Around the same time when Zack broke the magical stone like tool, that used to track Vottes's location all this time.
In a specific guild, the very same guild that caused Vottes Brave's life to become a living hell, of a game of cat and mouse. And the guild that Zack also desires to destroy the most.
The Dark Guild known as Black Rivers.
Black Rivers is a Dark Guild, a guild that has many evil deeds under them. But Black Rivers isn't your normal Dark Guilds. Who form groups of criminals banding together and sharing their evil and forbidden magical knowledge. And taking on missions issued either by the underworld, or their guild's goals.
What makes Black Rivers stand out, is the fact they work more like a company. Even if they still work like most Dark Guilds, with their share of magical knowledge, be it illegal or legal knowledge.
Black Rivers has many dealings in the underworld of Ishgar. They have their hands on stolen goods, illegal banned goods, information, as well slavery.
It is because of those trades, even if Black Rivers is a mid-tier level guild. But their pockets are deep, and their connections in the underworld of Ishgar also as deep as their money is. Making them a force to be reckon with when it comes to connections and trading in the underworld.
Of course, even if they have deep pockets, and have many powerful or rich people in their pockets. Doesn't mean they are a powerful guild themselves. But they are not a guild that should be look down on.
After all, with countless Dark Wizards out there, they need some way or another to find materials and subjects for their experiments, or to keep up to date with the status of the light guilds, or government to keep alive. Where else will they find such things? If Black Rivers already has them for a price.
That is what Black Rivers is, a Dark Guild but also a criminal syndicate, that has many connections and dealings of criminal organizations and Dark Guilds throughout Ishgar.
And in this very guild, that has many connections in the underworld of Ishgar. Stood a Dark Wizard, a middle-aged man, who sighed, as he looked at the thick metal door. And behind the door, sounds of pleasure could be heard behind this very door.
'Sh*t… cursed my luck…'
The Dark Wizard thought, as he sighed knowing his timing is the worst there is. After all, it clear as day, what those moans and cry of pleasure meant. And also, the one causing those cries of pleasure, wouldn't be all pleased if someone were to interfere with his fun.
But in the end, the Dark Wizard whose back full of cold sweat. Had no choice but to loudly knocked on the door, causing all sounds of pleasure to come to a halt all at once.
The moment the sounds of pleasure ended, was the moment a chilling silence went between outside the room, and inside the room. Before a powerful wave of magical power could be felt behind the door, and a very angry voice.
"How dare to disturb this one! You better give this one's a good reason, why this one wouldn't destroy you, and your whole family of disturbing this one!!?"
When the Dark Wizard heard that blooming voice, full of killing intent, caused the Dark Wizard to panic, and a strong desire to run away. But if the Dark Wizard were to do that. Not only the source of that voice will kill him, but his friends and family be after him.
But the Dark Wizard, even facing death, expected the man behind the door, his boss will become this way either way, and begin to honestly tell his reason of disturbing his happy time.
"I-I did not want to interfere with your busy business, Mister Rivers! But we have an issue! The magic device used to track that Dragon Slayer girl has lost signal! And there still no word from the Minot Brothers bounty hunters, as of yet!
So, we contacted Dru Dru about this! He has no clue about her signal disconnected, and but knowing the current situation. Dru Dru halted hunting down all traces of that dragon girl, and turned his attention to the Minot Brothers instead, and beginning to hunt them down as we speak!"
When the Dark Wizard said that, with cold sweat increasing all over his body. A moment later, instead of an answer back, the door itself opened, showing a young man and woman with link arms walking out of the room.
The young man is not only very handsome, with his long dark blonde hair. But he also very arrogant looking, like some kind of high-ranking noble looking down from his highchair, as he looked at the cold sweated Dark Wizard with his sharp yellow eyes.
As for the woman besides him. She has long beautiful red hair, along purple eyes. Not only she is beautiful, but she also has a very stimulating red dress tightly wrapped around her body.
Of course, if one look closer between the two, anyone could tell from their misbehave hairstyles, and their messy way of clothing, almost as if they just thrown them on. Made one wonder what kind a thing they were doing behind that close door.
"Did that b*tch finally figured out, that we been tracking with that magic tool inside her? And here I thought, I could see an interesting show, of her despair, when we tell her the reason why we keep finding her. Shame I really wanted to see the face she will make!" Went the red-haired woman, with hint of sadism in her voice.
"That will be enough, Joloshi." Went the arrogant looking young man.
"Okay honey, I will behave~" Joloshi said in her playful voice. As the arrogant looking young man, nodded his head, before he returned his sharp yellow eyes towards the Dark Wizard before him. Causing the Dark Wizard to step backwards when such sharp sword-like eyes lock onto him.
"This one wants an update, tell this one everything." Went the arrogant young man.
"Yes, right away Mister Rivers, I already did it in a report, here sir…" The Dark Wizard went, as he wipes the cold sweat from his forehead, after he had handed the papers within his robe to the man known as Mister Rivers, who also happened to be the Guild Master of Black Rivers.
And the very same person, that gives the order to hunt down Vottes Brave alive.
"This one sees. This one wants you to inform Dru Dru, when he finds the Minot Brothers, by any means necessary, get them tell him everything they know… and if it was them that took her away from this one, and tainted this one's woman… tell Dru Dru, if that were the case… this one will deal with them personally."
Mister Rivers arrogantly went, with hints of strong killing intent could be felt behind his yellow eyes.
"O-Of course, right away… oh right, there is something else I have to inform you as well, Mister Rivers."
When Mister Rivers, was about return to his office along with Joloshi, halted in his steps, hearing there more to report besides the dragon slayer's case. Mister Rivers didn't answer, instead gazed at the Dark Wizard, telling him to go ahead with his eyes alone.
"Yes, sir. Not long ago, a woman named Ultear from the Grimoire Heart guild has come to our guild." When Joloshi and Mister Rivers heard the name of Grimoire Heart, flashes of seriousness could be seen in their eyes. As they heard this.
"From Grimoire Heart…? Why does a bigshot like them want with this one's guild?" Mister Rivers asked.
"Information, after all, when it comes to information, we are one of the best among the Dark Guilds in this field." The Dark Wizard said with a hint of pride, and Mister Rivers also nodded seeing that prideful look, of his guild's ability of gathering information is one of the best in Ishgar's Dark Guilds.
Not to mention unless it is something important to them. Why will a high-level Dark Guild, like Grimoire Heart, will bother gathering information, if guilds like Black Rivers could do it for them, of course, for a price.