Sorry for not updating new chapters. I was sick and traveling a lot, so I wasn't able to upload.
From now on, I assure you that I'll be uploading chapters regularly—around 8–10 chapters per week.
Please note: there will be no uploads on Tuesdays.
"If you're reading this, my apologies."
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"Before that, let's first check your rank," Arius said as he took out three gems from his pocket.
The three of them nodded in agreement and each raised a hand to take one gemstone from Arius.
Gemstones are special items that can measure or test a person's strength level. Their nature allows them to change color based on the user's power.
They can only be used once; after that, they turn into ordinary colorful stones. Some lose all value and become nothing more than paperweights or simple trinkets for common folk, while rarer ones retain beauty and worth, often becoming prized accessories among nobles.
For nobles like Arius, obtaining fresh, unused gemstones was fairly common. For commoners, however, it was a rarity—something Arius could clearly see reflected in the eyes of Sarah and the others.
The method of using a gemstone was simple. One only had to place it on their palm and channel a bit of energy into it. The stone would then shift from its ordinary white hue to another color, revealing the user's strength.
The most difficult part of the process was learning to infuse just the right amount of energy into the gem—too much or too little, and some people found themselves unable to awaken its glow at all.
The ranks were divided according to the color each gemstone revealed. The possible colors were red, green, blue, yellow, purple, and finally, gold.
Each color rank also had its own variations, often called "forms" or "levels," which allowed for more precise evaluation of one's strength. These sub-levels made the gemstones a reliable tool for measuring ability.
The ranks were divided as follows:**
Red – The lowest rank, representing beginners. It had three levels, distinguishing those just starting from those with slightly more developed energy.
Green – The next step above red. It had two levels, often marking the difference between a trainee and a fully capable fighter.
Blue – A respected rank, symbolizing talent and growth. It had four levels, allowing finer separation among skilled warriors and elites.
Yellow – Regarded as a very high rank. It had three levels, showing clear distinctions between advanced users.
Purple – The second-highest rank a gemstone could reveal. It had two levels, each denoting mastery far beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Gold – The pinnacle of all ranks, the rarest and most revered. It had only one form, as those who reached gold needed no further distinction—such individuals stood at the very peak of humanity.
Arius stood silently, waiting to see their ranks revealed by the gemstones.
In his eyes, however, these gems existed for one purpose only—to divide people. To him, they were neither scientific nor truly precise. Yet, despite their flaws, gemstones were regarded so highly because they remained the only tool humanity possessed to measure strength.
Daren was the first to try. He focused and infused his energy into the gemstone, and slowly, the stone began to glow, its hue shifting into a faint light blue—revealing his rank within the Blue tier.
Then Sarah stepped forward to try. She placed the plain-looking gem on her palm and, with steady focus, successfully infused her energy into it. The stone shimmered before shifting into the same light blue hue as Darren's, marking her rank.
After that, it was Cora's turn. At first, she struggled, finding it difficult to channel her energy. But after several tense seconds, she managed to push a small flow into the gem. That little effort was enough—the stone reacted, glowing with a blue that was neither too light nor too dark, but somewhere perfectly in between.
By observing the glow, it was clear that Cora's rank was slightly higher than both Sarah's and Daren's. Realizing this, Cora grew shy and quickly lowered her gaze, half-hiding her face. Arius, however, remained silent as he collected the gemstones back from them.
Sarah then spoke in a gentle, kind tone. "Is this enough for us?" she asked softly, her smile lingering as her eyes remained fixed on Arius, unable to look away.
Daren finally opened his mouth, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Are you… a noble?" he asked, studying Arius with interest.
Arius replied calmly, "No, I'm not. I'm just a mercenary."
Daren looked as though he wanted to press further, but Sarah's subtle glance was enough to silence him. He closed his mouth without another word, respecting her unspoken warning.
Arius handed the gemstones back to them, his tone calm and dismissive. "You can keep them. I don't need them."
