Chapter LV - Meeting (part 2)

"Did you not talk with the center of the conversation at all regarding this, Master Valon?"

The noblewoman with golden hair asks, and Valon only lifts his face up. He opened his eyes and turned them to me.

"Rize... You are our only option about this. If you do this, you can help avoid an international issue between kingdoms."

"Which only happens because one was being irresponsible about it."

I said calmly while turning an eye to Jonus, and the guy didn't look too happy. Jonus quickly stood from his place to try and refute, but Valon quickly grabbed his shoulder telling Jonus to sit back down.

"This mission is incredibly important, but it is also very risky. One wrong mistake... and our kingdoms can be put at war."

Valon explained to me firmly, but I only stayed calm.

"I'm not saying that everything needs to be perfect. There are always possibilities of an international conflict, such as the one that happened previously.

However... to use a scapegoat just in case something goes wrong is still just as risky. Now that the kingdom has someone to blame, do you think they won't stop until they capture the culprit?"

Everyone understood what I'm trying to say, and even Valon realized my perspective in this whole thing. However, I did not stop.

"In the end, you are just going to rely on me to take the blame. And where does that lead me? An international manhunt?"

"Rize--"

"I will not sacrifice my freedom only so that you guys can just use me as you please. I'm sorry, but I couldn't care any more than I already am."

I said very firmly to him, and Valon lets out a sigh.

What I said is indeed incredibly egoistic. I only cared about myself, and that's true. However, I'd rather be like this than be an enemy of an entire kingdom.

The scope of this conversation has turned elsewhere. The nobles are chattering again. They all agreed with what I said, but they also agreed that this mission is quite important. They are hanging at the balance of choices, just like Valon.

"Rize, do you really think we would just send you out there and die on your own?"

Valon said to me, and I lifted both of my shoulders.

"If you were me, what can you deduct from this entire meeting?"

"Fair enough. However, we won't be doing that."

Valon turned to the other nobles.

"I must admit that it's true. Once a scapegoat has been released, and the mission resulted in a horrendous way, a manhunt will be issued immediately. This can mean Miss Rize's freedom will be at stake."

Valon admitted openly, and it seems like everyone realized that he understood the problem. However...

He suddenly smiled.

"However, I think we are all missing the point here. Miss Rize will act anonymously. She will hide her identity for the whole process of doing the mission. And thanks to that, if anything horrifying were to happen during the mission, her second identity will be the one to be blamed.

Miss Rize can rest assured with her life. We will help her out in keeping her identity a secret."

Valon reminded everyone that the goal of this mission was to do it anonymously, and everyone seemed to remember again. If everything works well, then the opposing kingdom will just be hunting for a person that does not exist.

If that happens, then I can walk away freely. Right? 

"So, I just need to put on a mask? Then why me? Why can't it be Mister volcano over there?"

Jonus looked at me and gave a thumbs down. Valon chuckled and answered rationally.

"Yes, but Sir Jonus will be doing another mission. You, on the other hand, will only be doing low ranked missions. A waste of time for someone of your calibre.

Plus, don't you see how terrible Jonus is at being anonymous? His entire trademark is his blue flames. If you are a member of another kingdom and you see a strong person with blue flames as their main ability, who will be their first guess?"

Valon said while grinning to Jonus, and the Flame King only shook his shoulder. I only closed my eyes to his correct comment.

"Which is why this is my suggestion to you. You will create a second identity, and we will turn that second identity into a White ranked adventurer, and quite possibly an international fugitive. Your second identity will not be a member of the kingdom, but it can still do missions from our board. As such, an anonymous White ranked adventurer."

His suggestions cover everything that seems to be missing, but there is something else.

I didn't want to mention it because it would make me look so petty. However, it seems like someone else in the room cared for me.

The elder nun lifted her hand from her position, and Valon turned surprised that the old lady even had anything to say.

"Yes, Church Elder?"

"If... something bad were to happen during the mission, have you considered the price she had to pay?"

The elder nun from the church said after all the attention had fallen to her, and I opened my eyes widely.

"This mission... even an old lady like me can only imagine how dangerous it is. And Rize is young, I just can't think that such a young soul had to carry the weight of an entire kingdom like this.

