Amon found himself standing in a vast room, adorned with exquisite decorations consisting of thousands of gems and jewels.
A grand curtain concealed a person seated on a throne, none other than the princess of the Lunasol Empire. This was a momentous occasion, as it marked her first public appearance, and the guildmaster of the top-ranking guild would have the privilege of conversing with her. The significance of this event was amplified by the fact that she was the princess of the most powerful country on the continent.
The guild ranking event was held in the capital of Solara is because the country was completely neutral. Because of this fact it was save for the princess to be there.
A man was reading aloud from a scroll, announcing the guild rankings.
"The third place goes to Ravenclaw!" The scroll was presented to a woman, the guildmaster of Ravenclaw, who was dressed in black and concealed her face.
"The second place goes to Holymantl!" The guildmaster of Holymantl received a single letter in his hand, expressing his delight. He briefly glanced at the curtain and returned to his guild.
"And the first place goes to Spellbander!" The man's words resonated throughout the room. Silence fell upon everyone, and Amon, began to move. Soon, he stood a mere 15 meters away from the curtains, and before long, a young woman emerged. She possessed crimson red hair and eyes that matched her striking hair color, yet her eyes had a where the eyes of a cat.
"Congratulations, Sir Amon, on achieving first place," the woman exclaimed, extending her arms wide open, as if anticipating a hug. Amon promptly bowed, his knee touching the floor.
"The honor is mine, my lady. Might I have the pleasure of knowing your name?" Amon's words were filled with respect and politeness.
"Let us dispense with formalities and speak comfortably, as if we were old friends. My name is Ruby," the princess declared, shedding her noble demeanor and assuming the mannerisms of a typical 20-year-old woman meeting a friend.
"Well, I detest those solemn ceremonies where everyone sticks a stick up their ass just to please someone who wields excessive power," Amon remarked in an indifferent tone, waving his hand dismissively as if swatting away a fly.
"Hahaha, you're the first person to voice that sentiment. I like you. You have balls, which is a rare quality," the princess chuckled, in high spirits. Throughout her life, everyone had spoken to her with utmost seriousness, making this lighthearted change a delightful experience.
"I've familiarized myself with your background. You're married, correct? You're quite young. Are you certain it was the right decision?" In the princess's world, marriage was often a means to gain more power. Genuine love matches among nobility were exceptionally rare. She was really interested in his answer after all she was still a young woman interested in love affairs.
"You know, I see it this way: some people become self-employed at 20 and retire at 30. Others don't marry until they're 60, and then it's solely for love. Some get married during college and later regret it." Amon's words puzzled Ruby; they seemed as though they were pearls of wisdom shared by a sage.
"I've endured much suffering in my life, and I know that death could come at any moment. That's why I don't waste time pondering whether my decisions were right or wrong. I only know one thing: if it was the right decision, then it was, and if it wasn't, then so be it," Amon expressed sincerely. His words held truth, reflecting his genuine feelings and thoughts, which Roxanne admired.
"Be careful, Amon. Utter words like that in front of a young woman like me, and I might just fall for you," the princess said, sporting a seductive smile. She was intrigued by what was to come. After all, until now, no man had ever rejected her, and her self-confidence was unmatched.
"Apologies, but I must decline. If you seek love, find a lover. I will not betray my wife, even if you were to torture me. So, kindly go away," Amon replied firmly and succinctly.
Upon hearing this, the princess couldn't believe her ears. Although this wasn't a declaration of love, it still stung to be rejected in such a manner.
"WAIT, WHAT? Are you seriously not interested in me? Look, I'm beautiful, kind, and, hello, I'm a princess," she exclaimed, taken aback. Yes, it was a jest, but being rejected in such a way hurt, nonetheless.
"Firstly, my wife is the most beautiful woman in the world. Secondly, I doubt you possess even an ounce of the kindness she embodies. And lastly, she is my queen. So, go find yourself a lover if you're feeling lonely," Amon's explanation was swift and ruthless, particularly for a young woman like Ruby.
Roxanne's face flushed upon hearing everything, but she managed to maintain her composure.
"Watch your mouth, you asshole! How dare you treat our princess in such a manner? And I highly doubt that your ugly whore is as beautiful as you claim," a guard shouted, only to soon tremble in fear.
"What did you say? Repeat that!" Amon's expression darkened, emanating an immense aura of power. The guard crumbled under the weight of the pressure, immediately falling to the ground, his forehead pressed against the floor.
"My dear princess, may I take care of this wretch? I'm certain you have no need for a weakling like him," Amon's intentions were clear. Just as Roxanne would go to great lengths for him, he would gladly offer this man's head to his wife.
"Unfortunately, I cannot grant your request. However, I have something else to offer," the princess gestured with her hand, summoning a butler to appear before Amon. The butler handed him a large parchment scroll.
"This is quite intriguing. Does it mean you have a quest you wish to assign to my guild?" Amon inquired, observing the beautifully calligraphed letters on the scroll, indicating that he would receive a quest along with special status rights in the Lunasol Empire.
"Not just yet. It's something for the future. It's advantageous to have the highest-ranked guild on the entire continent as an ally. But, of course, you'll provide me with a discount, won't you?" The princess wore an innocent expression, but her question carried a serious undertone.
"Unfortunately, I must disappoint you. Someone like you will be charged a higher fee," once again, Amon made a statement that silenced the entire hall. Roxanne and Personia couldn't help but smile.
"It's our guild's system. Many people lack the means to afford a guild's services, particularly those of a high-ranking guild," Amon explained, his expression akin to that of a teacher imparting an important life lesson. Ruby, on the other hand, wore the expression of a diligent student eager to absorb her teacher's wisdom.
"We charge higher fees from those who can afford it and lower fees from those who cannot, ensuring our financial stability while providing everyone with access to a guild's assistance." Amon devised this system based on his understanding of the prevalent poverty on the planet.