It is said that someone saw the members of the Golden Team and Thorn Heart entering the city gates; these two adventure groups are almost at the apex of adventurers’ power in Barry City.
Just as Gauss thought, although the Guild’s summons are not mandatory, the vast majority of adventurers would pay respect, thanks to the high credibility that the Adventurer’s Guild has maintained as a huge continental machine.
The sudden influx of adventurers coupled with the recent presence of the Timbel Maze in Barry City, which had already brought in many adventurers, resulted in lodging costs at many hotels increasing by several folds.
This morning, Gauss woke up from a deep sleep.
A formal invitation arrived together with several luxurious carriages.
The envelope was sealed with golden wax depicting crossed sword, staff, and shield, with a line of delicate script: Barry Adventurer’s Guild · Secretariat.
Opening the envelope, he pulled out the paper folded into standard thirds; written on the high-quality stationery embossed with fine silver threads in neat and solemn writing was the following text:
"To Mr. Gauss, leader of the Red Dragon Team:
This is to inform you that a special meeting will be held the day after tomorrow at noon, on the third floor of the meeting hall at Barry Adventurer’s Guild headquarters.
I have heard of your valor and strength, and sincerely invite you to take the time to attend.
Attached are four carriages for your and your companions’ convenience in traveling back and forth.
With respect, Barry Adventurer’s Guild."
At the end of the letter was a small personal stamp.
Although the letter did not mention the purpose of this meeting, it was clear that the local Guild respected him enough to dispatch carriages and drivers to their residence to await two days in advance.
Yet the more that was done, the more he cared about this meeting.
He had a feeling that this matter might not be small.
Otherwise, Barry Adventurer’s Guild wouldn’t have gone to such lengths, especially recalling adventurer groups exploring and fulfilling commissions outside was no simple matter; without sufficient compelling reasons, the subsequent impact might not be small.
After reading the letter, Gauss had the Guild-dispatched drivers settled in comfort.
Then, he went to the training field in the backyard for a brief spell training; Ivan clearly did a thorough job, selecting this residence for its spacious training field.
After practicing a bit with low-destructive magic to ensure his body hadn’t slacked off after two days of rest, Gauss informed a few others and went out.
He had already informed Haylir in advance about visiting today.
Quite a few of the Red Dragon Team’s business, under his directive as captain, opted to cooperate with Haylir’s Golden Beak Trading Company.
Haylir initially wanted to visit personally, but Gauss considered that Aaliyah and others at his location had little relationship with Haylir, and to avoid awkwardness, he decided against inviting her over.
Gauss arrived by carriage at the front of Haylir’s house.
After all, Haylir’s family owned a trading company; although it couldn’t compare to medium and large companies and nobility, it already counted as somewhat affluent compared to ordinary civilians.
The residence was located in a relatively quiet yet central area of the outer city.
Two rows of neatly trimmed low holly along the porch revealed daily tending by specialists.
As Gauss just stepped off the carriage, he saw Haylir and her parents, alongside several attendants, waiting at the steps in front of the main house.
She was dressed today in a dark green gown, overlaid with a short cloak of the same color scheme, her hair meticulously groomed with a fringe draping one shoulder, distinct from the temperament when Gauss first met her in Gray Rock Town.
There was less of the competence, more of the gentle femininity.
Time has left marks not only on him but on everyone.
Actually, Gauss felt quite mixed emotions at this moment.
With his current strength, facing this former teammate, he undoubtedly had the capability to fulfill her initial dream of becoming an adventurer, and with his protection and guidance, the prospect of advancing into a Professional was very likely.
But it seemed she had completely accepted her fate with delight.
After the complexity of thoughts flashed through his mind, seeing her family beside her, he suddenly felt a sense of relief; being an adventurer was not the only meaningful life.
At least she was doing well now.
So, Gauss did not voice the fleeting thought.
Instead, he lifted the corners of his mouth into a faint smile.
"Haylir, we meet again."
The woman opposite him, seeing the radiant smile under the sunlight, became more dazed.
Breathing halted momentarily, her mind seemed to freeze temporarily.
Only when her mother tugged on her sleeve did she regain her senses, usually still sharp and capable in front of others.
"Gauss..."
He looked too perfect, with not a single flaw in his appearance, almost giving an unrealistic impression; even the air seemed fresher in his presence.
He seemed even more remarkable now than the "Gauss" described in newspaper articles.
And only at this moment did she truly feel that Gauss was no longer in the same world as she was, not due to changes in mundane identity and status, but a fundamental disparity derived from the level of life.
Especially since she wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with Gauss, and a considerable part of her impression remained from before, the impact felt from body to soul became strikingly intense.