[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-knight-from-apprentice-to-the-almighty":3,"chapter-knight-from-apprentice-to-the-almighty-knight-from-apprentice-to-the-almighty-chapter-168":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Knight: from Apprentice to the Almighty",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1847882,2453,"Chapter 168 - 156: Advancement Paths of Other Extraordinary Professionals","knight-from-apprentice-to-the-almighty-chapter-168",168,"\u003Cp>Noticing Lilith’s probing gaze, Avril instinctively wrinkled her delicate nose. While Teresa’s face remained impassive, her tense body betrayed her inner unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Roland met her world-weary gaze, he arched an eyebrow slightly, his hand never leaving the hilt of his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello, Ms. Lilith...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was low and steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"May I ask why you’ve invited us here? Is there something important?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Something important? No, hehe...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lilith chuckled softly and took an elegant step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I simply wanted to get to know you all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her violet eyes shimmered in the candlelight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After all, to repeatedly slay Bear Goblins with a group of only four... that level of strength...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She leaned forward slightly, her gaze skipping over the two young women behind him to lock onto Roland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even across the entire continent, few Mercenary Squads or Adventurer Groups could accomplish such a feat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she drew closer, the faint, dark scent of orchids wafted to Roland’s nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon smelling the fragrance, he subtly took half a step back, maintaining a careful distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You flatter us, but... surely you didn’t invite us all this way just for pleasantries, did you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing not a flicker of wavering in Roland’s eyes, Lilith’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, but she smoothed her expression in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She straightened up, her slender fingers lightly covering her red lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Roland, you certainly are direct. In that case...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A silver chain slipping from her sleeve refracted flecks of light in the candlelight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll get straight to the point.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lilith shed her previously languid demeanor, looked Roland straight in the eye, and spoke directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"According to the Adventurer’s Guild’s regulations, every year, each Mercenary or Adventurer and their group is evaluated based on the number and difficulty of the quests they’ve completed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned gracefully, her slender form casting an elegant silhouette in the candlelight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her long fingers plucked a new sheet of parchment from the tabletop and offered it to Roland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The higher the Level, the more difficult the quests you can accept, and naturally, the more handsome the rewards. But that’s not all...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A meaningful smile touched the corners of her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We also provide additional, exclusive services for highly-rated Adventurers or Mercenary organizations.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roland bowed slightly as he accepted the parchment, feeling the uniquely fine texture of the paper on his fingertips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve invited you here today to formally notify you that your group has successfully passed the Adventurer’s Guild’s assessment and has met the qualification standards for an A-Level Adventurer Group.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Therefore, I would like to ask for your opinion. Are you willing to accept certification as an A-Level Adventurer Group?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to Lilith’s declaration, Roland lowered his gaze and carefully examined the contents of the parchment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Intelligence gathering privileges...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guild shopping discounts...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Priority use of post stations...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his eyes swept over the dozens of exclusive service clauses, Roland’s brow gradually furrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’It’s not that these terms aren’t generous, but I’m suddenly realizing the Adventurer’s Guild’s sphere of influence is far greater than I imagined.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’A few of these privileges would be impossible to offer without deep cooperation with the upper echelons of certain nations or organizations.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing Roland’s solemn expression, Lilith seemed to misunderstand his concerns and explained softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course... even if you accept the certification as an A-Level Adventurer Group, the process of accepting quests will remain the same. We will not force you to accept any mission.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Roland gave an almost imperceptible nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’With my current strength and the talent I’ve shown, I could join any organization with ease.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Even the Shadow Veil Organization—an elite group associated with the Merchants of the River Domain—probably wouldn’t refuse me if I asked. At worst, I’d become a probationary member, just like Avril.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ultimate reason Roland had no intention of joining any organization, even now, was that he didn’t want to be tied down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the preferential treatment and abundant resources one gained after joining an organization, Roland felt that—barring special circumstances—none of it was as important as freedom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, after hearing Lilith’s words, Roland handed the parchment back to her and spoke slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you for the high regard, Ms. Lilith, but...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roland glanced back at Teresa and Avril before continuing with a hint of apology.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is something I’ll need to discuss carefully with my squad members before I can make a decision.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course. That’s no problem.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There wasn’t a trace of annoyance on Lilith’s face. She simply took out two Sheepskin Scrolls from a drawer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Roland, this is the Combat Skills scroll the Adventurer’s Guild promised you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She handed one of them to Roland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roland weighed the thick scroll that recorded the Combat Skills in his hand. Instead of examining it immediately, he tucked it into his waist pouch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Roland’s action, a flash of approval crossed Lilith’s eyes. She then offered him the other sheet of parchment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And this is a quest available to A-Level Adventurer Groups. Perhaps it will help you make your decision.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Roland thanked her quietly before taking the quest document and reading it carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as soon as he saw the title, his brow furrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Explore the Land of Mist and eliminate the Wolf King entrenched within.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The quest details included the cause of the strange phenomena in the Land of Mist and the Wolf King’s location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most eye-catching part was the difficulty rating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t the usual crimson marking, but a relatively brief line of text.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Recommended Level: A~S Level Mercenary Squad or Adventurer Group]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Reward: Negotiable (Provisional)]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Excuse me, Ms. Lilith.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After carefully reading through everything, Roland held up the parchment with one hand and pointed to the word \"Negotiable\" in the reward section.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What does this... ’Negotiable’ in the rewards mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s simple.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Roland take the initiative to ask, Lilith’s lips curved into a slight smile as her fingertips tapped lightly on the desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As long as the request you make...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She lowered her voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...is something the Adventurer’s Guild possesses or is capable of acquiring, it can be the reward for this quest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, her gaze became profound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This includes not only money, Treasure Tools, and precious materials...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even a Knight’s Breathing Technique, a Ranger’s Elemental Affinity Secret Skill, a Barbarian’s Blood Resonance Technique, or even... a Meditation Technique that the Tower Wizards never share—we can make any of them the reward for this quest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing these words, Roland’s breath caught in his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because everything Lilith had just mentioned were paths to advancement for Extraordinary Professionals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’If I get certified and complete this kind of quest, I can obtain the methods to change to other Extraordinary Professions!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For him, someone who possessed a Professional Panel, this was an absolutely incredible surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>",1125,"2026-06-09T07:01:39.615Z",1,"novelbin.me","808ec7561d4227cce4f7c3dbce99885c3c5e9aabf819734e2edc819e747ae555","knight-from-apprentice-to-the-almighty-chapter-169","knight-from-apprentice-to-the-almighty-chapter-167",216,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fknight-from-apprentice-to-the-almighty-cover.jpg"]