Chapter 786
Chapter 786: Upgrade (4)
Rafdonia—a city where the entire economy revolves around the mana stones that explorers risk their lives to extract from the labyrinth. The importance of explorers in this abnormally structured city needs no further explanation, and naturally, the influence and scale of the ‘Guild’ that oversees and manages these explorers is unmatched by any other organization.
Tens of thousands of guild members. Hundreds of branch managers. District chiefs who oversee those branch managers. And above them all stands a single ‘Guild Master.’
Even most nobles would typically showed deference to the title of Guild Master, and even for someone like me, they were harder to meet with than even some high-ranking nobles.
‘And now, that hard-to-meet person has come to visit me……’
He was too prominent a figure to turn away just because he came without an appointment. With my curiosity piqued, I asked the warrior who had notified me to bring him here. After all, I’d been wanting a proper conversation with him for a while. There was, after all, a somewhat complex connection between us.
[Who are you working for?]
[Illya Adnus……]
It was back during the Ice Rock Expedition. One of the team members, ‘Pyke Neldine,’ had received orders from the Guild Master to sabotage the expedition. He had tampered with our food and supply materials, and at the time, I’d thought he was simply trying to make our expedition fail so that the Marquess, our sponsor, wouldn’t gain any achievements.
But……
‘The expedition itself was a sacrificial pawn.’
Once I realized the Marquess intended to abandon us, my assessment of the Guild Master changed somewhat. Perhaps the Guild Master’s aim wasn’t to sabotage the expedition, but instead to save us? Of course, that’s just speculation and remains unconfirmed. Well, if I’m lucky, I might learn the truth in this meeting.
“Ainar, go play outside.”
“Okay!”
After sending Ainar away, I waited briefly until my desired guest arrived.
“It’s been a while, Baron Yandel. Let me begin by thanking you for making time for me despite my unannounced visit.”
“I happened to have free time, so don’t worry about it.”
“I’m grateful for your understanding.”
Truth be told, the Guild Master wasn’t a complete stranger to me. Someone of their status would naturally be invited to various royal events. We’d even briefly exchanged greetings at the victory ceremony following the Ice Rock expedition.
“So, what brings you here? And so suddenly?”
As soon as he sat down, I got straight to the point, and he seemed a bit taken aback. It seems like he found it unusual that I jumped straight to the point without even offering him some tea……
“Just speak frankly. I’ll start to get hungry if this takes too long.”
The Guild Master smirked, seeming to finally understand who they were dealing with and played along.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t lend more support during the Ice Rock Expedition.”
A statement hinting that they knew exactly what the Marquess’ intentions were back then. At the same time, it seemed he was to subtly probing how much I knew. It was far from the straightforward man-to-man conversation I’d hoped for, but I guess it can’t be helped. For someone who usually spend 30 minutes just exchanging pleasantries, even this would count as extremely direct conversation. Matching their approach, I also responded with a degree of restraint.
“No, I think you did plenty. Considering the power the Marquess held at the time, I believe you already risked quite a lot just doing that much.”
A statement that subtly implied I knew about ‘Pyke Neldine’ and the broader circumstances connected to him. The Guild Master nodded with a bitter expression.
“I truly appreciate you saying that.”
Jeez, how many times is this guy going to thank me?
“Enough with the apologies. Just get to the point. What brings you here today?”
I waved my hand dismissively as if the whole thing was giving me goosebumps, and the Guild Master finally started getting to the point. Well, even that came with a bit of a preamble.
“I’ve heard you’re being promoted to Viscount for your achievement in eliminating that traitor……”
“And?”
“I’ll speak frankly. The labyrinth will open next month.”
“Hmm, I see.”
“…Did you already know?”
“I’d heard it would open soon, but I didn’t know the exact timing.”
“Well, I suppose someone of your rank, Baron, would receive some advance notice.”
“Are you saying you didn’t?”
The Guild Master humbly replied to my question.
“Being the head of the Explorers’ Guild doesn’t mean I have overwhelming power or receive special treatment. It just means I receive information about labyrinth-related matters a bit earlier than others.”
“From how you’re talking, it seems you know more than just when the labyrinth will open.”
“While I don’t know how long it will remain this way, from now on, the labyrinth will no longer open on the 1st of the month.”
“Not on the 1st?”
Even I, who had been listening half-heartedly, couldn’t help but react strongly to this. Until now, the labyrinth had always opened at midnight on the first day of the month, and by noon the next day, it would close, expelling any explorers inside. Well, given that the royal family could open and close portals at will, changing the time wouldn’t be impossible, but there was one question on my mind.
“Why make such a change?”
“It’s because of Noark. To prevent them from preparing and entering, the royal family plans to open the labyrinth without notice and allow only a few explorers whose skills have been verified and whose identities are thoroughly confirmed to enter the labyrinth.”
