Chapter 531: The Second Team

Lucan had endured many unpleasant experiences throughout his career as an Adventurer, but watching Leon Drakar become the world’s first officially registered Adventurer Team Leader was rapidly approaching the top of his list.

The problem was not that Leon had established a team. Lucan considered the new Guild service an excellent development, one that would eventually transform the way Adventurers organized expeditions and pursued collective achievements.

The problem was that Leon had done it first.

Again.

And the captain of the Ardent Sun Knight Order had been insufferably pleased with himself ever since.

Three days after the registration, Lucan entered the Grand Guild Hall and discovered several Adventurers discussing the newly established team near the mission boards. Its permanent name and crest were still being decided, but that hadn’t prevented the news from spreading throughout Headquarters.

Lucan listened briefly before approaching the reception counter.

"I’d like to examine my current advancement records," he informed the attending clerk, placing his Adventurer identification upon the polished surface.

The clerk recognized him immediately and retrieved the appropriate ledger. "Of course, Sir Lucan. Your recent accomplishments have already been entered, including the escort assignment you completed last week."

Lucan examined the records with considerable attention.

His progress was respectable.

Unfortunately, respectable was not Platinum.

---

Garran Holt encountered Lucan shortly afterward and immediately recognized the expression on his face.

"You’re here about your rank again, aren’t you?" Garran asked, approaching with several documents tucked beneath his arm.

Lucan closed the ledger. "I’m reviewing my progress. There’s nothing unusual about that."

"Naturally," Garran replied, although his expression suggested otherwise. "You’ve reviewed it three times this week."

Lucan gave him a measured look. "Then you’ll appreciate how seriously I take accurate recordkeeping."

Garran sighed before examining the latest entries. "Your accomplishments are accumulating steadily, but you still haven’t fulfilled the requirements for Platinum. Completing more missions will help, provided they’re appropriate to your abilities and properly verified."

Lucan nodded. "I’m aware. I intend to establish the world’s second Adventurer Team."

Garran paused.

Then he slowly lowered his documents.

"Second?"

"Leon has already claimed the first," Lucan explained, as though the answer should have been obvious. "I see no reason to surrender the next opportunity."

Garran regarded him for several moments before replying, "You might want to reach Platinum before announcing that ambition to everyone."

Unfortunately, someone had already overheard.

---

Mina stood several paces away, holding a freshly purchased pastry.

Her eyes brightened immediately.

"Lucan, are you making a team?" she asked, approaching with unmistakable curiosity.

Lucan turned toward her. "Eventually, yes. I intend to establish the second officially registered Adventurer Team."

Mina tilted her head. "But you’re not Platinum."

Lucan’s expression tightened. "Not yet."

The girl took another bite of her pastry, appearing to consider this information carefully.

Then she smiled. "So you can’t make one."

Garran abruptly became very interested in the documents he was carrying.

Lucan inhaled slowly. "Mina, I’m perfectly aware of the requirements. I said I intend to establish one."

Mina nodded with exaggerated seriousness. "After you become Platinum."

"Yes, Mina," Lucan answered patiently.

"Like Leon already did?"

Lucan closed his eyes.

Garran turned away, his shoulders trembling suspiciously.

---

The situation deteriorated when Leon himself entered the hall.

He had come to discuss several matters concerning his newly registered team’s preparations, but the sight of Lucan standing beside a delighted Mina immediately caught his attention.

"Good morning, everyone," Leon greeted them cheerfully. "What’s happening here?"

Mina hurried toward him. "Leon! Lucan says he’s going to make the second Adventurer Team, but he can’t because he’s not Platinum!"

Leon looked toward Lucan. A broad smile spread across his face. "Ah. An unfortunate difficulty."

Lucan folded his arms. "One that will be resolved soon enough."

"Naturally," Leon replied, nodding sympathetically. "I remember how challenging the journey to Platinum can be."

Lucan stared at him. "You reached it recently, Leon. There’s no need to speak as though you’re recounting an ancient legend."

