Translator: CinderTL
"A VIP?" Roland raised an eyebrow, took the coin pouch, weighed it in his hand, and casually handed it to Theresa behind him. "What business does this VIP have with me?"
Including his experiences in the Blackwater Territory, Roland had dealt with the Adventurer's Guild numerous times. Yet the more he interacted with them, the more curious he became about the organization's inner workings.
On the surface, the Adventurer's Guild primarily issued commissions and paid mercenaries or adventurers based on the task's nature. But Roland noticed that while merchants and commoners paid intermediary fees for trivial tasks like escorts and item retrieval, most demonic beast extermination commissions were funded by the Adventurer's Guild itself.
This baffled him. Roland refused to believe the Adventurer's Guild was some charitable organization "maintaining world peace." After careful consideration, he concluded there were two possible explanations.
First, the individuals behind the Adventurer's Guild might be profiting in some hidden way from demonic beast extermination. The odd thing was that proof of extermination usually required only a specific part of the beast: goblin ears, lizardman scales, serpentman tail tips, or even the Bear Goblin's head he had just handed over. Roland had meticulously examined these trophies but had never discovered any hidden value within them.
Based on this analysis, the Adventurer's Guild's primary source of funding was likely the second possibility:
Financial support from high-ranking officials in the nations and organizations with whom they collaborated.
Having reached this conclusion, Roland couldn't help but feel a strong curiosity about the influential figure behind the scenes.
When Roland inquired, Laurie gently shook his head, offering an apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Roland. I'm just a receptionist and don't know the specific reasons for that person's invitation. However..."
The fair-skinned young man tapped the counter twice with his finger before gesturing toward the second floor above.
"That person is waiting upstairs right now. If you're willing, you can ask them directly for details. Of course..."
Laurie timed his words perfectly, adding a warm smile to avoid any misunderstandings.
"It entirely depends on your schedule. That person mentioned they'll be staying here for a few days, so you can visit at any time."
"I understand," Roland said calmly, nodding. He wasn't worried by Laurie's evasive words.
His recent accomplishments—slaying demonic beasts and even killing a Bear Goblin—had objectively enhanced the Adventurer's Guild's reputation. Moreover, since arriving in the River Domain Nations, he had never made any enemies.
Therefore, this invitation was likely either a reward or an attempt to recruit him, and probably held no malicious intent.
Despite this, Roland remained vigilant.
In this world brimming with extraordinary power, he had grown accustomed to approaching the unknown with utmost caution.
After a moment's contemplation, he smiled faintly and spoke.
"Laurie, I'm available to meet this dignitary now, but..."
He gestured sideways, indicating the figures behind him.
The elf girl was openly leaning forward, eavesdropping with undisguised curiosity, while the Silver-Haired Woman, though silent, had her ears perked up.
"I'd like to bring my two teammates along. After all, we earned the credit for exterminating the Bear Goblins together."
"This..."
A flicker of hesitation crossed Laurie's face.
But in an instant, as if receiving some unspoken message, his expression smoothed out.
"Of course, Mr. Roland. That's perfectly acceptable."
"Very well."
Roland's eyes narrowed slightly, keenly observing the receptionist's sudden change in demeanor.
"Then please lead the way."
"Certainly. Please follow me."
Laurie nodded in agreement, exchanged a few hushed words with another receptionist behind the counter, then stepped out, bowing slightly as he gestured for them to follow.
"This way, please."
With an elegant flourish, he guided the trio toward the staircase.
In stark contrast to the bustling first-floor hall, the second floor of the Adventurer's Guild seemed enveloped in an invisible barrier, so silent that only the muffled echoes of their leather boots on the wooden floor could be heard.
Knock, knock, knock!
Laurie's knocking on the door sounded particularly abrupt in the stillness.
Even before the door opened, the receptionist had already adopted an attitude of utmost respect, his voice unconsciously lowered.
"Miss von Braun, Mr. Roland has arrived."
His voice was dry and strained, betraying the deep reverence he felt.
After a moment of silence, a languid, almost dreamlike response drifted from within the room.
"Come in."
Laurie, feeling as if he had been granted a reprieve, exhaled deeply. He gently pushed open the door, bowed to Roland and his companions, and quietly withdrew.
Watching his retreating figure, Roland exchanged glances with Theresa and Avril before stepping into the room.
In stark contrast to the bright, airy lobby downstairs, the interior was dimly lit and hazy.
Heavy curtains were drawn tight, leaving only a few flickering candles to illuminate the space.
Under the flickering candlelight, the room's outlines wavered in and out of view.
The decor was minimalist to the point of austerity, devoid of any superfluous ornamentation, resembling nothing more than an ordinary hotel room.
Curled up on a chaise lounge beside the fireplace was a graceful figure.
Only after the three had fully entered the room did the figure stretch her arms, yawn, and slowly straighten up.
In the flickering candlelight, her violet hair shimmered with an otherworldly glow, and her slender yet curvaceous figure seemed veiled in an aura of mystery.
When she turned, she revealed a face that was impossible to forget.
Her honey-toned skin radiated a captivating allure.
Her almond-shaped eyes tilted slightly upward, their depths shimmering with natural charm, yet beneath that alluring surface lay a stillness like a deep pool, reflecting a world-weariness that belied her youthful beauty.
She stood there, a paradox of allure and serenity, of vividness and detachment.
These contradictory qualities blended harmoniously within her, drawing the eye yet deterring casual approach.
The moment Roland saw her, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes—not because of her striking beauty, but because of her unusual height.
Enhanced by his multiple class attributes, Roland estimated his own height to be around 1.9 meters.
Yet this woman needed only a slight upward glance to meet his gaze levelly, suggesting she was at least 1.8 meters tall.
Her exceptional height, rare among women, didn't diminish her allure. Instead, it harmonized perfectly with her refined features and graceful figure, creating a unique and ethereal beauty.
But what truly caught Roland's attention was...
His right hand unconsciously drifted to the hilt of his sword, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Thanks to the Furnace Heart's affinity for the fire element, he keenly detected the almost imperceptible magic fluctuations emanating from the other person.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Roland," the woman's languid voice broke the silence as Roland remained on guard.
She gracefully inclined her head in a bow, her violet-colored hair swaying gently with the movement.
"Of course, Miss Theresa as well, and..." Her gaze flickered briefly to the elf girl. "...Miss Avril. Thank you all for accepting my invitation."
The candlelight cast flickering shadows across her delicate collarbone.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lilith von Braun."
After a meaningful pause, a faint, enigmatic smile curved her lips.
"Current Governor of the Adventurer's Guild for the River Domain Nations, responsible for all affairs within this region."
(End of the Chapter)
--------------------------------------------------------------
📖Read (𝗞𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧) on the Site till Ch316. (160 Chapters Ahead)
💲Read upto Ch206 for ABSOLUTELY 𝙁𝙍𝙀𝙀! ℕ𝕠 𝕃𝕠𝕘𝕚𝕟
🎁15 Novels | 9.5k+ Chapters | 15.7M+ Words [𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐥 . 𝐜𝐨𝐦]
--------------------------------------------------------------