The Executioner''s Guild headquarters was not a grim building; on the contrary, it was grand and imposing, quite contrary to its name.


    There were no guards at the door, and in the guild hall, a few people were sitting, either drinking and chatting or discussing matters, giving it a somewhat deserted look.


    "Hello, adventurer. How can I assist you?"


    The receptionist''s polite greeting made her seem more like a dedicated service worker from amercial guild than from an adventurer''s guild.


    "I''d like to take on amission," Ansel said straightforwardly. "Something simple and direct."


    "Amission?"


    The receptionist seemed a bit surprised but didn''t ask further. She skillfully took out a piece of parchment and handed it to Ansel.


    "Alright, please sign here... Someone will soon take you for a capability assessment. After a brief test, you can take onmissions from the bulletin board."


    Adventurer guilds were numerous, and most of the time,missions within the guild were highly sought after. Only veryrge guilds would have a backlog ofmissions, and even then, it was unusual for outsiders to take on these tasks. Outsiders doing guildmissions poorly would tarnish the guild''s reputation, so no sensible guild would allow that.


    However, the Executioners permitted outsiders to take on their internalmissions, indicating their unique status. Ansel casually signed "Faust" on the parchment and handed it back to the receptionist.


    The receptionist, upon seeing the name on the parchment, disyed a slightly exasperated expression. Nevertheless, she dutifully smiled at Ansel before picking up the telecrystal and discreetly moving to a corner of the reception desk. She whispered:


    "Hey, Swordfish, we have an outsider here for amission. Some fool who thinks signing a false name can trick the contract. Yes... Give him some simple tasks, make sure nothing gets messed up—"


    "We''ll skip the strength assessment part."


    As the receptionist continued her hushed conversation, Ansel nonchntly interrupted, "Check your contract scroll, miss."


    The receptionist instinctively turned around, almost dropping the telecrystal in shock. The parchment she had ced on the desk was now… engulfed in a deep, inky ckness, decaying into a pile of rot within mere breaths.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Such ordinary contract scrollsck the capability to halt the tracing process immediately. Even if tracing the signer is a futile act of self-destruction, it will persist," the young Hydral remarked with a squinting smile.


    "I suggest purchasing higher-quality contract scrolls in the future. They will more reasonably alert you to the signer''s danger level, rather than making it seem as if there''s an issue with the scroll itself."


    No, no, no! It''s already dangerous enough! What more warning is needed?!


    The receptionist was petrified, frozen in ce with fright.


    "Now, can Mr. Faust proceed to undertake amission?"


    Marlina interjected at the right moment.


    "... Ah? Ah! Yes, yes! I''ll call someone right away!"


    The receptionist, now pale-faced, hastily covered her mouth and spoke rapidly into themunication crystal. In less than half a minute, someone arrived to guide Ansel.


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    "This is… Lord Faust?"


    The neer was a middle-aged man with a thick beard, who extended his hand warmly to Ansel. "I''m the deputy head of the Executioners'' Guild—"


    "Just take Mr. Faust to the bulletin board," Marlina interrupted, stepping between him and Ansel, her gaze fixed on the man''s eyes. "Please refrain from unnecessary actions."


    She didn''t even allow the middle-aged man to introduce himself. The severe expression on her delicate, fair face clearly conveyed her stance.


    The middle-aged man, presumably the deputy head of the Executioners'' Guild, was momentarily taken aback. He scrutinized Marlina for a while, seemingly unable to believe that such a bold and haughty girl blocking his path could be an ordinary human.


    However, he wasn''t angered. Instead, he shrugged with a smile and said, "Alright, I''ll take Lord Faust to the bulletin board... By the way, do you have any specific requirements for themission, Lord Faust?"


    "Something straightforward and direct—eliminate the target and collect the reward."


    "Oh... Those types ofmissions are quite popr, so there aren''t many left," the deputy head remarked, stroking his chin.


    "After all, everyone prefers simple tasks... If any of those remain, it means they''re somewhat tricky."


    He nced back at Ansel and chuckled suddenly, "But for you, Lord Faust, I doubt it will be an issue. Let''s head to the third floor."


    As they left the first-floor hall, the atmosphere immediately became more lively. The second floor was bustling with many adventurers, likely because a bar was set up here, and the bulletin board was also located in this area.


    "Everyone usually spends their time here... drinking and chatting," the deputy head said nonchntly as he led Ansel up to the third floor.


    "Speaking of which, there''s a recent rumor about Lord Faust... Have you heard of it?"


    "There are always many rumors about me; which one are you referring to?" Ansel replied casually.


    "Hahaha, it''s about that Zero Realm Enigma a few kilometers away. People who returned from there said they encountered an adventurer of monstrous caliber, who could cleave a sea ofva with a single sword strike. And supposedly... supposedly, one of the exploration permits received by the Whistling Legion was issued by Faust."


    As the deputy head said this, he stared unreservedly at Ansel.


    "Although they tried to keep the news under wraps, someone still leaked it... Do you find this anecdote interesting, Lord Faust?"


    Having arrived at the bulletin board, Ansel began to scrutinize the scantmissions posted, ignoring the deputy head''s question.


    Thetter stared at Ansel for a long time before finally giving up with a sigh. "Very well, I won''t disturb you from taking amission. If you need anything else, please—"


    "This one will do," Ansel interrupted, tearing off amission slip.


    Handing it to the deputy head, the dark-haired youth''s lips curled into a slight smile. "You have quite the nerve to post such amission."


    The deputy head''s expression subtly changed upon reading themission but soon returned to normal. He smiled, "This is merely our branch premises. The Executioners do not fear the Whistling Legion; posting amission is not an issue."


    ncing at the clock on the wall, Ansel spoke calmly, "I''ll return in an hour. Make sure the client is notified to be present in advance."


    "...An hour?"


    Before the deputy head could react, Ansel was already striding towards the staircase.


    At the same time, he noticed the slender girl who had earlier blocked his path, holding amunication crystal. Her tone was indifferent, as if discussing dinner ns.


    "Miss Yvaine, I need the location of Milo Palmer Leo, now. Yes, the brother of Bryce Palmer. You have three minutes."


    "Meet him? No, not at all."


    "Mr. Faust simply needs to borrow his head, that''s all."


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