Once they were inside, the group headed straight for the Adventurers Bureau.
During that time, Elias unsealed Carin on the way there. He was pissed at Elias, but has decided to move on and become nice to Elias. Carin showed no signs of aggression from my big brother, even though he didn't move a muscle.
They were let into the waiting room, consisting of nearly two comfy sofas and neatly placed pasties on the way there. There, they greedily devoured the tea and cakes they were offered while they waited.
Five minutes later, the door slammed open loudly as the room echoed and Lord Phillip stepped into the room.
"Cassius, are you alright!? You're not hurt, are you!?"
There was none of the calm composure he'd had last time. Without even greeting anymore, he dashed toward Cassius, fretting over his safety. With the look of Lord Phillip's face, he must have been worried.
"Lord Phillip… I'm sorry. Because I insisted on going, I ended up causing you so much trouble…"
"What are you saying? It's my fault for recommending such a dangerous request to you… I'm so glad you made it back safely. I don't know how I'd face Roman and Snow if something happened to you. They were both worried about you too. You should go let them know you're safe. I've already told them you're alive. They're here in Town Allure right now."
"Father and Mom are here, I understand. I'll go there immediately."
Lord Phillip told Cassius where they were staying and urged him to see them at once. Cassius expressed his thanks to Lord Phillip for setting up a search party, promised me he'd properly repay me later, and left the room. I would have been fine at leaving things there, but Cassius insisted that he owes him.
Once Cassius left, Lord Phillip focused his attention on me. He smiled and bowed his head low.
"Roxy, thank you so much for finding Cassius. I honestly didn't believe I would see him alive again. I cannot express how grateful I am that you brought him back alive." Phillip said
"It was his own luck that let him survive for that long." I replied
"Hahaha, is that really so? I suppose that did play a part in it, but… I heard you also defended him from an army of monsters. Isn't that right, Elias Rynd?"
Instead of me, Lord Phillip locked eyes at my brother, who is the one who carried most of the rescue mission. He helped us to repel the waves of monsters.
"Isn't this is supposed, Elias Rynd, eldest brother of Eirene itself. Oh what a fantastic reunion. It specifically gave me goosebumps."
Lord Philip smirked at Elias that he wanted to say something about his identity. I stepped back a little, knowing that my brother will create some of his chaos once again. And I wouldn't let that slide.
"Brother, do you know Lord Phillip?"
I asked profusely then Elias smiled in a genuine smile.
"Well, Lord Phillip is a former luminous knight, vice-commander of the Luminous Knight Bureau Association, yeah, I know him better."
Then Lord Phillip shook excitedly.
"You bet I am, Vice-commander Phillip Morris, 64th heir of the Luminous Knights, it's nice to meet you, Elias."
Then, Lord Phillip continued explaining Elias' identity.
"Your brother, Roxy, is the 10th heir of the Luminous Knight. He is a former luminous knight, like me. He was branded an heretic ever since his mentor, Alistair died. He's been exiled because he broke many laws and began his revolutionary army ever since that da-..."
While Lord Phillip was still explaining, Elias stood up and immediately pointed his revolver into Philip's forehead. Threatening to stop…
"Shut up Phillip or I'll rip your fucking vocal cords into pieces."
"Hahaha, that's a cocky attitude I knew of, you never change Elias, not even a bit. Now lower your weapon and let's talk."
Sensing that Philip didn't flinch a muscle is telling me that Elias and Philip are considered close friends. So Elias lowered his revolver and sat down at the sofa. Philip grinned mischievously as he spoke his name out loud. Then, Phillip's glare suddenly reverted back to me.
"Roxy, so it is true you defended the Rebelbub Village?"
My expression stiffened. It looked like information between branches traveled even faster than the shadow horse.
"So you found out already, Huh?" I said
"Most of the bureau higher ups have an artifact that allows them to communicate with each other over long distances. Rebelbub's branch chief isn't ranked high enough to have one, so I'd actually sent one of my subordinates there to relay information to me. The first time I'd ever heard him cry was when he tearfully reported how he'd lost sight of you a few minutes after you'd left town, Allure."
Lord Phillip smiled wryly. It seemed whoever he'd sent to Rebelbub had wanted to tail me to learn my secrets. More of a stalker that kinds of creeps me out.
Whether that had been on Phillip's instructions, or his own decision, he must have been quite frustrated that he'd lost sight of me so soon. Then, after riding to Rebelbub as fast as he could, he'd seen five people face off against an army of five thousand.
Moments after that was over, he'd probably raced out of town to head back as fast as he could. He was probably riding to Town Allure as they spoke… I couldn't help but sympathize with the guy a little.
Regardless of whether this artifact was a communication device or some kind of scrying tool, like a communication stone but buffed and it can reach long distances. I had no intention of blaming Phillip for sending someone after me. In fact, I was relieved the man he'd scouted as an ally was this cunning.
Lord Phillip cleared his throat and put the subject of his spy's trials and tribulations to the side.
"Regardless, it must have been tough. To think the anomalies in the northern mountains had been the signs of disaster… I'm doubly grateful you chose to take this request. I'm truly interested in what power you must possess to be able to eliminate such an enormous army so easily… Would you mind telling me what happened there first?"
"Sure, I don't mind. But could you get my guildmembers their rewards first?"
"I suppose seeing your hard work has finally paid off, I will lend some credibility to the story that you annihilated an army of monsters… Very well."
