The lines were drawn as the palace in the Human Kingdom capital rapidly filled up. The three Dukes would be in attendance, and not just with projections either, but their real selves. Borderline every noble of any influence had shown up, and when the king also entered along with his wife a mid-tier A-grade things got even more intense. Especially when the old man following behind the two of them was seen. He was slightly hunched over, and had a frizzled beard and no hair, with an overall weak-looking deanor, but his aura told a whole other story.
Jake, who was also taking part in this party, if one can really call it that, stood on a balcony and overlooked as these people entered. His gaze temporarily landed on the Lord Protector, as he was called. While he was no Snappy, in the context of this world, he was definitely one of the strongest. A peak A-grade existence that Jake saw even the otherwise arrogant Duke of Flas approach respectfully as he bowed to the old man.
Now, while attending this party was wholly expected based on the trajectory of all the special missions he had done thus far, the way he had gotten his invite was a bit off. Not because he had gotten one but because Jake had ended up getting four separate invites. One from the Duke of Flas daughter and the dukedom she worked, with another one from PETE, a third from the Duke of Flas, and the final one from the Guild itself, which gave Jake a Special Courier Job to attend the party. It didnt specify what Jake had to do once there, just to attend it.
He wondered if the Special Courier Job was a failsafe if soone failed to get invited or if it was sothing everyone who had gone down this sa quest path received. Then again, everything else revolving around the party was Side Jobs from all the different factions. So maybe he was ant to always get this Special Courier Job? In either case, Jake found It pretty funny getting all those invites, especially as he had to go through a complex vetting process before he got each, where every faction wanted to ensure Jake was truly on their side.
How the hell he had passed every single of of them, Jake had no idea. All of them used lie detectors, and Jake even ended up eting the person who had killed those adventurers who had been with the scalekin mage. It was the Duchess of the dukedom that the Duke of Flas daughter had allied with, and an A-grade in her own right. She was a powerful karmic mage, and she also used her magic to scan Jake throughout their entire vetting process, and ended up walking away with the conclusion Jake didnt have any positive karmic relations with the other factions. She did point out how Jake didnt have a particularly good connection with her and her husbands dukedom either, but Jake easily excused that by saying he was being a professional and just working with them. They were still a bit suspicious, but after he passed a lie detector confirming he wasnt working for the benefit of any of the other factions, they approved him and gave him an invite.
This process was pretty much the sa with all of the factions, though their ans to confirm Jake was, at the very least, not working with the enemy varied a bit. Jake was honestly kind of lucky in this entire process because he could truthfully say he held no positive feelings toward any of the other factions and that he didnt work to support them. They couldnt ask if he was working with them, period, because as an infinite loop agent, he naturally was, so as long as he didnt support them, that had to be good enough, right?
Jake also ca to learn that apparently, Couriers were even respected in royal courts. Alright, the low-ranked Couriers probably werent, but Jake was considered a highly respected professional by now with lots of experience. Never mind the fact Jake hadnt even had the job for a year.
As he was standing and overlooking all the guests arriving, Jake considered what his next move would be. The king organized this party, but at the request of two of the three dukedoms because they all wanted to use it to expose their enemies. As for how they would expose them? Well, they all had the exact sa plan that could be sumd up in one word:
Jake.
Not only was he their star witness, but he was also the guy with all the evidence. All of them had asked him to get an ancient rarity dallion before this eting, as with it, his trustworthiness would be even higher. Who wouldnt give a high-ranking Courier with an impeccable track record at least so trust and hear him out?
The problem was that Jake still didnt like any of them. Exposing PETEs leader, as well as the fact they worked with another dukedom that hatred the Duke of Flas, seed like the easiest solution to causing a big conflict. Of course, he could also expose the fact that the Duke of Flas was running an illegal drug and weapon trade in collusion with an enemy country to fund his endless hunger for elentals or maybe that the daughter of the Duke of Flas liked to punish those who helped her father for fun behind his back.
PETE was the easiest to deal with. They were the weakest stand-alone faction by far, and Jake had a hard ti not seeing them burn to the ground no matter what he did to expose them. He had learned that nobody, not even their allied dukedom, knew the true identity of their leader, so that was sothing Jake could expose to get rid of them.
However, Jake had begun to form another plan.
What if he just exposed all of them at once to the king and just sat back as he watched the world burn? What if he made so false statents to involve the third dukedom that otherwise wasnt part of anything? Or maybe even a foreign country?
As Jake was still deep in thought and saw that the final guest had just about arrived, he noticed soone walk up beside him. Jake was leaning on the railing of the balcony, and this person joined him in looking at all the esteed guests below.
Quite the gathering, the man said with a smile.
It is indeed, Jake said as he glanced at the newcor. He gave off the aura of an early B-grade and looked on the younger side. He had long, combed-back hair and gave off a confident deanor, and while Jake didnt recognize him, he already knew who it was as he picked up the presence the man was disguising.
Ah there it is Jake thought to himself. He had been waiting for the final twist to reveal itself, and here it was. During all this ti when Jake had worked with all of these different factions, there was one place that did know everything Jake was up to. Not his thoughts or plots, but they did know he did work for all of them at the sa ti.
He was naturally speaking of the Guild itself.
I heard you are quite the distinguished guest today, the man stated as Jake subtly felt the area around them shift as a sound-isolation barrier appeared without anyone around noticing. Many friends in high places.
Not sure I would call them friends, but my work indeed takes around, and I am here for work today as well, Jake said with a shrug. I am a Courier, after all. Completing jobs is what Im ant to be doing.
And quite a Courier you are. Within a year, you went from a total newcor to soone so highly respected, the man said with a big smile. I even heard that you have a borderline perfect track record, never really ssing up any jobs, despite what hiccups you may have encountered.
Just doing my best, Jake said as he kept leaning and looking down at the crowd while talking to the man who did the sa.
That I believe the question is, what will you do now?
Jake turned and looked at the man as he answered. I dont know quite yet does the Guild Founder have any suggestions?
Thats right, the plot twist was that the Guild Founder was also going to at this party and approach Jake! Had he kind of predicted this would be the case? Not fully, but he did suspect there would be one more twist, and the Guild Founder revealing himself during this party would be entirely on-brand for the Challenge Dungeon.
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However, Jake didnt want to lose his agency and montum by having the Founder reveal himself at an inopportune ti. Besides, Jake being able to recognize the S-grade despite his technique to hide who he was, even from the peak A-grade, had to impress him, right?
The Founder frowned at Jakes question. Guild Founder? I apologize if I gave you the wrong impression, but I have no idea what you are talking about.
Jake smiled a bit as he turned back to look down at the crowd, who were far too busy socializing to notice the two of them. You know, none of those people down there can recognize you, so I understand why you question how I could. It wasnt anything you ssed up; I just have a little sothing that is also part of the reason I am a good Courier: Good intuition.
So you believe I am this Guild Founder just because of so gut feeling? the man who was totally the Founder questioned.
No, I knowyou are the Guild Founder because of my gut feeling, Jake answered in a confident tone. You have hidden your S-grade aura well, good enough to fool pretty much everyone in this world but not .
Quite loose reasoning for such an impactful statent, the man said with a light smile, seemingly not really trying to hide who he was anymore.
My instincts are more trustworthy than anything anyone can ever tell , Jake shot back.
In that case, what are your instincts telling you to do in this situation where you look down upon the people gathered here, knowing you hold the power to upend the entire political landscape with nothing but words? the Founder asked in a serious tone, having dropped the act.
They arent telling to do anything, but they do make fully aware that things are, for the lack of a better word, fucked. Powerful nobles are fighting while the uninvolved people just living in their territories suffer, and everyone is doing shit under the table, trying to get one over each other all the ti, never daring to openly confront anyone, Jake said with a sigh.
The Guild Founder slowly nodded as he spoke. It is shaful, but yes, things are indeed a ss. Tell , do you know why the Guild was initially established?
Enlighten , Jake offered as he felt another option to resolve this entire ss of a storyline slowly materialize. He rembered the dwarf attendant in the very first Guild he ever entered telling him the Founder had made the Guild around forty thousand years ago, but never the reason, so he was also a bit interested.
Back in the day, before the Guild, all of the enlightened races were united to so extent to fight back the monster factions led by the dragon tribe. The borders were open, there was free travel and trade, and friendly etings between monarchs were frequent. Despite the constant conflict with an enemy faction, it was a more peaceful ti for the regular citizens back then, living far from the battlefield, the Founder began explaining the lore of the Guild.
It was a tough ti for those of us who did live close to the frontlines, though, and I grew up right on those borders. I found out at an early age I had potential and quickly rose to power with the sole intent of finally bringing peace by defeating the Dragon King and ending the war. When I made it to S-grade, I challenged the Dragon King and managed to co out on top. The dragon tribe crumbled after that, and the monsters united under the tribe scattered, so forming their own factions that stand to this day. I genuinely believed my actions would be the end of conflict but in the world of politics, there always needs to be an enemy, it appears.
Jake nodded along. Having an enemy ant you had sothing to unite against. In fact, Jacobs father, Arthur, had used this strategy to gather the United Cities Alliance against Jake and those with divine factions, making a boogieman out of them.
The once peaceful alliance between the enlightened races fractured, and the lines were drawn. Borders closed, wars began to brew, and things were looking more dire than ever. No one talked. Everyone expected others to plot against them, as they, too, were plotting against soone else. I at first tried to calm everyone, but I was treated with nothing but fear and heard nothing but false promises and platitudes. Sothing had to be done, and in the end, I settled on making the Guild.
You did it to create a neutral faction that could operate across borders to get people talking? Jake questioned.
Precisely, the man smiled. At least at first. The scope of the Guilds dealings only expanded from there until it beca the organization you see today, but the original plan was for Couriers to be wholly neutral parties whose primary job was to travel between countries to lessen the information gap. This did help, as so line of communication was opened up between the different factions but that was then. Things have changed yet again, and it seems like the idea of what a Courier is has faded from mory. At least what the status of a Courier used to an.
Jake remained silent, but he was beginning to get a good idea as to where this entire thing was going, and he wasnt sure he liked it.
And you you are a pri example of this change, the Founder said with a hint of disappointnt in his voice. The intent was for Couriers to remain neutral, not getting too involved in politics, but now, nearly every force with any influence actively exploits the Courier system for their own gain. They make Couriers work with them despite that being contrary to what they should be doing. I was truthfully disappointed when I looked into you. Your track record was so brilliant, your word ethic impeccable, and I believed you were one of the most promising Couriers I had ever seen yet you have chosen to work with these factions and gotten yourself so deeply embroiled in their factions, supporting them and-
Wrong on that one, Jake quickly cut him off.
Hm? the Founder exclaid with a frown. Are you claiming you havent completed Special Courier Jobs for these factions in droves, each Courier Job submitted to further their goals?
That isnt what you said. You said I supported them. Have I worked with them? Yes, but supporting would an I helped them more than I hurt them, and right now, I think Im pretty even on that one with all of them.
The frown on the Founders brow deepened. What are you saying?
Jake turned to look at him directly again. That I dont support any of them. Also, dont get it twisted; I wasnt the one who chose to work with them. The Guild did. The Guild accepted all these Special Courier Jobs. Shit, I got involved in this entire ss because of one such job, and now here we are. Or are you going to fault for accepting jobs offered to ?
Not gonna lie; Jake was a bit offended at what the Founder said, and he got the feeling he had to dispute it. He also just didnt like the insinuation he was allied with any of the assholes in the hall but from the looks of it, this Founder didnt believe him at all.
Have you truly deluded yourself that much, or are you simply trying to fool for whover you support? I know why you are here today, and I know of this internal conflict in the Human Kingdom. I also know you have co to assist one of the factions present in this hall, the Founder said, shaking his head.
Before Jake had a chance to react, the man placed a hand on Jakes shoulder. So form of magic activated as the man infused a smidgen of power into Jakes body, as Jake felt it search for sothing. Even if you attempt to deceive , I am far from new to this ga. Your clear karmic connection with with
The Founder just stared at Jake for a second before he cleared his throat. He lifted his hand slightly and placed it down again as another bit of energy was infused. As I was trying to say, karma cannot be hidden even if if
His words tailed off as he stared at Jake with wide eyes. How is this possible? There is nothing whats going on?
Jake was also confused for a mont until he understood what had happened, and a lot of things suddenly fell into place. Without even thinking about it, he checked out a certain skill and there it was in the description of Shroud of the Primordial.
The karmic threads in your wake, an endless web impossible to unravel
So well it turned out that no one being able to detect his karmic connection was pretty damn good when trying to hide who he had any connections to.
The Malefic Viper smiled as he saw the horrified look on the Wyrmgods face as he realized what was going on at the sa ti as Jake. Minaga only flashed a giant grin filled with schadenfreude as he pointed at the Wyrmgod.
I told you using karmic magic to detect faction allegiances was going to be a problem!
It is the most reliable way a person could detect sothing like that and with them being A-grades and above, no C-grade should be able to block or avoid it the Wyrmgod answered in a defeated voice.
Thats right in truth, what Jake had been doing this entire Challenge Dungeon was a horrible fucking idea for anyone normal. Fence-sitting and trying to get one up on everyone would have been discovered a long ti ago by any of the many A-grade karma mages working for all of the larger factions. Simply lying wouldnt be enough, and the second they detected Jake sewing good karma with any of the factions through efforts that helped them in any way he hadnt been expressly told to, he would have been discovered.
But with Shroud of the Primordial, they simply couldnt see anything. Mind you, Jake ford karma just like everyone else; Shroud did nothing to block any of that. But it sure as hell did make it impossible for a bunch of mortals to see jack-shit and coupled with their simplistic and over-tuned level of trust yeah, it was a recipe for disaster, and the Malefic Viper was all for it.
Wait Minaga suddenly said. Wont this also ss up the-
No spoilers, the Viper interrupted him, enjoying this more than he probably should. Let us all just enjoy the show as you take notes for fixes in the next iteration."
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