Chapter 19: His First Job

It’s been two days since the agreement. Ignatius and I already live in a house near the Normal District. It is the lowest district in the kingdom—the home for normal citizens, most of whom are poor. The kingdom does not give a shit about this area. This is why the crime rate here is so high, driven by poverty and hunger.

Ignatius is at home. His primary task is to enjoy his life. I told him that he could buy anything he wants and forget about my needs. I ordered him to do that as my butler so that he would obey. I want my old man to still have a good life.

I’m on my way to the guild to officially register as a locksmith. Though Master Victoria and I agreed on how things were going to be, it would still be better to have a license.

I entered the guild. Some locksmiths were busy cleaning their tools, while others were drinking beer after a successful locksmith job.

I went straight to the front desk. A lady named Patricia was on duty. I had already met her a day ago when I signed the contract. She is Master Victoria’s personal servant.

"Young Lord Silvester! Are you ready to get your license?"

"Yes, Patricia. Anyway, I don’t see Victoria. Where the hell is she?" I looked around, but the saucy guild master wasn’t in the room.

"Oh! She is in her workshop in the basement. I think she is going insane. She was talking to a metal box earlier. She’s been like that since last night. Do you want to see her?"

"No, it’s fine. I don’t want to disturb her." I wanted to see Victoria losing hope, but that would just waste my time.

"Alright, Young Lord. Please give me a moment to prepare your license."

I nodded at her and looked around. I have high standards for locksmithing because I grew up doing it in my previous life. It allowed me to earn a lot of money and made me rich in no time.

This world is awful and full of corrupt royalty. Thus, making myself rich in a few years would still be nearly impossible.

"Your license is ready, my Lord. Kindly sign these documents and you are good to go. Also, since you have a Level 1 license, you can take a look at the service requests on that service board." Patricia pointed to a wooden board where some locksmiths were gathered, intently reading the posters.

A locksmith’s license level is based on experience and skill. The highest level is Level 10, which allows one to be a royal locksmith serving the king and queen of a kingdom. This level is the dream of all locksmiths. The opportunity and treatment it provides make a locksmith almost equal to the Noble Class.

"Alright. Thanks, Patricia."

"Good luck on your quests, my Lord."

After signing, I inserted my red license card into my pouch and checked the service board. The crowd was still in front of the board, focused on a single poster.

"You know how hard it is to crack that safe. We’ve been trying to open it, but we can’t. Other locksmiths have already tried and failed."

"I guess we should look for other advertisements; we have to make some money."

"They said that the Lord just doubled the reward for anyone who can open the safe."

"I heard that this request was already posted in other kingdoms to invite veteran locksmiths. Imagine how important the things inside that safe must be."

"Even Master Victoria can’t crack the safe."

I didn’t listen to the rumors. I stared at the poster, and my eyes landed straight on the price.

Twenty gold coins.

I would only get twenty percent from that price and the rest will be on the guild’s fund.

Four gold coins. This could let Ignatius and me live for a year with warm food and a comfortable life. I needed to get that money.

I grabbed the poster and slid it inside my coat.

The crowd stopped and stared at Silvester. They couldn’t believe a child with only a Level 1 license was taking on such a difficult task.

"Are you kidding me? A child? There’s no room here for games, kid."

"I think he just thinks this is child’s play."

A middle-aged man grabbed his shoulder and spun Silvester around to face him.

"Hey, kid. Why don’t you put that poster back? You’re too young to crack a safe like that. Here, take this silver coin and go buy yourself a lollipop outside," the man offered.

Everybody laughed.

’These imbeciles think highly of themselves, huh?’ Silvester thought. He looked directly into the eyes of the man making fun of him.

"I don’t need a fucking lollipop, you nameless hypocrite. I am here to work. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have things to do." Silvester turned his back and took a few steps toward the exit.

However, the man grabbed his collar and squeezed his neck, choking him. Silvester stayed calm even as his breath began to slow, heavy air moving in and out.

"Let me go," Silvester commanded, but the man ignored him.

"Everyone! Look at this arrogant, useless kid! Go back to your mother and drink some milk! Hahaha!" The crowd laughed again. This time, it was so loud that it pissed Silvester off.

Being underestimated and called useless were the things he hated most.

He didn’t say a word. He activated his Locksmith’s Eye, and mana threads began to appear in his vision.

Close.

The man’s voice suddenly muted. The only things moving were his eyeballs, while his entire body remained frozen.

Silvester dropped to the floor, stood up, and brushed the dust off his shoulders.

"Wait for me, you motherfucker, and I’ll slap those gold coins right into your face."

The crowd went silent.

Silvester started walking toward the exit without even glancing back at the audience.

He went straight to the Voulstridge household. It was located in the Noble District, an hour’s walk from the Commercial District.

Silvester didn’t take a carriage ride because it would cost a gold coin—far too expensive for a commoner like him.

The sun was at its peak, but the cold wind blowing from the trees along the side of the rough road made his journey pleasant.

While on the road, he read the full details of the request.

There was a Voulstridge crest on the poster. It was shaped like an ice crystal, bearing the signature of the patriarch of the house. If the Lerwicks were the top fire mages of the kingdom, the Voulstridges were the most excellent ice mages of this era.

There was also a sketch of a dungeon chest on it.

"This must be the thing they want opened. It looks like a normal chest. How come they can’t open it?"

A suspicious expression filled his face.

He rolled up the poster, tucked it inside his coat, and continued walking.

At exactly noon, he arrived at the Voulstridge residence. It was a huge mansion, just like the Lerwicks’, but it looked more elegant. The gate was plated with gold, and behind it lay a long, straight path toward the main house. Gardeners were out on the lawn maintaining the grounds.

He went straight to the guard post at the side and presented the poster.

"Hahaha! Child, this request doesn’t suit you. Go back home and eat some—" The guard with a mustache didn’t finish his sentence because Silvester cut him off.

"Here’s my license. Can I go inside now and do my work?"

The guard inspected the card. It was authentic and sealed by the Andromeda Guild.

"O-okay. Are you sure, kid? This job is no joke."

"I won’t repeat myself. Now, let me in."

The guard didn’t protest and let Silvester in.

"How dare you insult my skills. Tss." Silvester didn’t look back at the guard as he walked down the side of the path toward the Voulstridge mansion at the end.