Back at the guild, the atmosphere shifted slightly.
Not dramatically.
But noticeably.
The receptionist didn't just glance at him this time.
She watched.
"…You caught something others didn't," she said.
Andres placed the completion token down.
"I observed."
She gave a small, knowing smile.
"That's not something most people can do."
A few nearby adventurers glanced over briefly.
Curiosity.
Nothing more.
But it was enough.
A beginning.
She slid the payment toward him.
More than before.
Not by much.
But enough to matter.
"…Your name?" she asked.
Andres paused.
Names had weight here.
Identity.
Reputation.
Risk.
"…Andres," he said.
She nodded, committing it to memory.
"Keep working like that… and people will remember it."
As he stepped out into the city again, Andres considered that.
Not the recognition.
But the implication.
In Velmora—
Being remembered could be either advantage…
Or danger.