Hayley circled around Gauss twice.
She was filled with astonishment.
She wasn’t unfamiliar with people who changed a lot, but those changes always took years.
She had firsthand experience with childhood friends who were cheerful when young but became reserved and dull as they grew up due to differences in social status.
But that was after more than ten years, during their developmental adolescence, so drastic changes were natural.
But Gauss?
It had been less than a year since they last parted.
Now, whether it was his appearance, temperament, or even strength, he was completely transformed.
Yes, although Gauss wore a modest set of casual clothes, Hayley still sensed an oppressive aura from him, the kind only professionals emitted.
That life-level gap wasn’t something clothes could hide.Especially since Hayley often encountered professionals in her daily life, she was even more familiar with that kind of aura.
Her movements became slightly more restrained.
“G-Gauss, and this is…?” Hayley looked at the tall half-snake person beside Gauss.
Unlike a regular shopkeeper, her perspective didn’t treat this half-snake person purely as a monster.
“This is my current teammate, Serlandul.”
“Hello, I’m Hayley, Gauss’s… former teammate.” Saying her own identity made Hayley feel a bit shy.
Calling herself an adventurer was inaccurate; she was just someone who impulsively ran away from home for adventure.
She had only experienced one special mission assigned by Mia and was beaten into facing reality.
“He’s bad.” Serlandul nodded.
He neither showed arrogance nor coldness, fitting Serlandul’s straightforward personality.
But I treat a very small number of people, especially those familiar, with that attitude.
Also, my reptilian face naturally shows little emotional expression.
So with familiar people, I tend to show little expression unless I really can’t hold back.
“Why don’t you two go downstairs and talk first?”
Gauss and Hayley walked down seven floors along the stairs.
Serlandul’s office was located there.
Besides some clerks in the small hall inside, no one else was around.
Before noticing the two newcomers, the tall clerk immediately lowered his head, only muttering after the group left the office.
“What would you like to drink?” Serlandul’s office wasn’t luxurious but was tidy, with a few carefully placed antique ornaments.
“Just tea.”
“Same here.”
The three sat down.
Gauss took the initiative to speak.
“How have you been recently?” He glanced around. “Hayley, you should be managing your family business now, right?”
Even now, he could still recall the hopeful expression on the young girl’s face when she first set out on her adventurer journey, talking about her future career.
That kind of emotion was genuine and couldn’t be faked.
“Yes.” Hayley sighed. “After that incident, I realized I’m not cut out to be an adventurer.”
After saying this, she exhaled deeply and showed a look of relief.
“Continuing as an adventurer would only bring danger to myself and burden my teammates. This stable life now, although a bit boring, is actually quite good, hahaha.”
Gauss’s gaze lingered on her smile for a moment.
His lips moved a few times before nodding.
“Yes, being an adventurer is mostly just struggling to make a living. It’s better for you to run your business with dignity.”
“Don’t say that.” Hayley waved her hand.
After chatting with Gauss for a while, she gradually let go of her initial restraint.
Despite Gauss’s completely changed appearance and temperament, he was still the same young man who made her feel comfortable.
Unconsciously, she relaxed more.
“You’re a professional mage now, right? Still keeping a low profile here!”
Her mouth curved into a smile.
Facing her former teammate, she felt no need to wear a business mask, and her smile became more sincere.
“You noticed?” Gauss thought that taking off his mage robe might hide some things, but Hayley saw right through him.
“Of course. Here, drink this. It’s green tea from the Tippei Manor. Try it.” Hayley served two cups. “And honestly, you shouldn’t still be a level 1 professional, right?”
She had met some level 1 professionals, but none carried the oppressive aura Gauss had now.
“Heh, almost, I just broke through to level 2…” Gauss told a small lie.
Actually, given his advancement speed, it wasn’t exactly just now.
“Gauss, you’re unbelievable, less than a year.” Hayley sighed. “I knew it, I knew you would become an extraordinary adventurer.”
“Still far from that.”
“Still far at level 2? If you came back in a few years, I might not be able to talk to you so casually.” Hayley smiled wryly.
Level 2 professionals might not sound high, but for most ordinary people, even in Barry City, they were important figures.
Their wealth was something a regular family could never amass in a lifetime.