The three of them accepted the gems with bright smiles, clearly delighted by the gift. Sarah, however, lingered longer than the others her eyes drawn not to the stone in her hand, but to Arius himself, quietly admiring his calm and the effortless charm in his nature.
"I'll now explain the details of your work," Arius said.
All three—Sarah, Darren, and Cora—turned their eyes toward him in silence.
"I want you to provide me with support and backup during the raid," Arius continued, pausing for a moment to make sure they understood. "There will be another party present as well, working alongside us."
At the mention of another party, a flicker of doubt appeared in Darren's eyes. He spoke up, his tone uncertain. "Another party? If there's already another group, why would they even work with us?"
"I'm sorry, but I don't understand any of this," Darren admitted, confusion plain on his face. Sarah and Cora shared the same uncertainty.
"You don't have to worry about the other party or your share—I'll handle that," Arius said in a light tone.
The others were still dumbfounded by his words. If another party had already been assigned to the labyrinth, how would they even be permitted to enter? And if they did manage to get a permit, how would the rewards or items be divided?
Sensing their doubts, Arius spoke again, this time with reassurance. "You'll be working with me separately from the others. I'll make sure you receive your rewards."
The three of them were still uncertain, finding it difficult to fully understand his words.
Realizing that explaining further might only create more confusion, Arius decided not to dwell on permits or entry requirements. Instead, he shifted the topic and began telling them about the labyrinth itself.
"The labyrinth we're entering is classified as Level B. It should be fairly easy for us to complete alongside the other party," Arius explained.
A Level B labyrinth was not considered especially dangerous, which made it easier for him to convince them. That was precisely why Arius had chosen to hire them—being a small group, they were easier to manage and far simpler to persuade into working with him.
"A Level B labyrinth… it's still highly dangerous for us," Darren said, his tone with doubt. He clearly didn't trust Arius fully and wanted more information.
"You don't have to worry," Arius replied calmly. "You're only going as my support think of yourselves as a second party."
"Still, that makes it sound like you might use us as bait," Darren shot back, suspicion lingering in his voice. Sarah and Cora remained quiet, simply listening to the conversation.
"I'm not using you as bait," Arius said firmly. "I only need some support, and I'll make sure you receive sufficient rewards in return." His voice carried a steady conviction as he tried to ease their concerns.
Sarah finally stepped forward, her expression gentle yet resolute. "I believe him," she said softly. "Besides... I can feel he's not that kind of person."
Her words made Darren hesitate, his protest faltering on his lips. Cora, still shy but gathering courage, added in a small voice, "I… I think the same. He doesn't seem like someone who would throw us away."
Darren exhaled sharply, crossing his arms. Though still cautious, he didn't argue further. For now, Sarah and Cora's trust in Arius was enough to quiet his doubts.
Still, concern in Darren's eyes. He was not someone who could be swayed by Arius's face or charm the way the others were.
Finally, Darren accepted the deal with Arius and shifted the conversation toward their earnings.
"How much are we going to get from this raid?" he asked. Doubts still lingered in his mind—they were going to act as a second party, yet they barely knew any details about the raid itself.
Arius met his gaze calmly. "You'll each receive twenty-five silver coins from me once the raid is over. On top of that, if we happen to claim items or resources not already divided among the other party, you'll get a share. I don't plan to send you home empty-handed."
At the mention of twenty-five silver coins, all three of them were left stunned. For a second party in a raid of this scale, such a payment was unexpectedly generous—far higher than anything they had imagined.**
Darren's eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering across his face. "That much? For us?" His tone carried doubt, as though he was trying to find the catch.
It was still hard for them to believe they would receive twenty-five silver coins—a payment far too generous for the work involved.
In Darren's eyes, this only deepened his suspicion. The task wasn't worth nearly that much, and the unusually high reward made him question Arius's true intentions.
Arius decided to offer some form of assurance about the work. "If you want to doubt me, that's on you," he said firmly. To him, explaining every little detail any further felt like a waste of time.