You are probably used to it, Valon, but a lot of your employees are young. Some are still below twenty, and Rize is only seventeen."

The elder nun said while turning her apologetic expression to me, and I was very shocked that she even knows about my age. If my guess is correct, she probably heard about it from Khel.

Everyone quickly remembered just how dangerous this mission could be. To become an enemy to an entire kingdom... that can be very dangerous. Even when I'm using an anonymous identity, that is still a dangerous thing.

Anything could happen. I could get hurt... or worse. This White ranked mission isn't just your average mission where you have to kill a powerful monster. It is a difficult mission that not even a kingdom can easily succeed in doing.

And yet, he is dropping all of that weight to me.

"I can assure you... Mazino will be doing everything we can to assist her during the mission. We will do everything to keep trouble away from her, but her duty stays.

Let me remind you that this Purple ranked adventurer could've very easily beaten Sir Jonus in a spar yesterday. This young lady here... defeated the strongest monster ever sighted in history with just a team of three. She killed a Black ranked orc god with her hands."

Valon then turned his cold eyes back to me, and I returned him with the same eyes.

"This little thing is by no means a child. She is a powerful asset for the kingdom, and I am determined to use her as much as possible.

However, I also will admit that the mission is a dangerous one. She can indeed get hurt, or worse. Which is why the decision still falls on her hands."

Valon kept his eyes on me, and everyone else followed his gaze. Meanwhile, I only turned away.

"What will you do, Rize?"

He asked as if asking for my permission to start making myself a slave to them.

I never wanted this. I never did. But what he said does have a sense. 

Some missions require anonymity. And the White ranked adventurers couldn't do that since they are so famous. Or else, they will be found out quite easily.

There are not that many strong people, and most strong people are already high ranked. I can only think of one other person who is just like me, strong but hidden. However, not even that guy is at the level of a White ranked. I am a special exception.

I was never famous or anything, which makes me the perfect weapon for the kingdom since I'm just as strong as a White ranked. I can be anonymous, and do things that the kingdom never wants to dirty their hands on.

They needed me. But... do I need them?

"I won't do it."

I answered plainly and coldly, and everyone understood. Some of the nobles nodded firmly to my answer, and Valon let out a sigh.

"Not if I can buy a house from the reward."

I continued, which shocked everyone. They all turned to me quite surprised, but I only smiled at them.

"In the first place, we're adventurers. We fight, kill, and suffer so we can get paid.

Everything regarding us will always be about money. And allow me to point out, Valon... that you never once spoke to me about the rewards."

I said with a grin to him, and Valon only kept his shocked eyes to me.

"... Seriously?"

"BAHAHAH!!! That's the way to go, ya bastard!"

Next to the confused Valon, Jonus only laughed loudly. Everyone else realized that the temperature of the room had turned normal again, but I only turned my gaze back to the paper.

... If it was up to me, I would've genuinely rejected this mission.

However, I realized that the whole kingdom needs me. Everyone, in this room, is the kingdom itself. There's royalties, nobles, and the commoners who belonged with the people.

Everyone is relying on me. It's too selfish for me to reject it blatantly. That's why I decided to simply accept it but with a large reward.

"However, only this one mission. Then, I will decide whether I wish to continue being that anonymous White ranker or not. And I do have a request, which I will get to later."

One mission should be enough for me to have a taste of what's coming. And it's also one of the few predictions that Valon had expected.

He chuckled and looked back.

"Fine, then. One mission, and then you can decide. We can discuss your requests later."

Valon said to me firmly, and I nodded. He then lifted the paper again and read it aloud.

"Then, from now on... I bestowed upon Miss Rize Violet the rank of a White ranked adventurer. However, that rank only applies anonymously.

Should she wish to take a White ranked mission, or to appear as a White ranked adventurer, she will have to use that anonymous identity. Her real name, Rize Violet, is still considered a Purple ranked adventurer as of currently.

I hope that clears one part of the problem that we are dealing with. Any issues, Miss Rize?"

Valon turned to me after announcing, and I just shook my shoulder.

"When do I get my new ID card?"

I said jokingly, and a few laughs were heard in the room. It seems like the first part of the problem has been solved, and now we head to the real problem that is in front of us.

"Now, then. Let us discuss the issue regarding the rebellion at Veldonia."