After gathering enough information from the palace library, Raven decided to take his first step in conquering Veloria by gaining control of the Adventurers' Guild. This guild was the largest and most influential in the entire kingdom, and with its power, Raven could ensure that no mission or piece of information escaped his scrutiny.
However, Raven knew that appearing as a prince directly at the Adventurers' Guild would raise too many suspicions. Therefore, he decided to disguise himself, taking on a new identity completely different from his true self.
In his room, Raven donned a full suit of armor made of gleaming black steel, with a helmet that covered his entire face. Only a pair of sharp eyes were visible through the small slit in the helmet. In this disguise, he would become an unknown new adventurer, and he decided to portray a personality opposite to his true cold and calculating nature.
Raven looked at his reflection in the mirror, checking that all the details were in place. The armor not only concealed his identity but also provided exceptional protection in battle. He smiled faintly behind the helmet, knowing that no one would suspect that the humorous and cheerful adventurer was actually the prince of Veloria.
"Seraphina," Raven called as he walked out of his room. Seraphina quickly approached, her face full of attention.
"Yes, Your Highness?" she asked, awaiting orders.
Raven looked at her for a moment before speaking. "I'm going to the Adventurers' Guild to begin our infiltration. Meanwhile, I want you to go to the Arcana Magic Guild. You know them better than anyone else in this palace. Make sure they remain under your control. Don't let anyone oppose us."
Seraphina nodded firmly. "Of course, Your Highness. I will ensure that the Arcana Magic Guild remains loyal to you."
Raven nodded back. "Good. I'm counting on you."
After giving his orders, Raven set off toward the Adventurers' Guild in Veloria. The city streets were still busy with morning activity, but no one paid attention to the man in black armor. In his disguise, Raven felt free from the scrutiny and expectations that usually accompanied him as a prince.
When he arrived at the Adventurers' Guild, Raven paused to take in the large building before him. The Adventurers' Guild of Veloria was a massive structure with sturdy stone walls, adorned with colorful banners displaying the emblems of various adventurer groups. The heavy wooden doors were wide open, inviting anyone brave enough to enter the world of adventure and dangerous missions.
Raven took a deep breath before stepping inside. Inside the guild, the atmosphere was lively with adventurers from all walks of life. Some were negotiating missions, while others sat at wooden tables, drinking and joking with their friends. The room was filled with the sounds of laughter, serious conversations, and clinking glasses.
As Raven stepped inside, a few people turned to look at him, intrigued by his striking black armor. However, they quickly returned to their own business, assuming he was just another adventurer looking for fortune.
Raven walked toward the registration desk in the corner of the room, where an old man with a thick mustache and gray hair sat behind the desk, scribbling something in a large ledger. The man looked up as Raven approached, his eyes filled with curiosity.
"Ah, a new adventurer, eh?" the man said in a raspy voice. "Your name and purpose, lad?"
Raven paused for a moment, thinking of a suitable alias for his new persona. Then he responded in a cheerful voice.
"My name is... hmm, just call me Ironclad! I'm here to become the greatest adventurer in Veloria! Oh, and maybe to enjoy a few free drinks here, who knows, right?" he replied.
The old man chuckled, apparently amused by Raven's unusual humorous demeanor. "Alright, Ironclad, you've got a good sense of humor. You'll fit in just fine here!" he said as he wrote the name in the ledger in front of him. "What can I do for you? Are you here to sign up for a mission, or just to show off your shiny armor?"
Raven, trying to maintain his new character, replied, "Well, I definitely want to take on a mission! I heard there are lots of evil monsters that need a good beating, and I'm here with plenty of enthusiasm to give them a whack!" he said with an enthusiastic tone, even mimicking a punching motion with his hand.
The old man grinned widely, but before he could speak, a young woman with long, wavy platinum hair descended from the upper floor of the guild. The woman wore combat attire that clung to her body, highlighting her beautiful curves. The light armor she wore only protected the vital areas, leaving much of her smooth skin exposed. Her bright blue eyes were sharp.
"Hold on a second, old man," the woman said as she approached the registration desk, her voice soft. "You said he's a new adventurer, right? Are you really going to let him go goblin hunting alone?" She then turned to Raven with a sweet smile, examining his black armor.
Raven, still in character as Ironclad, laughed cheerfully. "Haha, I can take care of myself, Miss! Goblins are just a small challenge for a man with armor this heavy!" He patted his armor proudly.
The woman raised an eyebrow, looking slightly skeptical but entertained by Ironclad's enthusiasm. "Confident, aren't you? But honestly, I'm worried you don't know what you're getting into. How about I come along with you? Two heads are better than one, and besides, I have no other plans today," she said in a teasing tone.
The old man at the registration desk laughed heartily. "Well then, it's decided! Ironclad, this is Sylvia, one of our best adventurers. She's known for her exceptional combat skills and... well, she also has unmatched charm." The old man winked at Raven before continuing. "I'm sure you two will make a great team!"
