Chapter 32: Danger from the border
"Wait, are you serious?"
A day has already passed after the creation of [GENESIS]. Zephyr then finds himself negotiating for the establishment of the Clan's Grand Hall. The cause of his surprise is that the other negotiating party is unexpectedly not asking for much. Instead, they lowered the cost for the infrastructure and other utilities and equipment.
"Hmm. That will bother me…it would look like I'm abusing my authority here."
"There is no need to worry {Fate Threader} sir. As part of the [Builders], we owe a great debt to your guild, especially to Miss Sophia, for opening our eyes to new innovations."
'Man, that's Sophia for you. Without our knowledge, she's been building connections here and there that will help us in the future.' Zephyr looks satisfied, which makes the [Builders] delighted.
"Alright. I won't deny your kindness then. Just ask away if you guys ever need help…or, you can ask Meiren instead. I think she's close to Sophia regarding innovations."
Meiren, who is beside Zephyr for the negotiations, became flustered after what he just said.
"L-Lord {Fate Threader} –!"
"Uhh, Zephyr is fine you know."
"I can't possibly call you just like that!" Meiren clears her throat in order to calm herself down. "Lord Zephyr, about what you just said…I'll do my best to meet your expectations. Be it just like with Miss Sophia's level or not, I'll make sure it will be beyond satisfactory."
Meiren's confidence with her words makes Zephyr relieved and already satisfied. He smiled towards the [Builders] and left Meiren with them along with some of the [Diamond Trading & Co.]'s members to finalize the layout of the grand hall which will be built near the office of the GEO's Telmaris branch.
As Zephyr walks around, he notices King Crow and some of his men doing some wine and other beverage testing.
'Ah must be for the cellar I have heard that they suggested. It would also add some boost in their motivation if we have one. Sophia, on the other hand, did not include it in our Guild Hall. Well, no one drinks in [Grim Fate] anyway.'
After turning around, he saw Jaina along with the members of [Shadow Core], planning something out. Upon closer inspection, they are talking about which types of vegetation and flora they could grow in Telmaris that could benefit their Clan. Joura, their chief alchemist, is also on her way to oversee the process.
Zephyr beams with a smile after seeing everyone working hard. Not because he's proud…
'Lucky! Looks like I've picked the best people to play their parts! I don't even have to do anything! Hurray–!' As he was celebrating internally, a voice sent him back to reality.
"Master Zep, I'm here to report something." It was Anastasia who was carrying a basket full of delicious bread that Zephyr asked her to buy.
"Oh, Ana." Zephyr then quickly gets a piece and looks Anastasia in the eye.
"Is it something important?" He asks as he nibbles on the bread he just picked.
Anastasia nods in response.
"I'm aware you already know about his return. I just felt his presence around a few minutes ago. Should I be the one to brief him about the events that transpired while he was gone?"
'Huh? Who's back?' Zephyr's eyes continuously shut and open as if he's trying to figure something out. Anastasia, on the other hand, misinterprets it as Zephyr stating that it's already obvious about what to do. And so, as a response, Anastasia closes her eyes as she bows her head.
"Then, I will stay out of Master Zep's way."
'What is she talking about?!' While wondering, Zephyr's chain relic,
'Oh, I see! Hywel has returned!'
As soon as he thinks of him, Hywel finally makes his appearance in front of them. With his natural smile that he only shows around his guild mates, he opens his arms whilst sauntering towards Zephyr.
"Ah, Zep! Oh how I missed you, it looks like I need to catch up with something. Oh, Ana, it's nice to see you too."
Anastasia bows towards Hywel respectfully, without expressing any sort of emotions. Zephyr on the other hand welcomed him like he's reuniting with a family member.
"Hywel! I know it's not that long but, I'm glad you're back!"
Everyone who is currently present, focuses their attention towards the two. A numerous number of hunters, as we all know, have no idea what the legendary members of [Grim Fate] look like after all. Seeing the current era's mightiest frontliner in person is not what everyone expected. Naturally, when talking about someone who charges fearlessly into the frontlines, taking on the destructive assault of the enemy, the person is expected to be muscular, intimidating, armed and armored. Someone who has a decent to maximum layer of defense within his body.
