Victor led Rain out of the shallow chambers of the base, where only minutes ago, he had shown the contents of various missions. As they walked, Victor seemed pleased with Gandolf's reactions. Rain hadn't flinched when the list of targets appeared, including one that detailed the assassination of a ruler who was known for being kind to humans but had a reputation for racism and human supremacy. Rain, hidden behind his disguise, remained impassive, as though the mission didn't concern him at all.
Victor smirked, breaking the silence. "You didn't even bat an eye at that ruler's name. Most men hesitate when they see the kind of targets we go after."
Rain, still playing the part of Gandolf, responded calmly. "I deal in power, not sentiment. If a ruler is marked, then there's a reason for it."
"Exactly." Victor laughed heartily, his voice echoing off the stone walls. "I like you, Gandolf. You've got the mindset of someone who belongs here. Let's move on. I'll show you the real part of our base, where the heart of AHS beats."
He motioned for Rain to follow as they passed through an iron door guarded by two hulking figures. The men standing there weren't human. One had the upper body of a muscular man but the lower body of a snake, a lamia, while the other appeared to be half-orc with tusks protruding from his lower jaw. They nodded in respect as Victor passed.
Beyond the door, the base expanded into a military-like complex. The deeper Rain ventured, the more non-humans he saw. Lamias, harpies, and orcs moved about, all mingling with humans and demi-humans. The sheer diversity was staggering, with beastmen of all kinds, from lizardmen to feline hybrids, some looking almost human, others completely animalistic.
Victor pointed to a group of demi-humans gathered around a table. "That's why Duke Orwin would never accept them. He's righteous, sure, but only towards those who look human enough. You won't see full tiger beastmen or lizardmen roaming the streets under his rule. It's only the half-bloods he tolerates—the ones who look human on the outside. But here, we take everyone who can fight."
Rain glanced around, noting the grim expressions on many of the faces. "So, Orwin isn't exactly your enemy then?"
Victor shook his head. "No, Orwin's only our enemy in that he limits who can live freely. As long as you look human enough, you can roam his streets. That's why we set up base far from the city, deep in the slums. Here, even our more... unique members can walk freely. So, in short: Orwin is a problem for AHS but not a direct enemy. But don't get it twisted. We only have one rule: loyalty to AHS comes before everything else."
Rain nodded, understanding the unspoken threat. "And what about the appraiser? You promised to introduce me to one, there's one here?"
Victor grinned and motioned for Rain to follow. "Come, I'll introduce you to the best appraiser we have. A dwarf, skilled in his craft. He'll be able to handle any artifact you bring to him."
After a thirty-minute walk, they finally arrived at a grand smithy. The heat from the forges was intense, and Rain could hear the clanging of metal as he stepped inside. A stout dwarf greeted them with a wave, his face covered in soot and his arms bulging with muscle.
"Ah, Victor!" the dwarf called out. "What brings you here?"
Victor slapped the dwarf on the back. "I've brought a new ally. This is Gandolf, an Arch Mage. He needs an appraisal."
The dwarf's eyes widened slightly as he looked Rain up and down. "An Arch Mage, eh? It's been a while since I've had the honor. What do you need me to appraise?"
Rain, in his Gandolf persona, pulled out the Unidentified Staff and the Crown of the Fallen Goblin Emperor. "These two items."
The dwarf's eyes immediately locked onto the items, his hands twitching with excitement. "Well, let's have a look then."
Rain warned him, his voice cold. "Try to covet them, and this entire base will become your grave."
Victor raised a hand, laughing nervously. "No need for threats, Gandolf. We respect your power, and believe me, we're not foolish enough to offend an Arch Mage. Besides, you're too valuable to us."
The dwarf nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Don't worry. I'm no thief. I'll give you the truth of what these items are worth."
He took the items into his hands and set to work, muttering incantations as he appraised each piece. The process took nearly half an hour, but when it was done, the dwarf's face was a mixture of awe and disbelief.
[ Crown of the Fallen Goblin Emperor - S Rank ]
When equipped: Gain knowledge of all the magic and combat experiences of Gob'Khan, the 14th Goblin Emperor who reached the 10th magic circle.
Goblins below your tier will instinctively see you as an ally, feeling both fear and respect.
Abilities: Self-Repair, Cleaning, Soul-Bound.
[ Mystic Staff - SS Rank ]
When equipped: Halves the mana cost of all spells and doubles their effectiveness.
Abilities: Self-Repair, Cleaning, +50% Magic Penetration, Perfect Mana Efficiency.
Victor raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "You really found these from a goblin king?"
Rain nodded. "It was from a goblin king who knew how to control chaos magic."
The dwarf piped up, intrigued. "These items are relics from an era 600 years ago. They must've been discovered by a Golden Goblin and offered to the goblin king."
Rain tilted his head. "What's a Golden Goblin?"
The dwarf wiped his brow. "They're a rare type of goblin with an innate ability to find lost treasures. They often uncover artifacts long forgotten."
Rain pondered this for a moment. "And how strong are goblin kings?"
Victor answered this time. "They're not particularly strong in themselves. Goblin kings are more of a commander class. They enhance their allies, boosting morale and leading armies with high effectiveness."
Satisfied with the appraisals, Rain packed his items back into his inventory. Victor then motioned toward a large set of doors. "Come, let me introduce you to the core members of the AHS. You'll want to meet them."
They walked deeper into the base until they arrived at a well-guarded chamber. Victor opened the doors, revealing four figures sitting around a large table. Victor leaned in and whispered, "Two of our core members aren't here. The dwarf you just met is one of them. He's busy with his work. The other is out on a mission with our branch leader."
Rain eyed the group as Victor introduced them.
Core Member 1 - Elara: A lithe, elven woman with sharp features and piercing eyes. She specializes in espionage and reconnaissance, using her 6th-tier magic to infiltrate enemy lines undetected. Her skills are invaluable in gathering information on targets and missions.
Core Member 2 - Tharnak: A towering orc who serves as the group's main strategist. Despite his brutish appearance, he possesses a tactical mind, capable of planning large-scale operations with precision. His rank is 6th tier, but his physical strength is unmatched.
Core Member 3 - Selene: A vampire who handles all internal politics and negotiations. Cold and calculating, Selene ensures that the AHS maintains alliances with other factions. Her charm and persuasive abilities make her a vital asset to the group.
Core Member 4 - Garvin: A beastman with tiger-like features, Garvin oversees the training of new recruits. His combat prowess is legendary, even though he is only a 6th-tier warrior. His strict discipline ensures that all new members are battle-ready.
Victor finished the introductions, smiling. "And you already know me. I'm the talent scout of the group, the weakest one at 5th tier, but my eye for talent has served us well."
The four core members welcomed Gandolf, unaware that beneath the facade, Rain would not hesitate to eliminate them should they ever cross him. For now, their interests aligned, but that could change in an instant.