The next day, Rorschach arrived early at the hall of the Adventurer’s Guild. He was looking for Singrev and wanted to make sure he hadn’t been recruited by another employer.

The Adventurer’s Guild in Istani had one distinct feature compared to those in other places: it was filled with maritime commissions. Although Storm City itself wasn’t coastal, it was a capital city that attracted all sorts of unique talents. As a result, there were numerous quests to find treasures at sea or serve as guards for ocean-faring fleets.

There was no alcohol served in the hall, only a Minstrel plucking at the strings of his instrument, producing a small, out-of-tune melody. His mushroom-cut hair was long and fluffy, covering his ears and making it impossible to tell if he was an Elf or a human. The other people had a much fiercer look about them. Some Adventurers were missing arms or legs, which had been replaced with wooden stumps and iron hooks. Others wore eyepatches. These were all retired sailors and seamen.

"Drake Fleet, operating under royal charter. Recruiting several Adventurers with decent combat skills who do not get seasick. Sailing experience preferred. Must be willing to participate in naval combat. Salary negotiable..." ’Operating under royal charter?’ Rorschach stared at the largest recruitment poster on the wall, momentarily confused about the scope of the "business."

Then it clicked. ’These are just pirates openly recruiting at the Adventurer’s Guild. A royal charter... that must mean Captain Drake is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.’

A group of men had gathered around the poster, discussing it enthusiastically and eager to sign up. Their clothes were mostly tattered. While they couldn’t be described as handsome or refined, "burly" and "ferocious" certainly fit the bill. Amidst the crowd of toughs, Rorschach quickly spotted the Dwarf, who stood out like a sore thumb.

He clapped Singrev on the shoulder and quickly put a finger to his lips in a hushing gesture.

The Dwarf’s mouth had already flown open, but he managed to choke back the shout of "Rorschach Mage!" Rorschach used his Communication Skill to tell the Dwarf they should talk somewhere else.

The guild itself didn’t serve alcohol, but there was bound to be a tavern next door. The two ordered breakfast and chose a corner table. Rorschach spoke first. "Are you planning to sign up to be a pirate?"

The Dwarf shook his head earnestly. "I’m an Adventurer, always will be! Still, taking a ship to other seas wouldn’t be so bad. I could land on hot little islands, explore continents no other Adventurer has ever set foot on..."

CLANG. The owner brought their breakfast. Both portions were identical, the tavern’s finest offering: gooey beans stewed in tomato sauce, two fried eggs, sautéed mushrooms, slices of bread, and a bit of fried salt pork. It also came with a light beer—which was more sanitary than drinking water from an unknown source that had been sitting around for who knows how long.

Now that they were unlikely to be disturbed, Rorschach began to speak about the Shadow City.

Singrev was so engrossed he forgot all about his food. "I’ve been knockin’ around in misty lands for so long, and I never knew there was a place that fun!"

"Singrev, it’s not fun at all. They say that once you enter, your name vanishes from the outside world, and you might not even be able to return... to the real world." Rorschach himself didn’t know if the Shadow City was a part of the real world that had been sealed off by some power, or if it was a realm outside of reality altogether.

’The latter was obviously more dangerous. If it’s just sealed off by a supernatural force, that would be manageable. I’m confident I could use my Anti-Magic Skill to break free.’

"Right, you have a point there."

"So that’s the situation. I have to go to this mysterious place, and it would be best to have a companion. Are you willing to go with me? I’ll hire you and pay a commission worthy of a Gold Level Adventurer." Rorschach took out a small leather pouch and tossed it onto the table with a solid thud.

"Rorschach Mage, no need to be so formal! I’m an Adventurer! My whole deal is seekin’ opportunity in dangerous places ordinary folks wouldn’t dare go!" Though he said this, Singrev’s short, powerful hand still reached out and took the pouch.

He opened it and took a look. Inside were brilliant gold coins, all in perfect condition with no clipped edges. There were old Valois Gold Langs and imperial Eagle Coins. The gleaming gold made him squint. Considering Singrev was a world-traveling man of international experience, Rorschach had saved himself the trouble of exchanging them for more of Istani’s gold pounds.

As the client, Rorschach offered him an easy way to accept. "Since you’re an Adventurer, let’s follow the rules. I insist on hiring you. Everyone’s got to eat." ’Truth be told, I’m not very confident about entering the Shadow City,’ Rorschach thought. His greatest insurance was his agreement with Kano: if Kano didn’t receive another letter from him within ten days, it meant he’d gone missing, and it was a plea for the master to save his apprentice.

’But that agreement couldn’t guarantee his or his companion’s safety in the meantime. If Kano arrived too late, he might have to search the sewers of Storm City for his dear apprentice’s corpse.’

’Best not to think about such grim possibilities...’ Rorschach extended his hand. "So, we have a deal? You agree?"

"Of course!" The Dwarf and the Mage clasped hands.

There was just one more problem: Rorschach had no idea how to enter the Shadow City. He would absolutely not ask Benedict. He refused to be led around by the nose by that suspicious Elf.

Out of caution, Rorschach had Singrev pay to post two commissions:

The first was a missing person notice for a young, brown-haired woman. Profession: teacher. Was wearing a long linen dress at the time of her disappearance. Name: unknown...

The second was a recruitment notice for an expedition team. Seeking someone familiar with Storm City and its various folklores, with an excellent memory...

Singrev’s name was signed on both, with Rorschach remaining behind the scenes.

Unlike the guilds on the continent, which took a cut from the commission’s pay, this Adventurer’s Guild charged adventurers registration fees, data storage fees, and a board fee from the clients. In other words, the more you paid, the more space your notice took up on the board and the longer it would stay posted.

A guild staff member glanced at the notice board, tore down the expired commissions, and posted theirs in their place.

"Been an Adventurer for so many years, but this is the first time I’ve ever posted a commission!" Singrev found the process fascinating. He was tempted to add his own money to buy the largest spot on the board and cover up the one for the Drake Fleet, but Rorschach firmly stopped him.

’We need to be discreet right now...’ Rorschach thought, pulling his newsboy cap lower.

Before long, someone approached. It was, surprisingly, the Minstrel Rorschach had noticed earlier. He carried a small wooden lute in one hand and held the two recently posted commissions in the other.

"I believe I am the person you’re looking for." The Minstrel’s eyes were clear. His mushroom-cut hair had perfectly straight bangs that completely covered his eyebrows. As he got closer, Rorschach also noticed the man had rather prominent front teeth. "My name is Freddy Lainer. If you’d care to visit a nearby tavern in the evening, you’ll find I’m quite a good singer. I’m also skilled with all sorts of stringed instruments."

’Well, he’s certainly a character,’ Rorschach thought.

"Singrev. Yes, that’s me, the one who signed it."

Rorschach used his old alias again. "Heisenberg." His eyes were momentarily drawn to the man’s teeth, but he forced his gaze back to meet the minstrel’s. "We have no need for a musician. How can you prove you can fulfill the commission?"

"The world may not need musicians, but it cannot be without music! Very well, back to the matter at hand. I know because you’re planning to go to this city’s shadow world, aren’t you?" The Minstrel, Freddy, waved the two papers. "Many people have tried to enter that mysterious, gloomy, inverted world, but you’re the first I’ve seen to hint at your intentions by posting two completely nonsensical commissions."