Her body trembled slightly as she slowly nodded, her gaze becoming incredibly focused, even carrying a trace of reverence.
She approached the brand-new test target just brought up by the staff, who were still panting heavily, its surface glowing with freshly reinforced runes.
This target was much thicker than the previous one, the runes more intricate and brighter.
Helga took a deep breath and slowly gripped the mithril staff.
Unlike Lillisa’s exaggerated charging, she infused her entire body with a controlled surge of vast magical power.
The runes on the staff lit up, weaving yellow light and silver brilliance, emitting an overwhelming aura.
She lifted the staff slightly, her entire presence suddenly intensifying.
The wave of magic caused her robes to flutter wildly.
Eileen kept glancing at her, signaling encouragement.
Helga closed her eyes and began adjusting the intensity of the magic output—a task simpler said than done.
The magic surged like a roaring tide.
Sweat beaded on her forehead as, after a long moment, she finally unleashed a magical blast onto the target.
Numbers flickered on Catherine’s monocle: 1000, 2000, 3000… finally stabilizing at a figure: 6587.
“6587!”
The moment the number stopped, Helga immediately retracted her staff.
She exhaled softly and looked at Eileen, her eyes seeking confirmation.
Underneath her mask, Eileen’s taut nerves relaxed slightly, and she nodded almost imperceptibly.
Well done! Although it exceeded the ideal 5000 mark, it was definitely within the acceptable explanation range of “C-rank elite with overpowered equipment”!
Catherine let out a long, silent sigh, feeling a cold sweat break out along her back.
6587! Still high, well beyond an average C-rank, but compared to the earth-shattering 880,000 from before, it was like a gentle spring breeze!
And judging by the mage’s sweat-drenched face, it was clear she only managed to reach this result through equipment amplification and precise control.
So it really was the gear! Otherwise, she wouldn’t have had to exert so much effort just to cast a spell—proof that the equipment and foundation didn’t match!
That made sense. They truly were a group of noble ladies, not some grand experts as she’d feared!
Immediately, she switched to a bright, enthusiastic smile: “Mage Helga, combat power evaluation: 6587! You’re just one step away from B-rank! Keep up the good work!”
Next was Eileen’s turn.
She walked to the target and drew the mithril longsword from her waist.
As the blade unsheathed, its clear ring once again drew attention.
Without extra movement, she flicked her wrist, and sword light, like a flash of cold lightning, struck the target three times in rapid succession!
Such exquisite swordsmanship!!
The numbers on the lens jumped: 5!
Five! A combat power of only five?
Catherine rubbed her eyes, nearly thinking she’d read it wrong.
Looking again, the “5” was painfully glaring!
How could it be just five? That number was unbelievably low! Almost the level of an average adult.
But judging by her stance and demeanor when she struck, it couldn’t possibly be just five combat power!
Feeling Catherine’s suspicious gaze, Eileen blushed slightly.
She really only had five combat power—unchanged for decades.
What good was beautiful technique? Her swordsmanship was indeed quite refined! After all, her mother, Cecile Marquis, was a disciple of the former Sword Saint!
But Eileen’s swordplay was purely for show, dealing no real damage.
“Shall we test again? Maybe the machine is malfunctioning?”
Eileen waved her hand: “No, it’s fine. That’s really my level.”
Another test would only add to the embarrassment.
Catherine looked at Eileen skeptically; her sharp intuition told her this woman wasn’t telling the truth!
She seemed nervous, hiding some unspeakable secret!
Something was off.
Thinking this, Catherine loudly announced: “Eileen, combat power 5!”
The shameful number surprisingly drew no laughter.
This white-haired woman was their captain, after all.
Captain with only five combat power? Impossible!
Everyone believed she was hiding her true strength!
All, including Catherine, thought so unanimously!
Seeing Eileen’s relieved expression, Catherine narrowed her eyes slightly.