Leon laughed. "Five months of relentless effort can feel like a lifetime."

Mina burst into giggles.

Lucan looked between them before shaking his head. "I sincerely hope the Guild eventually establishes regulations against excessive boasting."

Leon considered the suggestion. "Wouldn’t that interfere with your own celebrations when you finally reach Platinum?"

Garran decided it was time to leave before someone involved him in the argument.

---

The commotion eventually attracted Sage Alistair, who had been passing through the hall on his way to the Grand Library.

He approached the gathering and immediately noticed Lucan’s expression.

"Should I be concerned?" Sage asked, glancing between Leon and Mina. "Or is this another ordinary morning?"

Mina hurried to his side. "Uncle Sage, Lucan wants to make the second team, but Leon says he needs to become Platinum first!"

Sage raised an eyebrow. "Well, Leon is correct about that."

Lucan looked betrayed. "Guildmaster Sage, I haven’t disputed the requirement."

"Then what’s the problem?" Sage asked with an innocent expression.

"The problem," Lucan replied, glancing toward Leon, "is that certain individuals seem determined to remind me of it at every opportunity."

Sage considered the complaint before nodding gravely. "An unfortunate situation. Perhaps completing more missions would help."

Leon laughed loudly.

Lucan stared at the Guildmaster. "You’re enjoying this."

Sage smiled. "Immensely."

---

Once the laughter subsided, Sage took the opportunity to clarify something important.

"Joking aside, Lucan, the founding requirement won’t change simply because someone is exceptionally strong or possesses influential connections," he explained. "Every prospective Team Leader must first earn Platinum Adventurer Rank through the Guild’s established procedures."

Lucan nodded, his expression becoming serious. "I understand, Guildmaster. I wouldn’t want special treatment."

"Good," Sage replied. "The requirement exists for a reason. A Team Leader will be responsible for an organization whose accomplishments, reputation, and conduct are recorded under the Guild."

Leon folded his arms thoughtfully. "And once someone qualifies, their team begins at Bronze regardless of the founder’s personal rank."

"Exactly," Sage confirmed. "Individual Adventurer Rank, Team Rank, and Warrior Rank remain separate. A powerful Knight doesn’t automatically become a Platinum Adventurer, and a Platinum Adventurer doesn’t automatically lead a Platinum Team."

Mina listened carefully before looking toward Lucan again. "So you have to work hard twice."

Lucan sighed. "Yes, Mina. Thank you for explaining my future difficulties so clearly."

Sage struggled to suppress another smile.

---

Lucan’s ambition, however, was not entirely unreasonable.

Over the preceding months, his mission record had improved considerably. He had participated in dangerous expeditions, accepted assignments requiring careful judgment, and contributed to several important Guild activities.

His involvement in the acquisition of Greyfen had also been properly documented.

Nevertheless, advancement required the complete accumulation of qualifying accomplishments, not merely a handful of impressive achievements.

After speaking with Sage, Lucan returned to Mission Administration and began examining the available assignments.

He selected an investigation concerning missing merchant caravans along a distant trade route, along with a separate mission involving the protection of an important supply shipment.

Garran reviewed both requests carefully.

"These are substantial assignments," he observed. "You’ll need reliable companions, particularly for the investigation."

Lucan nodded. "I intend to recruit an appropriate party before departing."

Garran approved the arrangements once the necessary conditions had been satisfied.

As Lucan collected the documents, he glanced toward the hall where Leon was still speaking with several Adventurers.

His determination hardened.

The second team would be his.

Provided nobody else reached Platinum first.

---

Unfortunately, that possibility was becoming increasingly real.

Leon becoming the first Platinum Adventurer had already encouraged many experienced Guild members to pursue advancement more seriously.

The introduction of Adventurer Teams intensified that interest.

Established companies began examining their members’ individual records, hoping to identify Adventurers who might eventually qualify as founders.

At Greyfen, Alaric Fenwick of the Ironcrest Company discussed the new requirements with several of his companions following a successful expedition.

