Chương 97: (B2) Chapter 24 - The art of baiting gifts

Not much had changed in Tomas's office. The furniture looked the same, as did the view. However the mood seemed a bit more tense than last time. Ethan had spent the night catching up with Leah, both of them recounting their time apart and what they had been up to. Bella had also stuck around for a while, dismissing herself after they had all eaten some food. She had also left Ethan with a proposition, which he had told her he'd get back to her on. However, none of that mattered right now.

Not as Tomas sat opposite him, his eyes narrowed and a frown on his face. Ethan for his part remained seated, perfectly at ease as the tier two cultivator eyed him up and down.

"How did you do it then." He stated finally.

"They actually attacked me. So it was rather simple." Ethan answered with a shrug.

"Not that you bastard. How did you clear the dungeon? What were the final challenges?" Ethan smiled, of course he knew what Tomas had been talking about, but after hearing a bit more about Leah's adventures, he decided he was within his right to mess with the man. Though judging from the way he was looking at him, Ethan wouldn't be able to get away with it for much longer.

"Where did you get too again? Was it the fifteenth—""Seventeenth and you know it." Tomas cut in. Ethan let out a small laugh and nodded.

"Fair enough. The final challenges were a mage, a wyvern and a giant."

"Tell me everything! It still pisses me off I never cleared that dungeon."

"I'm happy to do that. But first, Leah's shared a few stories about the party she's in."

"And?"

"And I think Marcus has some explaining to do."

"Oh God. What's he done?"

"You don't know? It seems Leah has been getting harassed. Something about Marcus wanting to get one back on her after his loss." Tomas groaned and leaned back into his chair.

"At least it's just a friendly spar. It might be good for them? A healthy rivalry?" Ethan snorted.

"Healthy he says…"

"What?"

"Don't worry about it. I think I'll take it up with Marcus myself." Tomas narrowed his eyes and watched Ethan for a moment. He seemed to be weighing something up until a smile formed on his face.

"Actually, that sounds like a great idea. But just remember, at the end of the day I am his big brother."

"It would never get that serious." Ethan said.

"Besides, from your challenge dungeon results, I'm not too worried."

"Kid, don't get ahead of yourself. I've nearly doubled my stats and skills since then." Tomas replied, in surprising seriousness. The guildmaster leaned back in his chair and folded his arms.

"Now stop changing the subject and tell me about the dungeon." Ethan spent the next half hour recounting the final challenges. Tomas interrupted constantly. Sometimes to ask questions. Sometimes to swear. Sometimes simply because he disagreed with a decision Ethan had made despite the fact it had clearly worked. By the time Ethan finished explaining how he'd killed the giant, Tomas looked genuinely annoyed.

"I was robbed."

"You lost fair and square."

"I was robbed."

"Keep telling yourself that." Tomas glared at him for a moment before eventually letting out a sigh.

"Fine. Enjoy your victory."

"I will." Ethan said, holding out his hand. The guildmaster stared at him for several seconds before shaking his head and opening the drawer, before throwing a couple silver coins at him.

"I liked you more before you started winning things."

"You don't need to keep making bets." Ethan answered, catching the coins from the air.

"But it makes things fun." Tomas said, turning his chair slightly and looking out over Nexus while Ethan gathered his thoughts. Now that he had got the pleasantries out of the way, it was time to bring up the real reason he had accepted the meeting invitation. After talking things through with Leah, she had strongly advised him to seek out the help of the Broken Dawns. She had explained it rather simply for him. They also wanted to find out who was behind the level one attacks, likely more than Ethan himself.

So he had heeded her advice, now he was watching the guildmaster, hoping this would work out. Because one way or another he had a plan. Now he just needed to make it happen.

"I want to infiltrate Northstar." Ethan said, ripping the Band-Aid off. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Tomas froze. Slowly he turned back around.

"What? Why?" Ethan had expected the question. And now it was time for his sales pitch.

"The attack on level one." Tomas frowned.

"The attack on Mia and Highrocks?"

"The attack on Mia. The attack on me. The attack on everyone else who happened to be standing nearby. Hell, even the attack on the Valkyries."

"You have reason to believe they have orchestrated the whole thing? From the Farscribe book? That's hardly damning."

"But it's worth investigating. And I think you'd agree."

"And why would you care?" Ethan stared at him for a moment. The answer felt obvious. He didn't go a night without thinking about it. He couldn't. Not until he had fixed the issue.

"People died. My sister was there. Mia was there. Half the people I know were there." Ethan leaned back slightly.

"If someone is willing to kill innocent people for power, I don't particularly care what excuses they have. If humanity is going to clear these trials, they need to work together. Not tear each other down." The guildmaster studied him for a moment, a small frown on his face.

"But isn't that what you're about to do?"

"We aren't the same. I don't plan on killing thousands of people to grow stronger. In fact, I think I'd only need to kill one to end this whole thing."

"No." Tomas shook his head.

"There's far more than one bad apple in that guild." He leaned back into his chair and stared at the ceiling. Eventually he let out a long sigh.

"Infiltrating Northstar won't be easy."

"I have someone for the job."

"Do you now? Care to share?" Tomas asked, watching Ethan with surprise.