Hywel is not that kind of someone, however. His build as everyone can see is leaning more on being thin than being muscular, his choice of equipment does not really belong to defense as he only wears layered clothing without any armor inside, though has a unique sense of fashion as it was weaved by Sophia herself.
As expected, different kinds of murmurs can be heard around them.
"Is that…{Impenetrable Spearhead}, Hywel Wayneflet?"
"Did you know, no man-made weapons can damage him. I don't know if it's the truth or just hearsay though…"
"I can't believe it, the strongest frontliner…is someone who is four or five times thinner than the {Unyielding Titan}."
"S-So cool! Look, there's now three of them! I can't wait til they're complete!" Erika commented while shaking Fiona who smacked her in the head afterwards.
"Sssh!! Be quiet! They're having an important conversation. We can't intervene in their reunion for now."
"We'll introduce ourselves later." Jaina added, keeping professionalism in their Guild.
Hywel did not mind the murmurs though. It's as if he's used to being commented on like what's happening right now. He cares more if someone is underestimating Zephyr. Once it happens, his merciless side will take over and no one knows what will happen to his victim.
"Haha…should we move to the Guild Hall to discuss things over?" Zephyr asks, concerned with what's going on Hywel's mind.
As a response, Hywel nods once and turns towards the three guilds. He bows his head towards them one by one and follows Zephyr with Anastasia behind her to their Guild Hall.
"....."
"I like him already." ← David
"Hmm…" King Crow on the other hand seems to be thinking about something.
— — —
"She can't be found anymore. Looks like she went somewhere in Verspala."
"What would she do there? No, that's not important, do we have people in that place?"
"Yes sir, we will have them search the kingdom around for her."
"Hmp, kingdom. Navea has no kingdoms. Those nobles really love making their own rules. They just copied it from the outside regions."
"You sound like you really dislike the place, Marthel Sir"
Marthel crosses his arms, his face shows an unsightly expression as if he's disgusted just by thinking about that place.
"Let's not talk about it. For now, focus on finding that woman."
"Yes. We'll dispatch a team of assassins to find her discreetly."
"Don't send all of them. I need some for the other teams." Marthel massages his chin.
"Sir?"
"Ah, you didn't know yet it seems. We will have a new project on our hands. And the {Second Pillar}, Celaeno, will be the one overseeing it."
Somewhere in Fritz Forest, near the Secluded Hut. A group of black hooded individuals, led by a certain individual wearing a high ranking robe, belonging to Atlas, can be seen gathering around the area. Included in the team was the hot-headed Ajax.
"Looks like the Hut was already ransacked. GEO sure makes quick work of everything." As Ajax remarked, the leader walks in front of the team and stops in front of the pit, created by Alice's dungeon.
"Marvelous. Soon, I'll be able to achieve the same thing, and do more, which is what you have failed."
Everyone then grinned. "Time to start our little project. If [Grim Fate] intervenes, you know what to do Ajax. After all, you're our best hunter killer."
"Hah..Hahaha! You got it, Master Celaeno. Be it a monster or even better, a hunter, no one is best suited to killing more than me!"
"Your confidence is what makes us feel confident as well. So if you could–"
"I have one request though."
"...." "Hm, let's hear it then."
Ajax cracks his fist as he smiles in a sinister way.
"If any of you spotted the man that attacked Marthel's men the other day, specifically, [Grim Fate]'s Hywel, do tell me. He is my priority target."
"....." Celaeno just stares at him for a few seconds. He then turns towards a certain part of the forest where he can feel some presence.
"If it won't hinder the progress of our project, then so be it. In the meantime, it looks like we will have a little company on our hands."
"Hoho? Just some lost dogs aren't they."
Ajax also turns towards the direction Celaeno is facing. After a while, the approaching individuals reached them. The said individuals are just a bunch of human ranked hunters who have no knowledge of who they are and what they are doing.
"Eh? Who are you guys? Are you all from Telmaris?"
Denzel and his crew now face serious danger.