"If we want official Team recognition, someone needs to reach Platinum," Alaric remarked, examining the announcement delivered from Headquarters.

One of his Warriors glanced toward him. "Wouldn’t you be the obvious candidate, Captain?"

Alaric smiled faintly. "That depends upon whether my Guild accomplishments satisfy the requirements. Commanding a company doesn’t automatically grant me the necessary rank."

The discussion soon turned toward future missions and the possibility of pursuing additional assignments alongside their dungeon expeditions.

Similar conversations occurred among other experienced companies.

---

Roland Ashcombe of the Blackthorn Vanguard also took an interest.

His company’s earlier encounter with the crystalline stag on Greyfen’s thirteenth floor had already encouraged him to improve their preparations.

Now, the prospect of establishing an officially recognized Adventurer Team provided another reason to strengthen their Guild records.

Roland examined the registration requirements before addressing his companions.

"We won’t gain anything by rushing," he told them. "Our immediate priority remains preparing properly for another expedition. If those accomplishments eventually qualify us for Team Registration, we’ll consider it then."

His companions agreed.

Elsewhere, independent Adventurers began discussing the possibility of joining future teams rather than founding their own.

Some preferred the security of working with familiar companions, while others hoped to earn places within organizations led by accomplished Platinum Adventurers.

The new service was already influencing decisions throughout the Guild.

---

At Headquarters, Garran found himself receiving an increasing number of questions concerning advancement requirements.

Some Adventurers wanted to know whether their previous missions counted toward their personal records. Others asked whether participating in Greyfen expeditions could improve their standing.

Several powerful Warriors appeared genuinely surprised to discover that their combat strength did not exempt them from the ordinary procedures.

Garran patiently explained the same distinction repeatedly.

A Warrior’s Star Rank measured combat ability.

An individual Adventurer Rank reflected verified Guild accomplishments.

An Adventurer Team Rank represented the collective achievements of a registered team.

The three systems served different purposes.

By the end of the week, Garran had instructed his clerks to prepare additional written explanations for the reception counters.

He was beginning to suspect that Team Registration would create as much administrative work as Greyfen itself.

---

Several evenings later, Lucan returned from his first new assignment with a completed report and a noticeably tired expression.

He entered the Grand Guild Hall shortly before sunset, intending to submit the documents before retiring to the Adventurer Hotel.

Unfortunately, Mina was waiting near the reception counter.

She noticed him immediately.

"Lucan!" Mina called, hurrying over. "Did you become Platinum?"

Lucan looked down at her. "Good evening to you too, Mina."

The girl smiled sweetly. "Good evening. Are you Platinum now?"

"Not yet," Lucan answered, handing his report to the attending clerk.

Mina nodded thoughtfully. "Then Leon is still winning."

Lucan looked toward the ceiling for several moments.

Somewhere, he suspected, the gods were laughing at him.

---

That night, Sage reviewed the latest registration inquiries inside his office.

Boren placed several additional documents upon the desk, including requests from experienced Adventurers seeking information about the new Team system.

"Interest continues increasing," Boren observed. "Several established companies have begun encouraging their members to complete more Guild missions."

Sage examined the reports with satisfaction. "That’s encouraging. Team Registration should reward meaningful accomplishments, and it appears Adventurers are beginning to understand that."

Boren glanced toward another document. "Lucan has already accepted additional assignments."

"Of course he has," Sage replied, smiling. "I imagine Leon’s achievement will continue troubling him until he reaches Platinum himself."

Boren chuckled. "Do you think he’ll become the second Team Leader?"

Sage considered the question before looking toward the growing collection of inquiries.

"Possibly. But there are plenty of ambitious Adventurers in this Guild, and some of them are beginning to take the competition seriously."

Beyond the office, the Headquarters remained crowded with Warriors preparing for new expeditions.

Leon had established the world’s first Adventurer Team.

Lucan was determined to establish the second.

And across the Guild, other accomplished Adventurers were beginning to imagine the banners they might one day raise.

The race had begun.