Stepping outside, I can’t help but find it weird that even though we moved the building, there was no obvious movement inside. Nobody felt anything; we were just transported to our new location.

  We continue looking around, but a few notifications won’t leave me alone.

  - Congratulations! Your settlement has become a Hamlet. There have always been rumors of a settlement tier below the Hamlet level, but no one knows if this is true. Being one of the few settlements to make it past your initial tutorial settlement tier, you have been granted an award.

  Rewards: 1 X Settlement Experience Bag (100 Experience)

  Settlement Title “Hamlet Achiever”

  100% Bonus Experience per monster killed for everyone that is part of the settlement for 3 days.

  100% Bonus Loot dropped from monsters for the next 3 days. -

  Looking at the two bonuses the settlement received, I can’t help but smile as we walk. I wanted to let everyone know what had just occurred, but when I looked at everyone, they were also checking their notifications. Several times, someone almost tripped because they were looking, but nobody did, at least this time.

  Checking one last time before we reach the Adventurer’s Guild, I am shocked at some of the tasks for the first set in the Hamlet tier.

  - Settlement Tasks:

  Complete 10 Tier 1 Buildings: 1/10

  Have a stockpile of 5000 Tier 1 Wood, Stone, and Metal:

  Wood: 3895/5000

  Stone: 3882/5000

  Metal: 3672/5000

  Bonus Task: Have at least 20 people at level 10 and complete their class evolution: 2/20 -

  Overall, the tasks aren’t challenging, but if this is the first set of quests, I can only imagine what will happen when we get to the second set.

  Not wanting to worry too much about the tasks for now, we slowly approached the Adventurer’s Guild. There weren’t differences on the first look; it wasn’t until we were inside that the differences started to appear.

  First on the list is the size. While the outside didn’t appear to increase in size, the internal dimensions of the building have more than doubled. There are now 10 tables spaced throughout the hall, several more boards for missions on the walls, and the registration desk has expanded to look more professional instead of a small table. The other significant difference is the person standing behind the desk. I remember Koto mentioning that with the increase in the tier, we would get someone assigned by PUN to work the guild, but I didn’t realize they would be so…Different. From what I can tell, it is an androgynous humanoid figure with no facial features. It is just a plain white mask that covers where a face should be. They are wearing garments that mimic the color pattern of my coat of arms.

  Approaching the desk, I received a similar notification about joining the guild. I selected ‘No’ again because it wasn’t time for me to join, as I had many other things to do today. Once I was through that, the figure approached me and bowed before speaking.

  “How might I be of assistance to the lord of the settlement?” Its voice feels almost mechanical. There isn’t much tonal inflection, and it is like it is reading from a script or a program. A hint of it being muffled makes me think that whatever/whoever this being is, it might still have some form of sentience, and it isn’t just a programmed robot. Judging by how it reacts to our group that walked in, it has either been programmed not to worry about species differences or doesn’t care.

  “Can you explain your role here in the Adventurer’s Guild?” I asked it.

  “Yes. My role is to help people who aren’t a part of the guild to create missions for those in the guild. I also act as a peacekeeper and a return point for adventurer missions. If someone is to collect material for a crafter, they will submit it to me, and I will inform the crafter in question to come and pick up the materials. I also helped organize and rank the guild parties to help them recruit more members to form their adventurer guild later. These guilds will be displayed on the tapestries throughout the building. Currently, only 10 guilds can be active at once, but as the building continues to level up and tier up, more guilds can be created, and more opportunities for adventurers will arrive.”

  “What if someone doesn’t want to be a part of a party and just wants to adventure alone?” Shadow asked.

  “There is naturally a process for someone to adventure by themselves, but you cannot take tasks at a higher tier than your adventure rank.” It responds.

  “Can you please explain the different adventure ranks and how to achieve them?” Eleanor asks.

  “Certainly, starting with the initial rank of all adventurers is Tier 1 Wood, then Tier 2 Iron, 3 Bronze, and 4 Silver. There are more ranks, but I can only hand out to Silver at the current adventure guild tier. Those who want to increase their rank can do it in several ways. First, they must complete at least 25 missions of their rank; second, they must complete 10 missions of a rank higher than their own. Third, complete one mission two ranks higher than their own. And lastly, finding something that significantly contributes to the Adventurer’s Guild itself.”

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  Hearing the convenient rundown of how things would work, I am happy that people can’t power-level up to the higher ranks now. Nothing says bad news like someone getting the highest adventurer rank and then flaunting it over everyone else in some stupid power move.

  “What are the tiers of missions currently available to the guild?” Draemish asked.

  “Well, I will presume that we are part of a Village-Tier settlement as I don’t have many people registered with the guild yet, so that you would have access to missions up to the silver rating. Missions will only automatically appear once the guild hall has been able to scan through the nearby area and create some missions. It will run this function once a week to make sure the mission boards always have something new to do or at least allow for those who want easier missions and an easy path to progress.”

  Noticing that this being is making an assumption, I have confirmed that they are not purely mechanical beings. It seems that someone wasn’t informed of our situation. I didn't want to burst the bubble too quickly, so I asked my own question.

  “What makes a mission become a Silver-Tier mission?”

