Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Frostnight Guild Leader
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Frostnight Guild Leader.
Aegis Gaibel.
Her appearance drew every eye in the room.
Frostnight was the undisputed top guild, its fame resounding across the land.
Naturally, its leader couldn't help but attract attention.
Aegis stepped into the building, her silver hair fluttering behind her.
Two Frostnight guild members followed in her wake.
Both were hero-class powerhouses on par with Rafila.
Worthy of the number one guild.
"Doesn't look like an easy one to chat up."
"She does seem pretty rigid at first glance."
Rafila nodded in agreement with Leyzon's words.
Hearing that, Leyzon tilted his head.
"Rafila, you seem to know the Frostnight leader pretty well."
"Haha, it was ages ago, but we partied up together once."
Only then did Leyzon realize how Rafila knew Aegis's personal history.
"Of course, after our levels pulled apart, we hardly ever talked."
Rafila briefly reminisced about the old days.
Everyone has their rookie phase.
Aegis was no exception.
"Still, I'll try to make an opening somehow."
Leyzon smiled at Rafila's confident words.
"Yeah, just make it happen."
Leyzon moved into the conference hall alongside Rafila.
The interior was just as opulent as the outside.
Flower Deer Guild hadn't poured money in for nothing.
"Rafila!"
At that moment, someone spotted them and bellowed.
Rafila's face twisted in a scowl.
Heavy footsteps thundered closer.
A man with striking red beard and hair.
It was Flame Butterfly Guild Leader Banbeck.
As "Mad Flame" made his entrance, those nearby subtly put distance between them.
Everyone knew Rafila and Banbeck clashed often.
Best to slip away before getting caught in it.
"Banbeck, this is the conference hall. Don't make a racket."
"Who asked you?"
Banbeck snorted derisively and turned his head.
Then his eyes met Leyzon's, and he flashed a toothy grin.
"The fierce dark elf! Good to see you again."
"Not thrilled about it myself."
"Still as prickly as ever. So you ended up joining Steel Wolf Guild after all?"
Steel Wolf affiliation was what got him a seat here.
Leyzon gave a curt nod, and Banbeck smacked his lips in regret.
"No idea what Rafila shoved in your pockets, but that's no clean cash.
How about Flame Butterfly instead of Steel Wolf?"
"If you hand over the whole Flame Butterfly Guild, I'll consider it."
"Hahaha! What a greedy bastard!"
He took it as a joke.
Leyzon, for whom Steel Wolf was his own, remained indifferent.
"Guild leaders, the conference room is prepared. Please proceed inside."
Just then, a building staffer delivered the message.
Banbeck quit his yapping there.
"Catch you later."
He strode into the conference room first.
Rafila followed, Leyzon in tow.
Crimson flames flickered throughout the conference room.
Chandeliers on the ceiling sparkled with reflected light.
Beneath them sat ornate decorations emblematic of Flower Deer Guild.
Soon, a round table emblazoned with Flower Deer's crest came into view.
The chairs were unmistakably crafted from premium wood.
The cushions attached to the wooden seats were stuffed full of duck feathers, clearly prepared for marathon meetings.
Anyone could see this was Flower Deer flexing its wealth.
"Thanks for traveling all this way, everyone."
Inside the conference room.
The Flower Deer Guild Leader, resplendent in a floral suit, smiled gently.
It was a suit patterned with flowers.
A floral suit would look utterly ridiculous on an average joe.
But the man before them was Flower Deer Guild Leader.
Flower Deer only recruited the strikingly handsome.
He too possessed that same flashy beauty.
Thus, he pulled off even the ornate floral suit.
His long, peach-tinted locks swayed.
"I'm Leo, Flower Deer Guild Leader, handling venue for this meeting.
Guild leaders, please take seats according to the crests engraved on the chairs."
The chairs encircling the round table bore the emblems of major guilds.
Thus, everyone found their spots without issue.
Those seated were all major guild leaders.
Powerhouses whose names echoed worldwide.
A newbie might tense up before them.
Leyzon was unimpressed.
'Everyone's mid except Frostnight leader.'
Perhaps from tangling with too many elites lately.
His standards had skyrocketed.
Meanwhile, Rafila took the Steel Wolf chair.
Leyzon stood at his back.
All aides waited behind their leaders' chairs.
"Huh, the bottom-feeders showed up."
Then the man facing Rafila sneered with mockery.
A swarthy brute covered in cow-like tattoos, nose pierced.
'What a freakish mug.'
Major guild, Solar Guild Leader.
Minority heritage, Varcabaras.
Nicknamed Water Buffalo.
"Water Buffalo, don't start shit. Before I yank that nose ring out."
Rafila held his ground.
As Rafila bared his teeth wolfishly, Water Buffalo smirked.
"Go on, try me."
He rose, bulging his muscles threateningly.
Leyzon watched the pointless dick-measuring contest with bemusement.
Rafila had no shortage of enemies.
"Cut it out, both of you."