Raven pretended to think hard, even scratching his helmet as if pondering a big decision. "Hmm, sounds like a good idea! If you don't mind, Sylvia, I'd be delighted to adventure with you!" He then extended his hand, offering it in an exaggerated manner.
Sylvia smiled and accepted Raven's hand. "Gladly, Ironclad. Let's see if you can handle a group of goblins," she said playfully.
With a mission in hand and Sylvia as his companion, Raven felt that his disguise was growing stronger. He knew that by acting this way, no one would suspect that he was actually the prince of Veloria infiltrating the Adventurers' Guild. In fact, he was enjoying playing this role, a role that gave him a sense of freedom he had never felt before.
As the two of them began to leave the guild and walk toward the nearby village where goblins had been reported harassing farmers, Raven decided to tease Sylvia a bit, reinforcing the cheerful character he was portraying.
"So, Sylvia," Raven said in a cheerful tone while glancing at the light armor Sylvia was wearing, "I can't help but wonder... how does such exposed armor protect you in battle? Or do you defend yourself with... um, those big breasts of yours?" Raven winked behind his helmet, laughing softly after saying this.
Sylvia turned to Raven with a raised eyebrow, then burst into laughter. "Oh, Ironclad, you really are a funny guy! You know, these big breasts might not stop swords or arrows, but they can certainly distract my enemies, making them drop their guard," Sylvia replied in a teasing tone, shrugging slightly to emphasize her curves.
Raven pretended to nod seriously. "Ah, a smart strategy! I have a lot to learn from you, Sylvia. Maybe next time I should try the same tactic... although I doubt this armor will highlight 'assets' like yours," he said playfully.
Sylvia laughed even harder, clearly amused by the conversation. "You know, Ironclad, if you keep talking like this, I might think you're more interested in flirting than hunting goblins!"
Raven feigned shock. "Flirting? Me? Of course not! I'm just trying to make sure my adventuring partner is safe on the battlefield. And, well, if that means we have to add a little humor along the way, I suppose that's a price worth paying."
They both laughed together, creating a light and enjoyable atmosphere as they continued their journey. Raven realized that his humorous demeanor had successfully built trust and rapport with Sylvia, which in turn would make it easier for him to control the Adventurers' Guild in the future.
After a while, they arrived at the village where the goblins had been causing trouble. Goblin footprints were clearly visible on the ground, leading into the nearby forest. Sylvia quickly shifted into serious mode, leading the way into the forest with her sword at the ready, while Raven followed behind, maintaining his cheerful character but fully alert.
As they approached a group of goblins gathered around a campfire, Sylvia signaled Raven to stop.
"Let's see how well you can perform, Ironclad," Sylvia whispered with a teasing smile.
Raven playfully raised his hands dramatically. "Let me take the lead, Sylvia! These goblins have no idea who they're dealing with!" With a confident demeanor, Raven stepped forward, intentionally making noise with his heavy armor to draw the goblins' attention.
The goblins turned in surprise, unable to believe someone would approach them so cheerfully and confidently. However, before they could react, Raven had already drawn his sword and attacked with incredible speed.
Despite his cheerful demeanor, Raven showed no mercy. Every slash of his sword was precise, easily cutting down the goblins. They stood no chance against his skill, and in a short time, the group of goblins lay lifeless on the ground.
Sylvia, who had been ready to assist, could only watch in admiration. "Wow, Ironclad, you really know how to handle yourself! You almost made it so I didn't need to do anything!" she said with a smile, though her eyes showed genuine admiration.
Raven laughed cheerfully as he cleaned his sword. "Haha, I just got lucky today, Sylvia! Maybe next time, you'll have to save me!"
After ensuring that all the goblins had been defeated, the two of them returned to the village and reported their success to the grateful farmers. Raven realized that this mission had given him the opportunity to prove himself to Sylvia and the Adventurers' Guild. In doing so, he had laid the foundation for controlling them from within.
When they returned to the Adventurers' Guild, Sylvia proudly recounted how Ironclad had easily handled the goblins. Other adventurers listened in awe, and some even offered to buy Raven a drink.
The old man at the registration desk greeted them with a broad smile. "You two make a great team! Ironclad, you definitely have a bright future in this guild!" he said with a proud tone.
Raven, in his character as Ironclad, laughed and accepted the drink offers from the other adventurers. "Thank you, my friends! It's all thanks to my shiny armor and, of course, Sylvia's help!" he said cheerfully, even giving Sylvia an enthusiastic pat on the back.
Sylvia smiled, enjoying the attention they were getting. "You really are a fun adventurer, Ironclad. I'm glad I got to adventure with you today," she said with a wink.
That night, when Raven returned to his room in the palace, he opened his system window to check his status. He saw that his evolution points had increased from the battle and decided to save them for the right moment. He also received a report from Seraphina, who had begun her work at the Arcana Magic Guild, ensuring that everything was going according to plan.