F-ranker Sword Saint: My Soulbound Sword is Secretly SSS-tier!-Chapter 311: Guild Handler

Daru looked out the window in wonder.

They were going fast. Very fast. Yet, the private plane he was on didn’t even shake.

Three days had passed since his "final contract" with the government had concluded.

The Green Goblin population in Coltrock Canyon had been trimmed to a proper number, and he and Caleb successfully parted ways coldly soon after.

Today, he was on his way to Northern Noravia to attend the meeting Big Ed told him about after receiving instructions from one of the Iron Lotus servants watching over him during this time of waiting for the Southern Bladeborn Academy’s Graduation Ceremony.

He would apparently meet his Guild Handler today, along with a high-ranking representative of the guild who will take control of the overall proceedings for Iron Lotus.

A few talents signed by the guild, who won their respective Inter-Class Representative Competitions, would be present, too, along with their handlers.

He asked the servants about these so-called Guild Handlers, learning that only S-rankers and above had the privilege to be assigned one.

It was their job to manage the talent’s career and ensure he would take the most efficient growth path — mainly the research and opportunities side of things.

For example, it was essential that the handlers know their talent’s fighting style and have a fairly accurate grasp of the rising star’s prowess, despite the handlers being either mundane or low-rankers who had chosen to take on back-office work.

This was so the handlers could know which type of Swordspawns would be easier or harder for their talents to defeat and give them an efficient leveling regimen without the talents having to take time off grinding to do the research themselves.

It was also their task to budget the Guild Contribution Points and secure opportunities like Dungeons and Special Field Bosses for their talents.

Of course, the talent would still have the final call as the owner of the Guild Contribution Points, but it was the handler’s job to explain what was good to do and what wasn’t, perhaps convince their talents against a bad decision if they needed to.

There was naturally an incentive for these Guild Handlers to do their work seriously.

The more famous, stronger, and useful their talents became for the guild, the higher their pay would be.

Some handlers of already risen, former rising stars, were reported to be earning more than even some high-rankers, despite not having to risk their lives in the Myriad Sword Realm and having only one and one client only.

It was truly a dream job for the mundane or Bladeborns with not much future with the blade.

Only, one would have to study at a famous college or university and graduate with impressive marks in Talent Progression Sciences, then another year in Apex Talent Progression Sciences before they would be given a chance to handle S-rankers and above.

Otherwise, they would have to apply to join local agencies and look for or be assigned to standard or above-average rankers to earn sufficient money for a living.

While Bladeborns are more or less aware of how helpful and efficient having a Handler was, which means it wouldn’t be hard to secure a client or two, the "normal" way was difficult, chaotic, and had many restrictions.

Making it to the likes of the Seven Sword Guilds and being assigned one of their budding talents was definitely at the apex of the profession.

Soon, the private plane landed, and Daru disembarked, guided by an assistant.

He was then received by a standard black sedan.

As the car wound through the unfamiliar streets, Daru appreciated the passing scenery.

The subtle differences in the designs of the architecture that hinted at the contrasting culture, the flowers planted on the flowerbeds lining the bustling streets, and even the species of birds flying around...

He was only in another region of the same Cluster, yet the differences were already wondrously prevalent.

He couldn’t help but think about what the other cities in other Clusters looked like.

An hour and a half later, his transport stopped at the receiving area of a heavily-protected, fenced, vast compound with multiple towering buildings.

A few meters away from where he disembarked stood a short young woman with black, bob-cut hair, flat bangs, and deep-brown eyes.

Her hands gripped a journal, and her arms pressed it tightly to her slightly old-fashioned and oversized professional attire.

Only her skirt of appropriate length seemed to be quite new and fitted her well.

Daru followed his temporary butler and approached the seemingly nervous young woman.

He only watched her curiously as the servant from Iron Lotus turned him over.

Soon, the butler returned to the sedan, and Daru was left in the company of the short young woman.

She bowed a bit too exaggeratedly for his tastes.

"H-Hello, Sir Onimaru Kunitsuna! I’m Cindy Cooper, and I will be your Guild Handler! D-D-Don’t worry, sir! You will be in good hands! I might not look like it, but I’m competent!"

Daru was mildly taken aback by the rather overenthusiastic introduction.

Still, he politely bowed back at her, catching the young handler off guard.

"I will be in your care, then, Cindy. Also, just call me Daru."

Cindy was dumbfounded for a moment.

She had already prepared herself for a stressful work-life of sneers, snorts, and yells, especially after doing a bit of digging last night about her client.

Even if he was still a novice, an S-ranker was an S-ranker, and an article or two about Onimaru Kunitsuna should pop up.

Cindy had been lost in her studies and was determined to graduate with great marks, taking good advantage of her hard-earned scholarship.

This was why she hadn’t been too informed of recent events and names.

Her final year in university was already hell in and of itself, after all.

To her surprise, there weren’t only a few articles, but more than twenty pages full of them.

Her heart began pounding out of her chest even before she could click on a single article and read the contents.

She was greatly curious as to why an S-ranker was making so much waves when even novice SS-rankers weren’t entitled to such attention.

Only after clicking on a long article titled "Everything You Need To Know About Onimaru Kunitsuna" and finishing reading it did she understand.

In fact, she almost fainted.

A darned big shot! She had landed a top S-ranker!!

Cindy believed that while handling such an already famous and greatly talented young man was probably going to be a nightmare, she believed it would be worth it.

She would be able to take her family out of the sticks if she did well!

Receiving a few cutting and degrading curses here and there would be a small matter if it meant being paid enough to give her parents and ten younger siblings a good life!

Perhaps she could even support them should one of them turn out to be a talented Bladeborn.

Cindy had already prepared herself for the challenge... but where was the arrogant young man?

Why was this guy bowing politely and not shooting a disdainful gaze her way?

She was even allowed to call him by his first name...