That's right, that's what adventure is like!

"Hello, I'm here to hand over my mission."

A familiar voice rang out from ahead. The girl, who had been dozing, opened her eyes in a daze and then looked at the battered young man in front of her in surprise.

"It's you, you just... did you...?"

"There's been a problem, and I request a meeting with the association's management."

Roland's voice was very soft, yet it reached the girl's ears precisely in the bustling hall.

He originally wanted to treat his injuries first, but unfortunately he only had one silver coin on him, so he could only come to the association to solve the necromancer problem first.

Upon hearing his request, the girl realized that the information he had entrusted might be wrong, and immediately got up and led Roland to the side and back.

Du—

After a soft knock, a voice inside said, "Come in." The girl pushed open the mahogany door and gestured for Roland to come in and explain the situation.

However, when Roland entered and saw the seated female figure, his body involuntarily stiffened.

He never expected to run into the slave trader he had only known for less than two days.

Ramona was equally surprised: "It's you?"

She glanced again at Roland's leather armor, which was covered in scratches, and a smile played on her lips. "Looks like your adventures are going quite well?"

Roland sighed, finally understanding why the association would cooperate with a slave trader—because she was a member of the association herself, and apparently a high-ranking one at that.

I just don't know how she manages her time. She can't possibly be in two places at the same time, can she?

Sitting in his chair, Roland began, "I've encountered a necromancer, and a fully-fledged one at that. I need the association's help to resolve this."

Surprisingly, Ramona's expression didn't change much after hearing this. She simply said calmly, "I've heard about this. I didn't expect it was you guarding that cemetery."

The news spread so fast?

Roland frowned, extended his wrist, and showed the other person the grayish-black mark: "According to the rules, the association should help me resolve some of the troubles caused by incorrect intelligence."

This is the benefit of reading the regulations carefully. If Roland hadn't read those complicated words carefully back then, he might not even know who to turn to now.

Ramona replied quickly, "Yes, those who practice evil magic are also on the association's bounty list, and we'll help with any questions related to them."

She glanced at the mark again, then took a glass reagent from under the table and pushed it in front of Roland: "A purification potion. It can remove most curses or marking abilities. Use it if you want."

Roland had just picked up the potion when he heard this and paused, asking in confusion, "Is there something you don't need?"

“Of course,” Ramona said casually, leaning back in her chair. “This thing is worth 50 gold coins; it’ll make a lot of money if you sell it.”

"Or you could leave a mark and use yourself as bait to capture that necromancer; the bounty would be just as substantial."

"..."

Roland paused for a moment, then tentatively asked, "If I act as bait, can the association take responsibility for catching them?"

"Of course not, we're just a platform and won't get involved in any trouble... Or, you can use the purification potion to post a bounty and ask other adventurers to help you get revenge."

"Then forget it."

Rather than relying on unreliable others, Roland preferred to have ample time to grow, so he picked up the potion and drank it down in one gulp.

It tastes slightly sour at first, but then turns into sweet spring water and disappears completely after being poured into the stomach.

The lines on his wrist turned into black mist and dissipated in a few breaths. Roland faintly heard a cold snort, and then felt nothing more.

"It worked well," he said, placing the vial back on the table before asking, "How much compensation am I entitled to according to the regulations?"

"The commission amount has been tripled. Considering that you are on a long-term mission, we can count it as completed, which is three gold coins."

After putting down the documents in her hand and having Roland add some details, Ramona held out her palm: "Give me the Adventurer's Badge."

Roland was slightly surprised, but still took out the bronze badge with a crossed spear and shield engraved on the front and personal information engraved on the back.

Taking the badge, Ramona reached out and grasped it tightly. A faint white light began to appear as she explained.

"If you are a high-risk bounty target, we will erase your mission information to prevent them from potentially bribing association staff to find out where you are."

So thoughtful?

Having gained a better understanding of the association's operating style, Roland also had another idea in mind based on this sentence.

If he were to find an adventurer who had offended him in the future, could he do the same thing?

Ramona wasn't interested in his idea. After returning the badge, she said as usual, "It's all over. We'll handle things with the Church of the True God. We hope you'll come here again soon."

"Why?" Roland was baffled by this. "Aren't you in charge of handling emergencies here? Why would you want more people to come?"

"According to the data, those who survive multiple unexpected events and make it here usually become legendary adventurers in the end."

With her arms crossed, Ramona leisurely gazed at Roland: "Who do you think would be the first person an adventurer like that would want to repay after succeeding?"

Roland was taken aback, then somewhat relieved, and finally shook his head and walked out of the room helplessly.

No wonder the association took the initiative to handle these troublesome matters; it turns out that it also had the mindset of an investor taking risks.

……

Stepping out of the room, he returned to the counter where the girl had been, nodded slightly to her, indicating that he had resolved his troubles.

The girl, on the contrary, seemed a little guilty: "I'm so sorry, the task I recommended to you this time went wrong..."

Roland smiled slightly: "It's nothing, I was just unlucky. I also earned a lot of extra compensation this time, so it's not bad."

"real?"

A glint of light flashed in the girl's eyes, and she said excitedly, "In that case, I have another task here. Would you like to give it a try?"

"Don't worry, it's absolutely safe, there won't be any more trouble!"

"...No, I'd like to rest more lately."

Roland declined the girl's suggestion and then got to the point: "I'd like to ask if there are any markets that specialize in selling second-hand equipment. I'd like to take a look."

"Our association has many..."

"I don't want anything from the association," Roland refused again. He wasn't asking this specifically to buy equipment. "I mean, items that have been through a lot and are now starting to gather dust."

"story?"

The girl paused for a moment, then realized something, blinked, and said, "You... like collecting things?"

"...I guess so. Just tell me where I can find it."