"You are saying that he has been waiting here the entire night?" Percy leaned against the wooden handrail as he looked down from the third floor to the lounge. His gaze fixated on the barefooted man.
"Yes, sir." A voice rang next to him. It belonged to the man who allowed Jason to enter the building last night. His name was Tero, and he was one of the core members. Like other core members, he went to Mach Island to search for ancient ruins. He happened to be one of the few who actually found something.
"Any idea why he came here?" Percy turned to Tero as he asked the question and saw him shake his head. "Very well, invite him to my study. I want to talk to him."
Percy then turned around and entered his study, leaving the door wide open. A thoughtful look was plastered on his face.
...
"Yo, the boss invited you to his study."
Jason opened his eyes and saw the man who let him inside the building. As he looked around, he noticed that it was already bright outside, with howls of wind echoing in the sky. He nodded at Tero and followed him to the third floor before entering a room whose door was wide open.
Tero closed the door and waited outside.
Jason looked at the study briefly before landing his gaze on the handsome blond-haired man. At first, he thought he was meeting with Perseus, but the temperament and body type were vastly different from his.
'This must be the guild master. He looks somewhat like Perseus. Perhaps they are brothers?'
"Sit," Percy said with a commanding tone.
Jason nodded and took a seat on a wooden chair.
"Why did you come here last night?" Percy said while briefly taking a glimpse of his wristwatch. "Your shift should have started 1 hour ago. So, if it isn't a good reason, you will no longer be a mercenary for the Golden Lions."
"I was attacked." Jason leaned on the chair and looked straight into Percy's eyes. "Most likely by mercenaries, hired by Metal Paladins and Scarlet Arrow."
"Why do you think it was by them?" Percy sat straight as if he were questioning his weak subordinate. "You could have angered someone who hired a mercenary to take care of you."
"No, I haven't." Jason shook his head. "The mercenary didn't want to kill me. He had a job for me."
"A job?" Percy hummed thoughtfully.
"Yes. Most likely, the ones who hired him wanted me to become their spy." Jason let out a dry chuckle. "They probably expected me to have wide access to Golden Lion's facilities, and I might be able to hear something important."
"Well, they aren't wrong." Percy looked at the ornate window. "You are Jason Grandhart, correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"You were with my brother in the Horror Realm mission." Percy glanced at Jason, and after not seeing any reaction, he continued. "The sole survivors."
Jason didn't speak as he watched Percy's facial expressions. He tried to understand what he was thinking, but it was hard. Percy hid his emotions well and sometimes feigned them.
Percy's lips curled slightly as the barefooted man stayed silent. Then he asked. "What is the reason for coming here?"
"I need a place to stay. If I go to any other inn, I will be attacked again within a day."
"So, you want to stay here..." Percy rubbed his temples. "This place is for Golden Lion members. Mostly core members. You don't bring a lot of value to the table. You are only a cleaner. We can always hire more mercenaries to be our cleaner."
Jason's eyes narrowed, and then he sighed. He didn't want to do this, but it seemed that he had no other choice. He hoped deep in his heart that it would be the correct choice. Without further ado, he pulled his linen shirt's collar down, showing the faded handprint.
Percy frowned before confusion appeared in his eyes. 'Faded handprint... why does this seem familiar? What does it mean... I can't remember.'
He waved his hand and asked. "What is this?"
'He doesn't know?' Jason frowned. 'Or doesn't remember...'
"The Mark of Death."
Percy's expression froze before he turned thoughtful. 'Why is he showing me this? Is he bragging or showing his worth by surviving Death Incarnation's attack? The ones who have survived Death Incarnations are rare, but not unheard of...'
He then said, after a long look at Jason. "So, you are a dead man walking. That still doesn't prove your worth."
Out of nowhere, Jason smiled!
Percy's eyes widened as he had a sudden realization.
Jason spread his arms wide and smirked. "Yes, I am still alive. You know what that means."
"You were attacked by False God who is stuck in a realm..." Percy murmured before exclaiming. "Mach Island! You were attacked there!"
"Exactly." Jason nodded. "Mach Island's False God is Death Incarnation and I am proof that he exists!"
'The Poet was telling the truth.' Percy's mind began racing. 'This should be enough proof to convince the new guild masters. Even if they don't fully trust it, they can't start a war without risking losing everything. This might just stop the war and calm them down.'
His deep sigh resounded in the room as he suddenly spoke. "Very well, you have convinced me. However, you must come with me to a meeting."
"Meeting?" Jason frowned.
"Tero!" Percy shouted, and the door was immediately slammed open, revealing the droopy-eyed Tero. "Send messengers. I want to meet at 3 p.m. today with every guild present!"
Tero looked shocked before he quickly nodded and ran to the nearest messenger.
'I see... he tries to stop the incoming guild war using this...' Jason looked at the faded handprint with a frown.
"We have a few hours before the meeting. Now, tell me about the one who attacked you. I might know who he is." Percy showed a slight smile. His mind had run non-stop, and he came to a decision. It was better to befriend Jason for the time being; he might prove to be useful.
Jason sighed and told him everything he knew. The strange knives were able to permanently lock the door, and the person was System Veteran rank. If he was System Master, Jason doubted he would've been able to escape.
