At this moment, Jansen was far from looking impressive.
Even with Nyx — a miracle in human form — escorting him through levels of growth, the journey to find that legendary treasure map had still taken him deep into the heart of the stony plains. Alone, he had braved the desolate wilds, crossed paths with vicious beasts, and burned through every ounce of strength and patience.
In the past few days, he had even gone toe-to-toe with multiple magical beasts, honing his skills through blood and sweat. The result was plain to see: a tattered cloak, armor split at the seams, clothes soaked with beast blood and dust — he looked every inch a vagabond swordsman crawling back from a battlefield.
Baxter's gaze swept over him like the edge of a blade, his brows knitting.
"Alone? Operating in the deep regions of the Stone Plains… Don't tell me he's a material hunter?"
On this continent, material hunters carried a poor reputation.
They made their living stripping monsters for parts, and more than a few of them resorted to robbing or even killing other adventurers for faster profit.
For someone like Baxter, a noble-born guard, such people were beneath contempt.
But Fiona's eyes lit up ever so slightly. She tugged at the corner of Baxter's cloak and whispered,
"Baxter… If we let him join, we'll have exactly enough people to enter that secret realm."
"Let a material hunter into the team?" Baxter's frown deepened.
Fiona grew impatient.
"He's alone — even if he has ill intentions, it's unlikely he can threaten us. Secret realms aren't opportunities you stumble upon every day… If there's even one golden-tier artifact inside, our harvest will multiply several times over. Are you really going to pass that up?"
Baxter fell silent.
Baxter studied Jansen carefully — young, steady in bearing, yet clearly not a high-tier class–changer. Strength like that was well within his control.
Inside the secret realm, as long as they kept a close eye on him and prevented any reckless moves, even if he harbored ulterior motives, he wouldn't be able to stir up much trouble.
Besides, with the Wagner family name behind them, who would dare act rashly?
At last, Baxter gave a slow nod.
"Fair enough. Zelda, go speak with him — tell him we're willing to pay a hundred thousand gold for him to join as a temporary member and enter the secret realm with us. He just needs to follow along, no fighting required."
"Understood."
The leather–clad woman, Zelda, stepped forward. In an instant, her footsteps became soundless and swift — the signature of her class skill, Swiftstride, boosting her agility until she moved like a shadow in the wind.
Jansen's senses were razor–sharp; he stopped before she even got close, turning with guarded eyes.
"What do you want?"
Zelda halted ten meters away, hands raised slightly in a gesture of peace.
"Easy. I'm here on behalf of my lady, to discuss a deal."
"What kind of deal?"
"Simple," Zelda said with a faint smile. "One hundred thousand gold to join our team for a trip. All you need to do is follow us — no fighting. The moment it's done, you get paid."
She paused, adding with deliberate weight,
"For a material hunter, that's quite the bargain."
"One hundred thousand gold just to make up the numbers?" Jansen's eyes glimmered in understanding.
"Sounds like you've found a secret realm with a strict headcount limit."
Zelda didn't deny it. Once a secret realm was spotted, hiding it was pointless.
Jansen cared little for gold — but the rewards of a secret realm? Those piqued his interest. He had only come here chasing a treasure map, yet he'd stumbled upon a short–handed team bound for a secret realm.
How could he possibly let such a chance slip away?
"Who's in charge of your team? Take me to them," Jansen said bluntly.
Zelda felt a flicker of annoyance — it was hardly polite to bypass her and demand to see the captain — but she swallowed it down.
"Fine. Follow me."
The two of them made their way back down to the foot of the mountain, one ahead, one behind. Fiona stood there with the other guards, all waiting in silence.
Zelda stepped up beside Baxter and Fiona, murmuring a quick report on Jansen's reaction — a man clearly intrigued by the secret realm, perhaps even a touch greedy.
Baxter nodded, stepped out from the group, and extended a hand, carrying the quiet pressure of a seasoned warrior.
"A pleasure to meet you. Allow me to introduce myself — Baxter, chief steward of the Wagner family."
"The Wagner family?" Jansen narrowed his eyes, then reached out to clasp his hand.
"Would that be Lord Albert Wagner's family?"
Baxter's lips curved into a proud smile.
"The very same."