Ryder and Kaela stepped out of the Guild Master's office, the heavy door closing with a soft thud behind them.
Kaela was practically vibrating, her eyes shining.
"D-Rank, Ryder! Right off the bat! And that waiver for the usual quest grind is pretty neat as well! The Guild Master clearly sees your worth!"
"It's an efficient arrangement," Ryder replied.
He appreciated Kaela's enthusiasm, even if his own was more contained.
He pulled out the bronze D-Rank badge, its metal cool against his palm. Another step forward, he thought, pocketing the insignia.
Just as the thought settled, a familiar mental flash accompanied by a subtle chime resonated in his mind.
[ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: RANK PROGRESSION I]
[Objective: Achieve Provisional D-Rank Hunter Status.]
[REWARD: +750 System Points. New Consumables Unlocked in System Shop: Iron Rations, Water Purification Tablets.]
"Well, how 'bout that," Betsy's voice purred in his thoughts.
"A nice chunk of points and some new supplies available. Always good to have options when you're out in the wilderness, Boss."
"The Guild Master mentioned Quartermaster Valerius," Ryder said, shifting his focus.
"Regarding your associate status and workshop access." He paused. "You mentioned being my associate in there. What exactly does that involve?"
Kaela nodded, her excitement transforming into a determined focus.
"Right! I'll head over and sort out the credentials with Quartermaster Valerius immediately. And yes, about being your associate..."
She bit her lip for a moment, then met his gaze.
"It means I'd formally work with you, Ryder. My main role, as I see it, would be to help maintain and... well, improve your anchor."
"Anchor smithing requires specialized knowledge. Most Hunters rely on Guild forges for basic repairs."
"But dedicated support is usually something only nobles or very high-ranking Hunters can afford, with smiths tied to their families."
She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm offering because, well, you saved my life, and this is one way I can repay that."
"Plus," a mischievous glint appeared in her eyes, "it gives me a valid reason to be around an active Hunter, access to Guild resources through you, and a great opportunity to field-test my own magi-tech theories and devices. It's a good arrangement for me too."
"But, of course," she added quickly, "if you'd rather work alone or don't want a magi-tech smith poking around, I completely understand. No hard feelings."
Ryder paused, considering her offer for a moment. "Betsy, what do you think?" he asked internally, keeping his expression unreadable.
"Well now, Boss, that girl's offering to be your personal pit crew, and for what folks 'round here think is your sword and shield, that's very generous," Betsy replied, her mental voice thoughtful.
"A dedicated mechanic who knows her way around 'magi-tech'? Could be useful for keeping up appearances with the gear you do show, and maybe she could even make some useful gadgets for us. She seems sharp enough."
"Do you think she's trustworthy enough to have her come with us?" Ryder pressed.
"That's the million-dollar question, isn't it?" Betsy mused.
"We'll have to see if she's truly honest, of course. Can't just let anyone get too close to our real secrets."
"For now, she thinks she's helping with a fancy sword and shield. She hasn't seen anything like me before, that's for sure."
Ryder considered that. The idea of someone else knowing about Betsy, the real Betsy, was a major risk.
"Still," Ryder mused internally, a new thought taking shape, "if she is trustworthy, and she's as good with this magi-tech as she seems to think... it could make things a lot easier for us. Especially for travel. If we could use your full truck form more openly..."
"Now you're cooking with diesel, Hotshot!" Betsy's voice picked up on his thought, a spark of excitement in her tone. "If she's a legitimate magi-tech smith with her own workshop, she could be the perfect cover!"
"Imagine: I roll out in all my glory, and she just tells everyone I'm her latest, greatest magi-tech marvel, Nobody would suspect a thing about a conscious semi-truck Anchor then, would they? We could travel in style and safety."
After a moment, Ryder said to Kaela, "We can discuss the details on that later. For now, you can focus on your workshop."
Kaela beamed with a bit of relief.
"Right! But for the kind of magi-tech I'm planning – complex Anchor modifications, energy matrix calibration, maybe even some new weapon prototypes – I need a dedicated, private lab. Not just a corner in a public forge."
She gave a firm nod.
"First things first, though: 'The Gilded Griffin' inn. I'll get us a couple of rooms for now. Then, I begin the great Oakhaven workshop hunt!"
"Solid plan," Ryder agreed.
"I'll check the bounty boards in the main hall. We can meet at the Griffin later this evening."
"Perfect!" Kaela beamed. "Good luck with the quests!"
With a final, energetic wave, she turned and headed down the corridor in the direction the attendant had pointed out for the Quartermaster's office, her steps light with purpose.
Ryder watched her go for a moment before turning towards the main hall of the Hunter's Guild.
He walked towards the far wall, which was completely covered by the bounty board – a massive, sprawling patchwork of parchments, notices, and roughly drawn maps, all organized under different rank headings: F, E, D, C, and even a few impressive B-Rank assignments.
He scanned past the F-Ranks and E-Ranks, his gaze settling on the D-Rank section.
As Ryder focused, his internal System interface flared.
[NEW SIDE QUESTS AVAILABLE]
[Corruption Cleanser I – Clear 3 extermination or area-secure type quests]
[Reward: 1500 Points]
[Team Player I – Clear one D-Rank or higher team quest]
[Reward: 1000 Points, Unlock Kinetic Dampeners]
Two new side quests, Ryder noted. The Guild Master did recommend a team quest. It makes sense to knock that out first.
After inspecting the quest board a bit more, his attention was eventually drawn to a particular parchment: TRADE ROUTE EXTERMINATION D-Rank, looking for 4 hunters, one slot open.
