The Adventurers' Guild, this was the official name of the organization Wood had mentioned.
The guild's headquarters was conveniently located right at the port's exit, at the end of the main street. Its large, prominent building was impossible to miss. However, there was one peculiar detail, there were multiple entrances, each without any signage or indication of their purpose. For a newcomer unfamiliar with the layout, choosing the correct door might be a frustrating task.
Fortunately, thanks to Wood's guidance, Ethan knew to enter through the door on the far left. This entrance was designated for rookies and handled matters like applying for membership and arranging accommodations for newcomers.
Wood and Rodney, on the other hand, headed toward the hall frequented by veteran adventurers. They needed to report the loss of their ship and crew, withdraw their stored funds, and begin the process of purchasing a new vessel.
As he watched the two disappear into the crowd, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that Rodney had been casting him occasional glances. There was something about the man's gaze—furtive, and definitely not friendly.
"Is it because of the magic stone?" Ethan wondered.
Magic stones were considered one of the most valuable and mysterious resources in this oceanic world. Rare and difficult to obtain, they served as both a magical resource and a form of currency. Even if someone didn't need one personally, trading a magic stone could fetch enough supplies to last for weeks.
"The fire-attribute magic stone… I wonder what it can actually do?"
Magic stones had unique properties based on their attributes. For adventurers, one of the most sought-after types was the water purification magic stone. Just placing one in a barrel of seawater or contaminated water would purify it into drinkable, crystal-clear water.
"It's a shame it's not water-attribute," Ethan mused, glancing at the stone in his hand. "I'll have to figure out how this fire-attribute one works later."
Carefully tucking the stone into his backpack, he tightened the straps. His bag contained all of his most important belongings, including the stack of books gifted to him by the Ancient One. He didn't dare leave anything valuable on his small, unsecured boat, fearing it could be stolen while he was away.
Entering the newcomer reception hall of the Adventurers' Guild, Ethan immediately noticed how quiet it was compared to the bustling port and main guild hall. A quick glance around confirmed that he was the only person there.
At the counter near the entrance, a young man stood waiting. Spotting Ethan, he waved enthusiastically.
"Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild! Are you here to apply for membership?"
"Ah, yes!" Ethan replied, nodding as he approached the counter.
"Do I need to pay a fee to join?" Ethan asked, realizing belatedly that he hadn't considered the possibility. In his time here, he hadn't seen anything resembling coins or currency. Bartering had been the norm on his home island, and he wasn't sure how things worked here.
The clerk smiled. "No, there's no membership fee. However, in the future, the guild will take a small commission when you store materials, order ship repairs, or conduct trade through us."
Ethan nodded in understanding. "So, the services have fees, not the membership itself. That's fair."
The young clerk seemed delighted by Ethan's interest, perhaps because newcomers were a rare sight. "Honestly, even if there's no fee to join, it's been a while since we've had anyone new sign up. You're actually the first person to apply for membership in the last six months!"
"Really?" Ethan was surprised. While the hall seemed quiet, he hadn't expected such a long drought of new members.
The clerk, noticing Ethan's reaction, quickly added, "Oh, don't get the wrong idea! There are a lot of benefits to joining the guild. We offer better ships, access to experienced sailors, and plenty of other resources. For example, there are ships and crews registered with the guild that may not be in the best condition, but they're still very experienced. They're available for members to hire.
"Additionally, storing or consigning supplies with the guild saves adventurers a lot of time. And if you've had a tough trip, the guild provides returning adventurers with three days of free food and accommodation so they can rest and prepare for their next journey. All in all, the guild's services are designed to let adventurers focus on exploring and gathering resources without worrying about logistics."
Ethan couldn't help but think that the guild sounded like a godsend for people trying to make a living at sea.
"Then why hasn't anyone joined in half a year?" he asked.
The clerk sighed, his cheerful demeanor dimming slightly. "Fewer and fewer newcomers manage to make it to State Island from their home islands. And those who do are often old-timers who are too set in their ways. They're unwilling to part with even a fraction of their resources, convinced that the guild is trying to take advantage of them."
The clerk shrugged, a look of disdain crossing his face. "Honestly, those people just want to scrape by. They collect resources, trade for what they need, and only head back out to sea when their supplies are nearly gone. It's not a real life, it's just survival."