And is Gauss really just a level 2 professional?
For others, level 2 might be the limit, but Gauss was only just starting because he entered the professional world recently.
He was only at the beginning.
Serlandul, who was sipping his tea, also looked at Gauss in surprise.
Less than a year, from a low-level adventurer to level 2?
That speed made even him gape in astonishment.
Then he felt a bit happy.
Although he didn’t join Gauss’s team because of combat power, with such talent, Gauss would soon break through to higher levels, making the entire team stronger.
That was always good.
“Enough about that.” Gauss took out a small pouch from his pocket and placed it on the table.
With the placement, the pouch jingled with the sound of coins.
“What’s this?” Hayley curiously looked at Gauss.
“This is the reward I received from the first mission in Grayrock Town, your shares.”
Gauss returned the portion of the first adventure reward to them.
Though 13 silver coins and 50 copper coins didn’t seem like much now, back then, it was a considerable sum for his first mission.
He had kept it all without spending a penny.
Though it seemed rigid, since the reward distribution was agreed in advance, he wouldn’t touch it. It was a matter of principle.
“The commission was 9 silver coins, plus 9 silver coins from the guild’s compensation, totaling 18 silver coins…” Since half a year had passed, Gauss explained the situation to Hayley.
“You…” Hayley suddenly recalled this.
Seeing Gauss’s serious expression, she couldn’t help but smile and feel touched.
He went all the way to return a reward they had long forgotten?
Looking at the pouch, Hayley didn’t refuse further.
She knew this money wasn’t much to Gauss; it was more about honoring the contract.
“Well, thanks.” Hayley put away the pouch. “I’ll pass Bell’s and Mia’s shares to them later.”
Bell and Mia were the swordsman and assassin in their first team.
“How are they doing?” Gauss asked with concern.
Both were seriously injured, and the team disbanded temporarily for their treatment.
“They’ve recovered.” Hayley pondered.
“But Bell’s injured leg still makes walking difficult. He’s now managing the family store. As for Mia, she’s preparing for the annual town hall clerk selection.”
“That’s good.”
Hearing that the injured were safe, Gauss breathed a sigh of relief.
A burden he had carried was finally lifted.
And it seemed each member of their first temporary team had a bright future.
Two young heirs taking over their ancestral businesses likely had no worries about food and clothing.
Mia was studying; maybe next time they met would be at the town hall.
“Should I arrange for Bell and Mia to come out for a meal?” Hayley asked.
Actually, not just Gauss, even she hadn’t contacted those two childhood friends for some time.
Everyone had been busy recently. Although they left adventuring behind, they still needed to strive for their futures.
This world had no pause button. Out of others’ sight, everyone silently moved forward.
“If it’s convenient, please contact them.” Gauss nodded.
Missing this meeting, no one knew when they’d meet again.
Though they were all in the same city now and sounded close, as everyone busied themselves, chances to meet would only grow fewer, and their next meeting might be the last.
“Okay.” Hayley went out and asked someone to notify them.
“Our trading company has recently started dealing with maze loot recycling and sales. Gauss, if you have loot to sell later, contact me. I’ll give you a fair price.”
“Okay.”
Gauss nodded, planning to discuss prices with Aria later.
If similar, entrusting Hayley’s company with loot handling was a good idea.
He wasn’t surprised Hayley’s company expanded its business.
The Maze lay west of the Forest Capital. Although the Golden Beak Trading Company was stationed in the northern district and the Maze in the southern wilderness, they could still share the business.
Selling loot was a vital link for adventurers and teams.
Combat was only part of field adventuring, not everything.
A healthy, positive cycle meant earning more, using profits to grow stronger, tackling harder monsters, and earning more rewards.
Thus, many adventurer teams cooperated deeply with trading companies.
For example, companies sent dedicated recovery convoys to collect loot outside the Maze from teams and supplied materials and provisions without delaying exploration.
“Miss Hayley, the restaurant reservation is ready.”
It was almost noon.
Gauss, Serlandul, and Hayley walked to a high-end restaurant on the same street.
After waiting in a private room for a while, Bell and Mia arrived together.
The guild staff who messaged them hadn’t explained much. They only knew it was Hayley’s invitation and wanted to catch up after a long time apart. Since it was nearby, they put down their tasks and came.
