Evolution begins with an ant colony

Kalardix's disappointment was palpable as he scanned the quest board. He sighed and turned his attention to Emilie, the woman at the counter. "Emilie, I don't see any high-ranked quests here," he pointed out, a hint of frustration in his voice.

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Emilie blushed slightly as she replied, "Well... another party took on the high-ranked one just moments ago. You just missed them." Her response left Kalardix feeling a bit crestfallen, as he had hoped for a challenging adventure to showcase his skills.

Kalardix's disappointment was evident in his tone as he mused, "Well, that's disappointing." He began walking toward the counter, where Emile, the guild receptionist, became increasingly flustered.

Darius, a member of Kalardix's party, chimed in with a suggestion. "Can't we just take another quest?" he asked, his eyes fixed on Kalardix.

Kalardix shook his head. "Nah, the only quests available are F-rank ones, like gathering medicinal herbs and stuff. It's way too boring," he remarked, gesturing toward the quest board behind him.

Mellin couldn't help but challenge Kalardix's disdain for herb-gathering quests. "And what's so wrong with gathering medicinal herbs?" she asked, her tone carrying a hint of smugness.

Kalardix, however, remained adamant. "Come on, Mellin, you and I both know there's no flair when doing such quests, no thrill whatsoever," he retorted.

Lyra, the party's mage, was genuinely curious. "So, what do you want to do then?"

Kalardix's eyes sparkled with mischief as he gestured inquisitively. A mischievous grin formed on his face as he proposed, "Why don't we join them on their quest?"

Gromm, puzzled, scratched his head. "As what exactly?"

Elara chimed in, sounding concerned. "You're not suggesting we go support them when it's not our quest... right?"

Kalardix remained nonchalant as he addressed his party. "Come on, guys, don't be like this. None of the quests available are any fun." His eagerness for adventure was evident, and he was determined to spice things up.

Raela, the nimble rogue of the group, raised an important point. "What about the quest reward? Do you expect them to suddenly give us a share when they didn't ask for our help?"

Kalardix, with a sly grin and a hint of mischief, replied, "Come on, guys, you know we don't need the quest rewards."

Suddenly, the group exchanged knowing glances. They all understood exactly what Kalardix meant. His reference to his gold-creation-and-manipulation ability was clear. With this unique power, they never truly needed the cash they earned from quests. The primary reasons they undertook these missions were to gather valuable information and, of course, because Kalardix found them thrilling.

However, they always used their newfound wealth discreetly, never drawing too much attention to themselves.

Emilie, the woman stationed at the counter, couldn't help but overhear Kalardix's conversation. His words had sparked a valid question in her mind: What kind of adventurers would offer their assistance to others without receiving a share of the quest's reward?

Kalardix's party members, in response to the truth in his statement, emitted collective sighs of agreement. They seemed genuinely intrigued.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Mellin, always curious and pragmatic, leaned forward slightly as she asked, "So, what's your plan?"

Kalardix responded with a mischievous smile that seemed to dance in his eyes. "That's the spirit," he chimed in, leaning casually against the counter. "We just need to find out which quest they took, and then we can naturally head in the same direction."

Darius, ever the voice of reason, raised an eyebrow thoughtfully. "But we don't know which quest they selected."

Kalardix's smile widened into a playful grin as he turned his gaze back to the counter, his fingers lightly tapping the polished surface. "Ah," he said, with a touch of theatrical flair, "that's where little Emilie comes in."

Hearing her name spoken by Kalardix, Emilie couldn't help but blush. She stood behind the counter, her fingers nervously tracing an imaginary pattern on its surface.

As Kalardix approached, he leaned in slightly, his eyes filled with that mischievous glint, and he inquired, "You can tell us where they went, right, Emilie?" His tone was casual yet brimming with charm, and his smile was as bright as ever.

Emilie stood behind the counter, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She fidgeted with the ends of her hair as she replied, "Well, you see, I can't just give out that kind of information. It's against the guild's rules."

Kalardix leaned casually on the counter, a playful glint in his eyes. He twirled a strand of his hair with one finger as he teased, "Oh, come on, Emilie. We're not asking for classified secrets here. Just a little hint."

Emilie's gaze shifted nervously from Kalardix to his party members, who were all wearing hopeful expressions. She bit her lower lip, contemplating her response.

Kalardix tapped his fingers rhythmically on the wooden counter, slowly waiting for Emilie's decision. "You know," he chimed in, "I'm really good at keeping secrets. I won't tell anyone you broke the guild's rules." He then whispered, "It can be our little secret." Causing Emilie to blush further.

Lyra, the mage, added with an encouraging nod, "And we've helped others on quests without expecting anything in return before."

Emilie hesitated but finally relented. She lowered her voice and leaned in slightly, as if sharing a clandestine secret. "Fine," she whispered, "they took a Moonlit Wolves Pack subjugation quest. By knushu mountain, happy now?"

Kalardix's grin widened even further. He straightened up from the counter, clapped his hands together, and declared, "Perfect! Thanks, Emilie. You're a lifesaver."

Kalardix, with an infectious enthusiasm that seemed to radiate from him, turned away from the counter and sauntered towards the grand doors of the guild. His voice, filled with anticipation, echoed through the guild hall as he declared, "Alright, my party, an epic quest awaits us. Follow me." His grin was practically a beacon of adventure.

His loyal companions fell into step behind him, their faces a mixture of amusement and exasperation. Mellin, shaking her head ever so slightly, remarked, "He's always so energetic."

Darius, ever the calm and composed voice of reason, chimed in with a soft chuckle. "Well, it's not a bad thing." There was a sense of camaraderie among them, a shared understanding that beneath Kalardix's sometimes eccentric behavior lay a heart full of determination and a spirit eager for adventure.