Second World

Seeing the success in gaining support from a faction unrelated to his current quest, Jack was motivated to try another. He was a member of the League of Champions and Order of Magi. The only high-ranking member he knew in the League of Champions was Gruff, but that a*shole had been avoiding him, so he guessed that faction was out.

On top of Pandora, within a short time, Jack was back to the Order of Magi's hut again. Today he had been going back and forth to the same places within the city. Very busy day indeed.

He went into the hut and saw Janus, or at least one of his copies, behind his desk as usual.

"Greetings, Mister Storm Wind. Back again so soon?" Janus greeted Jack with an amiable smile. "You know I can't let you in if you are not using your archmage persona, right?"

Jack looked at himself, he had forgotten to transform. But never mind, he was not planning to go in anyway. "I'm here in an official kingdom business," Jack declared, trying to act as official as possible.

"I'm representing the third prince to ally with the Order of Magi," Jack continued.

Janus just stared at him, with that mysterious smile of his while twiddling his long purple hair. He finally said, "I'm sorry. We have already thrown in our support for Prince Rhemos."

"What? Why?"

"What do you mean why? He has a good relationship with us and he donated a lot of coins to us each month."

"Really? How much is his donation?" Jack asked, prepared to take out his coins if needed.

"1000 gold coins each month," Janus replied.

'Ugh…' Jack's mind which had delved into his storage bag, came out again. What was he thinking? Trying to compete financially with a kingdom's prince? He bet Rhemos could easily increase the donation if someone tried to compete with him.

Since it was no longer possible to rope in this faction, Jack turned back dispiritedly.

"Oh, by the way, if you are trying to ask League of Champions, you better not waste time," Janus said. "They are already in support of Prince Therribus."

Jack came out of the hut with despondent feeling, but he soon cast aside that down feeling and looked to the front with determination.

"You sure recover quickly," Peniel commented.

"This is just a small setback. I should have guessed all the prominent factions should have been approached already. Which meant we are only left with those smaller-scale factions or less-known factions. Unfortunately, I don't have many connections to those. Well, no need to worry about it. I will just focus on the task at hand."

The sun was setting, Jack thought he should return to Amy's Bakery. He would be heading out early tomorrow morning and he was sure Amy would have a lot of things to ask again during the evening, so he returned early. But before that, he went around the city shopping for Iron and Steel ores.

Although the guild warehouse would collect ores for him, those were going to be used for guild purposes. He could not be selfish and take advantage. He would buy the ores for his own uses.

During his shopping around, his Haggling skill increased to Advanced Apprentice. He now got more discounts when buying goods.

When he arrived at the street where Amy's Bakery was on. He caught sight of several players he knew. Considering this was the street where most guilds constructed their bases, it was not strange.

One of these players approached him. "Brother Storm Wind, how do you do?"

"I'm fine, thank you. Sir William is a busy person, I'm honored you spend the time to greet me," Jack replied.

William of Wellington, the acting leader of Saint Edge in this capital, now a Druid, smiled at Jack's sarcasm. "If you are bitter of how we didn't lend a hand during the coalition attack. It's perfectly understandable. If you allow me to explain, we are tied up in our own matters at the time. The next time the coalition tries something, I promise we won't just sit back."

"Well, I always thought that action speaks louder," Jack said.

"You prick! Can't you see our leader is giving face to you?" Radiant Phoebe, who was behind William and had become a Paladin, said.

"Do you want to have a second round with me?" Jack asked.

Radiant Phoebe's face was red with anger. But Jack's name had spread in a not so peaceful way since the last time they met. Although she was unsatisfied, she did not dare to accept an open challenge."

William simply laughed the situation off.

"I see that you are unsatisfied with how we have handled the relationship between our guilds. I have no excuse. Please accept my sincerest apology."

Jack waved him off, "I never hold it against you. It's your choice if you want to help us or not. I don't get discontent about it. But of course, when you need help, we also have no obligation to provide aid."

"That is understandable. I just wish that we don't become enemies."

"I've already got more than enough enemy to contend with. I will thank the Heavens if I ain't given more."

William laughed at the comment, "Your latest feat has already spread far and wide. I truly admire you. The presence of coalition members had greatly reduced in this capital as the three big guilds pulled their members to defend their Guild Headquarters. The others pretty much cowered without the three heads. If they know you are having a leisurely walk in the capital, they would have cursed until kingdom come."

"They still have members in this city, they could have easily reported seeing him in the capital," Radiant Phoebe reminded.

Jack shrugged, "well, maybe I'm just pretending. Maybe when they thought they are safe and allocated their people elsewhere, that's when I strike."

"They must be having a headache because of you," William said.

"Serve them right. How about you? Have your guild gotten a Guild Headquarters as well?" Jack asked.

"We have," William exclaimed. "It's in a region around a city called Vacharest."

"Impressive," Jack said, while in his mind he asked Peniel, 'Is this Vacharest far?'

'It's not only far. It's in another country. That city is the capital of Sangrod Empire, the one ruled by the Vampire race,' Peniel answered.

"Sa–Sangrod Empire…?" Jack blurted out.

"Oh, I didn't expect Brother Storm's knowledge of this world's geography was so extensive. You even recognized that the name of the city is from Sangrod Empire."

"How did you get a Guild Headquarters in another country?" Jack asked.

"Truthfully, it's not exactly us. It's a splinter of Saint Edge guild who was active in Vacharest," William explained. "Just like how Death Associates managed to contact their missing members in another town during the first month when we arrived, we have also managed to contact our other members in Vacharest. They have even more of our original members there, including the true leader of Saint Edge."

"So your guild here and the one there are still considered separate guilds?"

"Yes, once we have players that can cross country, we will merge our two guilds into one. We consider the one over there as the true Saint Edge guild. They will be focusing on the Guild Headquarters and guild reputations. We here focus on gathering resources like coins and items. Since when we merge, only the resources are combined. The guild reputations only follow the highest one, while for Guild Headquarters, one guild could only have one."

"How do you know all that?" Jack asked. He had known about this info as well, but it was because of Peniel. For Saint Edge to understand so many meant their information-gathering capability was notable."

"We have our way," William replied with a smile. "But from your expression. It seemed that you have also known about this info. I should be the more surprised one, Brother Storm Wind."

"Do you know any other prominent guilds who have also gotten Guild Headquarters?"

"Aside from you and the three big guilds. White Scarfs had just gotten theirs…"

'They are?' Jack sent a message to Silverwing, asking him.

"… Black Cloak as well, and Crowd of Sins from the coalition. Aside from this, I don't think there are others yet. A country's regions are limited after all. I don't know how many regions are in this country. Once every region has their Guild Headquarters, the next guild who wish to have one will have no choice but to invade the existing ones."

'There are eleven regions in Themisphere,' Jack heard Peniel telling him telepathically. Based on William's and Peniel's information, there were still four more regions free for grab. After all eleven were taken, the distribution of power was pretty much set. Other guilds who wish to get a Guild Headquarters would have to, as William said, go the violent way."

At this time, Jack received Silverwing's message, "Yes, we have just conquered the Bandit Outpost an hour ago. I was just about to inform and thank you for the info you have provided."

'An hour ago? Which means Saint Edge has a spy inside White Scarfs.' Jack thought. But such a practice was common amongst the big guilds.. The difference was if the spy was amongst the common members or their core members, as the incident last time with Grimclaw.

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