The Republic of Medes, Goblin Guild
At the top floor of the headquarters of the country’s most powerful guild, three people sat around a round table.
The atmosphere seemed calm and ordinary, nothing strange on the surface.
However, with a bit more attention, one could feel a sense of tension between them, as if they were angry about something.
"What’s the situation?" Alaric, the leader of the Goblin Guild and the man recognized as the strongest S-rank in the country, asked in a relaxed and lazy tone.
"As you ordered, we spread the rumors about the Everlight Moon Guild’s betrayal, but it’s unlikely anything will happen," Jason replied, biting into the apple in his hand.
He couldn’t understand why his brother wanted such rumors spread about that guild, even going as far as to forge some fake evidence.
In the end, it wasn’t easy to destroy that guild or even damage its reputation, especially after the Merisia Dungeon incident, which made their name skyrocket.
The Federation had officially released a report that clearly showed how much that young man with The Fallen had contributed, without him, the dungeon’s clearance would’ve been impossible.
And the fact that he had come there because of the Everlight Moon Guild had further boosted their fame.
"It doesn’t matter," Alaric said with the same calm tone.
"With those flames, we can create a big fire. They’re growing too powerful, and they’re the only obstacle to our plan."
"But their old man is injured, and he’s not even close to that level. They shouldn’t be able to threaten us, right? Once Uncle reaches the level of a Heavenly King, this whole country will be ours," Jason said after a short pause.
The Goblin Guild had always carried huge ambitions, to take full control of the country.
Even though they were already the strongest guild, the government and the Federation still ruled the nation.
But from their point of view, that wouldn’t last much longer. Once their uncle reached the Heavenly King level, and with their father who had already achieved that stage, conquering the country would be simple.
"I don’t want any variables. It’s better to be safe," Alaric said, nodding slightly. He understood his brother, but to him, Jason was still too young to realize that they had only one chance.
If they failed, they’d lose everything.
"Anyway, we should also prepare for the inheritance ceremony soon and officially declare you as my successor," Alaric said, then turned his gaze to the young man sitting quietly across from him, a young man named James.
"Hmm? Are you talking to me?" James, who seemed lost in thought, snapped back to reality at the guild leader’s words.
"You’ve been distracted lately. Did something happen?" Alaric frowned.
He had high hopes for this young man, a true genius, someone who could even shine in the Central Continent.
He believed that James could one day make their guild even stronger, maybe strong enough that they wouldn’t be limited to this small country anymore.
But for some reason, during the past few weeks, the kid seemed constantly distracted and lost in thought.
"It’s nothing," James said, shaking his head without giving any real explanation.
"Could it be about that boy? What was his name again? Daniel?"
The moment Daniel’s name was spoken, James’s eyes flared with hatred and killing intent, as if memories he wished to forget had just resurfaced.
"So it really is about him," Alaric said, his frown deepening. "You’ve never told me why you hate him so much. Is it just because of those childhood fights?"
He didn’t want the young prodigy he had such hopes for to destroy himself with hatred.
He knew how dangerous blind hatred could be, and he wouldn’t let it consume someone with such potential.
But the problem was that he simply couldn’t understand the reason for James’s hatred. As far as he knew, James had beaten that Daniel later on, so their grudge should’ve ended there.
Apparently, things went deeper than he thought.
"As I said, it’s nothing. I’ll handle it myself," James said again, his tone harsh.
"James, don’t take advantage of my patience. When I ask you something, answer properly," Alaric said coldly, and a powerful aura filled the room.
Under that overwhelming pressure, James felt like every bone in his body might shatter at any moment. He could barely breathe, let alone speak.
"Brother, calm down," Jason quickly stepped in, seeing what was happening.
Alaric withdrew his aura and waited silently for an answer.
"When I was younger, I fell in love with a girl," James said through clenched teeth once he could breathe again. "I thought that once I became a talented Awakened, she’d fall in love with me too, that I could finally win her heart. But in the end, I found out she loved that bastard Daniel."
"Why? Why would she love him? He had nothing! A useless piece of trash with no talent! Every time I saw him, I’d beat him and his friends just to calm my anger!"
"Then one day, that girl agreed to date me. We even went out together. I thought she’d finally fallen for me... but when we left that damn town and came to the capital, she broke up with me. That’s when I realized, the whole time, she’d just been pretending, only to protect that bastard Daniel!"
His killing intent exploded again, his voice trembling with fury.
Alaric frowned deeply. He hadn’t expected this to be about a girl.
"Later, I tried to find her again, but it was like she vanished, probably left the country. Then I heard that bastard Daniel had become an Awakened... and now they say he’s a prodigy. I’ll kill him! Only by killing him can I finally earn her love again!" Madness burned in his eyes.
The guild leader sighed. He realized this wasn’t something that could be easily solved. The only way it would end was with one of them dead.
"Invite the Everlight Moon Guild, and that boy Daniel, to the ceremony," Alaric finally said after a moment. "this idiot will get his chance to settle things."
Although this could risk starting a war, he couldn’t let madness completely consume the young man he saw as the guild’s future.
Besides, he doubted the Everlight Moon Guild would start an all-out war just because one of their members died.
James’s eyes gleamed with excitement. He hadn’t expected the guild leader to actually help him.
A warm feeling rose in his chest, and a twisted smile spread across his face.
He couldn’t wait to tear Daniel apart with his own hands, and finally end this hatred once and for all.