Chapter 187: A place not good for the heart
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[Promised Quest: Find and bring Ponp Mushroom Completed]
[Rewards]
x7 Perception stat +0 to +1
x7 20 copper coins for each promised item
Reputation - Adventurers Guild +1
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[Perception stat roll start. Roll success. +1 Perception stat gained]
[Perception stat roll start. Roll fail.]
[Perception stat roll start. Roll fail.]
[Perception stat roll start. Roll fail.]
[Perception stat roll start. Roll success. +0 Perception stat gained]
[Perception stat roll start. Roll fail.]
[Perception stat roll start. Roll success. +0 Perception stat gained]
[Result. Perception stat became 7.]
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[Hidden stat Reputation unlocked. Adventurers Guild +1.]
[49 more points will allow beings associated with the Adventurers Guild Reputation to know the user's identity and fame. It will stop any hostility and make the enemy think before they continue with their aggression.]
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"Kazumi, I... I don't know what to feel right now..." Vincent gained one perception stat from the quest and acquired a reputation system that indicates his fame. However, the two successful rolls almost made him cry when they rewarded zero points each.
[Let's forget the first try luck and look at the positive side of things. You can upgrade your stats with quests! That is overpowered!]
[It means promises can have a significant impact on your growth. I think there might be a limit, but as you like to say, let's leave it for another day.]
'Kazumi is right. Beggars can't be choosers. I need to work with what I gain and use it to the best of my capability.' Vincent stopped brooding and became empowered with the will to try new things.
'What if I take more dangerous quests?' A dangerous thought passed through his mind.
"Sir, here is the reward. One hundred forty copper coins are in this small bag. Furthermore, you are now an E 2 Star Ranker." The receptionist girl said with a bright smile. Then she seductively winked at Vincent and continued while slightly unbuttoning her blouse, "I will be working until night today. I can keep you company if you like. I like strong and handsome men like you."
"Ahem... thank you, but I have to decline, pretty maiden." Vincent quickly rejected her without a second thought. Then he promptly paced to the quest board.
[Is the guild in trouble or something? The first one was inexperienced, and this one is seducing the adventurers. Will she get fired and another new receptionist take her place?]
Vincent smirked at Kazumi's comment. He thought of the same thing. 'A newbie and a thot. What's next, I wonder. People like to say, third times the charm.' Vincent thought as he approached the guild board.
[Hey Vincent, look three quests to your right! Someone posted a new quest, and it states someone wants a Bloody Tulip flower.]
Vincent moved the find the quest post haste. The next thing his eyes saw was the requirement of Rank D and the reward for each flower to be ten silver coins each.
"Kazumi, we are going to be rich, right? Thirty silver coins, right?" Vincent pinched his cheeks as if was a dream.
[Yes but, are you sure about that?]
"..." Vincent stopped for a second and understood what she meant. He recently planned to keep the plants as additional power. Selling them all for some money might not help as much.
"I understand. Let's sell only one and milk the reputation and Promised Quest system." Vincent decided.
[Now you're talking my language.]
Vincent went back to the receptionist and said, "Hi again. I would like to take the quest of Viscount Blackheart. I have a Bloody Tulip in my possession."
"Oh... I thought you came back for me... well, one moment, let me bring a better Inspection Gemstone to appraise the item." The receptionist girl didn't look too happy.
After the receptionist girl returned, Vincent summoned one Bloody Tulip in the same manner.
A few seconds later, she stated, "I have noted your item. However, you need to give it to Viscount Blackheart yourself. He wants to give the money personally, but it's written in the commission that he can reduce or increase the price depending on the freshness of the flower. Lastly, he will give you a written note that says he received the item to finish the quest and receive guild points."
"Worry not. I promise to bring him the flower and return with the note." Vincent promised again.
"Umm... fine..." The receptionist girl felt like Vincent was playing hard to get.
Typically people would fall for her ample chest and the cleavage from unbuttoning her outfit. She already scored a few dates for this week, but she needed the last man to fill her week roster with free stuff by doing a few cute and seductive poses.
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[Promised Quest: Deliver Bloody Tulip]
[Complete the agreed promise by delivering a Bloody Tulip to Viscount Blackheart.]
