Arcane Era-Chapter 67: The Aftermath

The next few days after the Mercenary Crew incident were surprisingly normal.

Practically overnight every trace they had, and the damage they caused, was practically wiped off the map. It almost felt like a fever dream, since the Ak’ashi Guild reverted to its normal, peaceful state in less than twenty-four hours after the Crew fell.

Most significantly, the Ak’ashi Guild continued its Recruitment Event, and while there were not as many in attendance, the evaluation exams went smoothly and were completely uninterrupted.

In the end, the Guild successfully concluded its Evaluation Exams, leaving the participants waiting for the results. For Non-Combat positions, their results were easily decided and they were given answers on the spot. They would then report to the Administrative Office once all the Evaluation Exams for the week were over to get started with paperwork and begin their transition into the work space.

The Combat Exams participants were where it got tricky.

After all, it was announced prior to the Recruitment Event—during the Preliminary Round—that the Guildmaster would personally select those who qualified for the position. In essence, their success and failure were all left to his whims.

And so, a week passed without a word from Shen Ak’ashi or any member of the Zenith.

But then, Theo received a letter of invitation.

—To the Guildmaster’s Office!

**************

Theo’s steps were slow, cautious too, as he walked in a hallway that seemed to scream luxury.

To maintain the secrecy of the Inner Court, his senses had been blocked during his transportation to the Guildmaster’s office. The effects of the Armament were only lifted once Theo stepped into the building, in which he was greeted by the appropriate staff.

As soon as he showed them his invitation, they pleasantly led him to the appropriate floor and told him to head straight down.

Without an invitation, even they couldn’t follow Theo any further.

’This building is... amazing.’ Was all Theo could say.

Its interior was painted with jade white, having gold designs that complemented the pure color with pristine details. There was not a single blemish to be seen, and it had a warm ambiance that consistently coursed through Theo’s body.

The temperature was perfect in the hall, and the scent of bliss caused his body to relax despite the mild tension caused by a collision of several thoughts in his head.

’So, it’s finally time...’ Theo smiled as he advanced forward, treading on pure gold as his reflection was clearly visible on both sides of the crystal wall. The ceiling seemed to be made of diamonds, and they glittered with all sorts of colors the further he walked.

With every stride he took, he looked into the mirror and observed his appearance.

At the moment, he was wearing his sleeveless shirt, coupled with a jacket as well as faded gray trousers. His shirt somewhat matched his trousers, but his jet black jacket blended well with his dark hair. He wore brown shoes, and while he still looked a little rough, Theo thought his appearance was the best it had ever been.

After the incident with the Mercenary Crew, he had been moved from his previous residence and now had a place within the Ak’ahi Guild Middle Court.

It was his ’reward’ for the selfless actions he displayed during the incident, and while it was nowhere as grand as Liyah’s home, the three-room bungalow was a huge step up from his previous home.

Not only did he have an entire building to himself, he also had his own compound. He was also gifted 1 Platinum Arca—equivalent to 100,000 White Arcas.

That was more money than Theo had ever seen in his entire life. It was even more than three months’ living expense of a regular Noble Class Household. Having something like that at his fingertips still felt so surreal, but he was able to control his emotions to the point where he remained calm about most things.

Platinum Arca... a nice house in the Middle Court... all of these were special treatments he received. However, to one whom much is given, much is also expected.

Theo knew there had to be some kind of catch.

’After fighting with the Mercenary King and awakening that power, I know full well that I’m quite a special case.’ Theo already knew he could do things that other people couldn’t do, but the power he displayed during that fight only increased his understanding of his constitution.

It also elevated his worth.

’A Mortal who can use Arcane Abilities without an Armament... I’ve never heard of such a thing before.’ He smiled. ’Which means the Ak’ashi Guild must consider me to be quite valuable at this point.’

Looking at things logically, it was only to be expected.

As such, while Theo felt slightly overwhelmed by the luxury he now received, he no longer felt gratitude for the Ak’ashi Guild in any way. In his mind, he had already repaid his debt to Shen, and he also knew it was in the Guild’s best interest to invest in him.

’I saved Shen while also displaying a special power... all of this is natural.’

Of course, he knew there were ways the Guild could have gone about exploiting him, and he was glad they didn’t resort to that method. However, he didn’t make the mistake of confusing relief with gratitude.

’Right now, I just want to be strong... strong like the members of the Zenith.’ Theo clenched his fist as he neared the door at the end of the hallway.

He had proved himself to Shen, and in his mind he had settled the debt he owed.

But so what?

’I’m still too weak.’ The Mercenary Crew incident made that very clear to him. ’I still can’t fully control my ability, and there’s still so much I don’t know. I need guidance and support, which means I need the Ak’ashi Guild just as much as they need me—no, I probably need them more.’

Even without Theo, this Guild still had thousands of members and over a hundred thousand occupants. They occupied a rich island and had an incredible number of Armaments—even ones of high Grades. The Guild was led by the Supreme Lord of Tyranny, rumored to be the strongest of the Supreme Lords, and it also had the Zenith—an elite force that could wipe out most Armament users in the blink of an eye.

’Compared to such an organization, I am like an ant.’ Theo sighed, fully recognizing his place.

However, he had no intention of staying an ant forever.

He wanted growth.

He desired strength! Influence! Power!

’Enough so I can no longer be tossed around by the will of others. Then, maybe one day...’ Theo quickly suppressed the dark thoughts that appeared in his mind, placing his impulses under control.

Taking in deep breaths, he finally calmed himself and smiled.

’Passing the Combat Exams and working for the Ak’ashi Guild is only a stepping stone...’ How could his ambitions end there, especially after his exposure to this new world, his interaction with those he called friends, and his close encounter with death?

No... he thirsted for more.

The greed in his eyes were evident as he twisted the knob and ventured into the room beyond, determined to do whatever Shen required of him for the purpose of the Ak’ashi Guild.

’... Until I become strong enough to stand on my own!’