Eina came back carrying a heavy crystal ball larger than a basketball.
"Hmm, put your hands above this crystal ball," Eina said while reading something from a book.
"What does this thing do?"
"You'll know soon," she replied, her eyes still glued to the pages. After a few minutes, she closed the book and smiled.
"At your level, this preparation is necessary. Okay, let's start." Eina spread her hands, closed her eyes, and began to chant. She had no magic power within her, yet her recitation of the enchantment was enough.
A language unknown to John began to flow smoothly from her mouth as she cast the spell.
Nothing grand happened — the crystal ball only lit up for a moment and then dimmed. Right after, an Adventurer ID Card came out from the crystal ball, much like a bank card ejecting from an ATM.
Eina grabbed the Adventurer ID and handed it to John. "Any information within the card won't be leaked. Only your name, age, and level are readable. The rest — only you and your goddess can see."
"How about you guys?"
"We can, but we're not allowed to reveal it. Our lives depend on that."
"So the Guild employees already saw through me?"
"Yes," Eina said calmly.
Most of the Guild possessed extremely powerful devices capable of almost anything. They were known as Smartphones — tools granted to the Guild by the entity that ruled over everything, also known as the Guild Boss.
Most people didn't understand their true capabilities — only certain individuals who had reached a specific level of power, the Guild, and those like them.
"Figures."
Moving forward, John checked the Adventurer ID in his hands — also known as the Adventurer Card or AIC.
The card displayed a 1x1 picture of him, his name, age, race, height, weight, and Familia. When John saw his age, which displayed his true one, his mouth twitched. Anyone who managed to see it would be stunned — or horrified — after all, his age was hundred digits, followed by a note stating "Absolutely accurate calculations."
He sighed and continued to read. The ID also showed his Adventurer Level and Power Level.
The Adventurer Level followed the Falna leveling system — still a mystery to me — while the Power Level system felt both familiar and strange. There were too many changes in its scaling.
His Adventurer Level was still Level 1, while his Power Level was ??? Level.
There was more information written on the card, such as Familia name and addresses. Only his age, name, height, weight, race, and Adventurer Level were clearly displayed. The rest was blurred and unreadable to everyone except him, his goddess, and the Guild employees.
"So, what's next, Miss Tulle?"
"Would you like an adviser, Mr. Alver?"
"What are the benefits of having one?"
"A free teacher for Dungeon Diving 101, dungeon know-how, a Monster Encyclopedia, and an information source for adventurers. They're experts in dungeon data, give access to the Guild's restricted facilities, provide bureaucratic support, offer life-saving advice, and train you to become a great adventurer," Eina explained with a smile.
"Any downsides?"
"Only fifteen percent of your loot," Eina replied.
"That's it? A good deal. But tell me, is your teaching about the dungeon based on experience or just theoretical study?"
"Experience. Keep in mind, though, that the learning materials and information are limited by your strength. We won't discuss topics beyond your level — knowledge requires the strength to bear it," Eina said calmly.
"Can I choose my adviser?"
"Yes, you can. At your level, three advisers are needed to accommodate your needs."
"Then, how about you and Miss Flott? I'll let you choose the last one."
"Okay."
"Anything else?"
"None. Your registration is complete. We'll meet tomorrow to start your lessons, and you'll meet the last adviser then."
"Sweet. See you tomorrow, Miss Tulle."
"Just call me Eina."
"Alright, then call me John. See you tomorrow."
I was about to leave when I suddenly remembered something I needed to know.
"Do you know any real estate companies? I haven't encountered one since I arrived yesterday."
"There are no real estate companies in the city. The Guild handles that."
"Then can I trouble you?"
"Sure. Follow me." Eina walked out from behind the counter, carrying a large book like it was nothing.
She led me outside.
"Any requirements?" Eina asked while glancing around the bustling street.
"A simple, medium-sized house with a large backyard I can use as a farm."
"Hmm." Eina opened the book, reading through it to search for estates that matched John's request.
"Sorry, but there are no estates that meet your requirements," she said apologetically.
"How about a vast, rundown, or abandoned block? I can clear it and build what I want."
Eina smiled. "There is one. I can show you." She was about to hand John the book, but he refused.
"I want to see it personally."
"Okay, follow me."
An hour later—
In an abandoned sector of the city, two figures walked along its cracked brick streets: one was a beautiful half-elf, the other a short, handsome man.
They were Eina and John, who had just arrived at the outskirts of the abandoned district. Most houses were still intact, though aged and worn. Some were still occupied by the poor — desperate souls clinging to what remained.
"So this is the place, huh?"
"Yes, but we need to go deeper," Eina replied.
The duo continued walking into the heart of the sector.
Tall structures and buildings still stood despite their crumbling, mold-covered state. Lone pillars, coated in moss, marked the remnants of great structures long forgotten. Leaning towers riddled with cracks and holes, walls overtaken by vines — the streets and parks had long been reclaimed by nature. Some parts were submerged in murky water; others had collapsed into piles of debris.
Mountains of ruins surrounded them.
On a tall, moldy pillar, John and Eina stood, overlooking the abandoned sector.
"So this is it. How big is this place?"
"Twenty square miles," Eina answered.
"How much of it is for sale?"
"Eighty percent," she replied.
"The price?"
"Ten billion valis in total," Eina said.
"That's quite cheap."
Eina sighed helplessly. "This place is considered worthless. It's too costly to develop."
To use this land, they'd need to clear countless debris and ruins — a process that would consume enormous time and money. Most avoided buying it because of that. But John was different.
"This is perfect. I'll buy it."
"Congratulations, you now own this sector. Here are the titles and documents. Sign these, and everything will be complete," Eina said.
After signing the necessary ownership papers, she took out another document.
"What will be your payment method? Installment or cash?" Eina asked.
"Installment."
"Thank you for everything, Eina."
"You're welcome. See you tomorrow."
Eina left and returned to the Guild, while John remained on top of the moldy pillar, watching the estate — no, the sector — that he now owned.