  “For a mission to become Silver-Tier, there must be monsters in the area that reach a level of 30 or higher. A mission can also become Silver-Tier if it isn’t a normal monster. Those elites can have Silver-Tier missions at level 25, and Boss monsters can drop down to level 20 before the mission becomes Silver-Tier.”

  “Do you know the average level of a group that would be part of a Village-Tier settlement party?” I asked another question.

  “Typically, people in the Village Tier are at a level between 15-30.” The tone of the being becomes more curious at all the different questions coming its way. We hold off on asking any more questions before it speaks up again. “Am I mistaken as we are not part of a Village-Tier settlement?” It rubs the bottom of its mask and then snaps its fingers. “That makes sense why you are all confused. This must be a Town-Tier settlement, and you got the blueprint for the Adventurer’s Guild late, so you crafted it before your Tier-up trial. Though that doesn’t explain why you were asking about levels…” It shrugs its’ shoulders and stops muttering under its breath. “My apologies. I could have guessed you hadn’t received the building till later at your village levels. I hoped I didn’t cause any offense.”

  The muttering has confirmed in my mind that this being is not a machine but is trying to hide its origin. It may have to do with PUN assigning someone like him, but I figured it was time to burst the bubble. Turning around, I see everyone else is awkward about what is happening.

  I didn't want to keep this person in suspense, so I replied, “You haven’t offended anyone here. Can you see the levels of people in the room?”

  “I can’ only see a generalized idea of what level people are based on the power rating given by the guild. No definitives are given, but should I presume you don’t have a high level?”

  Chuckling at the thought that he doesn’t know what level we are, I ask him one more question before letting him know what is going on fully, “What is the average power rating that the guild hall is giving to those that have signed up?”

  “It gives me a general reading of Late-Tier Wood and Early-Tier Iron.”

  “That is for everyone signed up, correct?”

  Nodding its head, it tilts at me, stumped by my questions.

  “Have you ever heard of a rumor before the Hamlet-Tier for settlements?” I finally asked the most pertinent question.

  “Of course, the rumors are abound all over. There isn’t a definitive that such a tier exists. They only start to crop up more often as an era drags on. It has been hundreds of thousands to millions of years since the start of the current era,” It chuckles to itself. “There is no way that the rumors are true. Everyone has tried to get ahold of a legendary ‘Wooden Settlement Token,’ but to this day, no one has been able to find an inkling of where it would come up.”

  We all look at each other and then at the person in front of us, and then I gesture around us. “So what would you call something like this? We don’t have high-level fighters; we have a higher-tier Adventurer’s Guild building even though we have such a low strength and…”

  At this moment, I was interrupted by a sudden crash as the door swung wide open, revealing Koto. “Drake!” She screams at me. “What is the name of all the Gods is going on?”

  This sudden outburst has made the Adventurer’s Guild attendant stop for a second.

  “Oh, I was just explaining to…” I gestured to the attendant, and they finally gave me a name.

  “Ophiel,” they provide.

  “Ophiel, what has happened with our settlement.”

  Seeing her confused but slightly angry face, I can only continue trying to explain to both of them. “You know, you aren’t part of a Town-Tier or a Village-Tier settlement like you think, Ophiel. We are currently a Hamlet-Tier settlement. As for what you were saying about this rumored Wooden Settlement Token, you are correct that it doesn’t exist. I never received such a token, but instead, I was given this settlement at a tier that everyone else would think was ridiculous. We started as a Roadside Hovel-Tier. This overlaps the Hamlet Tier, but that is all I know.”

  Shaking its head repeatedly, it mutters, “No, this shouldn’t be happening. I know I screwed up, but to think that PUN would send me to such a place.”

  There is another quick opening and closing of the doors and the sound of wings flapping, and Ritotorous alights himself onto the desk.

  “Hmm, I thought I felt a familiar presence inside the guild hall.” I hear him project inside my head, and from what I can tell, everyone else in the room also hears him.

  Everyone turned their attention to Ritotorous, “And what presence is that?” I asked him.

  “Oh, it’s just an angel. I can’t tell from who they serve, but it seems they have been sent to PUN as some form of punishment. This is going to be fun.” I can hear him chuckling to himself while on the desk.

  “And how do you know what an angel’s presence feels like?” Ophiel asks.

  “Oh, I just do, don’t worry about it.”

  “You are telling me this person is an angel?” Shadow asks while pointing at Ophiel. “I can’t see it. Where are the wings and the holy aura they are supposed to radiate?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it.” Ophiel can only helplessly say.

  “Do either of you two have any other questions about what is happening, or are we good to continue? There are many things I want to do today, and this is just the tip of the iceberg,” I ask them.

  “I have so many,” Koto can’t help but mutter.

  “I have a couple, but it would be best to talk more privately,” Ophiel says.

  “Private, like just myself or with the council?” I asked while gesturing to those around me. I also chose to ignore Koto for the time being. There are a lot of things I want to do, and going out and using the experience and loot buff is one of those things.

  “With the council, it will be fine. I will arrange a meeting time to avoid interrupting your pursuit of the settlement.” Ophiel says with another bow, and then their shoulders slumped as they seem to mope about the situation that they are in.

  We all left the Adventurer’s Guild, dragging Koto behind us so as not to interrupt Ophiel’s first day in the settlement. I will need to ask them what they do for food and lodging since I didn’t see anything about having to do either for them.