A cold voice rang through the room then.
Frostnight Guild Leader Aegis spoke up.
Her icy gaze lanced toward Rafila and Water Buffalo.
At her warning, both halted.
"Ahem, gotta stop when our lovely Aegis says so."
True to his nickname.
Rafila clammed up too.
"Then, let's commence the regular meeting."
Meanwhile, Flower Deer Leader Leo kicked things off.
As expected, the meeting itself yielded little of value.
Discussions on inter-guild disputes or turf wars.
Or recent incidents, dungeon intel, and such.
Sharing the perks only major guilds could access.
'Even talking ladders for mid-to-low guilds to climb—not a totally rotten system.'
Likely Frostnight Guild Leader's heavy influence.
She fundamentally wanted pioneers to uphold their duties.
This naturally affected the other leaders.
But one guild had strayed far from those duties until recently.
"Speaking of, Steel Wolf's been pushing this 'we've changed' slogan lately. What do you all think?"
And sure enough, Water Buffalo latched onto Steel Wolf.
Steel Wolf had long played the villain role.
Clawing to major league on sheer numbers, then unleashing every atrocity in the book.
Naturally, this bred countless enemies.
'Steel Wolf's arch-rival was always Solar Guild.'
Stemming from a past new-dungeon turf war.
Leyzon glanced at Rafila.
Leyzon was the one who'd shifted Steel Wolf's course.
A bolt from the blue for Rafila.
"Frankly, playing the reform card now is a joke after all the shit they've pulled."
A nasty grin curled Water Buffalo's lips.
He had it in especially for Rafila.
The reason? He carried a torch for Frostnight Leader Aegis.
Aegis quietly favored Rafila.
Rumors pegged it to their shared party history, and it grated on Water Buffalo immensely.
He'd always despised Steel Wolf.
Today, he trashed them openly.
Other major guilds didn't push back.
Steel Wolf's rap sheet was long.
Tainted the major league rep, so today's outburst was just accumulated grudge erupting.
Rafila stayed silent.
Since he'd started heeding Leyzon, he'd seen this coming.
"Who asked for your bullshit?"
Then, unexpectedly, someone piped up.
All eyes turned, landing on a redheaded man.
"...Mad Flame."
Water Buffalo scowled as he named him; Banbeck slammed the table.
"You saying major guilds' atrocities were Steel Wolf exclusive? You've all done the same shit."
Truth was, Steel Wolf had just gone overboard.
Other major guilds had wielded power relentlessly behind the scenes.
This world ran on strength alone.
Naturally, strength-consolidated major guilds wouldn't sit idle.
"Picking on a guy trying to turn over a new leaf now—that's the real atrocity.
No one stays a pariah forever."
Water Buffalo's words amounted to: Steel Wolf, keep being villains eternally.
Mad Flame eyed Rafila.
Ambition burned in his gaze.
My enemy's enemy is my fan.
'What a lunatic.'
Leyzon grudgingly acknowledged Mad Flame's unhinged nature.
The same guy who'd trashed Steel Wolf HQ just days ago.
Defending them now? Utter madness.
"Agreed."
Aegis of Frostnight affirmed it.
Aegis turned to Rafila.
"I see Steel Wolf's changes in a positive light.
Can't undo the past, but their recent moves show true major guild evolution."
Steel Wolf was a major guild regardless.
No sense refusing a sore thumb fixing itself.
Rafila glanced at Aegis.
A subtle look passed between them.
"...I was just thinking about the small guilds and parties victimized by that 'change.'"
Water Buffalo cleared his throat awkwardly, shooting Rafila a dirty look.
"We'll compensate."
Rafila replied flatly.
"Steel Wolf will make amends to the guilds we wronged."
Water Buffalo's brow twitched.
Displeasure plain in his eyes.
"But major guilds are excluded. Just business clashes in the end."
Still, Rafila drew a firm line.
Compensation went to the little guys.
Not fellow majors.
"Hmph."
Water Buffalo snorted.
But no one else piled on Rafila.
Everyone knew needling him gained nothing.
"Alright, enough of this crap—let's talk something productive!"
Mad Flame swiftly pivoted the mood.
Chuckling heartily, he shot up boldly.
"How about we brag about the super rookies in our major guilds this time?"
The prime talents snagged by major guilds.
Mad Flame pushed for intro time.
Out of left field, sure.
But standard fare at major guild regular meetings.
No better stage to hype rookies and boost their name value.
Pre-notify other majors ahead of time.
Doubled as a "hands off our scouts" warning.
Stake your claim first, or others will drool over them.
"Banbeck, you got a rookie to show off?"
One major leader asked.
Banbeck's lips curled into a massive grin.
Then he abruptly pointed at Leyzon.
"Not me—Steel Wolf's got one!"
All eyes snapped to Leyzon in an instant.
Leyzon froze, blindsided by the sudden spotlight.
He hadn't seen this coming either.
That mad bastard.
Time to snuff out his flame.