The day after he returned from his adventure, people from the Guild came knocking.
In truth, the Guild had already come by earlier, but Genichi had gone into the Dungeon and had not returned.
Only now had they finally managed to catch him.
Genichi opened the door and saw the figure standing outside. His brows shifted slightly.
She wore glasses, had a neat and capable face, and was dressed in the standard uniform of a Guild employee.
Eina Tulle.
A Guild advisor, and also the person he had met before his very first trip into the Dungeon.
"Mr. Genichi, it's been a while."
Eina adjusted her glasses, a professional smile on her face.
But her eyes were fixed on him sharply.
"I'm Eina from the Guild. I've come this time to verify the truth behind your concealed adventurer level."
She paused.
"An adventurer filed a report claiming that Genichi of the Demeter Familia has hidden his true level."
Genichi fell silent.
A report?
Who filed it?
The Loki Familia?
Or someone else?
But he quickly understood.
That day outside the tavern, he had defeated Bete with a single strike.
With that many adventurers watching, someone had definitely recognized him.
A newcomer who had only been an adventurer for two months defeating a Level 5 of the Loki Familia...
There was no way something like that would not cause a sensation.
Everyone was curious what level he really was.
So it was only natural that the Guild had received a report and wanted to verify his true level.
Genichi looked at Eina, and there was not the slightest ripple in those black eyes.
"About that..."
He paused.
"I think the two of us need to talk."
One of Eina's brows rose slightly.
Talk?
Not a refusal, not a denial, not an excuse...
But a talk?
That reaction was a little outside her expectations.
She had originally thought this boy would flatly deny it, come up with all kinds of excuses, or even directly refuse to cooperate.
After all, concealing one's level was a serious matter in any Guild.
If it was confirmed, the lightest punishment would be a fine. In serious cases, the person could be barred from entering the Dungeon.
She had seen all sorts of reactions from adventurers being investigated.
But someone as calm as Genichi was a first.
"All right."
Eina nodded.
"Where shall we talk?"
"Come in."
Genichi stepped aside.
Eina walked into the room, her gaze sweeping over the surroundings.
Simple. Clean. Nothing unnecessary.
She sat down in a chair and looked at Genichi.
Genichi sat across from her and met her gaze.
The two of them sat facing each other, and the atmosphere was subtly tense.
Eina was the first to speak.
"Mr. Genichi, according to the report, you've only been an adventurer for around two months."
She paused.
"But as far as we know, a few days ago, you defeated Bete of the Loki Familia. He is a Level 5 adventurer."
Her gaze grew even sharper.
"A Level 5 adventurer being defeated by a newcomer who has only been an adventurer for two months..."
"Does that sound normal to you?"
Genichi looked at her and said nothing.
Eina continued.
"So the Guild needs to verify your true level."
"If you really did conceal your level, then according to the rules, you will face a fine and be prohibited from entering the Dungeon for a period of time."
"If you did not conceal it, then we need to know how you attained this level of strength in only two months."
She paused.
"Please cooperate with our investigation."
Genichi was silent for a moment.
Then he slowly spoke.
"Miss Eina."
"Yes?"
"I want to ask you a question."
Eina blinked, slightly surprised.
"What question?"
"What is the Guild's purpose?"
Eina's brows drew together slightly.
"To maintain order in Orario and protect the safety of adventurers."
"Exactly."
Genichi nodded.
"Then let me ask you this."
He looked at her.
"What impact has my concealing my level had on Orario's order?"
Eina fell silent.
"When I defeated Bete, it was in a fair fight. I didn't hurt any innocent adventurers, I didn't break the Guild's rules, and I didn't do anything harmful to Orario."
Genichi's voice was calm, yet carried a certainty that sent a chill down the spine.
"So why is the Guild pursuing the issue of me concealing my level?"
Eina opened her mouth, wanting to say something, only to realize she had no real rebuttal.
Because what he said was true.
Concealing one's level in itself was not some grave crime.
The Guild required adventurers to register their true levels mainly to keep track of the city's strength distribution and to prevent people from maliciously hiding their level.
But Genichi's situation...
He really had not caused any negative consequences.
If anything, him defeating Bete had, in a certain sense, preserved the Loki Familia's dignity, if that even counted as dignity.
"And besides..."
Genichi continued.
"The Guild has a few secrets of its own that can't be made public, doesn't it?"
Eina's gaze sharpened.
"What do you mean?"
Genichi did not answer directly.
He simply looked at her, and there was still a faint chill in those black eyes.
He knew some things.
He paused.
"About which people inside the Guild are connected to Evilus."
Eina's pupils contracted.
"What did you say?"
"I said..."
Genichi's voice was calm, but it carried a certainty that made the skin crawl.
"The Guild has been infiltrated by Evilus."
Eina's expression changed.
Of course she knew what that meant.
If Genichi was telling the truth...
Then the very foundation of the Guild could be shaken.
"Do you have proof?"
Her voice had gone slightly dry.
"No."
Genichi shook his head.
"But I know."
He looked at her.
"Just like you know what I'm saying might be true."
Eina fell silent.
She looked at the boy before her, a complicated feeling rising in her heart.
Who exactly was he?
Why did he know these things?
Why did he dare say them in front of her?
"What are you trying to say?"
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
Genichi looked at her and slowly spoke.
"What I'm saying is..."
"We can talk."
"About what?"
"About a deal."
His voice was calm.
"I won't pursue the matter of those people inside the Guild, and the Guild won't pursue the matter of me concealing my level."
"What do you think?"
Eina froze.
A deal?
Trading information about Evilus infiltrating the Guild for the Guild's leniency over his concealed level?
This...
"Are you threatening the Guild?"
Her voice carried a trace of disbelief.
"No."
Genichi shook his head.
"I'm cooperating with the Guild."
He looked at her.
"The Guild needs to know who the traitors are. I need this issue of my concealed level not to be pursued."
"Each side gets what it wants."
Eina fell silent.
She had to admit that Genichi's proposal was extremely tempting.
If he was telling the truth, if the Guild really had been infiltrated by Evilus...
Then learning the identities of those traitors was far more important than pursuing one adventurer for concealing his level.
"I..."
She started to speak, only to find her throat dry.
"I need to go back and consult my superiors."
Genichi nodded.
"That's fine, but I suggest you give me an answer before tomorrow."
He paused.
"And one more thing."
"The fewer people who know about this, the better."
Eina took a deep breath and stood up.
"I understand."
She walked toward the door.
When she reached it, she suddenly stopped and looked back at him.
"Mr. Genichi."
"Yes?"
"Who exactly are you?"
Genichi fell silent for a moment.
Then he smiled.
It was a faint smile, but there was something indescribable in it.
"Just someone who wants to stay alive."
Eina looked at him and said nothing more.
Then she opened the door and left.
The door closed softly behind her.
Genichi was left alone in the room.
He sat in the chair, looking at the closed door, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.
The Guild would probably agree.
After all, they had no other choice.
(End of Chapter)
[Get +30 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]