B2 Chapter 233: King of the Jungle

Grave-eye watched the team enter the guildhall.

His room was utterly inadequate—who the hell used pine for flooring? Was the owner born in a barn? Unfortunately, it was the only place available on short notice that had a view of the guildhall from its window.

Like every day, they entered shortly after the morning bell—and like every day, he expected he wouldn’t see them leaving until dusk.

It was…unbelievably suspicious. They had to think him a fool.

Having his time wasted like this burned. There were much better uses of his time than sitting by a blasted window in a mouldering room. Running his business. Visiting the ever worsening theatre. Buying vintages. Anything.

The simple cost of renting an apartment next to the guild? Having his hound cart up a selection of his best wines and favoured books? The blasted fools had to be spitting at him on purpose for how much they were costing him.

That is, that’s what he would think if there was any chance of those delvers catching on to his sublime machinations. No, they were doing something there all day. No one spent that much time in the guild, not without good reason.

Throw in the fact that neither he, nor any of his assets, could analyse them? Including their warbeast? It painted a picture, especially because even advanced analyse skills designed to punch through Masks without a trace had been rebuffed with ease—without his marks knowing.

They had powerful artefacts shielding them, they had to. No matter how skilled they clearly were—the Guild was obviously investing in them, so they had to be good—no two bit prodigy would be able to best him with raw Will.

No doubt they’d be leaving soon—it was closing in on a month since their last mission.

He already had someone in mind to tail them. Too much rode on this.

Oh yes, there would be no second chances with the consummate professionals he was hoping to contact. He needed something good. Something that would finally prove how worthy he was.

He could already taste it. The fine wine, the respect, the fear. If those two…children turned out to be the real deal, they were his ticket to real prospects.

A seat at the high table. The authority that he was owed would finally be his.

…

Rieker’s office was becoming a familiar sight.

While they didn’t come here every day, it was seemingly the guildmaster’s venue of choice for any sort of official discussion.

Considering they were about to receive their next mission—one that promised to be far better suited to their skills than the bogglings had been—this fit the bill.

With his team at his side, Kaius waited for the guildmaster to speak. Normally, it would have been unneeded. It was impossible to avoid building up a rapport with someone that you spent so much time with, especially one as driven and capable as Rieker. He was surprisingly easy going, and had often invited them to speak up when they had questions, or wanted to make simple conversation.

This was not one of those times. Rieker the man was absent, and sitting in his place was the guildmaster, Wardog of Deadacre.

Even the ever fiery Ro was acting as her station demanded, standing to Rieker’s right, her arms held behind her waist.

It was impressive watching him don his mantle—the way his spine straightened, and gravitas oozed from his very pores.

“You’ve done well, all of you,” Rieker said, breaking the silence.

“Kaius,” the guildmaster turned his head just a hair, eyes boring into him. “You’re on the verge of your next spell for Drakthar, and your other skills are not too much further behind.”

Rieker turned to Ianmus next.

“You too, have done well—an impressive development across the board. Your metamagic is more potent than ever, and you managed to reach the point of Sunbeam casting a second ray. An important achievement, that will make you far more effective at hampering your foes.” the guildmaster continued, before his eyes settled on the last member of their team.

“Porkchop. You’ve done the best—with Corporus backing you, you managed to seize not one, but two developments to your armour skill. The strain you put yourself under would have killed most lesser folk—and you shouldered it with ease. Well done. ”

His eyes roved over them all. “I mean it, all of you have done brilliantly.”

A warm smile broke on Rieker’s face, his pride and satisfaction at their progress making Kaius set his shoulders just a little squarer. The guildmaster was many things, but he was not a man that dolled out praise without it being earned.

The change in his demeanour also signalled the end of his stoic facade. Ro stepped forwards, taking a seat next to him.

Fizzing excitement welled up within him—almost bubbling over as he anxiously waited to learn more about their upcoming mission.

“I know you’re eager to get out of the city, and I’m happy to say that we’ve found something good for you,” Rieker said, an infectious grin on his face.

Ro jumped in. “We had something come in a few days ago—something special, that will be a tough challenge even for you.”

Something special? That caught Kaius’s attention—there was such a variety of threats roving the countryside since the phase shift that it had to be something truly stand-out for Ro and Rieker to treat it as special. He could only hope that it would be something fun—a fight against something big and tough, that would push and stress their capabilities.

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Even if such a thing had been Rieker and Ro’s plan for them, if something unexpected had cropped up that would provide them a valuable learning experience, Kaius had no doubt that they’d end up on another mission that would force them to adapt.

It seemed Porkchop felt similarly. Beside him, his brother leaned in, tilting his head in curiosity.

“Is it challenging because it’s a tough fight, that we’re well suited for, or because we’ll be out of our element?” his brother asked.

Rieker laughed, shaking his head. “No, nothing like the last one—I think you learned your lesson there. It’ll be a tough fight—tough enough that you’ll have to fight smart—but one I think you’ll enjoy. I’ll let Ro tell you more.