That should have been handled?

I slid the paper across the desk to Brie before she looked it over. Seemingly impressed by the writing, or just the fact I could write at all. She did pause towards the end of the paper however. A small line at the end that I had purposefully left blank. "Sir, you've left the bottom line unfilled. Did the village not pay you? There should have been an agreed upon sum waiting for you."

"Ah... about that. I turned it down. They were good people and I couldn't bring myself to take their money. Especially... well we found something while exploring the forest. Looking for the ruins. A not so small boulder that had split open at some point. Took us some time but we collected the crystals." Taking my bag I sat it on the counter. Pouring out the contents before gathering what wasn't necessary. A pile of those strange rocks giving off their soft glow in the light.

"Mr. Kross... what is this‽" She almost stumbled back as the mountain of crystals flooded out onto the counter. She stared at them in complete disbelief. Picking on of them up before holding the purple rock over it. The same thing she used to scan my hand and assess my ranking. "Leo... these are... give me some time." Brie pulled out a small bucket, probably for trash but thankfully empty. She scooped the crystals into it before turning away from the desk in a hurry. Leaving to the back of what I could only assume was the offices.

"Okay?"

With Brie leaving me alone I just leaned up against the counter facing the doorway. Noting how very few people came in this early. Even if Brie was already behind the desk it didn’t seem that many people cared to be early. At the time I chalked it up to being a smaller village. No point in having a massive horde of adventures rushing to get their jobs. Not as if they would need to worry about someone taking all of the 'oh so hard earning jobs'.

Leaning against the counter I started to find myself thinking on the last time I'd been to the Adventurer's Guild. There were a few people coming in and out of the building, some having a drink, some simply sitting in the surprisingly empty room. The room itself was a decent size. Maybe 50 feet deep with benches, tables, and a bar along the far wall. Though there wasn't anyone manning it at the moment. Probably due to the time of day. What made me really begin to think is that I hadn't seen the hall ever busy. Even during the height of the day when Yura first brought me it wasn't that packed. Just a few people here and there. I made a mental note to ask Brie if I'd get the chance. Considering she's basically the only form of representation I'd gotten so far it made sense to ask her.

That was until she finally came out. This time without a trash bucket full of crystals, but a small note. It took another moment for my eyes, mind, to focus as the strange symbols shifted and warped. On it was a simple message. A receipt. What seemed to stop my mental capacity was the number written.

"3,000!"

"Brie... this can't be right. That's... they're just crystals!"

"Mr. Kross... will you please come with me?" She used that professional tone. The one she'd used when she started her spiel earlier. As if it was practiced but... this time it felt more out of respect. Like she was... no, she was addressing me as an actual customer. A client. "Please, this won't take long. The Administrator would like to speak with you in regards to the boon you've brought in. It exceeds our maximum that we can pay a silver rank. In normal circumstances. Please, right this way."

I shook my head at the rather crazy number. Sure, I hoped the rocks would be worth something... but several grand? I could mine that cave and live like a king! Side not for later, mine the cave dry and live like a king.

I **** myself out of my frozen state as Brie walked over to the small flap in the counter. Similar to the kind old saloons would have. A lifting plank to walk through. What's the name for those? As Brie stepped aside I walked through the flap. Joining her as she left to the door once again. This time letting me through first before she put a small card on the counter. Probably a 'Be Back Soon' type card. Though I didn't get a chance to really think about it before the door shut behind me and she lead the way once more. Guiding me down the long hallway, past almost a dozen doors, all the way to the end. A large red door with metal bands going from corner to corner. Bracing it. As if it would be beaten down at any moment.

With a palm on the door Brie easily pushed it open. Sliding effortlessly as if it weighed nothing. Inside the room was rather mundane. On either wall there stood large bookshelves filed to the brim. Some of them showing real signs of age, while others looked brand new. In the center there was a large rug with an embroidered elk. Large and magnificent. The craftsmanship was spectacular. Moving my eyes up there stood a large desk with a man sitting behind it. Short black hair, piercing silver eyes, and even from behind the desk I could guess he must have been around my height. Maybe even taller. His invite was carried with a soft smile and wave of his hand. He gestured to the seat across from him as he rose up. Making his way over to a side table where a bottle and glass cups sat.

"Ah, Mr. Kross, please come in."