Chapter 58: Guild’s Future
Beltimore’s eyes widened. He thought he had misheard.
"What did you just say?" His face leaned closer to William across the table, only the wooden surface separating them.
"I said... I possibly had met S-rank individuals," William repeated, louder this time.
"Possibly?" Beltimore narrowed his gaze. "You say possibly? And how can you be so sure?"
"I met them during our quest in Lily Town. They joined our party and we fought against the Black Eagle bandits there, and those two beat them...on their own."
"Black Eagle?!" Beltimore stroked his chin in disbelief. Everyone knew the Black Eagle gang, especially their leader, Phoenix, a former A-rank adventurer and the same rank as Beltimore himself.
"If they’re that strong, are you sure they aren’t already registered with a guild?"
"I’m certain. They didn’t seem to be from this region at all. They asked a lot of basic questions, about quests, guilds, even local customs."
Beltimore’s eyes narrowed as he fell deep into thought. He stood up, pacing across the room, his footsteps echoing with purpose. Back and forth, back and forth.
Five minutes passed in tense silence.
"I believe you, William," Beltimore finally said. "But you understand what S-rank means, don’t you? It’s an existence above all adventurers. The pinnacle of strength. If we test them and they turn out to be only A-rank or below... then what?"