“Oh?”
“And it needs to be kept strictly confidential, the portal will only be opened in the Royal Capital, Karnon and not other dimensional plazas.”
“I hadn’t heard any of this.”
“Our guild only heard early because we need to prepare by selecting explorers, but you would have heard soon enough even if you’d stayed put. The nobles aren’t foolish enough to discuss such a plan without including you, Baron.”
Foolish…… From that word alone, I could vaguely guess that the Guild Master didn’t think highly of ‘nobles’. Well, he seems to view me differently since I’m a barbarian. Of course, the Guild Master’s person views wasn’t what mattered.
“So what are you trying to say? You wouldn’t have come all this way just to share this news.”
When I pressed him one more time to get to the main point once more, the Guild Master finally revealed their true purpose.
“I understand the Anabada Clan currently has 11 members, leaving one spot open when split into two teams.”
“And?”
“I’d like to fill that spot.”
……Has everyone been eating something strange lately?
***
‘A Guild Master after ten years……’
Looking at his career, no one could deny this person was highly capable. But so what?
“Why should I give you a position in my clan?”
“……You may not be aware, but I was also an explorer myself for a long time. I assure you, I won’t be a burden—.”
“I know. Illya Adnus. You were a rank 3 explorer before retiring, right? Your nickname was Black Hunter. Starting as a guide, then transitioning to a combat role halfway through.”
Illya Adnus did have value as an explorer. Of course though, I have no intention of going into the labyrinth with someone I barely know, no matter how skilled they were.
“……You’ve done your research. Not many people know I started as a guide.”
“Well, naturally. You are the one and only Guild Master, after all.”
As I silently gazed at him, he let out a deep sigh. This situation must have felt unfamiliar to him too. As a Guild Master, he was likely unaccustomed to being in a position where he had to humble himself. But here, his title held no sway over me.
The chieftain of the barbarians. A baron of Rafdonia. An explorer whose name was etched into the Stone of Honor—Bjorn, son of Yandel.
Any one of those titles alone was enough for me not to bow my head to a mere ‘Guild Master.’ Despite that, here he was, making requests of me?
“Don’t hide anything, just tell me everything. Then I’ll give it serious consideration.”
“……”
“Why are you making this request?”
If he started beating around the bush or tried to attach conditions, I would end the conversation here. But maybe he sensed my impatience? He took a breath and slowly began to speak.
“…I need achievements.”
“Achievements?”
“The labyrinth’s prolonged closure has greatly diminished the guild’s influence. It’s not the guild’s fault, but people are always eager to find someone to blame.”
Looking for someone to blame……
“They’re not blaming the Guild. They’re blaming you, is that right?”
“……”
The Guild Master remained silent, unable to respond to my blunt remark and faint smile.
‘I understand the situation now.’
Illya Adnus, who had been thriving in his second career, had finally hit a wall. Those who had long coveted his position were using this as an opportunity to bring him down. So, he was planning to confront it head-on.
“In other words, you’ve ultimately concluded that our clan is the best place to secure those achievements.”
“That’s right……”
Seeing him nod obediently, I couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed. He was a bit different from the kind of person I’d imagined. I’d thought he was someone with a sense of higher purpose, someone who, despite risking conflict with the Marquess, had planted a spy in our expedition in an attempt to save us.
‘Maybe it was just a political maneuver he made out of necessity……’
Perhaps I’d see a different side if I got to know him better, but as it stood, that was my impression of him. He was just a ‘Guild Master’, nothing more. I didn’t sense any special qualities inherent to him as a person.
So……
“If I grant your request, what can you give me in return?”
“First, I’d use my authority as Guild Master to promote the Anabada Clan’s rank as high as possible, and in addition, I would provide every convenience within the guild—.”
“That’s enough.”
I quickly cut him off after hearing only those conditions. I’d held a sliver of hope, there wasn’t anything particularly attractive about his offer. Raising the clan’s rank wouldn’t yield anything remarkable, and any ‘convenience’ within the guild would be just that—mere conveniences that I could handle on my own.
“Let’s stop here. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to look elsewhere to build your achievements.”
That was the cleanest rejection I could give. However, the Guild Master still seemed reluctant to give up.
“……What do you want?”
His tone suggested he was willing to grant me anything if I just named it.
If he was the King, maybe those words would carry weight, but coming from a Guild Master on the verge of being ousted, it was almost comical.
“A dragon’s heart. If you give me that, I’ll let you join.”
“…What?”
“Don’t have one? If not, let’s end this—.”
Just as I was about to tell him to leave, the Guild Master cut me off.
“…Very well. I’ll give it to you.”
“…Huh?”
…He actually has one?
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