Chapter 113 - 112 – Adventurers’ Guild
Several days had passed.
I had not returned to the cave; instead, I chose to stay within the city.
During that time, I discovered several things that made blending in far smoother.
But the real problem was communicating with other Lords.
Of course, it was possible—but never without exposing one’s inner aura, and that was the issue.
Under no circumstances could I allow my cover to be broken.
For now, I was a Second-Rank Lord under the name Echo.
Three days still remained before registration for the Fate Matches.
I did not yet know what kind of prizes awaited there, but at the very least, I could treat it as training—or as an opportunity to gain useful rewards.
That gave me enough time to visit the Adventurers’ Guild and learn what went on there, and what sort of missions they handled.
But before that—
I needed to establish a stable trade.
Something that would generate money.
And at present, nothing was better than buying and selling weapons.
Yet I could not begin using the accelerated cave abilities.
The Deception Beast’s warning had been severe.
Every time I used the cave’s powers, the cost was enormous, and the cave itself would gradually turn into a personal cave with far weaker properties.
On the other hand, I had no space to invest in servants or assistants.
So all I had right now...
Was weapon trading.
And simple flowers.
For some reason, the cost of forging weapons in the Weapon Furnace had changed.
Each ordinary weapon now cost 5,000 dinars to create.
Each custom weapon cost 10,000 dinars.
Ancient weapons had shifted to an accumulation-point cost:
150,000 accumulation points each.
As for mastered weapons—
500,000 points each.
At present, I possessed:
230,000 dinars.
20,000 accumulation points.
Under these conditions, I could not create even a single ancient weapon—
Let alone a mastered one.
Which meant I was currently limited to producing custom weapons only.
Meanwhile, my Lord Wallet had gone dormant.
I had no active business operation running.
And that was the key needed to activate it again.
I opened my palm.
A circular silver stone appeared.
It was egg-shaped, metallic like polished steel.
"The Tenfold Storage Stone," I murmured.
Two days ago, Fiona had acquired it for me.
Its price had been steep—fifty thousand.
Its value lay in one thing:
It could store ten items of the same type.
I pressed it.
Suddenly, the stone opened, splitting cleanly into two halves.
Then it expanded.
From within emerged something like a small platform, waiting to receive an object.
I withdrew the ten custom weapons and placed one upon the platform.
At once, the platform shrank with the weapon inside, then withdrew, and another platform emerged.
After placing all ten weapons inside, I sealed the silver egg once more.
Then I rose and began walking.
After several streets beyond the inn, I boarded a carriage and headed toward Guild Street.
In front of her shop stood Fiona, dressed in her maid-like uniform.
The moment she saw me step down, she hurried toward me and bowed.
"Welcome, my lord."
She led the way into the shop, and I followed her in steady silence.
As soon as I entered, I brought out the silver egg.
"Here," I said.
"These are the custom weapons. Evaluate their price yourself."
"Do you want all of them sold for accumulation points?" Fiona asked as she accepted the stone.
"Yes," I replied.
Then I turned and headed for the exit.
"You seem in a hurry," she said playfully.
"I am," I answered without looking back.
Outside, the street was already crowded.
Many customers had entered her store.
My gaze swept right and left.
Shops stretched endlessly along the avenue.
Over the past two days, I had walked this road many times.
Some stores were meaningless.
Others held promising opportunities.
I stopped before a wooden storefront marked with the image of three green flowers.
I pushed the door open and entered.
There were several customers inside.
All eyes turned toward me.
This time, I wore ordinary clothing far removed from noble fashion:
A wide white robe with flowing sleeves,
A high collar that rose to cover the mouth,
And a black band around my head—not functional, merely decorative.
Across my back hung the Accumulation-Cleaving Sword, strapped by leather harness.
My eyes turned toward the shopkeeper.
A tall young man with long black hair and sharp eyes behind spectacles.
"Welcome, warrior," he said.
"Thank you," I replied coldly, offering neither smile nor expression.
