Second World

”Letʼs meet up with the others first before we go to the Guilds Association to register our guild,” Jeanny said. Guilds Association was another neutral faction that dealt with most everything pertaining to guilds. It is where a newly formed guild go when they wanted to establish their guilds formally in this world. Also, the place where they could find postings about general guild quests. There were also counters inside that sold items that were useful only to a guild.

”Do you know where this Guilds Association is located?” Jack asked.

”I do,” Jeanny said. ”But we go to Ravenʼs Den first, thatʼs where everyone else is waiting.”

The eight of them, no, nine, as Peniel did not bother to hide anymore, went in the direction of the capitalʼs number one tavern. Peniel nested lazily on Jackʼs head as they walked.

”Canʼt you fly on your own?” Jack protested.

”Tee-hee, it felt cozier this way,” she replied.

On their way, the eight of them did regular inspect on other players they passed by, and they felt extremely good about themselves. The reason was that most of the mass in the capital was still at level 24, with a minority being at level 25 or 23. Their group, on the other hand, were all at level 29 with the exception of Jack at level 28. Most of the mass was unaware of their groupʼs level as they could not see Jackʼs groupʼs levels, but there are several who had high level Inspect who managed to scan them, these peopleʼs eyes turned wide when their Inspect came through.

Bowler was especially pleased about all this. He even took the initiative to walk in the front with his chin lifted high, fully exhibiting his pride. Everyone was stupefied by his act, the fellow could be said as the least skilled amongst those who had survived the Temple of Divine Squallʼs dungeon. Jack even wondered how the heck he had managed to survive while the others failed. His luck might be as potent as Jackʼs.

When they entered Ravenʼs Den, they met with all the ones that had joined them in the expedition, added with some new faces who were Jeannyʼs other friends and The Manʼs remaining underlings.

”Whatʼs that on your head?” Sweet Talk who was now a warrior, asked.

”Oh, how rude! It should be a who instead of a what,” Peniel complained.

”It talks!” Sweet Talk said with a gasp.

”Damn right I talk, miss!” Peniel flew down from Jackʼs head and approached Sweet Talk. ”My name is Peniel. You better make sure to remember that. This goes for all of you as well!”

All those apart from Jackʼs group of eight were in fascination as they stared at the little fairy and her bossy attitude.

”Yes, anyone who did not give Peniel the respect she deserves will have to face me!” John announced.

Jack turned to him and said, ”stop sucking up to her. She will not give you any more knowledge just because of that.”

Everyone started to crowd around the little fairy and started to make conversation with her. Jeanny made a count on those presents in the meantime. They numbered fifty-four people.

”We are more than enough to fulfill the minimum member qualification,” Jeanny said with a smile.

”All right, no point to delay then. Letʼs head to the Guilds Association,” Jack suggested.

Before Jeanny could reply, someone came over. ”Sister Jeanny! I was worried sick about you. Are you all right? Did that Storm Wind bully you?”

Jack had known the owner of that annoying voice before he turned to the guy. Swellgoing was bombarding Jeanny with questions and displays of concern.

”As one of the leaders of the coming guild, can I employ my executive power to reject an applicant?” Jack asked Jeanny.

Swellgoing who heard it, shot back fiercely, ”who would want to join a guild you lead? If not for sister Jeanny here, no one would have been interested!” Then he turned to Jeanny and said, ”sister Jeanny, why do you even want to form a guild with this questionable character? If you want to be in a guild, there are plenty of top guilds that we can try to apply to. I have many friends in those guilds and they will be more than willing to put in good words for me to their top brass. Do not get cheated by someone with nefarious intention.”

Jack said to Jeanny, ”you see? He has no interest to join. Letʼs just ditch him and be on our way.”

Jeanny gave Swellgoing a serious look and asked, ”I am going to start our own guild with them. This matter is a done deal. Do you want to follow me or not?”

”If sister Jeanny is in, of course, I wonʼt be anywhere else. You can count on me!” Swellgoing replied.

Jack rolled his eyes at him and said, ”tsk, the guild is not even formed and already a thorn inside.”

”You are the thorn!” Swellgoing retorted.

”Do you want me to kick your ass again?” Jack threatened.

”Try it! This is a safe zone, I will place a report to the authority and have you arrested!”

”Dream on! I am a Baron now, a small assault like that wonʼt be considered as an offense,” Jack said with a ridiculing tone as he showed off his Nobility Faction Badge.

”Could you two stop acting like ten-year-old kids?” Jeanny scolded the two. ”Now be quiet and follow! I donʼt want a word from the two of you anymore!”

Everyone started walking out of the tavern following Jeanny. Jack and Swellgoing didnʼt say anything more to each other after the scolding, but Jack nudged at Swellgoing when he passed by, causing him to almost double over. He stared at Jack in anger, but Jack ignored it as he dared him to push back. Swellgoing didnʼt take the bait as he knew Jackʼs strength stat was way over his.

Trinity Dawn who saw the two could only shake her head. Maybe she should rethink the decision of joining this guild? She thought.

The building of the Guilds Association had a unique design with its center part going up high, like a sword that pierced the sky. Its total size appeared to be even larger than the Adventurers and Hunters Association which Jack considered was a pretty massive building complex already.

When they entered. There were many players on the move around the hall. All of them had guild tags on their names, Crowd of Sins, White Scarfs, Death Associates, and the likes. Jeanny went and asked the receptionist about where to register for a guild and its process while the rest waited by the side.

”Storm Wind?” Jack heard someone calling him. He turned and saw Bluedaze and Dashrunner from White Scarfs.

”Hey! The beauty and the shortie from White Scarfs, how you doing?” Jack greeted.

”Who the hell do you call a shortie?” Dashrunner complained.

”Just joking,” Jack chuckled. ”How goes your guild? How is Silverwing? Hope everything is fine.”

”Everything just going okay,” Bluedaze replied.

”Really? You didnʼt get any problem from the coalition?” Jack asked.

”They have been quiet for a while already, ever since your fight that time. So things have actually been peaceful around here. You donʼt know this? Have you been away? Rumors said that someone saw you leaving with that army three weeks ago. Was that true? Our leader had tried to message you but he said you didnʼt give him a clear answer.”

Silverwing did send him several messages, but Jack simply replied to him that he was on a quest outside of town. ”As a matter of fact, yes, I was indeed with that army,” Jack replied.

”Really? Where had you gone to? The news was that the army went rather far away from the capital. Did you visit another city? How was it?”

”Maybe we can talk about it another time. About the coalition, it was a bit odd. Shouldnʼt have taken them so long to recover, right? Why are there no movements?”

”Not sure. Words are they are focusing their effort elsewhere. Rumors are they have a pretty big guild quest that required long and complete attention. Perhaps after their loss last time, they could no longer divert their attentions.”

Jack gave the matter a thought. Should he change into Unrivalled Arcaner to gather some intelligence? But he dismissed it, he had many other things to do at the moment. No time to involve himself with the coalition. As long as they didnʼt cause him trouble, he would leave them alone as well. Everyone was entitled to doing quests. If they were focusing on their quests without causing a problem to others, then to Jack, that was the right way of gaming.

”How about we go to our base and have a talk?” Bluedaze offered. ”Our leader will be eager to have a chat with you.”

”You just want to find out about the information of the outside world, right?” Jack asked. ”But sorry. Iʼm truly busy right now.”

”Busy? Come to think of it. Why are you here? Donʼt tell me…”

”Thatʼs right! We are here to register a guild!” Jack declared with a wide grin.

😉