At the dinner table, Gauss asked Shirley for detailed information about establishing an adventure group.
Shirley was evidently more knowledgeable about the intricacies than the average person and had no reason to keep it a secret.
In short, establishing an adventure group is not a barrier-free action but requires meeting several conditions.
First, of course, you must go to the headquarters of an Adventurer’s Guild with the relevant qualifications and submit an application.
Then the staff will review the application conditions.
The Guild will evaluate the applicant’s core team, typically involving background investigations and multi-dimensional strength assessments.
Factors include the comprehensive strength of the core team, adventurer level, financial status, records of high-difficulty commission completions, etc. The better the records, the higher the probability of approval.
Of course, there isn’t a clear standard line dividing approval or rejection, so sometimes luck might play a role.
After a satisfying meal, Gauss thanked Shirley for the information and parted ways in front of the restaurant.
"Shouldn’t be a problem, right?"
Gauss felt that his resume was still quite competitive.
The only disadvantage might be the short time he’s been an adventurer, with the number of completed commissions potentially lagging behind those veteran adventurers.
So in the following days, Gauss took on quite a few commissions near Gray Rock Town.
Serdur and Albena gradually returned to the team.
Their promotions were equally smooth.
Although the professional level upgrades carry risks, many times the cause is the lack of accumulation from the-person-involved, and impatiently forcing a breakthrough. If the upgrade is natural and without sudden external changes, it is relatively safe.
"Welcome back."
Gauss welcomed the last return of Albena.
"You look much stronger again."
He scrutinized the warrior in his team from head to toe.
"Really...."
Albena scratched her head, seeming a bit troubled by becoming even more tall and strong.
If possible, she wished she wouldn’t grow so tall.
On one hand, a towering physique often brings numerous inconveniences in daily life.
For example, housing; when Gauss’s team goes to a new town to rest, they often have to select several inns until they find one with a room and bed suitable for her.
On the other hand, it’s due to a bit of her own little thought.
It’s hard to find a desirable husband when you’re too tall.
Even if it’s easy to find men of comparable height, or even taller, back in her hometown, those rough fellows don’t quite meet her aesthetic standards.
This is one of the reasons she left her hometown.
Since the two had returned to the team, Gauss disclosed his plan to establish an adventure group to them.
Actually, Gauss had mentioned it during the team meeting, but at that time, the specific timing wasn’t clear.
Now he felt that he and the others were fully equipped, and it’s time to take another step forward.
Of course, this doesn’t mean the Gauss team would undergo any changes; it’s just expanding some "external personnel" to help them handle some trivial matters.
In fact, many powerful Master Level professionals choose to establish their own adventure group.
The scale isn’t that large; true growth and expansion usually require the leader to reach the Extraordinary rank, with enough financial resources and influence to expand the forces.
Serdur and Albena had no objections.
The team discussed a bit and eventually decided to set the destination as Farlim, the center of the province.
After all, apart from planning to establish the adventure group, Gauss also needed to settle his family, and within the Cold Jade Province, is there any place safer than Farlim?
More importantly, Gauss felt since he was active in the Cold Jade Province, not visiting the provincial capital seemed lacking.
He made more preparations before officially setting off.
...
"Goodbye, Sofia."
"Take care on your journey."
Having bid farewell to the innkeeper Sofia, Gauss left Gray Rock Town.
He did ask Sofia if she wanted to travel to Farlim with Gauss’s family, but Sofia refused.
She grew up in Gray Rock Town, and her father is buried in the town cemetery. Even knowing Gray Rock Town isn’t as safe as Farlim, this is the place she is familiar with.
Gauss thus didn’t say much more, only advised her to seek help from the Adventurer’s Guild anytime if she encounters troublesome matters.
Outside the city, Gauss flew onto the dragon’s back.
His teammates sat on the dragon’s back, as for his family, they traveled north with other caravans on safer routes.
The journey wasn’t close; riding the dragon was an ordeal for them.
"Let’s go!"
Thinking about heading to the most prosperous city in the entire Cold Jade Province, his heart danced with inexplicable excitement.
As Hephaestus slowly spread its wings, the scenery below swiftly shrank.
It turned its body, flying towards the north.
...
The snow on the outskirts had completely melted, and vibrant green shoots emerged from the cracks in the dark soil.
"Thunk!"
A greenish foot stepped on the shoot, crushing the tender little life into the mud.
"Squawk!"
Hunched over, with dark green skin, a goblin ran frantically, clutching a crudely made short spear.
Its companions behind were continually making noise, as if something terrifying was chasing them.
"Boom!"
In the next moment, several Flaming Arrows precisely pierced through their hearts.