coins. But since he's got nothing to spend much, all his golds were accumulating in his inventory.

"It's not much... but it will cover the registration fees the Association was asking."

In order to limit the number of individuals joining the Hunter's Exam. The Association asked for the registration. It was to forbid anyone from casually joining the Exam and try again if they failed the first task

By doing this, the wannabe Hunters that joined was almost cut to half. But even so, there were still individuals that join just for the sake of fun.

"When you said the Hunter's Exam is open for all does that mean that it was only exclusive for anyone that can afford to join and was recommended?"

Twali nodded and Ned continued.

"Then what if I use Mana Stones for registration?"

"Don't."

Silence on Ned's part.

"Do you want to die in an instant? There were thousands of participants during the Hunter's Exam, and all of them were aiming to become a hunter. But there's still an individual that aims only for the price."

"I'm guessing one of the prices on winning the Exam is Mana Stones."

"Yes. Mana Stones were used as trophies aside from having a license."

Twali handed over the pouch of Gold coins to Ned.

"It's less of what you have given us. But still, it's better than people knowing that you can casually produce Mana Stones."

Ned received the gold coins. Doesn't matter how much each Mana Stones cost if its value is far greater than anyone could have.

Ned already knew that people were fighting over Mana Stones, and in his current state, he wasn't strong enough to defend himself. What if a bunch of high ranked Hunters groped him?

No matter how stronger he gets, someone, out there was doing their best to become stronger. But strength wasn't all about raw power.

"Now that you have the fee to join the Hunter's Exam, next is the recommendation."

"About that..."

"You will be sorted according to who gave you the recommendation. The challenges change every exam." Twali raised a hand and Ned went back to sit as he listened to Twali attentively. "But the rules stay the same."

Twali explained some of the rules and Ned was piqued by one of them.

"Wait." Ned raised a hand before Twali continued to explain. "You mean I'll be grouped according to who recommended me?"

"Yes. The lowest rank a Hunter could recommend was Silver ranked. Below that, they are not allowed to recommend."

Now, all I wanted was to pass the exam with ease, and as fast as I could, Ned thought as he shook his head.

"And what if..."

Ned focused his thoughts inside his inventory and produced the Token the Knight gave him and slid it over the table to pass to Twali.

"By the Maker, Ned! That's a Diamond Rank Hunter's Token."