Chapter 14: An Unforgettable Lesson
'Even iron-tier guildmasters have to treat me with respect. Yet, this brat dares to mess with me like this?'
'Just because his dad is a guildmaster? Since when were unranked guildmasters big figures in society?'
'How troublesome...' Jake sighed.
If possible, he wasn't interested in starting a quarrel with anyone. With this extra time, he could be doing much more interesting activities.
Jake was behind on a few shows after all.
Also, Jake felt that he could climb a bit higher in ranked (referring to a MOBA game).
He was only staying here for 1 week anyways. All the documentation was done already. There was nothing this kid could do to get in his way. So Jake couldn't care less about this kid's opinions.
Messing with a teenage brat seemed like a waste of time.
"Hey!" Ben Cox looked offended by Jake's careless expression. "Are you deaf! You hear what I'm saying?"
Jake sighed. "Thanks. But I'm not interested."
Looking from a bystander's point of view, Jake's reply looked rather like a refusal to a salesman or telemarketer.
"Tsk." Ben Cox snickered.
"Just like as Tiffany said, you really do have a bad personality." Ben Cox tauntingly examined Jake from head to toe.
'Who's Tiffany?' Jake blinked a few times in confusion.
"Who would need a detector in their team? Anyways, I'm just here to give you a heads-up. This is my guild. You'll do as I say. Got it?"
Jake took a look at the line up. It was his turn.
"Oh. Sure. Whatever makes you happy." Jake carelessly shrugged and walked up to the counter. There was a stack of recruitment flyers on the counter. All the detailed information were on flyers.
'Oh. Convenient.' Jake nodded.
"Looks like we'll have to teach you a lesson on respecting senior explorers." Ben Cox raised a finger. A lighter-sized flame shot out of his finger.
The explorers started to surround Jake. Clearly, they weren't satisfied with Jake's response.
Seeing this, all the explorers and guests started to walk away, clearing up a space near the receptionist counter.
By the looks on their faces, they seemed to be rather annoyed yet powerless.
'These guys dare to start a fight in here?' Jake raised his brows in surprise. 'Don't they worry about accidentally hurting the people around here?'
Looking back, the receptionists just stood there, busily staring at the ground, clearly not wishing to get involved.
'How troublesome...' Jake powerlessly sighed.
By the hostile looks on their faces, they were attempting to stare Jake down.
Feeling their energy level... Yep, as expected, all negligible.
Around noon today, Jake had tested his physical capabilities with the test dummy back at home.
His strongest punch could reach iron-tier.
Then Jake decided to test the defensive capabilities of his body. Gradually increasing in strength of course.
Having a healing talisman by his side, Jake punched himself in the leg at full force.
It was painful.
Yet, that's about all.
If that iron-tier punch landed on an unranked explorer, 'Painful' would be the best outcome. Also, when struck by an unranked-level attack, Jake highly doubted that he would even feel any pain. Maybe just a scratching or itching sensation at most.
After getting a general feeling of his capabilities, Jake started to trust his instincts a little.
Returning to the present, Jake didn't feel threatened at all.
Seeing the menacing smile on these explorers, Jake put his coffee onto the receptionist counter.
'Can't be helped then... Looks like I'll have to teach these guys an unforgettable lesson.'
'If the guildmaster comes... And he is unreasonable... How troublesome... I guess I'll have to teach that guy an unforgettable lesson as well.'
'But uncle Chad and Samantha are also in this guild.'
'After I leave, uncle Chad and Samantha may be worse off... I already owe them a lot... I really shouldn't cause any more trouble for them.'
'In this case... If the guildmaster is also unreasonable, I'll just have to use my connections with the Iron Sparrow Guild then. If the target is just an unranked guildmaster and his son, I'll just kick them out of the game.'
'I could be playing so many games of ranked during this time...'
'How troublesome...'
'Maybe I should buy myself a nice suit and a nice watch. That way, I can look more convincing when I say that I'm an artisan.'
In a quick moment, these thoughts flew by in Jake's head.
Seeing that Jake wasn't planning to back down, a thin film of mana gradually enveloped these guys.
Jake casually waited for these guys to attack first. Then he could exercise his lawful rights of self-defense.
As a harmless detector, there's no such thing as overdoing self-defense right?
'Can't be helped then...' Jake lightly rotated his wrists.
"Ben!"
A deafening roar rammed through the entire front hall.
At this shout, the teenager suddenly froze up.
The explorers looked at the ground and shrunk their necks. They looked like naughty children being caught in action by their parents.
Passing through the crowd, Samantha Hudson fast-walked over, glaring at the teenage kid the entire way. She kind of looked like a hen eager to protect her eggs.
Then she saw Jake and paused in surprise for an instance. By the looks of it, she had been attracted here by the watching crowd.
In a snap, Samantha had understood the situation. She looked even more angry now.
"So you've got nothing to do now?" Samantha raised a hand.
Like a burst of flames, a teal light enveloped her hand. "Since you guys are so free, you want to have a spar?"
"I'll spar all five of you at once!"
"Tsk. Just like Tiffany said, all you can do is hide behind a woman." The teenage kid shot a gaze of disdain at Jake.
"Come on... Let's go..."
With that, the group quickly scuttled off as if they were fleeing.
Jake looked at Samantha in surprise. Looks like her status in this guild was higher than expected.
Looking around, all the explorers seemed to genuinely respect her, some out of gratitude, some out of acceptance, some even out of reverence.
They all seemed to accept this girl as their true leader here.
But then again, this was probably why Samantha looked so burnt out all the time. Too many duties, too many responsibilities, too many people to take care of.
"Hey. Right on time huh." Jake joked.
"They didn't do anything to you right?" Samantha sounded concerned.
"Not at all. Looks like you've saved me again from distress." Jake rolled his eyes.
"Pfftt." Samantha chuckled a little.
For a moment, the thoughts of the two returned to the past.
During childhood, in pretend play, a female knight saving a prince was a common scenario for the two as well.
Even though Jake complained about it, but ehmmm...
Since girls develop their bodies early, Samantha was a little stronger...
And Samantha being Samantha... Yep.
Samantha took a closer look at Jake's face. "Is it me, or do you look a little skinnier now?"
"Really?" Jake raised a brow. "Maybe it's the coffee."
'Or is the body refining guide? It burns my body fat?' Jake shook his head. He couldn't be sure.
While having a quick chat, the two fast-walked to a small auditorium room.
Inside, only a small portion of the seats were taken up. Most of the audience were seated at the front.
By the stage, about a dozen people were waiting there. These were the people registering for exploration licenses.
Some of the audience were recording videos with their phones. Some of the audience were taking pictures with actual cameras. Others just sat there watching.
Taking a closer look, some of the audience were very proud and excited. In general, explorers had high social status after all.
Some were more concerned. Clearly, these guys didn't think that becoming an explorer was a good idea. There was undisguised doubt and disapproval in their gazes.
In response, some of the registering explorers would reply with a smile or a pose. Some more friendly fellas were making new friends already. Others just stood there waiting.
"You are third in line. " Sam apologetically smiled.
"I still have a little..." She pointed at the door.
"Thanks for bringing me here." Jake lightly nodded.
"What thanks. We are bros right?" Samantha lightly punched Jake in the shoulder. "Don't be nervous about the process. Everything is set up for you already."
"Yep." Jake lightly chuckled. "Relax. I've got this."
"Later then?" Samantha still looked a little hesitant and worried.
"Later. Later. " Jake nodded in reply. "No need to worry about me. "
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone