Chapter 41

“Guildmaster has returned!”

Today, the guildmaster of Scavengers, who had vanished for years, reappeared, exciting all guild members.

Having gone into hiding to avoid bounty hunters, he confidently opened the guild’s base gates showing his seal ring.

“Let me make it clear.”

A low voice slipped from the masked man in the robe.

“I only stopped by to check something. Everyone, continue your work.”

“You’re the same as ever,” sighed an old member, shaking his head.

“Back to your duties, everyone!”

“Yes, Guildmaster!”

Despite the guildmaster’s annoyance, the atmosphere remained positive. After all, the organisation had become a family centred around Jeffrey Whistler.

“He’s alive, see.”

“But why is he hiding his face?”

“Didn’t he change it with transformation drugs after his bounty?”

“That handsome face, really?”

“I heard he’s still handsome.”

Gossip about their returning guildmaster spread.

Among those standing was Cain, the Scavengers’ operations chief.

“Guildmaster.”

“You recognised me immediately from Sistina. Your skills haven’t dulled.”

“Even if others don’t recognise you, I do.”

The guildmaster shrugged at Cain’s words and headed to the underground library.

“Especially after what you did in Dobelton… no ordinary person could move like that.”

Torch flames flickered along the stone walls as they walked.

“Rather than unstoppable arrows striking true every shot, that’s ordinary.”

Arrows? Cain remembered those arrows that never missed.

“Wasn’t that your doing too?”

“Of course not.”

They entered the thick library door with an eerie creak revealing the vast space within.

“I smell daisies. Has the ventilation stopped working?”

“Daisy scent?” Cain frowned, signalling two men to check. Daisy was the indicator scent for gas leaks – critical in their base storing weapons and poisons unknown to the world.

At that moment, as the guildmaster looked around, someone rapidly approached from an open window.

Cheng—

An attack struck at him directly, but he drew a dagger swiftly to defend.

“Protect the guildmaster!”

Cain and a subordinate engaged the masked assailant. Despite his near-superhuman agility, the well-trained Scavengers held him off.

The guildmaster, too, was not idle.

He grabbed a decorative longsword and attacked with overwhelming skill.

“Ugh!”

Failing the assassination, the attacker climbed the wall to flee.

Whoosh—

The guildmaster threw his dagger, striking the assassin’s back, but he kept escaping despite faltering.

“Catch him!”

Scavengers stormed outside to pursue.

“Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine.”

Cain exhaled in relief.

“How did he infiltrate here?”

Their base was at a maze’s centre – impossible to reach for outsiders.

“He had animal-like senses. I smelled Montela herbs on him.”

The guildmaster recalled the man’s superhuman movements.

“…We’ll strengthen defences.”

The guildmaster nodded. He knew many sought his life after years as a wanted man.

“He wasn’t trying to kill me.”

“What?”

“He aimed to injure, not kill – to take me hostage.”

He paused, looking at the window.

“He wanted something from us.”

Scavengers were the continent’s top underground intelligence group. Some rulers paid them huge sums for cooperation; others like the emperor wanted them gone.

They never moved solely for money. Direct deals with nobles were rare – only special people like Katrin Elemoer being exceptions recently.

“Medicine, perhaps.”

Recalling the assassin’s movements, it seemed most likely.

“What’s the current medicine management status?”

“As you ordered, dangerous drugs were discarded, and safe ingredients transferred to Elma Pharmaceuticals. Though someone tried smuggling defective ones – we’re tracking them.”

“So that scum tried feeding aphrodisiac to the young lady…”

The guildmaster’s clenched fist bulged with veins.

Cain flinched and whispered:

“Your identity is secret. If you keep this up, everyone will notice.”

“….”

The guildmaster finally lowered his fist.

“Use the thief as an experiment if caught. Though Prince Etias probably killed him already.”

There would be no mercy for anyone selling drugs to Philios to use on Katrin.

“Understood.”

“The key.”

Cain handed over a key from his pocket.

The guildmaster inserted it into a slot on the library wall, opening his private lab hidden within.

He wasn’t a mage but held vast knowledge of magic and alchemy.

‘The moment she touched it, I felt its power absorbing somewhere.’

The writhing Kyria plant in Duke Elemoer’s greenhouse was searching.

It sought its master’s essence to infuse into its ripening body.

But what puzzled him was that Kyria plants only absorbed the energy of a “hero.”

Interpretations varied, but the most popular theory was:

‘Someone from another world.’

Revolution progress status window

• Military Power: Lacking

• Equipment/Supplies: Lacking

• Comfort: 73%

• Funds: 1290 Den

• Revolution Progress: 77%

‘Military power is lacking, but if I convince Camel Beatrice in the west, it’ll be fine.’

She already planned the meeting day – the upcoming hunting festival.

If his army joined, it would solve the chronic lack of troops.

‘Food supplies are okay if Sistina continues covert support.’

She wondered how the original Etias succeeded in revolution. Supporting him revealed how impossible his feats were.

No wonder he suffered and died soon after becoming emperor, having lost so many forces.

She imagined a status window reading: Comfort 2%, Funds 10 Den, HP barely 2, but revolution progress 99%, and shook her head.

‘Now, what I need to do is…’

Looking at the chilly window:

“Take care of myself first.”

She had finished reorganising business rights from the nobles, Montela’s assets soared, and Elma Pharmaceuticals thrived.

‘Well, it’ll all work out.’

She stretched as Heros’s knock sounded from outside.

“My lady, I brought the invitation.”