The Five Great Guilds 2

"Since we've gathered busy people, I'll skip the small talk and get straight to the point. As stated in the invitation, we've absorbed the existing Enchanter Workshop and been reborn as a new workshop. To that end, we're terminating the old contract terms and inviting you all to negotiate new ones."

As soon as I finished speaking, the hunters' brows furrowed, clearly showing their displeasure.

"Who the hell decided to change the contract terms on their own?"

It was Kim Minseong, vice-guild master of the Myth Guild.

'Just as the intel said.'

Ahead of this meeting, I'd asked Lee Musin for dossiers on the key figures from the Five Great Guilds—their personalities, tendencies, everything. According to the files, Kim Minseong had immense pride in the Five Great Guilds, viewing them as justice incarnate, the absolute truth. My words were more than enough to grate on his nerves, and sure enough, he jumped in right away.

'Good. That's exactly what I needed from you.'

I welcomed the provocation. Having cast Kim Minseong as the star of this show, I smiled and replied.

"If it had been a fair contract, I'd have kept it. But since it was a fraudulent deal forced through with brute strength, of course it needs renewing."

"Fraud? You dare call the Five Great Guilds frauds? You've got some guts for a leatherworker."

Kim Minseong, predictably, wouldn't admit to the fraud, and my jab at the guilds sharpened the aura pouring from him.

I ignored him and pressed on.

"Myth Guild has 313 members. You've requested 1,746 magic pattern engravings from us. Add in the total personnel from the Five Great Guilds, and that's around 1,500 people. Doesn't something seem off there? Got anything to say about that?"

Perhaps they had some conscience left—the other hunters' expressions shifted slightly.

But Kim Minseong was Kim Minseong through and through.

"So what? Did we force you? Choi Deokhui signed it herself. What's the problem?"

"No problem at all. Choi Deokhui does bear some responsibility, after all. That's why we're letting bygones be bygones on past matters. And for the engravings still under contract, we've already done 800 pieces, so we'll halt those too."

What part of my words pissed him off so much? Whatever the case, Kim Minseong reacted like the perfect lead actor he was supposed to be.

Bam!

He slammed the table, shot to his feet, and bellowed with a ferocious aura.

"Let bygones be bygones? You've got a mouth that won't quit. You, a mere leatherworker, wanna throw down with the Five Great Guilds?"

"Why would a mere leatherworker dare challenge the Five Great Guilds? If I were really picking a fight, I'd ban leather armor sales to you and halt all magic pattern engravings right now. All I'm saying is, let's correct this messed-up contract."

I kept my smile steady, but Kim Minseong, fuming, lost his temper completely.

"You son of a bitch, you wanna go right now?"

The moment Kim Minseong leaped up and vaulted over the table, a familiar alert popped up.

Under the Kao state penalty, Kim Minseong suddenly lost his strength, his knees buckling.

Caught off guard by his body failing him, he didn't charge blindly. Instead, he froze in place, assessing himself. With all the Five Great Guilds' top brass watching, any slip-up would tarnish his guild's name—he had to play it careful.

So instead of attacking, he yelled.

"Poison? Who the hell put you up to this crap? Who?!"

His mention of poison made the others stiffen, checking their own bodies.

"Poison? Even if you hate me that much, come on. Accusing me of poison is a stretch. Everyone else looks fine. You feeling sick or something?"

Kim Minseong whipped his head toward me, but at a gesture from his scowling guild master, he had to slink back to his seat.

The Myth Guild master, Jin Taeseong, and the other Five Great Guild leaders seemed to have sicced Kim Minseong on me to test my resolve.

But he hadn't rattled me—instead, he'd embarrassed himself. The leaders shook their heads, clicking their tongues.

The heated atmosphere chilled instantly, silence falling.

Then, Park Chan-yeol of Elision Guild—who'd stayed stone-faced till now—spoke up.

"Things are getting too heated. Let's cool down. Guild Master Kim Suho, mind your words if you want a deal, not a provocation."

'Park Chan-yeol. Elision Guild's second-in-command.'

His profile flashed in my mind.

Elision had been rank one even before Park Chan-yeol rose to prominence, but barely ahead of Royal Blood. Rankings fluctuated depending on who you asked.

But once Park Chan-yeol shone, earning the guild master's trust and key positions, things changed. Elision pulled far ahead, cementing overwhelming rank one status.