The main objective was to eliminate a large group of corrupted animals.
There were about forty to fifty of them, a mix of wolves, boars, bears, and others blocking a trade route. High urgency.
The Guild points were decent, and the Merchant's Alliance was offering a cash bonus.
Forty to fifty targets, Ryder thought. Straightforward extermination.
Good numbers for a first run with a team here. This gets the provisional status cleared and hits that team achievement.
He thought about Betsy. While her current setup was strong, something like "Kinetic Dampeners" to reduce impact shock would be a valuable addition for the rough-and-tumble work ahead.
This quest felt like the most sensible first step.
"The Crimson Road, huh?" Betsy's voice chimed in.
"Sounds like a proper brawl, Boss! Forty, fifty critters? We can stretch our legs on that one."
"Those bears will be tough, but nothing we can't handle. It's a good way to see what these other Hunters are made of too."
It was the most direct path to his immediate goals.
He skimmed the rest of the parchment: the requester was the Oakhaven Merchant's Alliance, contact Administrator Alistair Finch.
Armored wagon for transport. Departure tomorrow if the team is full, at high sun.
Three names were already on the sign-up sheet: "Hammerhand (D)," "Quickfoot (D)," and "Moonhowl (D)." One slot open.
Sounds like made-up Hunter callsigns, Ryder thought. Common enough in any group.
Just as he was about to reach for a stylus to sign up, a familiar, annoying voice drawled from behind him.
"Well, well. Decided yet, hero?"
It was one of the snarky Hunters from their arrival, accompanied by his two lackeys. They'd clearly failed to find an easy mark or a quest to their limited liking and had drifted back towards Ryder. "Or are the words too big on those D-Rank notices for a pretty boy like you? Maybe stick to the F-Rank jobs."
His companion chimed in with a sneer, "Yeah, we wouldn't want you to break a nail before your noble patron comes back to tuck you in."
Ryder barely spared them a glance, his attention still on the details of the Crimson Road quest.
He'd dealt with their type a thousand times before in the military, people who thought he was way too young to be in a leading position.
Before the lead hunter could spew more nonsense, Kaela's voice cut through the air, crisp and clear.
She had returned, a newly created Guild Associate's identification badge now clipped noticeably to her belt.
She took in the scene in an instant, her expression hardening as she stepped beside Ryder.
"Still spewing garbage, gentlemen?" she asked, her voice carrying an edge that made several nearby Hunters pause their conversations.
"Or have you finally found a quest that doesn't require actual skill?"
The lead hunter bristled, his face flushing.
"This is Hunter business, wrench-wench. Not for some sheltered tinkerer who probably faints at the sight of blood."
Kaela arched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow, her tone turning dangerously sweet.
"Oh, I've seen blood, darling. Gallons of it. And I've certainly seen incompetence. In fact, right now, I'm looking at a true masterclass in it."
She took a small step closer. "Perhaps you'd like a practical demonstration of how my 'tinkering' can connect rather directly with your teeth?"
The three Hunters, who had been acting tough and sneering moments before, clearly hesitated.
Kaela's sudden fierceness, the confident glint in her eyes, and the undeniable authority of the Guild Associate badge on her belt clearly made them pause.
They muttered something unclear, shuffled their feet, and then, with a final resentful glare, melted back into the crowd.
"Woo-ee! Kaela for the win!" Betsy cheered internally. "She should get herself a title: 'Silencer of Morons'! That was excellent, Boss, just excellent!"
A small, almost unnoticeable smile touched Ryder's lips – a rare sign of approval he allowed for Kaela's benefit.
He then turned back to the bounty board and, with a firm hand, signed "Rider (D)" on the last open slot for the "Trade Route Extermination" quest.
[QUEST ACCEPTED: "TRADE ROUTE EXTERMINATION"]
"Crimson Road," Ryder said to Kaela, his voice calm. "Tomorrow, at high sun."
Kaela let out a satisfied sigh, her fighting spirit fading as quickly as it had flared.
"Excellent choice. That many creatures will be a true test of your abilities."
They walked away from the busy bounty board area and towards the Guild Hall's main exit.
"As for me," Kaela continued, "associate credentials are in hand. And 'The Gilded Griffin' has two rooms for us – comfortable enough for now."
"The Quartermaster knew a property broker who deals in workshop spaces. I've actually got a couple of viewings lined up this afternoon."
A flicker of determination lit her eyes.
"One is an old, unused smithy down near the river district – good structure, apparently, but it would need a total rebuild for proper magi-tech work."
"The other is a secured warehouse space in the merchant district. It's more expensive, but larger and would offer better access for... deliveries, should I ever manage to get my larger equipment back from whatever happened to my carriage, or if I decide to build new systems from scratch."
She glanced at Ryder. "You should head to the Griffin, get some food, rest up. 'High sun' will come around quickly enough."
"I'll probably be tied up with these viewings and then some serious bargaining if one of them looks promising. I'll see you at the inn tonight."
"'The Gilded Griffin.' Got it," Ryder confirmed. "Good luck with the workshop hunt, Kaela." He paused. "And your... diplomatic skills... are noted."
Kaela grinned, a flash of her earlier fire returning to her eyes.
"Sometimes diplomacy requires a firm, well-aimed verbal wrench, Ryder. Some people only understand directness. See you tonight!"
With another wave, she turned and walked off with newfound energy, heading towards her first workshop viewing.
Ryder watched her for a moment, then made his way towards the inn, the details of the upcoming quest and the names of his new teammates already running through his mind.
The challenges and opportunities of Oakhaven were laid out before him, and a spark of excitement for the action to come lit within.