“Hayley, what’s the occasion today?”
Bell asked loudly as he pushed open the door.
Bell walked with a slight limp, but it wasn’t serious. His appearance matured a lot since more than half a year ago. He suddenly looked like a man rather than a boy, with a beard on his lips.
Mia’s changes were minor. She held a thick book and wore glasses, looking more quiet.
Mia, walking in with Bell, also felt curious.
Their eyes lingered briefly on the two “strangers” in the room.
Though they vaguely felt one looked familiar, they couldn’t recall who.
At this moment, both were confused why outsiders were invited to their gathering.
Hayley deliberately didn’t reveal Gauss’s identity.
“Let’s order first and eat.”
Bell and Mia glanced at Gauss again, then sat in the vacant seats near Hayley.
“The guests follow the host. Hayley, you order.”
Because of the strangers, the two were a bit reserved.
“Haha, I won, Gauss.” Hayley suddenly turned to him. “I told you they definitely wouldn’t recognize you!”
Gauss shrugged helplessly.
He really didn’t expect his old teammates to fail recognizing him. Looking in the mirror, he thought his facial features hadn’t changed much.
“Gauss… such a familiar name.” Bell muttered softly beside.
Mia suddenly widened her eyes as if remembering something.
Looking at Gauss, she gasped.
“You’re Gauss! Oh my god!”
No wonder she felt an indescribable familiarity the moment she entered.
“This really isn’t my fault. Your change is too drastic.” Mia’s face showed a bit of pressure.
Bell belatedly recalled something.
His memory went back more than half a year to the adventurer guild hall corner in Grayrock Town.
The boy in shabby linen clothes holding a wooden spear finally overlapped with the noble young man before him.
His mouth opened, filled with mixed feelings.
There was longing and joy at seeing an old friend, but also hidden inferiority and envy.
Hayley briefly introduced Gauss’s recent situation and Serlandul.
Upon learning Gauss was a level 2 professional, the two’s reactions were far more exaggerated than Hayley’s.
Especially Bell, who even borrowed Gauss’s official adventurer bronze badge, examined it carefully, and reluctantly returned it.
It was clear he still harbored the last bit of his adventurer dream.
But reality forced him to temporarily put the dream aside.
Although half a year had passed, and they were somewhat reserved, the overall atmosphere at the table was relaxed.
They each talked about what they had been busy with recently and their future plans.
The only outsider, Serlandul, didn’t disturb anyone and quietly ate with his head down.
However, from his occasional silent pauses, he clearly wasn’t as indifferent as he appeared.
Everyone enjoyed themselves and ate their fill.
Afterward, they waved goodbye at the restaurant entrance.
Gauss smiled watching them leave.
He believed parting was only for a better reunion.
This meeting eased his mind. His visit to the Forest Capital had already completed one goal.
Reunited with old friends (√), purchased a mount (√), explored the Maze (in progress).
Knowing his former teammates were doing well brought him an indescribable comfort.
But like them, he also needed to start working hard for his future!
“Next, shall we start the mission, Serlandul?”
“All right, Captain.”
They didn’t waste time. Before arriving in the western part of the city, they had already accepted a hunting mission outside the west city from the local adventurer guild branch.
Gauss had registered a team at the Grayrock Town adventurer guild long ago.
But the current mission target was just enough to push the team’s level up to 2, just a little short.
It was the perfect opportunity to sprint progress while Aria was “secluding.”
Once the team reached level 2, they could accept higher-level team missions, including exclusive Maze missions, earning extra rewards exploring the Maze.
“Let’s go.”
Gauss swung onto his ostrich.
This mission was to clear out goblins.
More than a hundred in number.
There was a high chance of elite goblin enemies.
Such a mission suited Gauss perfectly.
His two white-quality talents, Energy Storage Gland and Reptilian, both required killing goblins to upgrade.
Especially Reptilian, currently at the initial level, and this mission was just right to level up.
Besides, he was a goblin-killing expert. Early enemies had been mostly goblins. Yet now, the elite monster compendium lacked any goblin entries. How could that be?
It was time to get back into the old game.
The two figures quickly disappeared at the street’s end, heading toward the city gate.