Looking at the two little fairies in front of them, Lohan and Lisa didn’t even need to say anything; simply the fact that they had protected their base from enemies, risking their own lives to do so even though they stood to gain nothing in return, had already earned them a great deal of goodwill.
"So, Lisa, looks like we’ve just solved our Astral Chest security issues, right?" Lohan asked through their mental link.
Lisa looked at her friend and smiled. ’Yes, and I was thinking about the work it would take to organize the logistics of recruiting Players to protect the base, and worse, finding Players trustworthy enough to literally protect the guild’s treasure, it looks like that won’t be a problem anymore.’
Realizing they were both on the same page, Lohan smiled and then spoke to the pair in front of him, who still kept their heads down as if waiting to be scolded or expelled.
In a calm and friendly voice, as if speaking to two children, Lohan finally spoke. "The help you gave us to protect our base is something we cannot ignore either. Thank you very much, Elle and Pip. If it weren’t for you, we might have returned here to find our new home destroyed."
Saying this, Lohan used a small hand to stroke the heads of the two fairies, then continued.
"Actually," Lohan continued, maintaining his gentle tone as the fairies looked at him with their faces lit up by the affection, "Lisa and I were talking... Why don’t you officially join our organization? We call it the Astralis Requiem Guild."
Pip and Elle tilted their heads simultaneously, Pip’s wings emitting a faint metallic clink. "Guild? Elle and Pip have never heard of such a thing..." the fairy asked, confused.
Lohan then explained in a majestic yet welcoming voice. "We want Astralis to be a place where everyone helps each other, even if each person has different goals, whether it’s to make money, get stronger, or win their own freedom... We want to turn this tree into a home, where everyone helps each other get stronger and achieve their own dreams."
Lohan vibrated the jelly, making her little artificial eyes sparkle. "Pip, you said you liked the feeling of fighting and want to improve, right? If you join us, I’ll personally help you become powerful. Just as Queen Beetle infused you with power, I have a very similar ability, and with your permission, I can infuse you with energy to accelerate your evolution."
Elle and Pip looked at each other, the melancholy of having been expelled from Petal Village beginning to be replaced by hope.
"And since you’ll be our Official Sentinels," Lohan added. "You will receive a salary. I was thinking of 5 silver coins per week for each of you initially."
It was for investments like this that the Guild would charge a 10% fee on members’ income, and if the members managed to earn 50 silver coins in a day, the Guild’s 10% fee on that would already be enough to pay the salary of the two little sentinels.
Upon hearing the word "silver," the two fairies backed away in the air, waving their hands frantically in denial.
"Pip and Elle can’t accept this!" Pip exclaimed in shock. "Halon and Lisa saved Pip and Elle’s lives twice! Pip and Elle already owe everything to their saviors! Pip will fight for free; Pip just wants to be useful!"
"Yes, yes!" Elle agreed, her petal wings fluttering rapidly. "Elle will paint the flowers on the tree and Elle will watch over the tunnels, but Elle doesn’t want coins!"
Lohan had an idea, shifting the round, white shape of his eyes to look as if he were squinting, adopting a firmer stance that made the little ones stop protesting instantly.
"Listen carefully," Lohan conveyed with a firm mental voice. "On Astralis Requiem, all honest work is rewarded. If you want to protect this base, you need to be well-fed and have the resources to buy better equipment in Thalendor when necessary. These coins aren’t just payment; they’re tools for your growth."
He rolled a little closer, easing the pressure of his aura. "If you truly want to repay us, stay strong enough so that no monster can touch our treasure while we’re away. Accept this pay as part of your training, since you’ll use it for yourselves, whether for your well-being or your development. It’s an order from the Vice President, right?"
Pip and Elle lowered their heads, their tiny shoulders relaxing in the face of Lohan’s firmness. They realized that the Slime wasn’t offering charity, but rather a place of dignity within the guild’s hierarchy.
"Pip understands..." Pip murmured, clenching his fist around the hilt of his short sword. "Pip accepts. Pip will use the coins to become the strongest warrior in Mythlorien for Halon and Lisa!"
"Elle accepts too," said the fairy, a small tear of light glistening on her face, but this time it was one of happiness. "Elle and Pip are now part of Astralis Requiem!"
[Guild Notification: Pip and Elle have joined Astralis Requiem!]
[Role: Base Sentinels]
Lisa let out a satisfied growl and wagged her tails. "Good job, Halon. I believe Alice and the other members will be surprised to see that we’ve gained new members, and that these new members are little fairies from this world!"
’Hehe, she’s going to love Elle.’ Lohan thought, already imagining Alice’s reaction upon seeing the fairies.
Considering how lively that girl was, who honestly looked like a big fairy herself, when she encountered these two tiny, cute fairies at the guild base, her reaction to them would be priceless.
Even he, who had never felt anything special for creatures like that, had to admit that looking at these two little beings awakened a protective instinct in him, as if he were facing two cute, well-behaved little children.
And considering what these two fairies had gone through, being kidnapped and then expelled from their own village, it was even harder not to feel compassion for them.
So after arranging for Pip and Elle’s lodging and food, fortunately they fed on pollen and fruit which were plentiful around the base, Lohan looked at the Level 11 Mana Stone he held in his hands, excited to see what he would gain from it.