The shop was spacious.
I was surprised to find only a single owner managing it.
Without delay, I approached one display case.
Inside sat a glowing blue transparent vessel.
Within it rested a yellow recovery flower.
Above it was a simple label:
{ Yellow Recovery Flower – First Rank }
{ Price = 50,000 dinars }
"A good price," I murmured.
Then I moved to the second display.
It was empty.
Yet its description remained:
{ Green Recovery Flower – Second Rank }
I turned around.
There was no third display.
Instead, another shelf held unrelated goods.
I looked toward the owner.
"The green flower," I said.
He turned his attention to me.
"Is it unavailable?"
"Unfortunately, yes, sir," he said. "It is no longer in stock. Perhaps after a month—but even then, availability will be by reservation only."
"I see," I murmured.
"And what is its price when available?"
"The price changes depending on rarity," he replied. "The last one sold for three hundred thousand."
"Oh..."
I had not expected it to be that expensive.
I could make enormous profit selling flowers.
But such high prices meant rarity.
And selling something that rare would attract attention.
Attention meant trouble.
No—
That was not something to rush into.
Time to go to the guild.
But first—
My eyes shifted toward another table.
Several dried green leaves were laid upon it.
Above them was a sign:
( Wound-Healing Leaves )
( Price = 5,000 per leaf )
Beside them was another table with larger, thicker versions.
( Deep Wound Healing Leaves )
( Price = 20,000 per leaf )
Expensive.
I had no idea how powerful they were—
But I would buy some of both.
"And now..."
I walked with steady steps toward a building unlike all the others.
Four stories of red brick rose across an area no smaller than a thousand square meters.
A vast garden spread before it.
Every neighboring shop was modest in size.
But the guild building—
Was different.
As I drew closer, signs of power began to reveal themselves.
The structure was surrounded by powerful magical energy.
Meanwhile, the adventurers themselves varied in strength.
Outside, there was no one above Second Rank.
My pace quickened.
I revealed nothing of my own strength.
I concealed it completely.
True, I wished to avoid attracting attention—
But mystery also had value in places like this.
The moment I entered, I smiled.
Many gazes struck me at once.
"Expected," I thought.
I advanced farther.
The atmosphere was exactly like those anime worlds—
A massive hall filled with tables occupied by adventurers and teams.
Along one wall stretched a wide panel embedded with many small glowing blue stones.
On the opposite side stood a bar serving drinks, crowded with adventurers—and powerless women.
At the center stood a large archive shelf.
In front of it was a wooden counter.
Behind it stood three attendants:
One man and two women.
Or rather—
A woman in the center, a man to her right, another woman to her left.
As I approached, their eyes turned toward me.
Stacks of papers surrounded them like librarians’ records.
"Hello," I said.
"Welcome," the woman in the center replied. "How may we assist you?"
She wore a black vest embroidered with brown thread.
Her long black hair was tied back in a ponytail.
The uniform matched all three.
"I would like to obtain an adventurer’s license," I said.
The woman turned to her colleague and whispered:
"Is Lord Kar present?"
"No," the man answered. "He has gone out on a mission."
She looked back at me.
Her expression clearly carried apology.
"Is there no other way?" I asked after she explained that the examiner was absent.
"There are three ways to qualify," she said.
"First: reveal your rank and prove you are at least a mid-level First Rank.
Second: defeat a First-Rank Lord.
Third: be acknowledged by a Second- or Third-Rank Lord."
She paused, then added:
"As for Lords, few are willing to reveal their rank publicly, making the first method difficult.
As for the second—have you achieved that?"
"No."
"Then only the third remains," she said. "Recognition from Lord Kar is what most seek."
"I see," I murmured.
Then I turned slightly—
And strange eyes were watching me.
Their owner began smiling oddly.
A very strange smile.
What was stranger—
Was the foul smell.
"Have you considered bathing, damn you?" I muttered inwardly.
The stranger stepped closer.
He wore segmented armor.
