The Rise of the Black Plain

After explaining the function of the guild, that attendant finally said the last crux of this place. "As you can see, on this wall behind me, there is a great classification."

"For now, it's empty, but that's because we've just started working, and no missions were completed. So, in short, for each mission you finish, depending on its classification, you or the group that performed it will gain a certain number of mercenary points."

"And what do these mercenary points do?" One of them asked.

The attendant then continued to speak. "Several things. For example, this can serve to raise your status within the guild, get certain benefits, exchange items, or even special services."

"At some point, two factions might want to take on the same mission. In this case, the one with the highest contributions, that is, the highest number of mercenary points, would have the advantage in such a situation. Another circumstance is the case of local public services. They won't always be so cheap and easy to get. In this case, the points can be used to get 'passes' in those places."

"Another example is items sold here. We have an agreement with the Black Plain Army, which says that our guild may sell disuse artifacts of this organization."

Dillian had suggested such a thing. After all, with the development of the Minos army, the day would naturally come when soldiers could have weapons equivalent to their cultivation levels.

In this case, the low-ranking weapons could be passed on through the Mercenary Guild, a location that would certainly have several fighters from outside the Black Plain in the future.

Perhaps at some point, the population of the Black Plain would have a much higher purchasing power than now and perhaps have the ability to buy high-level items. But what about the people of the rest of the northern part of the Central Continent?

These people would certainly not improve as much as the citizens of Minos' territory. With this, they might want to buy disuse items from the local army!

Another essential thing, Minos would not impose restrictions on the origin of Mercenary Guild members. As long as the person paid for registration and obeyed the rules, anyone could register at this location.

This service was not intended to become a military force but a civilian force. Therefore, Minos would just run this place from the shadows with the financial support of the local government. However, in typical situations, he would not get involved in the daily affairs of this service.

Minos had appointed a high-ranking soldier to command this place on his behalf. Such a position of guild president would be occupied by army soldiers of the highest available rank, in this case, a Sergeant at the time.

This role of president would be valid for two years until another soldier alternated the position of command. Finally, although this period could increase in the future, it would not be acceptable for the same soldier to command this place for more than one time.

And such a thing would be handled by the administrative soldiers, like what old Joey wants to do. And there were several like him in Minos' force, as previously many of these people were just ordinary citizens.

Anyway, when the two old men heard the explanation about this classification, they were very interested in it. After all, this was a chance to get secondhand artifacts below the average prices.

In the Spiritual World, not only in the Minos region, secondhand artifacts were generally sold for almost the same price as when new. It wouldn't matter if it already had a defect or two. As long as it could function perfectly, it would still sell for a high price even if something was frayed or dented.

Because of this, even second-hand objects were not cheap at all for the standard population, like these Dry City citizens.

An example of this was young Stuart's first sword. Previously Minos had paid 400 crystals in the auction that had taken place in the Maritime City, where he had won the bid for that item, against the late Darell Silva.

Such a sword was a secondhand one, and while it worked perfectly, it had several battle marks before reach into Minos' hands.

However, even if he were to buy a new version of that same sword, Minos would have to spend almost the same amount!

Low-level grade-2 objects produced by blacksmiths would cost exactly 400 medium-grade crystals on average!

Obviously, Minos had only spent this amount because Darell had competed with him for several bids. However, that weapon could have been sold for over 300 medium-grade crystals without the interference of other people.

And precisely because of all that, these two old men were pleased to know that there would be a possibility that they would earn enough points to purchase army weapons!

It wouldn't cost them anything!

They would already have to do missions and earn the crystals, so those mercenary points were a bonus from their point of view!

"Amazing!" One of them commented in satisfaction.

The other then asked. "But how many points do we earn through the missions?"

"Each completed mission yields a value, and 20% of the value in crystals is converted into points. That is, an F- mission pays 100 low-grade crystals. In this case, by completing such a mission, in addition to receiving the 100 crystals, a mercenary would also receive 20 points."

"In any situation, a D- mercenary can receive a reward of 14 medium-grade crystals. At the same time, he would receive 280 points for completing such a mission." She finished explaining.

"I see..." The two commented at the same time.

'That's fair. They won't just give us points equivalent to crystals, as it is already a bonus for us. But those numbers are also good enough to help… 20% is not too little…' One of them thought about it for a moment before finally clenching his fist and saying. "How can we register?"

The receptionist smiled and said. "Give me your identification, and I'll register you. After that, you will have to go to the administration. You just need to follow the signs on the walls until you get there."

"There, you will prove your cultivation level and then receive a rating. After that, you will be duly registered with the Mercenary Guild and will be able to accept missions."

"Just that? Hehe, so let's do this soon!" One of them exclaimed in satisfaction as he placed his ID on that counter.

After that, the two old men finished their preliminary registration and went to prove their cultivation level in the administrative part of the building.

...

As those two men finished officializing their entry into the Mercenary Guild, several people who had already done so were now looking at the few missions available at this time.

Only two screens showed the missions available to F- and F+ mercenaries, those between levels 30 and 40.

There on that screen, some missions were listed, with the rank of each one, reward value, and essential restrictions. However, as for the possible details of each job, this did not appear there, as such a screen only served to present these opportunities to the mercenaries.

If anyone wanted to know more about the missions, they would have to ask for the information with one of the attendants.

Anyway, some people who were there were already reading each of these mission publications.

'F- mission;

Helping local hunters protect the fields;

Restrict: Each dead beast will belong to the contracting party. The mercenary will receive a share of only 30% of its value. NOT NEGOTIABLE!

Reward: 100 low-grade crystals for one week and 20 mercenary points.'

...

'F+ mission;

Help local hunters to exterminate a group of Red-eyed Hyenas;

Restrict: Each dead beast will belong to the contracting party. The mercenary will receive a share of only 50% of its value. NOT NEGOTIABLE!

Reward: 200 low-grade crystals for one week and 40 mercenary points.'

...

'F+ mission;

Escort to the Maritime City;

Information: Help the group travel safely through the Black Plain;

Reward: 200 low-grade crystals and 40 mercenary points for the time needed to go to that city.'

...

There were several other missions there, related to other escorts, help with certain services, from analyzing the local terrains and even helping in training young warriors.

And of course, there was the part related to advertisements for the private services of the Dry City.