Ackster's anxious and solemn expression made Wilma chuckle a little.
"There is no need to think about it too much right now. You are still not strong enough to perform any tasks that we cannot ask of other explorers. Don't worry. The only thing you need to do now is grow stronger with the help of the Guild. And once you've reached a high enough rank, you'll have to start making up for the help the Guild will give you."
Ackster nodded. Although it seemed like some kind of scam that the Guild would help him become strong on a verbal promise that he would carry out their secret orders in the future, at the moment, that was precisely what he needed.
"Okay. So, for now, business as usual?"
"Yeah. Unless you have something you need or want to become stronger. Don't be afraid to ask. If it's something the Guild can provide, we will."
Ackster was still filled with doubt.
He had never heard of something like this—that the Guild had its own special task force. He had to admit that it made sense since even the Guild would have things they wanted to deal with secretly.
But even if he understood that it was reasonable for the Guild to have their own special task force, he had a hard time accepting the fact that Wilma wanted to recruit him so strongly. She was even willing to lend him the Guild's unreserved help, all because they might ask things of him in the future when he became strong enough.
It was too good to be true. Ackster had gotten the greatest help he could possibly get, right when he needed it. And all he had to do in exchange was carry out orders on the Guild's behalf in the future once he was already strong.
"Am I really worth that kind of investment? Do you have any guarantees to secure me and my help in the future? What if I get all the help I need and then take off? Also, why would the Guild be willing to go this far just to get more S-ranks?"
Since he was potentially making a choice that would change his entire future, Ackster would have to clear up as many doubts and concerns as possible. He probably wouldn't be able to get a perfect answer to everything if what Wilma was talking about was true, but he had to try.
Wilma hesitated a little.
"We are approaching things I won't be able to tell you, even to try and persuade you, just so you know."
"Okay."
Wilma continued after Ackster showed he understood that he might not get satisfactory answers.
"The burtally short answer is that the Guild won't lose much even if we lose you. At this level, the Guild can afford to expend its resources, even if you don't live up to expectations. The potential gains and benefits, even if only one in ten or twenty potential candidates get anywhere, far outweigh the losses if the rest fall off."
"So, I have everything to gain, and you have next to nothing to lose?"
"That's about it. Of course, we will have to monitor you a little and check how you're proceeding before just handing out the good stuff, but yeah. With how powerful the Adventurer's Guild really is, low- and medium-ranked adventurers and the supplies they need are something that won't even put a dent in its finances."
"Hmm…."
To Ackster, it was still too good to be true. But he also couldn't really refute Wilma's statement. The Guild was so far above him that the resources needed to help him climb up through the ranks even faster were something the Guild couldn't even be bothered about. It was a disparaging feeling to be so weak. But if Wilma were honest right now and the Guild would be backing him, he could almost feel some confidence in becoming strong enough and assembling people capable of helping him stop The Hero.
Also, at this point, it would be too late to back away.
The Adventurer's Guild already knew he wasn't who he said he was, and Wilma had told him a lot of confidential information. Even if they didn't openly kill him, nothing was stopping them from ensuring his lips didn't flap more than they should.
He had put half his foot in out of necessity since he needed to know what Wilma wanted. And that had been enough. It was too late to take it back. Ackster's only option was to continue forward and embrace this sudden windfall, no matter how suspicious the timing was.
Even if he asked, he wouldn't get an answer other than what Wilma had already said. She had coincidentally noticed him and ran a background check, which confirmed that he was suspicious. And then he also showed signs of being in the middle of rapid growth.
In order not to miss out on a precious seedling like that, Wilma acted quickly and recruited him, even if it meant revealing part of her intentions.
Ackster wouldn't get more information about that even if he asked since it was an answer without obvious flaws. However, it was only a foolproof answer to Ackster's worries if he ignored the fact that it had begun with a coincidence.
He had coincidentally arrived at Ilto and the Guild's branch office during the hours Wilma worked. He didn't even know if she worked every day, but still. If he hadn't met Wilma then, he wouldn't have ended up in this park late at night with the Guild offering to sponsor him.
However, even if Ackster brought this up with Wilma, she would just say that it was a coincidence.
No matter how much Ackster doubted it, he had been lucky.
Either he had actually been lucky or he hadn't. Either way, he was in this situation now, and the only thing left for him to do was agree.
He didn't like the feeling of being manipulated, since that's what it felt like when he analyzed what had happened when he arrived at Ilto. Even the guards hadn't bothered him too much. When it had happened, he had chalked it up to them being nice people, but what if it was all prearranged?
Maybe even the old man on the cart could have intentionally guided him to Ilto.
'Holy fuck, I'm paranoid.'
Ackster realized the depths of his paranoia. However, he couldn't disregard it. He was onto something. He didn't know what, but he was. What he did know was that the forces in play, should he be right, were not something he couldn't even see the tip of.
Ackster controlled his expression and forced his insights out of his mind; regardless of whether they were true or figments of his imagination, there was nothing he could do about or with them at the moment.
"Alright, Wilma. In that case, I would like to start getting some skills."