Chapter 26 - Making an Influence Within the Guild

After successfully completing the mission against the Terradons and gaining the trust of the guild members, Raven and Sylvia enjoyed their new status as full members of the guild. That night, a small celebration was held in the main guild hall to honor their success, and the atmosphere within the guild was filled with laughter and conversation.Raven sat in a corner of the room, observing the guild members enjoying the celebration. Although he seemed calm on the outside, his mind was busy planning his next steps. He knew that the trust he had just gained was only the beginning. To fully control this guild, he had to go further, delving deeper into the guild's power structure.Elara, who had become more open to Raven and Sylvia, approached with two glasses of beer in her hand. "You seem calm in the middle of this celebration, Ironclad. Don't you feel worthy of enjoying the victory?"Raven accepted the glass offered by Elara with a thin smile. "I prefer to think about the next step. This victory is just the beginning of what we can achieve together."Elara sat down in a chair next to Raven, sipping her beer while staring at the softly burning fire in the fireplace. "You're right. This northern region is full of challenges, and small victories like this only remind us that there's more to be done."Raven took this opportunity to delve deeper into Elara's ambitions and priorities. "What is the main goal of this guild in the northern region? I'm sure you have a grand plan to strengthen your power here."Elara sighed, weighing her words before answering. "Our main goal is to ensure stability in this region. There are too many threats from monsters and bandit groups that make this region difficult to develop. We want to build a strong foundation, maybe one day even form an alliance with other kingdoms to maintain security."Raven nodded, showing sincere support. "That's a noble goal. But to achieve that, we need more than just physical strength. We need a strong strategy, intelligence, and the ability to manipulate situations to our advantage."Elara turned, looking at Raven with deeper curiosity. "You speak like someone who has experience in that. What do you suggest, Ironclad?"Raven looked at Elara seriously, realizing that this was an opportunity to deepen his influence. "I've learned that raw power alone is not enough. We need to plant our influence in every layer of society in this region among the adventurers, merchants, or even the local nobles. That way, we can control more than just this guild."Elara paused, pondering Raven's words. "What are you suggesting?""Wider alliances," Raven said, calmly voicing his plan. "We should seek allies in places we might not have considered before. Building a strong network of information and ensuring that every decision made by anyone in this region is made with our interests in mind."Elara nodded slowly, seemingly interested in the idea. "You talk like someone who could be more than just an adventurer here. What do you really want, Ironclad?"Raven smiled thinly. "I want to see this guild grow into an unmatched force across this entire continent. And if that means I have to play a bigger role, then I'm ready to do it."Elara looked at Raven for a moment, then nodded. "We can start planning that. But remember, this is a difficult region, and not everyone will agree with more... subtle methods."Raven nodded in agreement. "I know, and I'll make sure that every step we take is carefully calculated. But I'm sure we can do it."That conversation solidified Raven's position in Elara's eyes. That night, he realized that he had not only won the guild's trust but had also begun to form a stronger alliance with Elara—someone with great influence within the guild.That night passed quickly, and the next morning, Raven began planning his next steps. He knew that to expand his influence, he had to gather more information about the region, especially about the local nobles and the groups operating under the radar."System," Raven whispered to himself, calling up the interface to see the available options.[System]New Quest: Infiltrate and Control the Power Structure in the Northern Region [Reward: 200 Evolution Points, Skill Network] Available Evolution Points: 150Raven read the description of the new quest with keen interest. The Skill Network would be very useful in building the information network he needed to control this region. However, he knew that to complete this quest, he had to act cleverly and not rush.He also considered using the evolution points he had accumulated. With 150 evolution points, he could strengthen himself further, but he decided to wait until there was a more appropriate opportunity to do so.Raven decided to start with small steps. He directed Sylvia to start interacting with other guild members, building relationships and seeking important information that they could use. Sylvia, with her subtle yet powerful charm, was the perfect tool for this job."Start talking to them, find out more about who is influential here and who might be a threat," Raven told Sylvia as they prepared to carry out their task that day.Sylvia nodded, understanding Raven's instructions. "I will, Ironclad. You can count on me."While Sylvia carried out her mission, Raven focused on a broader strategy. He began to plan how they could establish relationships with local nobles and smaller groups around the region. Every piece of information he received from Sylvia would help guide his next steps.Over the next few days, Raven began to see the results of his efforts. Information began to flow from various sources within the guild, giving him insights into the power dynamics of the region. He discovered that there were several nobles who were not entirely satisfied with the current situation, and they could be valuable allies if approached correctly.Elara, who interacted with Raven more frequently, began to see him as a worthy partner. She invited Raven to discuss more often, talking about how they could strengthen the guild's position and expand their influence.One evening, after a long discussion in the guild's meeting room, Elara looked at Raven with curiosity. "You're truly different from other adventurers, Ironclad. I'm starting to see that you could become someone very important in this guild."Raven felt that the time had come to take the next big step. "If you trust me, Elara, I believe we can take this guild to the next level. But to do that, we have to start moving now. There are some groups and individuals in this region who could be our allies, but we have to act quickly before others do."Elara nodded slowly, thinking. "You're right. Let's start tomorrow. But remember, this has to be done carefully. If we rush, everything could fall apart."Raven nodded in agreement. "I know, and I'll make sure that every step we take is carefully calculated."With Elara's support, Raven was now ready to take the next step in his plan. He knew that greater challenges lay ahead, but with each small victory, he was getting closer to his goal of controlling the guild and eventually, the entire northern region.