Lord Phillip could tell there was something special to me and my guildmates. And so, he called over an attendant and had them bring their rewards for completing their quest.
Me and the others were partaking an promotion:
"Eirene Rynd silver-ranked to gold-ranked"
"Catherine Rogue silver-ranked to gold-ranked"
"Patricia Barbon gold-ranked to diamond-ranked"
"Alta Granite gold-ranked to diamond-ranked"
"Natalie Haro stone-ranked to silver-ranked"
"Ned Haro stone-ranked to silver-ranked"
"Barry Waters stone-ranked to silver-ranked"
"Carin Borneque stone-ranked to silver-ranked"
The only people that didn't have a promotion was Elias himself. Luminous Knights are excluded for adventurers, their ranking system was not particularly used when displayed as an heir of an Luminous Knight. As compensation, Lord Phillip gave Elias exactly five gold.
While I was promoted as a gold-ranked adventurer, so does my adopted niece, Catherine, who was also a gold-ranked adventurer.
While my guildmembers, Natalie, Ned, Barry and Carin also got promoted to silver-ranked, even though they contribute even a little bit. Lord Phillip decided to promote them anyway because of their participation.
While my utmost shock was both Patricia and Alta were promoted into diamond-ranked, the highest rank that an adventurer can possess. Normally, very few people possess this rank, but seeing that both of them have managed to reach that pinnacle of adventurers, they will be respected as usual.
"My word… I had expected to see something out of the ordinary, but not this out of the ordinary…" I was shocked
Sweat dripped down my forehead, and my usual smile was conspicuously absent. Unconcerned, I began explaining what had happened to Rebelbub Village right from the very beginning.
Normally, Lord Phillip would have laughed such a story off as impossible, but he had no choice but to believe me after seeing that low-ranked adventurers decided to repel the waves of monsters.
Once I finished talking, Lord Phillip crumpled into the sofa, looking like he'd aged a decade.
"No wonder you caught the bureau's attention. I had assumed you were one of the gifted adventurers that have godlike skills. Roxy, but… this is far beyond my expectations."
"But I have an appraisal skill and blood manipulation. I'm no gifted adventurer."
"Even though you have the trashiest skills known to mankind, you still hold your talent, am I right?"
Even though I admit that I have blood manipulation, I still hid my only trump card, from which is the blood curse itself. Elias said that blood manipulation is quite rare for us adventurers but it is still not a gifted skill.
Then, Elias joined our conversation, looking at his best friend staring with cold eyes.
"So, what are you gonna do? Report us for being heretics?"
Lord Phillip hurriedly straightened up under Elias's piercing gaze.
"That's a good joke. I couldn't even if I wanted to. Turning you into my enemy would spell disaster not just for me, but likely for the entire bureau. Besides, what kind of monster do you think I am? You lot are my saviors. I'll never forget that, not for the rest of my life."
Elias is more aware of their identity than his, my brother was labeled a heretic more than us. If we were labeled as the enemy of the knights, we would be punished. Or worse, our lives will be ruined.
"I see. Then we're good."
Elias shrugged, as if apologizing for testing Lord Phillip. He gestured his thanks. Lord Phillip smiled and nodded in response.
"As promised, I'll do anything in my power to support you. Both as a ruler of Town Allure and as an individual. Though, after that little display of might, I doubt the higher-ups will be in a hurry to go after you. In order to make this easier for us, we'll raise your rank as well. Normally, there's a lot of silly ceremonies and formalities that accompany a promotion one level at your rank, but… well I'll make sure everyone accepts it."
Lord Phillip takes a huge breath then continues.
"Roxy, it'll be easier since your secrets will remain hidden to the public, along with my own. That, and your newfound reputation was the gold-ranked adventurer herself
Along all of that, Lord Phillip also allowed them to stay at the VIP room in the bureau-managed inn for as long as they were staying in Town Allure, even though the Flower Manor and the Rynd household was available, we still wanted to live in this VIP room.
Furthermore, he provided them with a letter bearing his personal crest. He was serious about maintaining a friendly relationship with me and my party.
"Thanks a lot. The more care we have to play, the better. Looks like it was worth racing all the way out to Rebelbub after all." I said in satisfaction
"I'm glad you don't regret it. However, I'm sure you're aware that guildmembers of yours will be discovered eventually, even if they don't show people their ranks. Though I have pledged my support, in all honesty, it's like trying to make pigs fly."
Lord Phillip scratched its cheek and smiled bitterly. I brought my teacup to my mouth and shrugged my shoulders.
"Pigs fly if you'll evolve them. My human skill is inspection and blood manipulation, you know? My duty is to make sure anything that can be useful is made useful. Don't worry, I'll make good use of your support."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. Besides, remember what you said when you asked me to take this request?"
"What?"
Lord Phillip tilted his head in confusion. I grinned wolfishly and repeated the words Lord Phillip had told me a few days ago.
"I will bring Cassius, dead or alive." I said calmly
"I see. I did say something to that effect."
Whether I had Lord Phillip's help or not was irrelevant. Having it would make things a little easier in the future, but he wouldn't be stopped regardless. His puppies glimmered, his smile promising ruin to anything or anyone that dared stand in my way.
Lord Phillip couldn't help but smile when he saw my determination, and the resolve of my companies had to follow him down that path. His spirits soared. He suddenly remembered the time he was a young boy, when he had given it his all to work his way up to be a ruler of Town Allure.
He had a premonition. The adventurers who dared to stand up against the bureau would be the ones to change the world.