Chapter 89: Silverbird Services, Natalia's Examination
Julian showed three fingers as he said, "Three ways. First, we can set up our own website portal and advertise it in various media to get customers. Second, we tie up with GAA and Earth Union and use its resources to reach customers quickly, but we might have to adjust the price and cut we get from the sales. Third, we can use Silverbird Services, and I personally recommend the third option."
"Julian is right. I say we go with Silverbird Services," Roken nodded. "They are a growing delivery service platform of 17th Rank Guild—Silverbird Tree Guild. They've bred and trained magical birds called Silverlight Birds from the 8th Floor. These little skitters are monsters with no offensive capabilities but have a super fast speed and can phase through physical things with their skill. They deliver things all around the world."
"Oh, I've heard of them a few times," Almond nodded. "So, how does this service work?"
"We can upload the list of items we want to sell to their website after making an account. They'll only take delivery fees and no additional cut from sales, so they are getting favorites for new sellers who want to sell their products. But we'll have to coordinate when the birds come here to take the goods, so we need to hire someone to work 8 hours a day," Roken answered as he had learned about their services to sell his products from Runic Blacksmith class.
"I have someone in mind," Almond smiled as he thought of Alfred.
"More people have started focusing on production-type sub-classes," Julian said. "Alchemist and Blacksmiths are in large numbers, but other exotic sub-classes are also popping up. There's a Tattoo Master in the 2nd Rank Blackstar Guild who can paint a tattoo on your body to give you a significant physical boost along with a unique skill related to the tattoo."
"I've heard about him," Lily nodded. "And he is just one. I bet there are other weird sub-classes."
"That said, I wonder what we'll get as our sub-classes?" Natalia wondered and then shrugged. "But we need to reach Gold rank for that, and it'll take time."
"Next month," Almond grinned. "We are going to clear two floors or maybe three floors next month and reach Gold-rank. We have twenty-two days until the new 1st cycle of the Labyrinth starts, so we are going to train heavily for these 22 days and complete our specialized classes."
"Anyway," Almond continued with a wave of his hand and summoned Alfred. "We will use Silverbirds Services. How about we contact them right now and set up the business? Alfred here will oversee the goods and coordinate during the eight hours every day when the birds come here to take the products."
"Let's do this," Roken grinned. "Almond, you should call them since it's your business. I am sending you the number."
…
Two hours later, everything was set up with the Silverbird Services. Alfred understood the instruction, and Almond planned to let him handle this courtyard as the head butler. There was no need to put him back in the pocket anymore.
And along with the Wolfclaw Gauntlets at his waist, the property also had Spectral Wolves as solid guard dogs.
Julian and Roken left after Almond told them he would accompany them to training a day later since he was going to be busy for the next 24 hours.
"Almond, I have to leave for now. Teacher Aria wants me there for some training," Lily sighed.
"And my exam was delayed in the morning, so I am going to take it now," Natalia said, her fist clenched. "I did everything I could, so it's time to show them my power."
"Then go," Almond smiled. "I also need to complete my current specialized class quest of using skill insight and creating my 2nd class skill, so I'll be meditating for the next 24 hours."
"Good, then I'll properly discuss with teacher Aria about my terms," Lily nodded with a resolved expression.
"Did she take any problem with you living here?" Almond raised his eyebrows.
Natalia snickered and answered in Lily's stead, "Lady Aria thinks that Lily will focus less on training and important things if she's with you."
"And she is just very wrong," Lily snorted.
Almond grabbed Lily's waist and pulled her as he smiled, "She is wrong indeed. Come, spar with me for an hour. I got some new moves to show, so let's get some pointers, and then you can go prove her wrong."
Lily's eyes sparkled. "Wonderful. I also got some new moves. Let's go, darling~"
"Damn," Natalia stomped her feet. "I have to be there at the guild in ten minutes to take my exam."
"Take my aircraft," Almond touched his wristwatch. "I've given temporary access to you."
"Woohoo, alright. Smell ya later, but make sure to shower after you finish sparring."
Natalia left, leaving Almond and Lily's ears a bit red before they burst out laughing as they remembered their time in the shower room yesterday.
…
Natalia went to take the examination.
"Where's Lily?" Lady Aria asked, frowning.
"She is at Almond's place, training. She'll return after an hour," Natalia said as she cupped her fist. "I am ready for my examination."
"Alright, let's go."
The examination was similar to the combat evaluation Almond had.
But instead of stages, Natalia faced waves of monsters one by one that increased in power with each wave.
The result required to enter the Guild as its main member was to clear five waves without any break in between except for 30 seconds of gap between each wave.
But Natalia's performance successfully rocked Lady Aria's boat.
'She still has Mana?' Lady Aria's eyes glinted. 'Her movements are also better than before. Her Flute magic attacks are more precise and powerful. Did she learn how they work on her own? Her improvement is fast.'
"Who is she, Lady Aria?" A man in his fifties with a brown beard and long brown hair asked as he appeared beside Lady Aria, his eyes on Natalia, who was fighting twenty meters ahead in the hall.
Brian Earthcross—a top 15 Global Rank adventurer and 3rd most powerful in the League of Firefly.
"Brian? What brings you here?" Lady Aria glanced at him but then continued to watch Aria and said, "Anyway, she is a new rookie who just needs a bit of polishing to shine and become a super rookie. Her Combat Style is completely different thanks to her Specialied Class, so if she can develop with that class as the center focus, she'll be a powerful asset in the near future."
"Are those instruments also buffing her?" Brian asked as his eyes glinted.
"Yes, all four instruments, including the flute she is wielding, are buffing her constantly."
Brian frowned, "Am I wrong or the timer indicates that she has been fighting for over fifteen minutes now?"
"She has been fighting for fifteen minutes, and yes, her Mana recovery is abnormally high. She already had high Mana recovery due to her specialized class, but this is more than that. This wasn't the case last time I saw her, so she got some kind of improvement in the past 24 hours."
Brian smacked his lips, "That's a lot of Mana and high recovery for a newbie Silver-rank. Not to mention how it drastically increases her combat power due to the nature of her class skills I am seeing. Are you going to take her in as your student?"
"I've already taken her, but she is more than I expected her to be," Lady Aria smiled. "We might be getting our 3rd Super Rookie."
"Eh? What's her class rank?"
"Her primary class is B-rank, but her Specialized class is SS-rank."
"What?!" Brian was dumbfounded. "And you didn't find it important to tell me and others that we have someone with an SS-rank specialized class?"
"Yeah."
"…"