'Everyone calls him vice-guild master except himself—he turned down the title. A real oddball.'

As ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I recalled his file, Park Chan-yeol continued.

"You wouldn't bring up a new contract without prep. How about showing your hand now?"

Gah!

Park Chan-yeol's voice boomed not in my ears, but straight in my head. I was genuinely startled.

The new message skill surprised me, but the content shocked me more.

'What the—? How the hell does he know?'

I'd never been this thrown by another hunter since awakening. I'd never leaked the enchanter bit publicly, and the SS-rank leather armor was the same.

The Brain Emperor case was a fluke—he could've guessed that. But even then, it hadn't leaked; if it had, the leather workshop wouldn't be this quiet.

So Park Chan-yeol had pure-deduced an SS-rank leather armor. I went from shock to outright admiration for his insight.

"Impressive. Yes, exactly. I'm not shameless enough to demand a new contract without backing it up. But first, let me correct a misconception."

After clashing auras with the Five Great Guilds—my whip crack—I was ready for the carrot.

I hadn't called them here for war; playing nice when mediation came was just good manners.

"Even if you're pissed, please refrain from calling ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me 'mere leatherworker' from now on. I'm the world's one and only."

The hunters' faces twisted oddly at the brag, and I kept going.

"I can craft SS-rank leather armor with defense exceeding SS-rank plate. I'm also a full enchanter—my leather armor supports magic pattern engraving."

Thud.

My bombshell left all ten stunned speechless. Even Park Chan-yeol, who hadn't considered enchanter or engraving, gaped wide-eyed.

"N-No way! H-How can one hunter have t-two classes...?"

"L-Leather armor with magic patterns? Impossible...!"

The guild masters—rightly in their seats—stayed composed, no hysterics. But some vice-masters freaked, nodding along.

"Seeing is believing. Someone you all trust will vouch for the armor's authenticity. Come on out."

I glanced at the stage behind the podium. The others followed suit.

But no model appeared. I called again.

"Come on out."

Still nothing. I felt their gazes sharpening on me.

The podium screen showed the backstage—he was there, but frozen. Time for drastic measures.

"If you don't come out this time, no magic pattern engravings ever again. No more deals, period."

My threat laced with menace finally worked. The model emerged.

"Damn it! You said just hunters, no big shots. Shit! This is embarrassing as hell."

Choi Taesu grumbled nonstop, face beet-red, as he stepped out. The ten hunters gawked in horror.

Emperor Guild's master and vice-master were hit hardest.

"Wh-What? Why are you there? You... you knew and didn't tell me?!"

"The Br-Brain Emperor... th-there?!"

Choi Taesu snapped back, embarrassed and pissed.

"What? Since when do you care about me? And he said no secrets or no armor—what was I supposed to do? If it was Seonghyeon hyung or you, Suban, could you blab?"

Emperor Guild master Kim Seonghyeon and vice-master Park Suban nodded unconsciously.

As explained, it was top-tier gear. Leather armor out-defensing SS plate, plus impossible magic engraving? No comparison possible.

Secrecy for guildmates? No big deal.

Not just them—the others listening nodded too.

"As you know, it's the Brain Emperor. He'll demo the armor now. Please."

I let the hype simmer, then addressed Choi Taesu.

"His word's gold. Believe it."

Arms crossed, he struck a pose. I whispered.

"Mr. Brain Emperor, time for Leap or Weight—show 'em."

He glared fiercely, growling.

"You want me to clown for these guys?"

"I told you—modeling includes performance test. You agreed."

I invoked the contract. His face twisted.

"Damn it! You don't trust me?!"

Fwoosh.

Choi Taesu flared his aura, sparks flying, lightning vortex swirling.

Intentional or not, it spared me, blasting toward the guild seats.

But these weren't scrubs. Not a real fight—just venting—they handled it fine.

Skill gaps showed; faces paled.

"Who else to trust but the Brain Emperor? But we need the magic pattern details—and proof it works."

Park Chan-yeol spoke, halting Choi Taesu's aura.

"Damn, how'd I end up promising this guy? Kim Suho, break it and you're dead. And you—watch close. Once only."

Choi Taesu, aura raging irritably, activated two patterns in sequence.

"Weight. Leap."

The stage crumpled under his weighted mass.

Leap shot him to the conference room door in a blink.

He flung it open and stormed out.

The room stared blankly at the empty doorway.

To be continued in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the next chapter...