With teammates boasting thousands of combat power, this captain must have at least ten thousand, right?
Intentionally hiding her power, huh?
What a clumsy trick for a noble lady!
Her gaze toward Eileen deepened with a smile.
*****
Lillisa stepped up again under Eileen’s stern glance.
Facing the brand-new target radiating powerful rune energy, she was noticeably more “cautious.”
She clenched and unclenched her small fists, seemingly trying to “control” her power.
In the end, she chose to lightly side-kick it, like a dragonfly skimming water.
“Boom!” A muffled thud.
The target didn’t budge, its runes flickering faintly.
The numbers on Catherine’s lens jumped: 4785.
“Female Brawler Lillisa, combat power evaluation: 4785!” Catherine’s voice was cheerful.
“Looks like the old target was the problem. This reading is much more reasonable! Her reflexes and agility are excellent!”
The dust settled.
The “Masquerade” team’s combat power numbers were clearly displayed before everyone: Rita 2876, Helga 6587, Lillisa 4785, and as for Eileen…
Unfathomable! Catherine thought.
Except for Eileen, the rest had relatively high combat power for ordinary adventurers.
But with that dazzling mithril equipment shielding them, everything seemed “reasonable.”
The hall buzzed with murmurs: “So it’s all the gear,” “Money really helps,” “As expected,” and other mixed feelings of admiration, envy, and jealousy.
The previous shock and fear had completely given way to complex emotions.
Catherine smiled again.
She swiftly registered the info and pulled out four brand-new brass-colored C-rank Adventurer Badges, handing them to Eileen:
“Congratulations, ‘Masquerade’ team officially registered! These are your badges. As a new team, you can start accumulating experience and reputation from C-rank missions. The guild quest board is over there—you all can pick any missions that interest you.”
Eileen took the badges, her gaze scanning the fleeting gleam deep within Catherine’s ice-blue eyes.
She casually weighed the badge in her hand and remarked with feigned nonchalance:
“Efficient. Looks like your guild’s ‘accidents’ are quite frequent, letting your test targets age to this state. But that’s good—it saved us some trouble.”
She deliberately paused, raising her voice slightly to ensure some eavesdropping adventurers nearby could hear:
“By the way, during the equipment showcase, someone seemed very interested in our ‘mithril gear.’ Top secret info, by the way—if you keep heading toward the border, beyond the mists, you’ll find a place called Raven’s Domain!”
“The previous lord got into trouble and was purged, fled with his little aunt, and all the doubly enchanted mithril weapons in the warehouse are on clearance—only 1500 gold coins each. Don’t hesitate! Stock is limited, and once gone, that’s it!”
Her words hit the crowd like a stone thrown into a still lake, instantly stirring a subdued gasp and even hotter gazes.
1500 gold coins! Still astronomical, but compared to the usual 3 to 4000 gold for doubly enchanted mithril gear—this was practically a clearance sale!
And it seemed the gear was at least at +10 enhancement stage!!
Catherine frowned slightly.
Why did she feel these women weren’t here to be adventurers, but rather to deliberately push equipment sales?
Thinking this, she stepped forward and whispered to Eileen:
“Miss Eileen, you’re officially adventurers now. If you have time, would you hear me out on a request?”
Her face showed a subtle anxiety that piqued Eileen’s curiosity:
“Trouble? You’re entrusting this to a new team like us?”
Catherine nodded, lowering her voice:
“King’s Rest Valley—the Valley of Death—is in the Wind-Eroded Wasteland west of the Tower of Judgment. Recently, some passing adventurers claimed to have seen signs of Demon Race and heretic activity there—”
“Demon Race?” Eileen raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“Shh—” Catherine put a finger to her lips, her ice-blue eyes shimmering mysteriously.
“The intel isn’t fully confirmed yet. The guild is still assessing it, so it hasn’t been made public. But the source is highly credible. The environment inside the Valley of Death is complex, filled with monsters. Ordinary C-rank teams enter only to die. But you’re different!”