[Quest conditions to be met.]
*Bloody Tulip [3/1] (Met)
*Bloody Tulip delivered [0/1] (Not Met)
[Optional]
*Bloody Tulip delivered [0/1] (Not Met)
[Rewards]
*Perception stat +0 to +3
*10 silver coins for each promised item (Price subject to change.)
*Reputation - Adventurers Guild +2
*Reputation - Demel Blackheart +5
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Vincent held his smile and walked away from the annoying woman.
The possible stat buff could give a better RNG roll since its rarity is better and harder to find. However, the possibility of a failed roll didn't pass through his mind yet. His eyes were only on the prize.
[Let's read the directions on the note she gave you to go to the Viscount's property. If you tell Ester or Lupa about that b... ahem, woman, Lupa might go the guildhall and kill her in the name of no stealing my man.]
"I hope your prediction isn't right... but oh well, let me read the directions." Vincent raised the small note and read where he had to go.
After reading the direction, he noticed a small but noticeable note. The receptionist girl wrote to remind Vincent when she leaves work to find her. Vincent and Kazumi frowned, and he immediately tore that part.
"Should I start wearing my rings on my neck to make others know I'm taken?" Vincent grunted.
[...]
Kazumi shook her mana wisp body as she doesn't have a neck and thought, 'My, my. Vincent is starting to reject a woman's approach with a straight face. Is Vincent used to women now?'
* High-Class District*
After leaving the guildhall with the Viscount's property address in his hands, Vincent passed from the middle-class area and went straight to the crossroad to take him to the high-class district.
The quality of the streets and building were like night and day. There were even old-fashioned street lamps that, upon further observation, a small yellow translucent rock seemed to be its light source. It's probably similar to the light rock they saw in the South Wall barracks.
Regrettably, that is the only nice thing Vincent and Kazumi could see. A noble wearing clean and costly-looking clothes walked with three slaves behind him. The two beastman and small goblin walked with their heads down, and their clothes looked tattered.
Vincent looked the other way out of disgust, but another noble with a slave appeared in his sights. The overweight old lady was sitting on a young good looking beastman and aggressively flirting with him.
Kazumi warned not to do anything against her will because if anything happens and his Hero mark gets revealed, Vincent, Ester, and Lupa could highly get executed and probably Tula's family as well. Too many stakes were riding on his secret the more he lived and more new people he met.
Vincent looked forward, trying his utmost best to ignore them. However, the glare currently contorted on his face could kill.
Vincent secretly thanked his luck that Ester and Lupa weren't with him at this moment.
*Viscount Blackheart Mansion*
A few hours later, Vincent arrived at his destination. It was a grand luxurious-looking mansion with a ten-foot stone wall and two armored guards at the gate.
"Go away, filthy peasant. Your presence appalls us. Covering yourself with bandages to make us think you are a clean filthy peasant." One of the guards insulted Vincent upon approach.
Vincent closed his eyes and tried to calm his nerves. Walking in the streets already made him wish to punch someone. The guard's insult almost made him do something with grave consequences.
"This is the residence of Viscount Demel Blackheart, correct? I have taken a quest your lord posted with the Adventurers Guild, and I'm here to deliver the item your lord requested." Vincent raised both hands with the note of the quest and his guild card on the other.
[Thankfuly I don't have a heart, or it might explode from nervousness right now.]
-Don't worry, Kazumi. I will do my best not to become angry. A Viscount rank isn't a joke, and I understand that.-
"Do you have the item our lord needs?" The other guard asked, still suspicious of Vincent's presence.
"Yes, I have one safely stored to stay fresh. I wouldn't have come here if not. I'm simply a low-leveled adventurer looking to make some money. I don't want any trouble." Vincent tried to act as humble and weak-looking as possible. However, his heart was racing. He wanted to leave before he would burst and start swearing at them with a few modern Earth words.
*Sigh...*
"Fine, follow me, but I will hunt you down if our lord says you wasted his time. Understand?" The guard threatened after a long sigh.
'Yes, your high and mighty ass king!' Vincent furiously thought with a poker face. Vincent then nodded and followed the guard inside.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone