I didn't wait for the Guild Master to answer. I closed the call and took a deep breath, putting my phone into my pocket and pressing my lips together. The Guild Master was probably not very happy with my decision. After everything that he had done for , I probably looked extrely ungrateful. Perhaps he was going to give up on and stop helping . Even worse, there was also a chance that he'd stop investigating the Dock situation for . But... 'No, I don't think he's that type of guy.' He was disappointed, yes. But I had yet to fail. I was still useful to him. Until I failed, I could act like this. But the mont I failed... I drew a deep breath, looking ahead. "Squad Leader! Hurry! We're going to miss the train!" "...Why are you so back?" Adjusting the straps of my backpack, I calmly resud walking. 'This is going to be a very long week.' *
From the mont I made up my mind, I didn't spare a single mont and went to different Gates. None of the Gates were anything absurd, but they were all relatively difficult.
Thankfully, we were able to keep our identities a secret while exploring the Gates. If not, then the amount of trouble that we'd be subjected to would be enough to make it impossible for us to train. Thankfully, we encountered no problems the entire ti. In reality, the entire 'train with gates' was just an excuse. The team already had a solid foundation and good teamwork. Even if we explored new Gates, we wouldn't improve so quickly. The main reason why I decided to enter the Gates was that I needed a place that had no eyes on us. The main reason why I decided to enter the Gates was that I needed a place that had no eyes on us. "Consu this and try to get to the next Order." I handed each mber several fragnts of the highest quality. "Wait, what..." "...Aren't these?" "Why are they so pure?" "Squad Leader?" I could see the confusion on everyone's faces. I would've been confused too, had I been put in their position. In fact, staring at the nurous fragnts that I had given away, I felt a massive pinch in my chest. This wasn't cheap at all. The amount of SP that I had to spend was ridiculous. Thankfully, I had so to spare. After signing the contract with R.W. Tech and receiving their official sponsorship, I was given a sizable sum of money. Combined with the passive earnings from my gas, I was able to use it to produce a large number of high-quality fragnts for the team.
My gas in particular made a lot of money. Although my account had been suspended, I still made a sizable amount from the wave of trolls and people who wanted to try out my gas after I received the Paragon ranking and beat the Malovia Gate. '...I guess there are benefits to being famous.' Getting cheap fragnts wasn't hard anymore. Given how I was now a Paragon, I had access to sources that could provide with any fragnt that I wanted. I bought as many low-purity fragnts as I could and turned them into high-purity ones. I knew that the best way to get my team to beco stronger would be by increasing their Order. 'Either way, Fragnts are no longer as useful to since I reached the Fourth Order. I now need different stuff in order to reach the next order.'
In particular, Essence. That wasn't easy to get. "You guys told that you wanted to beco stronger so that you could be more useful to , right? In that case, don't bother staring at like that and consu the fragnts. Take this in case sothing goes wrong. It should help you." I tossed them each a pill. It was the very sa pill that I used to consu to handle my Cognitive Shard. I gave Sarah a aningful look. "It should help you all in case you're struggling." I didn't let any of them get a word out. Ti was of the essence. "I also need to reach the next Order. I wish you all the best of luck. Once you're done, we can all go to the next Gate." I left them to their own devices right after that. Regarding reaching the Second Order? That was a lie. There were other things that I needed to take care of. Like earning even more money. ***
A week passed by. By now, the fervor surrounding the new Paragon Rankings had died down, and in its place, a new wave of excitent had begun to sweep across the main island.
The World Congress. The biggest event in the world. One that showcased the skills and abilities of its top mbers. This wasn't just a clash between the very best, but a battle between the Guilds themselves.
Not only was the monetary award for the top contestants incredibly lucrative, but the fa that ca with reaching the very end was enough to propel anyone to the top of the world.
Brand deals. Offers. It was enough to set one for life. Obsidian Bastion Guild. The air was tense. Facing several groups, all dressed in dark uniforms, Kaelric Halecrest quietly scanned the groups. Despite his gaze, his gaze felt extrely pressuring. Enough to make one wince under it. And yet—
None of the mbers present showed any reaction. If anything, they all t the gaze head-on. The old man's lips curled into a smile after he looked away. "Not bad." He muttered, satisfied with what he was seeing. "Gathered here today are the uppermost elite of our Guild. You are the best of the best in the entire world, and I expect nothing short of strong results from all of you. Not only will you be up against the other four Guilds, but you'll also face many talented individuals. It is imperative that you show the gap between you and them."
The old man's voice carried a deep sense of authority as all mbers stood still, listening without moving a single muscle. It was as if they were a well-oiled unit with no single flaw. Sweeping his gaze over every individual mber, Kaelric looked at one individual in particular. "I expect a lot from you." Liora remained quiet. "Among all the people present, you're the most talented and most powerful mber. It's important that you support everyone and ensure everything runs smoothly. There are only a handful of individuals who could truly pose a threat to you. Do not engage unless necessary." "Yes, sir!" Liora finally acknowledged. "Good." Kaelric smiled, looking back at the other mbers. "You are all dismissed. Best of luck in the upcoming Congress." Liora was just about to follow the rest when all of a sudden, she heard a certain voice whisper in her head. 'Liora.' Liora's steps ca to an abrupt halt. Then, her grandfather's voice echoed in her mind once more. 'I'd like a favor from you. If you et this person...'
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