Once inside the stern and the strained atmosphere vanished, replaced by hundreds of light voices discussing weapons, battle and monsters over ale together. Inside the guild was spread into three huge rooms and a staircase leading upstairs.
The room to the right had two small desks standing beside each other and several tables and stools against the wall.
The two desks mimicked the style and emblems of the Adventurers’ Guild and rcenary Guild. Four won sat behind the desks, calmly adjusting their paperwork.
’These rchants are amazing. To have a proxy for both the Adventurers and rcenary Guild in their small branch in the east!’
"Oh, that ale slls good," Logan said while eyeing the golden nectar.
Their eyes shifted around the room, and they noticed how well organised it was, with a second floor showing well-ard and wealthy mbers.
Below, there was a group of twenty n sitting at tables, enjoying light beers. The conversation about beasts and monsters ca from this direction, with several maids serving them with light als and alcohol.
’Although I want to visit, right now we are here to visit another branch.’
Each room dealt with the guild’s three specialities.
Right was the guilds, a place where rcenaries and adventurers who subcontracted to the Bronze Blade visited most often. In return for a promised amount of money per month, they sent a portion of their quest rewards to the guild.
"It’s not a bad thing for those who don’t have a backing or special ability."
’Though I’ve heard they poach high-ranked targets with a better contract, likely those on the second floor.’
Asmodeus spent most of his ti in the Mainland dealing with information brokers, and this Bronze Blade guild was one of the first and biggest hidden groups he discovered. What appeared to be a re rchants’ guild to the people was actually a behemoth.
The left room was darker, filled with a shadier atmosphere; fewer than five n sat on the stools, and none of them drank alcohol. When Asmodeus noticed the emblem, two short blades painted black, he turned away.
’Their assassin and information branch.’
He noticed a faint flicker of light on the wall of each room. He narrowed his gaze and realised that his divine eye could see through the illusory magic cast to hide these two extra rooms from people who visited just for the rchandise.
These groups were the reason for such a difficult entry to a rchant’s guild.
A place that should only deal with goods and other everyday things would probably only see the middle ranks.
’It makes the rumours they were planning rebellion even more palpable...’
However, Asmodeus didn’t want to bother with this kind of trouble; he just wanted to save Brando, grow stronger and prepare to fight the Arbiters. He didn’t know when they’d co, but from the recent clash with Funf. Asmodeus believed he still had at least a year, at most, before they seriously tried to attack his territory.
’Serena also ntioned that the male who fought Velvet and Vinea wasn’t able to use his full strength. So the limiter that woman ntioned must still be in effect.’
He just wondered what might cause it to be deactivated.
Although Serena and Lumina had their guesses, Asmodeus honestly didn’t wish for that to be the case.
"Greetings, Custors." Said a beautiful ginger-haired woman, her height barely above 1.4 tres, but her stout figure and burly muscles caused Logan’s cheeks to puff red.
"Oh my, what a fine beauty if I do say so myself."
’Hm?’
Logan stepped forward and offered his hand. The orange-haired dwarf smirked at Logan, but still took his hand; her lips curled into a faint smile. That’s when the old dwarf kissed the back of her hand and slowly stepped back with his head lowered.
"Ack, to et such a beautiful lass. I am quite content. I am Logan from the southern mountains. May I ask where you are from?"
She didn’t act arrogant, nor look down on Logan; instead, she crossed her arms and spoke with a sharp, feisty tone. "Lun from the northern heights."
Lun smiled at Logan, nodding, her slightly round cheeks and sharp chin quite attractive, if not for the freckles dotting across her nose and cheeks. But then again, Logan seed to love even this, her plump thighs and arms not fat, but packed with muscles.
"How can I help you, handso gentleman?"
She spoke with an infectious charm, slowly drawing out the handso as she looked at Logan for a few seconds, then winked at Asmodeus.
’She’s good!’
Not only did Lun butter up Logan, but her cheerful and polite deanour towards Asmodeus was the perfect custor service.
"For starters, Miss Lun. We are here for so information. After that, I believe we could arrange trade if the Bronze Blade seeks more stalwart allies."
Logan didn’t notice, but the mont Lun appeared, her eyes flashed. The spell was complex, likely an evil eye she gained or was born with. But thanks to his Divine eye, Asmodeus knew it was sothing that could affirm lies and also see the true nature of a person.
