Lakeside Town.
In the Adventurer’s Guild hall, the crowd was in an uproar.
Gauss was a bit tired too.
From last night to this evening, he had been out hunting monsters intensely.
Even with his physical strength, he couldn’t help but feel exhausted.
But seeing his name finally at the top, it was impossible for him to claim he wasn’t happy.
The competitive nature of people...
Gauss put his hands on his hips and shook his head.
"Amazing."
"Finally number one." Aaliyah looked at the list, feeling pride.
"Finally... Actually, the captain only took a day." Serdur laughed and shook his head.
"This is the position Lord Gauss should be in." Albena nodded in agreement.
Others might not know Gauss’s prowess, but as his teammates, weren’t they well aware?
In terms of monster hunting, he’s practically a monster himself.
Until there’s a significant gap in strength, they couldn’t imagine any competitor beating Gauss in this field.
"Hey!"
"Herbert’s score just changed again!"
Just as Gauss and the others were about to turn and leave.
The leaderboard was updated again.
Herbert: 1117
Herbert updated his score data and reclaimed the top spot.
Gauss’s 907 points fell back to second place.
Many people in the hall turned their gaze toward Gauss and his group.
Clearly, many already knew who Gauss was.
However, they didn’t look at him with a mocking demeanor.
Evidently, everyone understood that someone who could temporarily claim the top spot in just one day could easily reclaim it, just like eating or drinking water.
Some people getting a perfect score is because that’s the limit they can reach; for others, it’s because the test itself caps at a perfect score.
Though the scores appear the same, the reality is vastly different.
"Lord Gauss! Shall we take another assignment?" Albena said eagerly, as if her own rank had been surpassed, suggesting proactively.
Aaliyah and Serdur also looked at Gauss.
With just a word from him, although the sun had set, they were ready to mobilize at any time to help Gauss reclaim his rank.
"Forget it, forget it."
Gauss chuckled and waved his hand.
This was no big deal.
He wasn’t in a hurry to reclaim his rank.
Just another day’s effort.
As long as he firmly secured the top spot before the competition ended, it would be enough.
He was quite tired today.
The crowd, seeing him shaking his head and whispering to his companions.
They roughly guessed he probably didn’t plan to take any action today.
They sighed.
Many were hoping to see Gauss reclaim his rank.
Although it had nothing to do with them, they were all temporarily active around Lakeside Town, and considered themselves half "allies" in the same camp.
"Hurried, Herbert is truly hurried."
"I’ve been following this leaderboard for many days, and he always updates his data the next morning."
"Can you blame him?"
"But it’s only on the last day that he stands at the top."
No one stepped up to talk to Gauss.
When someone is slightly ahead, others may feel envy. But when such a lead puts them on a different level entirely, only admiration and awe remain.
Under a respectful gaze, Gauss left the Adventurer’s Guild hall.
...
A peaceful night flowed gently.
After having their fill, Gauss and his group came to Blue Lake, enjoying the glowing blue waters at night and watching the nighttime boat race.
This was also a civilian event.
The small boat’s sails were specially treated to refract brilliant hues in the moonlight, allowing clear viewing of the race even at night.
The rules of the race weren’t simply about speed, but navigating many glowing buoys in a designated bay area, with the first boat completing three laps winning.
Spectators could also choose to place bets on the boats they supported in advance.
The shore was bustling with voices.
Civilians cheered for their supported family or friends, or even the boats they bet on.
The evening breeze blew, bringing a refreshing comfort.
Gauss and the others leaned on the railing, overlooking the lake and its events from above.
"Pretty lively."
"Looks like that Maple Leaf boat’s going to win." Aaliyah made guesses at the lake.
Sometimes, just letting oneself unwind, thinking of nothing, makes for a rare and enjoyable leisure.
Adventure is never all about fighting; there are many worthy moments and views along the way.
But in the end, Aaliyah was mistaken.
Reaching the last buoy of the third lap, the Maple Leaf boat misjudged the wind direction, greatly increasing the time to round the buoy.
Finally, a boat marked with a silver barracuda accelerated and overtook just before the finish line.
"Oh—!!!" Cheers and regret erupted from the shore.
"Didn’t expect the reversal."
Aaliyah shook her head, sighing.
While Gauss and the others were engrossed in the event, other towns weren’t as peaceful.
Many competitors activated their networks or approached familiar guild staff to inquire about Gauss’s situation, mainly the authenticity of his score rank.
But to their despair, no matter how they queried or subtly probed, the feedback from the Adventurer’s Guild was consistent: Gauss’s scores were genuine and valid, with no issues in timing or scoring.