Chapter 156: Dinner Invitation & The Unexpected Visit
Ethan finished reading through the permit and nodded to himself. Then he stood and walked over to the silent goblin.
As he approached, his eyes took on the draconic transformation. The irises glowed with a reddish-amber hue, and reptilian slits appeared in the center.
When he spoke, his fangs were fully visible, and it looked like vapor steamed from his mouth with the vexation he had been keeping bottled up inside all this time.
"Who has been putting you up to this?" Ethan asked.
The goblin’s eyes widened with absolute terror. The sound of the ferocious beast lurking behind that voice forced him to talk even without being compelled to do so.
"I-I-I was j-just d-doing what I was t-told!" the goblin stammered. "S-someone from... from that v-very popular guild!"
Ethan’s expression darkened. "What guild?"
The goblin swallowed hard, his throat bobbing. "B-Black Hearts."
Ethan’s eyes widened just a bit. So did the others in the room.
Why exactly had the number one guild in the entire country been sabotaging the newest guild’s chance to clear breach zones?
Guilds routinely made applications to the DSB and paid certain fee amounts to buy the rights to newly opened breach zones across the city and country at large.
Not long after forming Clustervayne, Ethan had made several applications and paid advance fees for even more.
There were, of course, certain criteria involved. Things like the number of members in a guild and their strength levels, which influenced just how many breach zones and what level of difficulty were assigned to any given guild.
However, based on his status as Stark, it hadn’t been difficult for him to acquire contacts within the DSB who expedited some of those applications and overlooked a few criteria on his behalf.
"That makes no sense," Ethan said. "Why? And who in Black Hearts is doing this? The guild master?"
The goblin shook his head frantically. "I-I don’t know who directly! A-all I know is some guy comes to meet my boss, and my boss tells me when to stand and wait for when the permit letters are being delivered to Clustervayne"
"Hold on," Wilson said, narrowing his eyes. "Isn’t Black Hearts Anna’s guild?"
He was remembering one time she had come into their alumni chat group to post about being accepted into the guild shortly after graduation.
Percival was already on it. He had pulled out his Arcphone and was scrolling back through the class chat group, working his way up to that message from about a week ago.
He raised his Arcphone toward the others, the screen facing them. "Yup. Anna’s guild."
Ethan sighed and turned toward Wilson. "Confirm what the goblin is saying."
Wilson turned toward the goblin and said with the full weight of his compulsive ability behind the words, "Is everything you’re saying the truth? Leave nothing out."
The goblin nodded, his entire body shaking. "I swear! I swear it’s all true!"
"I want to know who his boss is and where he’s affiliated," Ethan said.
Wilson’s red eyes glowed brighter as he compelled the goblin to answer the question directly.
The goblin’s mouth moved before he could stop himself. "M-my boss’s name is Sharkteeth! I work with the Fallen Vipers!"
Wilson’s eyes narrowed. "That’s a third-rate gang down on Bleeker Street."
Percival immediately punched his fist into his palm with a grin. "I say we go there and introduce ourselves."
Ethan turned toward Percival and shook his head. "Trust me, man, I’d like that. But there are definitely eyes watching our actions since we’re just starting out. Can’t have the headlines look like ’Clustervayne involved with some dirt water street gang.’"
He turned back to the goblin and said calmly, "Which is why I’ll be dealing with it... a bit more subtly."
-
Eventually, Ethan was ready to leave the guild building. The goblin had been forced to sit in a corner by Wilson’s compulsion, pending when the enforcers Ethan had called for came to whisk him away.
Ethan adjusted his coat. "I’ll be heading off now."
Percival gave a casual wave, barely glancing up as he and Aliyah remained focused on whatever was on his archphone.
Wilson nodded in acknowledgment.
Hayley, however, stood and followed him toward the exit.
The both of them walked through the guild’s entrance hall and towards Ethan’s vintage sedan was parked just outside.
When they reached the car, Ethan turned to say goodnight, but she spoke first.
"We’re doing clan dinner tomorrow," Hayley said, looking at him with a smile. "Do you remember?"
Ethan paused, his hand hovering near the car door handle. He looked to be in thought for a split second before saying, "Oh yeah, the one where every Arcorys family member gathers around that huge long table to eat?"
Hayley laughed. "Yeah, that one."
She tilted her head slightly and added, "You used to come around a lot back then, even without being Arcorys."
Ethan smiled at the memory. Those dinners had been chaotic but they were fun as well.
Hayley continued. "Well, I’m inviting you again. Tomorrow."
Ethan began with an excuse, already pulling the car door open slightly. "You know I still have to check back with the comp—"
But Hayley cut him short, stepping closer and placing one hand on the edge of the car door to keep it from opening further.
"Don’t be late, Ethan," she said, staring into his eyes. "I look forward to having you around."
Ethan sighed, and there was no resistance anymore. "Alright."
Hayley smiled, then stepped back and turned to walk back toward the guild building. She glanced over at him once more, before disappearing through the entrance.
Ethan shook his head and climbed into the sedan, then drove off into the night.
—-
In the lower district of Grayfort, where the walls were covered in peeling paint and graffiti tags, some of them crude gang symbols.
A group of men were around a battered table in the center of the room, playing cards. There was smoke in the air from cigarettes and cheap cigars.
A few others leaned on walls, talking in low voices or sharpening blades.
This was Fallen Vipers territory.
One of the men at the entrance suddenly straightened up and nudged his companion. "Oi, you see that?"
The other guy squinted into the shadows outside. A figure was walking toward them.
And this person wore a long black overcoat, and a half-mask covering the lower portion of the face.
This was Joe’s mask, an item borrowed from the assassin ranger summon.
The two gang members glanced at each other, then back at the approaching figure.
"Hey!" one of them called out, stepping forward. "This ain’t a public street, pal. Turn around."
But the figure didn’t stop. Ethan continued walking, until he was within much closer proximity.
Then he raised one hand toward them.
Most of his arm was still covered by the coat sleeve, but as his hand extended outward, strange colored tattoo markings became visible on his wrist.
This was Arael’s weapon. The Runic Chroma.
—-
A/N: Okay guys, i’m going for a mass release tomorrow. I don’t know how many yet, but its anywhere from atleast 3 Chapters.
If it hits 6-10 chps, then guys, I may have to put it under a priv tier. I’m really trying to hit that second level of win win at 5k unlocks.
Soooo pleaseeeee kindly understand. I promise it won’t be under a ridiculous price. I’ll only be raising it by just 1 coin. (Hopefully the site allows it)
So if you already bought tier 2 at 25 coins, you’ll be spending just an additional 1coin.
Butttt, if there are up to 3 comments from priv readers under this Chapter saying they don’t want the new priv tier this month, then I’ll let it be