He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "Some of them don't even bother stocking up properly before heading out. They'll grab a few barrels of clean water and nothing else. Nine times out of ten, those people never make it back."
Ethan frowned. The description reminded him of the people who had left his home island, chasing the dream of a better life only to find themselves stuck in an even worse situation. Once they arrived on State Island and realized things weren't as they'd hoped, many seemed to lose all motivation. To them, surviving one more day was just a bonus.
"How do they trade for food and supplies?" Ethan asked.
"There's a market just down the road," the clerk explained. "Go out this door, turn right, and follow the gravel path. It's the largest market on the island. Even guild members do most of their trading there, only using the guild to store or sell items that don't move quickly."
"Got it. Thanks for the info."
"No problem! Now, let's get your membership set up. I'll need you to fill out some basic information."
Ethan nodded. Joining the guild seemed like the best choice, especially since it could provide him with valuable information about this world. He was determined to make the most of it.
"Uh… I haven't measured."
The clerk, clearly very experienced with the process, quickly jotted down Ethan's responses and grabbed a measuring tool to get the exact height, filling in the information without missing a beat.
"Uh… this…" Ethan hesitated. He hadn't thought about naming his boat, and the question caught him off guard. After a long pause, he rubbed his forehead and said casually, "Goddess of Dawn."
"Oh~ what a nice name," the clerk said with a grin, clearly pleased by Ethan's answer.
Once the basic information was filled out, the clerk reached for a white magic stone from the counter. Without making any visible gestures, the stone released a soft blue light that swept over Ethan's face, scanning him.
The clerk then moved the magic stone over the paper containing Ethan's information, and with a faint shimmer, the paper slowly faded away, as if absorbed by the stone.
Next, the clerk slapped the magic stone against the desk with a sharp pop. When he removed his hand, the once-rounded stone had transformed into a long, white strip about the width of a finger.
The process had happened so fast that Ethan could only gape silently. Magic stones can do that?
Before he could fully process what had just occurred, the clerk motioned for him to extend his hand. With another quick snap, the white strip was secured snugly around Ethan's wrist. It had turned into a flexible wristband that fit him perfectly.
"This will serve as your guild membership certificate," the clerk explained, showing Ethan how to use it.
The wristband could be easily removed and wasn't restricted to the wrist, it was flexible enough to be worn around the neck, arm, or even the leg if needed. The clerk assured him that losing it wasn't a concern either. All of Ethan's information was stored in the guild's records, and he could request a replacement at any time by visiting the guild's main hall.
"By the way, if you don't like the white color, you can have it changed," the clerk added. "But you'll need to pay for the customization."
"What's the cost for a color change?" Ethan asked, curious.
"A magic stone of the corresponding color," the clerk replied cheerfully.
Ethan grimaced. He couldn't imagine wasting a valuable magic stone, especially his fire-attribute one, just to change the color of a wristband. Magic stones were rare and useful, and while his wasn't as prized as a water purification stone, it surely had some significant value.
"Yeah, I think I'll pass for now," Ethan said with a dry chuckle.
"It's fine," the clerk said with a wave of his hand, clearly unfazed. "Actually, magic stones aren't as rare as you might think."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Really. In fact, more than 80% of the floating and sinking islands have at least one magic stone. Most people just don't know how to find them," the clerk explained, clearly enjoying the conversation.
"Wait, are you serious?" Ethan asked, feeling like he'd stumbled onto a valuable secret.
"It's true," the clerk said with a nod. "It's not exactly a hidden fact, but the guild doesn't advertise it in the basic information we provide about the Sea of Calm. It's part of a kind of… screening process."
"Yeah. It's a way to identify potential adventurers with the skills or determination to succeed," the clerk said with a knowing smile.
Ethan couldn't help but feel like he'd uncovered something important. "So what happens after you find these 'potential adventurers'?"
The clerk shrugged. "What else? We encourage them to grow stronger and to set their sights on bigger goals. Eventually, the hope is that they'll be able to cross the Sea of Storms and search for the Endless Land."
The mention of the Endless Land made Ethan pause. It was a name he'd already heard multiple times—a vast, boundless land said to lie beyond the ocean. Supposedly, it was a paradise where millions could live in peace and prosperity.
But to Ethan, it sounded too good to be true. "Are you sure it's not just a legend designed to lure people out to sea?"