The Explorer Test Tragedy, that is what they are calling it... well, used to call it.
With more than 200 of the 435 aspiring Explorers dead, Rhys had initially thought this news would last for an entire month — but no. Just 3 days later, Rhys was now watching the news that said that Hanamichi Rukawa, the world's top 9th Explorer... was now single.
And as a matter of course, the women that were loitering and idling in the same lobby as Rhys were all giggling and fawning over the fact, perhaps more so than the other women outside as Rhys is actually inside the Explorer Association building, where the female explorers actually had a chance to meet Rukawa in person.
He had been sitting in the lobby for an hour, and yet not a single news of what happened in the Explorer Test was being shown, not even once. Rhys had also tried searching the internet, but all he could really find were small headlines... and Hannah's name was nowhere to be seen in all of them.
Just what sort of power and authority does the deputy mayor actually have to—"
"So, have you thought about it?"
And almost like a creeping–no, the guild master of the Laughing Bronze truly was very slowly creeping near him. Rhys has no idea how Kenneth was doing it while completely seated. But it didn't matter, Rhys just let out a sigh and shook his head.
"I'm sorry, sir Kenneth. But my answer still remains the same."
"You're not even going to hear my offer?" Kenneth started bringing out his check, subtly but obviously waving it in front of Rhys,
"$250,000. And that's just the signing bonus, your annual and commissions are completely separate. I was thinking maybe another $250,000 for your annual?"
"..." Rhys almost accepted Kenneth's offer there and then when he started throwing out numbers, but he quickly started shaking his head as he remembered the advice of the three women in his life.
'Do not join an Explorer guild in your first year.'
"$300,000! 300,000 and you do not even need to do anything!" Kenneth's sweat started to form on his face as he negotiated by himself, "Just go out there and do some missions once or twice a month. And then—"
[Wilder, please proceed to counter 6.]
"That's me, Sir Kenneth."
"Wait, w—You have my number! Call me, or I call you!"
And as Kenneth's loud voice caught the attention of the crowd, the only thing Rhys could really do was let out a long and very deep sigh. The crowd was already busy thanks to Rukawa turning single, but now, they were all staring at Rhys and his black hair as he walked past.
"Dre—You almost made me say it," Hannah glared at Rhys, "Do you want me to be canceled? Is that it? Do you have something against me, Mr. Rhys Wilder?"
"I am serious, Ma'am," Rhys, however, just returned Hannah's gaze and looked her in the eyes, "Dreggerman."
"Your names will be used once you go on an Exploration with other people, you really think someone is going to call you that?"
"They have been calling me that all my life, Ma'am," Rhys smiled, "It's time I own it."
"...Fine. But don't come crying back to me, you can only change your code name once a year. First one is free, the 2nd one will cost you," Hannah scoffed, before a small smirk crawled on her face as she started processing Rhys's license, putting it inside some sort of machine,
"Now, just smile back and go. Celebrate with your friends, if you have friends," Hannah might as well have thrown Rhys's license back to him as soon as the stamping was over.
"What about you, Ma'am? Do you have friends?"
"Stop wasting my time, you're really starting to piss me off."
Rhys observed if hearts would start appearing above Hannah's head, but there was still nothing there. And so, after a few more bickering and banter, Rhys left the Explorer Association building while staring at his license, and next to his name, was his code name;
Dreggerman.
Rhys had thought long and hard about what his code name would be — even wanting to do a play of words and using the name of the god flowing through his veins. If there were pyromancers, necromancers, cryomancers...
...then he would be the Eromancer.
But he thought about it, and it would not really make sense for other people — he needed something with impact, which people would gradually talk about once he slowly showed himself to the world.
And for that, he needed to accept his first mission. But for now, he should go visit Lina and Katarina back—
"You shouldn't have that."
And before Rhys could even plan the rest of his day, a boy suddenly blocked his path; pointing at the license he was holding.
"My dad died during the test...
...but a Lowborn like you is alive?"