The officer that he saw is wearing a blue uniform for the northern army. He's the only one having such an outfit within the Tavern so it's easy to recognize him.

"I was told to check him if I want to join the Special Unit meant for Arcanists, do you think it's true?"​​

Rufus asked the waitress…

"Oh, you're right… I heard that he's a leader of a group… They're quite free to act since most of their members were wandering Arcanists. Wait, are you an Arcanist?"

"Ah, yes…" Rufus nodded.

He already pocketed his emblem so no one could easily identify him as an Arcanist. He also has a bow and quiver on his back so he looks more like a Hunter… Unless, if he removed the quiver filled with arrows, they might be able to guess that he's an Arcanist.

"I see… Then you can just wake him up… He wouldn't mind it if you'll say that you will join the Special Unit… Haha… I heard that he's been looking for some capable people for a while now.

'Is that the reason why he's drunk?' Rufus commented in his mind.

The man must be so desperate that he has to drink in sorrow…

'Perhaps I should come on a later date?' He thought for a moment as he's unsure whether it's the right time to wake up a drunk man.

However, the waitress started leading him to the sleeping guy so he decided to just go with her. As they approached the man, they heard him snoring a little…

Rufus felt bad waking him up… Nevertheless, he also wanted to settle his concern of helping the northern army…

"Boss Ma… Boss Ma… Someone's looking for you…" The girl tapped the man's shoulder a few times to gently wake him up.

The waitress seems to have realized Rufus' hesitation to wake up the big guy so she decided to do it herself.

"Mhmm?"

The man was surprisingly easy to wake up… Perhaps it's a habit for being a soldier in such a long time.

Boss Ma seated straight and squinted his eyes to look at the lady who woke him up…

He has blond, greasy hair that slightly covers his frowning face. His big frame made Rufus aware that the man was definitely several heads taller than him.

"Oh… It's you, Kristy… What's wrong? Is that your little brother? I didn't know you have one… Come, take a chair let's have a drink…"

The man's voice was deep but he does have a gentle aura with him.

"No… I'm still working… and he's not my brother. He's looking for you… I'll leave now…"

The lady then looked at Rufus telling him to continue the conversation… The young man didn't forget to thank her before stating his identity to the large guy.

"I'm Rufus from the Arcanist Tower… I was told to look for you if I wanted to join the Special Unit…"

As soon as he said this, Boss Ma's face lit up!

He appears to be genuinely happy after hearing his purpose for coming here.

"Whoa~ Finally! I'm Marcus…Everyone calls me Boss Ma… Haha… Come, seat with me…"

The man offered but Rufus hesitated, the man reeks of alcohol and he couldn't stand it.

"I have to refuse… I'm not used to this smell… I've never drunk alcohol…"

As soon as he said this, everyone in the Tavern looked at the small guy. Even the waitress that was about to return to the front door stopped walking.

It seems that it's very rare to see someone like him…

'Ugh…'

Rufus felt embarrassed for some reason. Although he didn't mind it, it felt like he shouldn't be here.

Nevertheless, the officer seems to have noticed his concern so he quickly fixed himself…

"Ahh... Wait for me outside. Let's talk somewhere else."

Rufus nodded at this and headed to the door…

It only took a couple of minutes before the officer went outside… Though Rufus can still smell some alcohol, it seems to be a bit more bearable right now.

"You said your name is Rufus, is that right?" The man asked.

As expected, the man was really tall aside from having a huge frame. Rufus had to raise his head to look at his eyes…

"Yes, Boss Ma…"

"Very well, let me introduce to you our Special Unit… We are different from the Night Brigade that you've probably heard of… We're a Special Arcanists Force that is directly under General Julian's command. Keke… Amazing, isn't it?" Boss Ma seems to be boasting but Rufus couldn't feel the awesomeness of that unit yet…

Nevertheless, he nodded at the man to show his interest.

Marcus then continued as he mentioned to him about their recent missions and what they do as a member of the Special Forces.

"Our missions are mostly related to a specific region… I think you know where it is already… Anyway, about a month ago, we were tasked to trace the Cultists in the buffer zone of the two kingdoms… We're doing well and we were about to track their main headquarters…"

Rufus blinked his eyes as he's sure that the headquarters of that cult is definitely a huge discovery… Once they learned their base, he can guarantee that General Julian would assemble all of his forces to exterminate them.

Then, Boss Ma continued his story… Maybe because of alcohol, he became a bit talkative that doesn't seem to suit his figure.

Anyway, Rufus continued listening.

"…However, we encountered the Dark Elves in that region! Such a stroke of bad luck! Our hard work was wasted just like that!"

"Dark Elves?! They're truly at this cold region?"

"Mhmm… They'll normally stay in the caves and dark forests… We're unsure whether they are cooperating with the cult… However, what we know is that they are a menace…"

"Are they scary---I mean, strong?

Rufus hasn't seen an elf yet and only heard that they should look scary like an orc or something…

"Haa… They look scary when it's night… You can only see their red eyes looking at you… Haha… As for them being strong… There's no doubt about it… They're different from those lousy elves in the Dukedom…"

Rufus nodded at this… The elves living somewhere in the Dukedom don't have a huge presence… He never heard any powerful elves that could beat the mightiest Arcanists of humans.

However, what they know is that the elves have incredible knowledge when it comes to Arcane Circle.

"Mhmm… So the Special Forces have missions related to the buffer zone…"

"That's right… That is why not many would want to work with us… However, since you're here… I'm sure that we will be able to increase our recruitment rate…" Boss Ma smirked after saying this…

"Increase the recruitment rate? How can I do that?"

"Well, leave it to us! As long as we complete a single mission within the buffer zone, we can do it! They will no longer be afraid of joining us… Haha… After all, if even a kid like you can survive, how could they not?!"

Boss Ma bragged a little as he voiced out his plans…

Rufus smiled wryly at his words. He's sure that he doesn't mean to offend him. After all, just standing beside this huge guy made him accept that he's really a kid in his eyes…

However, if he's going to be used for their recruitment strategy, then it means that he wouldn't be put on a dangerous mission or perhaps he will always be together with Boss Ma to ensure his safety…

Though he's confident with his Swordsmanship skills through his Kendo, the place wasn't familiar to him… He's not aware of the topography, the Evil Beasts, and various races living in that region…

He knows that it's better to play it safe until he gets used to it.

"I don't mind that… However, I wanted to learn more about this region before anything else…"

"Of course… You will meet all our members and we'll all help you get used to it…"

"Great… How many members do we have right now?"

"Well, there are previously 29 of us… However, as I said before, we encountered those Dark Elves…" Boss Ma answered and Rufus noticed that his voice was lowered this time…

"I see… Then some of them must've decided to quit?" The young man asked.

"Urgh… Not really, they served the army really well and their families received compensation enough for them to live for several decades…"

"Eh?"

"Mhmm… There are only six of us in the Special Forces right now, all the others were killed by the Dark Elves… However, do not worry! We will no longer approach their territory… Aside from that, General Julian's right-hand man has also decided to join all our succeeding mission!"

The officer proudly announced…

Rufus was shocked that this man was still confident about being a member of the Special Forces! Why is he so eager about this?

Just what kind of fatality rate is that? Isn't this a bit too dangerous?!