A circular yellow emblem marked with a lion crest adorned his chest.
Matching plates sat on his shoulders—
And his boots as well.
"Do you like the Pulsing Lion Armor?" the stranger asked, brushing back his messy blond hair.
"It is good," I said. "It grants immunity. It enhances defense. But it sacrifices speed and slows attack rate."
"Ohhh... impressive," he said. "You are skilled at analysis."
Then he grinned wider.
"How about testing your theory?
If you defeat me—or even withstand me—
I will acknowledge you and secure your license.
If you fail...
You reward me with some money."
I looked toward the woman.
She remained silent.
"So that’s how it is," I said quietly.
Then I smiled—
And extended my hand toward the adventurer.
"Agreed."
The crowd behind erupted in laughter.
Idiots.
It was obvious—they had no idea who I was.
And I do not mean my strength.
That adventurer... he preyed on newcomers to extort money from them.
Everyone here seemed to know it.
And apparently, the guild itself tolerated it.
Corruption... everywhere.
---
Behind the building, a door opened into an arena.
It was small, no more than ten meters wide and long.
Lines were marked around its edges.
The arena itself was raised slightly above the ground on layered stone blocks.
Around it, people quickly gathered, filling the space.
Voices rose from every side:
"He’s fighting the swindler..."
"This poor fool fell into that bastard’s trap."
"Hope he has enough money to pay up! Hahaha!"
The woman stepped into the center of the arena, then turned toward me and the scruffy-haired adventurer.
"Are you both ready?" she asked.
The adventurer moved into position.
I nodded and followed him.
A moment later, the woman declared the match begun.
---
The adventurer advanced a few steps.
"So," he said smugly, "what do you think? Should I fight you with second-rank strength... or only first-rank?"
I did not answer.
I simply waited for him to move.
His aura was obvious enough—second rank.
Though he was clearly trying to suppress it.
I raised my hand.
Then drew my sword.
"A customized sword," the adventurer said, eyes narrowing. "Looks like you’ve got money. How about I test you in a way that grants you both combat experience and your license?"
"For how much?" I asked.
"Hahaha... you understand quickly. Same price as before."
"Then no," I said flatly. "I’d rather just defeat you. You don’t look very strong."
The adventurer smiled.
Then he drew his own blade.
Suddenly, the sword split apart in the middle—
And from its core burst a green aura, foul-smelling and rancid.
In an instant, the green haze spread around the arena... and around me.
It was thin, not enough to block vision.
The adventurer stepped closer.
One step after another.
"I see," I thought.
Poison.
Something meant to paralyze movement.
He came nearer, until he stood almost beside me.
"Well?" he sneered. "Still trying to act strong? Physical power isn’t everything. Once the body is attacked from within... it’s over."
"You’re right," I said calmly. "I didn’t expect a fraud like you to make sense. But you made one mistake."
"What mistake?" he asked, circling around me.
"You," I said, "never considered that I might be immune to such a pathetic attack."
"Wha—"
BOOM.
Before he could react—
I turned sharply, raised my sword, and slashed.
Suddenly, the effect of Accumulation Severance appeared.
{10% Cut}
The adventurer screamed in pain and staggered backward.
I gave him no chance.
I stepped forward swiftly.
SWOOSH—
Another slash.
Then another.
He fled sideways in panic, shouting.
I chased him.
Another massive strike landed.
The cuts themselves were not physically devastating—
Yet he fled as though death itself pursued him.
Silence fell over the arena.
No one understood what was happening.
He could not escape me.
I kept pursuing him.
Nine strikes landed.
Then he turned toward me in terror.
I smiled arrogantly.
Then—
SWOOSH.
{10% Cut}
Suddenly, the adventurer collapsed—
Unable to move.
His accumulation was depleted.
I raised my sword again, smiling.
"I—!" the adventurer screamed. "I surrender! I lost!"
I halted my strike.
"What kind of nonsense is this?" I said coldly.
"Why are you this weak?"