7: Disagreements

The trio arrived at the bar, finding a well-preserved wooden structure with two floors. The first floor served as the main room of the bar, where several tables occupied the space, and diverse conversations echoed in the air. The top floor, housing the mission board and the negotiator, was hidden in a discreet corner and accessible through a narrow wooden staircase.

Upon entering, everyone in the bar momentarily stopped talking, their attention drawn to the huge serpent's tooth that Adam carried in his hand. Some stared in silence, while others whispered secrets to each other. Unperturbed by the attention, the trio climbed the ladder to their destination. Adam and Chloe walked towards the negotiator, proudly displaying the trophies from their battle against the serpent. Leonard, somewhat put off by the bar's state, decided to focus his attention on the quest board. As he faced it, he found only one quest hanging from it. Acting quickly, he extended his arm to catch it but was surprised to find someone else doing the same.

Barry Williams, a blond boy with vivid blue eyes, exuded confidence as he locked eyes with Leonard. His golden hair fell in messy strands over his forehead, and his piercing gaze seemed to challenge anyone who dared to meet him. Though the same age as Leonard, his bearing and attitude revealed an aura of determination and pride. He immediately recognized Leonard as the rookie hunter who had been making a name for himself and decided to make a statement.

"Well, well, so you're that Leonard Flint guy, the rookie hunter who's been steamrolling everything," Barry said, his self-assured smile displaying a hint of arrogance. "I've heard about you, but you don't seem to be all that."

Leonard raised an eyebrow, showing no signs of intimidation. "Oh, really? And you think you're the best hunter in the region, is that it?" He snapped back, crossing his arms defiantly.

Barry laughed, a superiority complex evident in his expression. "Let's just say I'm on the right track," he replied without hesitation.

Leonard shot back without missing a beat, "On the right track to failure, perhaps. I don't sense any powerful aura emanating from you, let alone confidence in your voice. You must be just another hot-headed brat."

This infuriated Barry, and he went on the offensive. "Hey! Watch how you talk to me!"

As they exchanged barbs, the other members of Barry's trio, Rachel and Alice, approached. Rachel, a brunette girl with loose dark hair cascading around her neck, exuded wisdom and leadership through her dark amber eyes. Though she had an imposing presence, her gentle smile softened her appearance as she approached Leonard's group.

Alice, a white girl with cascading gray hair and sparkling red eyes, radiated curiosity and compassion. Though she had a delicate appearance, her gestures and posture exuded serenity and confidence.

Rachel quickly assessed the situation between Leonard and Barry, then addressed them in a diplomatic tone. "Barry, be reasonable and stop acting like a child. We don't need to fight about it."

However, the blond young man was still dissatisfied with Leonard's attitude, and Leonard chuckled softly as he was scolded.

"But look how he treated me! You expect me to stay silent after being offended like that?!" Barry protested.

Rachel sighed deeply to maintain her composure. "Put yourself in his shoes; no one would want to be treated like that. There are more diplomatic ways to resolve the situation."

A male voice interrupted them. Adam and Chloe, having come closer to the board upon hearing the argument, scolded Leonard as they had Barry. The two troublemakers were off the mission board.

"We apologize for our friend's behavior too; he doesn't miss an opportunity to get in trouble," Chloe said.

Adam, ever practical and to the point, picked up the mission and began to read it. Alice did the same, and with a sharp eye, they absorbed the information on the paper.

But the content of the quest was not so encouraging; quite the contrary. Adam was surprised to find that what should have been an easy, abandoned mission turned out to be an unranked quest and an emergency request.

"It's an unranked quest and an emergency request," he said, frowning as he read the paper. "Looks like something serious is going on in Ceraz."

Alice nodded, concern evident in her expression. "Several people have disappeared in the village, and they don't know why. This is mysterious and dangerous," she commented.

Curious to learn more about the mission, Chloe approached. "No ranks? So what does the rest of the information say? Do we have any leads as to what might be causing these disappearances?"

Adam continued reading, his eyes quickly scanning the paper. "Not many details beyond that," he replied. "They just mention that the village of Ceraz urgently needs a hunter to investigate and solve the problem."

Rachel joined the conversation, listening intently. "That sounds dangerous; I think it's pertinent that we team up for the task and share the reward. What do you think?" she proposed.

The girl's proposal was accepted by Adam and Chloe, while Barry and Leonard remained confused, both thinking, (Am I going to have to work with this idiot?)

With the coordinates in hand and some disagreement from the troublemakers, the newly formed group left the establishment and ventured forth in search of their objective in Ceraz.