"I think it will be best if I keep everything to myself."

"So why are you telling me this?" Ethan studied Tomas for a moment.

"Don't you want to figure out what happened? Don't you want to punish those that attacked your guild?" Tomas lowered his gaze.

"You know the answer to that. Do you think we have been doing nothing?" Ethan shrugged.

"I think your hands are tied. Northstar will be paying close attention to you and yours. If you snoop for answers they might turn hostile. And as you are now, your guild won't survive." Tomas scoffed but didn't deny anything.

"So what do you want?"

"I want an answer. I want to know that once I've created my guild. Once I've found information on Northstar's involvement, that you will be there to answer the call." The guildmaster rubbed at his jaw.

"I can't be involved. It would be far too catastrophic if that were to come out."

"I know." Ethan answered, before stopping and waiting for Tomas to continue. He knew the man wouldn't be able to help him out. Officially that was.

"But if you somehow manage to pull this off, I'll be very interested in any information you bring back. Even if it's not related to level one. I can pay." Ethan smiled, it seemed like he had taken the bait.

"Actually, I'd like something else. You see, I've already got a bit of a plan."

"What plan?" Tomas said with narrowed eyes, likely realizing Ethan had this all planned out from the beginning.

"I don't intend to join, but I do still need another identity. Something I'm hoping you can help with." Understanding flashed across Tomas's face.

"You still want to make yourself seem older when you're in your suit?" Ethan nodded.

"I've already spent weeks establishing the difference between the two. One uses armor. One doesn't. I've also developed different enough fighting styles that I think it won't be noticeable."

"I see. So what do you want for this information you obtain then?"

"Well you see, I'm just missing the finishing touch. Protection against appraisal skills."

"I guess that makes sense. So what, you want an advance against the information you're going to be providing Broken Dawns?" Tomas replied. Ethan sat up slightly.

"Exactly. If you do that for me, I'll provide all the information you could possibly need."

"I can get you one." Tomas replied, a grin forming.

"A good one?"

"A very good one."

"What's the catch?" Ethan said, noticing the way his expression was changing.

"Nothing really."

"What do you want?" Tomas folded his arms.

"A favor."

"What favor?" Ethan said with narrowed eyes. The guildmaster's grin widened.

"When you eventually go searching for a monolith, I want Marcus and his team joining the expedition." Ethan paused. That wasn't what he had expected.

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"Why?" Tomas sighed.

"Because he's comfortable. Marcus has spent too long here. He trains. He fights. He clears dungeons. Then he comes home." He shook his head.

"He's becoming dependent on safety." Understanding dawned on Ethan.

"You want him away from Nexus."

"I want him uncomfortable." That was fair and something Ethan completely understood. After all, discomfort tended to create change. Whether that change was good or bad could be up for debate.

"Fine." Ethan said.

"Good."

"And if we find something that points to the first level?" The guildmaster didn't answer immediately. Instead he stood and walked toward the massive windows overlooking Nexus, his hands clasped behind his back. For several seconds he simply stared out across the city. Ethan got the feeling the man was thinking over his answer carefully. But then for just a second, he felt it. Power pulled from the man. An overwhelming pressure that seemed to radiate from the man standing by the window.

For the first time since meeting Tomas, Ethan was reminded that the guildmaster wasn't simply charismatic. He was strong. Terrifyingly strong.

"If Northstar is responsible for the attack on level one and if the Father ordered the assassination attempt on Mia, I'll kill him myself." Tomas said as he turned around, a feral smile on his face. Despite himself, Ethan couldn't help but return the smile. After all, his plan had worked. He had gotten the Broken Dawns invested. Now he just needed to do the hard part and actually unravel this web of deceit. The power disappeared and Tomas regarded Ethan again.

"But before all that, I'm going to need you to explain exactly what happened in Conevil."

"Ah," —~~— Ethan sat on the train heading back to the housing district. A bracelet on his wrist and a satisfied smile on his face. He watched the city blur past and considered the meeting. Overall things had gone well. Though they had come to a deal, Tomas had also been quite insistent that Ethan, even in his armor, was to stay away from the Broken Dawns from now on. But all that was fine. Ethan had plenty of other things to do than hang around a guild he wasn't even a part of.

Now was the perfect time to begin his search. It was time to assemble his guild and begin making real moves in the crucible of power. He called up his fake status to make sure it was working. He focused on only what people would be able to see if they had the inspect skill. Name: Jack Rivia Level: 25 Class: [Swordsman] With a satisfied smile, he dismissed his status. It seemed his cover was officially in play. Now however, came the difficult part, though he'd be lying if he said he was a little excited.

Originally, he had planned to go undercover himself. It was something he wasn't very confident in but definitely needed to happen if he wanted any information on the happenings in Northstar. However, luckily, another option appeared. One that was far more suited for the job. One that had equal stakes involved and was eager to find answers. Maybe even more than Ethan himself. The train came to a stop in the housing district and he saw Bella waiting for him. She was no doubt itching to hear how it went.

He kind of wanted to make her wait a little longer, but he supposed she'd been waiting for his response to her proposal for a while now. Best to get on with it and start making moves.