Percy frowned as he rubbed his temples. "I am sorry, but I don't know anyone like that. There are simply too many System Veterans and it might be a new one who just recently ranked up."
'Unfortunate.' Jason sighed.
"Go to the lady at the front desk and tell her Percy sent you for a room. You will receive new garments." Percy then waved his hand, signaling that the meeting was over.
Jason softly nodded, left the room, went to the lounge, and spoke with the lady at the front desk. Shortly later, he was taken to his private room, which was smaller than his inn room but much cozier. There were new clothes, a coat, and shoes on the chair. Each had a symbol of the Golden Lion.
'I didn't want to take any part in the guild war, yet I might be the one that stops it. How ironic.' Jason lampooned and plopped down on the bed, planning to take a few hour nap.
...
42 Crowned Crow Street, inside Metal Paladins' headquarters.
"Everlasting Song is keeping an eye on this area." A round-eyed man wearing heavy metal armor tapped a place on the map with his finger. "We could start the attack from here and surround Everlasting Song by taking over nearby buildings. We put archers on those roofs, then take everyone down through the windows."
He was the new guild master of Metal Paladins, Rook Crossword, and Ryan's older brother.
"Time is of the essence." A red-haired man spoke with a frown. "We need to take every building in a span of three minutes. Perhaps we should use poison potions before attacking to weaken them."
He was the new guild master of the Scarlet Arrow, Red Furyth.
"Hmph, poison." Rook shook his head and flexed his muscles. "We, the Metal Paladins, like to get our hands dirty! We don't use such cheap tricks."
"You will get your hands dirty..." Red spoke coldly and with a tone of mockery. "Once we have used poison, you may attack. They will be able to fight, but their senses are weakened."
"Tch." Rook hated such tactics, but using them against people who murdered his brother made him accept them. "Fine."
Slam!
The door slammed open, revealing a sweaty-looking man. "Guild masters! Percy, the guild master of Golden Lion, asked for a meeting!"
"Heh." Red chuckled and looked at the map. "This is their last attempt to stop the war. However, we don't stop our justice against those tyrants. Even if they threaten us, we won't back down!"
"We will be there." Rook said to his guild member, who left to deliver the message back to Golden Lion's messenger.
...
8 Markaret Street, inside War Armament.
In the basement, where it was dark and there were steel walls all around, North got down on her knees in front of an altar. Behind her, a dozen subordinates followed her motions. After sitting straight, they lowered their bodies and touched the floor with their foreheads. They did that thirteen times.
"May you rest in eternal peace in the kingdom of the Goddess." North tapped her chest thirteen times, drawing a sign of heart with wings. It was sign of Goddess of Angels. She was said to be the person who carries people to paradise.
After the ceremony was over, the door slowly opened, and one of her loyal members came over and whispered in her ear.
"I see. I understand." North nodded gently and prayed before turning to her subordinates. "Prepare for the war. If it starts, we will be the first to attack. In the name of War Armament, we shall not lose."
"War Armament! We are the weapons of war!" Her subordinates chanted in unison.
...
12 Tyrant Street, inside Blood, Iron, and Fire.
Knock, knock.
A iron-masked man knocked on the steel door with sign of respect. He waited before he heard that he was allowed to enter. He opened the door with a pounding heartbeat and saw a cloaked man facing a wall. On the table were an iron mask and a mirror.
The iron-masked man gulped and said. "Sir, Percy had asked for a meeting. Shall we go?"
"Yes..." Era Dark Sideray spoke while hiding his face. He slowly grabbed his iron mask and put it on. After doing so, he didn't speak another word.
...
55 Regret's Line, inside Everlasting Song.
The beautiful and handsome members of Everlasting Song stood in the hallway while worryingly looking in the direction of a closed door. They hadn't heard from their guild master since they returned from Mach Island.
"Is the guild master still there?" A short, green-haired man walked the stairs. He saw others nodding and cocked his head in the direction of the Golden Lion messenger, who waited in the lounge. "I have a message for the guild master. I have to meet him."
The Vice Guild master nodded and went to the closed door. He knocked with his knuckles and whispered at the door. Soon after, he received a word.
The Vice Guild master waved towards the green-haired man. "You may enter."
The green-haired man nodded, opened the door, and stepped inside. There, he saw a dark room with a lonely silhouette sitting in front of closed curtains.
"Guild master." The green-haired man gulped. "Percy asked for a meeting. He also sent a separate message for you... saying that he now knows that you didn't lie and has proof of it..."
The Poet's lifted his chin in surprise. He looked at the closed curtains and spoke hesitantly. "Should I go?"
The green-haired man frowned. 'Did he ask from me?'
The Poet listened to the silent voices and then turned to the green-haired man, showing his exhausted, skinny face. "I will go there..."
...
In an unknown location.
"Oh, a meeting?" Nicholas sat cross-legged on a table. Beside him was a member of the Metal Paladins and the Scarlet Arrow. They looked like they were deep in sleep as they laid on top of tables. The book in Nicholas' hand was wide open, and it was glowing purple.
"Yes, sir." A member of Dream Robbers nodded.
"Very well, I will be there." Nicholas smirked slightly as he turned to the sleeping figures beside him. "Huh, I was close to stealing their dreams about their upcoming plan. Well, I am sure I can retrieve them before the war begins."