As for more potent effects or skills, he wouldn’t know till she used them.
Lun eyed the two n carefully, her lips slowly curling into a confident grin. "I see, I see." She glanced back to the second floor where several elegant n sat, and peeked back before she nodded.
’We’ve cleared the first hurdle.’
"Then, allow this Lun Bronzeblade to guide you to the correct passage. Beware, although contracted and trained by our Bronze Blade guild. The information brokers are quite the pain to deal with, so expect to pay the fee upfront."
Asmodeus gave a thankful smile.
"I appreciate the information, Miss Lun."
"Oh, please just call Lun, handso! I am not that old to need the Miss, fufu."
Logan’s mouth dropped when the small dwarf flirted with Asmodeus.
He glanced at the young man for a mont with sour eyes. But the next mont, the brilliant and talented Lun took Logan’s hand and winked. "Let guide this gentleman to get a drink, how about it?"
"Please, he seems to enjoy your company. Here."
Asmodeus tossed half of Logan’s money to the sneaky rchant, and she caught it with the flick of her wrist. ’She’s stronger than Logan!?’ He ca to this conclusion from her nimble movent and ability to catch the sack he threw to test her.
"If all goes well, I will ensure to tip the beautiful maiden Lun." Asmodeus winked at her before slipping into the darkness, where a small passage led him to the underworld of the Bronze Blade rchant guild.
.
.
.
Logan watched Asmodeus’s fading back with a complex emotion in his chest. He looked at the pretty dwarf beside him, a little sour that her eyes remained fixed on his little brother until he completely vanished.
He wondered if being handso and rich was everything, thinking back to his ex-wife.
"Fufu, don’t look so down, good lookin’, I won’t eat ya."
Suddenly, Lun spoke with a familiar and more aggressive tone. She glanced at him with sharper eyes; her previous bubbly deanour vanished. Yet Logan felt better; this matter of speaking was how dwarves spoke!
"Ack, how can I with such a beauty?"
Lun narrowed her eyes, slight creases forming at the corners like crows’ feet. In honesty, she feared Asmodeus, and the reason she served them was purely because of Logan. The guild wasn’t shady, and they didn’t betray mbers.
But when faced with a demon and a dwarf, it’s clear the dwarf would be the easiest to deal with, right?
So she took Logan’s hand and dragged him to the bar with a feeling of relief.
’To think he was so gentle and calm.’
Her fear towards Asmodeus faded, while she enjoyed eting one of her own kind again, even though many dwarves joined the bronze blade. Most of them lived in other branches closer to the mountains. In the east, there weren’t many true mountains, as the extre weather devoured them.
So, sitting on a small table, she ordered the best ale for the lowest price. Although Logan’s sack had a lot of coins, she would only take the smallest liberty.
’To make friends with a powerful demon that even the branch master feared. This mont is my chance!’
"So, Mister Logan. Are you here to hunt?" She leaned on her palms while serving the rugged dwarf drinks and food. The little cherries she popped into his mouth brought a huge, rosy grin to the old man’s face.
’He’s rather cute...’
The longer they spoke, she realised Logan was a solid, trustworthy man with a simple goal and desire. He told her whatever she asked, be it about his past, his son and what he thought about Lun herself.
But he never spoke about Asmodeus or betrayed his trust.
’Good.’
Dwarven won didn’t look purely for looks, although they could appreciate them.
To a female dwarf, it was the beard, the stalwart personality and how much the man resembled a mountain.
He needed to be sharp, sturdy and sowhat honest.
So the longer the conversation went on, the closer Lun found herself shifting.
It might have been the first ti she’d t such an earnest dwarf while working for the Bronze Blade Guild. Though Lun didn’t know if she could call it that, since she would soon reign over it rather than work. It was just her gaining experience for the future.
But she couldn’t just tell this cute older man she was the daughter of the grandmaster.
"Alright, handso, let join you for a drink. This keg is my private stash!"
And so, eventually, she stopped using Logan’s money, and instead, the lady of the Bronze Blades used her own. With a bright smile, she found herself at ease. A strange feeling flowed through her as she beca interested in a man for the first ti in her life.
Logan peeked towards the dark door, through which Asmodeus had entered for a mont. He then hiccupped and turned back to the pretty Lun. He’d learned she was only a few years younger than him, and decided to go for it.
"Well, let’s enjoy it!"
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