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Mireya smiled at Yuan and his wives, nodding at their arrival. "This is the office room where Robert is expecting to meet us," she informed them.
She raised her hand and knocked on the door, then turned the knob and pushed it open. "I've brought Yuan and his wives with me, as you instructed," she announced, stepping aside to allow them entry.
A voice from inside the room responded with a simple "Enter."
As Yuan and his wives entered the association office, their eyes fell upon the figure of Robert sitting behind a fairly large desk, engrossed in checking some files.
Hearing their arrival, he immediately looked up, a smile spreading across his face. He stood up, radiating respect towards the group that had defeated the fearsome Orc Lord and his army, saving the town from destruction.
"Welcome," Robert greeted them warmly. "I'm truly grateful for what you've done. I hope you've all been well-rested. I couldn't properly thank you yesterday, and we couldn't join the feast, so I asked Mireya to bring you here once you arrived." He expressed his gratitude, emphasizing the significance of their heroic act.
Yuan, Anna, Grace, Lily, and Emma exchanged glances, a sense of humility evident in their eyes.
"There's no need for thanks anymore," Yuan responded humbly. "We were merely protecting our own home, after all."
Robert shook his head with a soft smile. "That won't do," he insisted. "You are the savior of this town, and as the head of this hunter association, it is my responsibility to properly thank you. Unlike the useless city lord, I haven't forgotten my duty to check the state of my own town."
His gaze then fell upon Xi Meili, a young woman he hadn't seen with them before. Her otherworldly beauty captivated him, especially the pair of black deer-like horns adorning her forehead and the subtle scales that accentuated her charm. Robert found himself momentarily lost in a daze, unable to tear his eyes away.
Curiosity getting the better of him, Robert addressed Yuan. "Who might this young lady be?" he inquired, his surprise evident in his voice.
Yuan's smile widened, and he proudly introduced Xi Meili. "She is one of my wives, Xi Meili," he announced.
Robert was taken aback, his surprise evident on his face as he stared at Yuan in disbelief. Thoughts raced through his mind as he struggled to make sense of the situation. "This doesn't make any sense," he muttered to himself. "How can he have multiple wives at his age? And not to mention, each one of them is as beautiful as a goddess from heaven."
The room fell into a momentary silence as the weight of Robert's realization settled upon him.
Mireya nodded in acknowledgment as Yuan and his wives agreed to her suggestion. "Very well, I will excuse myself then," she said, her voice filled with efficiency. "While you talk, I will go and prepare the hunter's license for Miss Xi Meili."
However, before Mireya could leave, Robert halted her with a raised hand. "Wait," he called out. "Take Yuan and his wives' hunter licenses as well. We'll upgrade them to C-rank licenses."
Mireya paused, her eyebrows raising in surprise. "C-ranked licenses?" she repeated, seeking confirmation from Robert.
Robert nodded firmly. "Yes," he affirmed. "Considering their successful defeat of a horde of orcs and an A-rank Orc Lord, they are more than qualified for a rank upgrade. Such an accomplishment requires the abilities of an A-rank party. But Yuan, alone, managed to vanquish that monstrous threat. It's only fair that their hunter rank reflects their achievements."
Yuan and his wives exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of gratitude and understanding. They knew the true power and intelligence possessed by an A-rank monster. These creatures were formidable opponents, often requiring a full party of highly skilled hunters to be defeated. Yet Yuan had managed to overcome such a challenge on his own.
Robert continued, a hint of regret in his voice. "In a capital city, your actions would have easily warranted a promotion to B-rank or even A-rank," he explained. "However, this branch of the Association in our humble town can only grant promotions up to C-rank. I apologize for the limitations."
Yuan offered a reassuring smile. "It's alright," he replied. "We understand the circumstances. Anna, Grace, Lily, and Emma share the same sentiment." As he spoke, Xi Meili affectionately wrapped her arms around his left arm, displaying her support and pride.
With a sense of unity, Yuan, Anna, Grace, Lily, and Emma reached into their system storage and storage rings and retrieved their hunter licenses, presenting them to Mireya. Each license symbolized their dedication and bravery in protecting their home.
Mireya accepted the licenses and nodded appreciatively. "I will take care of the necessary procedures," she assured them before turning to leave the room. With their licenses in hand, she departed, leaving Yuan and his wives in the company of Robert.