Her gaze swept over the dimly glowing mithril gear on Eileen and her team.
“With such powerful equipment at your side, as long as you’re cautious and thorough in investigation, bringing back valuable intel—or… clues—is absolutely feasible! Once confirmed, the mission rating and rewards…”
She deliberately prolonged the last word, “… will be unimaginably generous!
Moreover, if there really is a Demon Race mole operating, your ‘Masquerade’ team, as the first to discover the clues, will have its name instantly spread throughout the adventurer world!”
Catherine’s tone brimmed with incitement, painting an enticing picture.
There truly was something inside the Valley of Death!
The legendary Hero’s sacred weapon, the ‘Holy Sword’ Barumke, was there!
Discovered first by the Demon Race, it was already baiting a trap!
That fabled weapon once wielded by a former Hero, said to have slain the Demon King, now lay dormant in the deepest part of the Valley of Death!
Catherine knew well how tempting the Holy Sword was to humanity, but though it bore the sacred name, it had long since become a rusted relic in the passage of time!
Even if humans retrieved it, there was no risk.
Besides, the sword was stuck in a stone—Catherine had secretly sent someone to try; it was impossible to pull free!
In other words, this bait was tempting but completely risk-free!
Meanwhile, the Valley of Death was already wrapped in a deadly net set by Lord Shadowfang, desperately awaiting more bait to lure greedy fools!
Once you bring back news of the Holy Sword and attract more reckless adventurers into the Rift… Lord Shadowfang’s feast will begin!
A Four Heavenly Kings-level ambush, combined with elite Demon Race hunters, would wipe out human adventurers near Sol City in one sweep!
Then not only would the Holy Sword fall into Demon Race hands, but these dazzling mithril weapons would become their spoils as well!
Eileen was silent, seemingly weighing risk against reward.
Behind her mask, only her golden eyes shone deep and steady, fixed on Catherine’s icy gaze.
After a moment, she spoke calmly and evenly:
“Sounds like… an opportunity we cannot miss. ‘Wailing Rift,’ investigating Demon Race leads. This mission, ‘Masquerade’ will take it.”
Catherine’s smile instantly bloomed like a poisonous flower, dazzling and almost uncanny:
“A wise choice, Captain Eileen! Trust me, this will be the glorious start of your adventuring career! I’ll have the mission briefing delivered to your resting place. Wishing you… swift success!”
Eileen nodded slightly, saying no more, turning to lead Helga, Lillisa, and Rita out of the guild.
Behind them was Catherine’s meaningful gaze and countless complex looks still lingering on the team.
They stepped through the heavy guild doors into Sol City’s dusk—murky and bustling.
The setting sun stretched their shadows long.
Helga leaned close to Eileen’s ear and whispered, “Eileen, what do you think of that top-secret intel? I have a feeling… something’s not quite right…”
Eileen’s footsteps didn’t falter, her golden eyes reflecting the cold gleam of the sunset, lips curling into an almost joyful smile:
“What’s there to fear? It’s just the Valley of Death. Could it be harder than Endymion City?”
Helga frowned: “Precisely because of the Endymion City deception, we should worry if this might also be a trap!”
She muttered softly: “I heard once you enter the Valley of Death, you never come out…”
Eileen was dismissive: “There aren’t that many coincidences! Relax, especially with me around, no problem! But we do need to consider the trap possibility. Let’s gather more info these days instead of trusting only Catherine’s side…”
Watching the two quietly discuss, Lillisa tilted her head, hesitant to speak.
She had a strange feeling about Catherine’s somewhat ‘dark’ magical aura, vaguely familiar yet impossible to put into words.
Probably just her imagination, right?
In the shadows of a guild alley, a pair of narrow eyes gleamed with ill intent, watching Eileen and her group.
After confirming their inn, the figure silently slipped away.
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