As Mireya left the room to attend to the necessary paperwork, Robert's curiosity lingered in his mind. He couldn't help but ponder over the enigmatic group before him.
The sudden appearance of their hunter licenses had left him perplexed. He hadn't witnessed any magical gestures or sensed the slightest fluctuation of mana in the air when they produced their licenses.
It was as if they possessed some mysterious technique or power that defied his understanding.
Lost in thought, Robert muttered to himself, "Not only do they possess mysterious techniques and power, but their way of storing things is also incredibly mysterious. What kind of beings are they?" The question lingered in his mind, filling him with a sense of wonder and intrigue. He wondered if the beautiful woman, Xi Meili, held any clues to their origins. She didn't seem to be a demon, but her unique qualities left him baffled.
Shaking off his thoughts, Robert let out a sigh. "I should forget about it for now," he concluded. There were pressing matters at hand, and he had a multitude of responsibilities to fulfill. Dwelling on the mysteries surrounding Yuan and his wives wouldn't bring him any closer to finding answers.
Turning his attention to the group before him, Robert's gaze softened. "I have prepared a reward for saving the town and slaying the Orc Lord and its army," he announced, his voice filled with gratitude and admiration. "Please wait here while I go and fetch the reward for you from the locker room."
Yuan, Anna, Grace, Lily, and Emma nodded, their expressions a mix of anticipation and appreciation.
Robert gave them a warm smile before making his way towards the locker room, his steps filled with purpose.
A few minutes later, Robert reentered the office, a tray in his hands carrying two pouches. A genuine smile graced his face as he approached Yuan and his wives once again. Placing the pouches on the desk, he looked at each of them with appreciation and admiration.
"These pouches contain your well-deserved reward for protecting this town and slaying the Orc Lord and his army," Robert announced, his voice filled with gratitude. He reached for one of the pouches, filled with glimmering gold coins, and handed it to Yuan.
"For protecting this town during the orc invasion, we have issued an emergency mission," Robert explained. "As a token of our appreciation, we are awarding you with 5000 gold coins." The weight of the pouch emphasized the value of the reward, signifying the town's recognition of their heroic efforts.
Robert's gaze then shifted to the second pouch. "Additionally, we have come up with a reward specifically for slaying the Orc Lord and his army," he continued. "After careful calculations, we have allocated 57,500 gold coins as a reward for this accomplishment." He acknowledged that the amount might seem small, considering the magnitude of their feat, but explained that the limited funds of the small town posed a challenge in providing a more substantial reward.
Yuan accepted the two pouches with a small smile on his face, understanding the financial constraints of the town. "It's alright," he replied. "Given the critical state of the town and the ongoing construction work, we understand the circumstances. The reward is more than generous considering the situation."
Anna, Grace, Lily, and Emma echoed Yuan's sentiment, expressing their gratitude and understanding to Robert. They recognized the importance of prioritizing the town's recovery and the financial challenges that came with it. Their words carried a sense of unity and empathy, reflecting their commitment to their home and its well-being.
Robert nodded, his smile widening. "Thank you for your understanding," he said sincerely. "Your bravery and selflessness have made a significant impact on this town, and we are grateful for your dedication."
The room fell into a brief moment of appreciation and mutual respect as the weight of their achievements settled upon them. The gold coins within the pouches served as a tangible reminder of their valor and the town's gratitude.
Yuan carefully stored the two pouches filled with gold coins in his system storage. He turned his attention to his wives, a sense of contentment in his eyes, and addressed them.
"Now that we have received the appropriate reward," Yuan began, his voice filled with satisfaction, "let's head back to the reception hall and collect our licenses." He understood the importance of having their licenses in hand, as they symbolized their status as hunters.
Anna, Grace, Lily, Emma, and Xi Meili nodded in agreement, their expressions reflecting their readiness to complete the final step of the process. They understood that their licenses were not only proof of their accomplishments but also provided them with access to various resources and benefits within the hunter community.
Yuan then turned his attention to Robert, expressing his gratitude and intentions. "Thank you once again, Mr. Robert," he said, his voice carrying a genuine tone of appreciation.
"We appreciate the reward and the recognition you have bestowed upon us. Now, we will take our leave."
Robert smiled warmly, understanding their desire to complete the remaining formalities. "Of course," he replied, his voice filled with respect.
"I wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Your bravery and dedication have left a lasting impact on this town."
With a final exchange of nods and gratitude, Yuan and his wives made their way towards the door.
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