Chapter 19 – Officially a Gold Rank Adventurer

Had he just been tricked?

Mark processed Isolda’s words as silence once again settled over the room.

What exactly did that woman mean by “becoming a resource of the Guild under martial law”?

What kind of law was that?

He frowned, suspicion now clear on his face. Mark had not come here to become a soldier or a pawn in a war he didn’t even understand. He wanted the freedom that the rank provided, not a golden leash.

“Can’t I obtain the identification without that implication?” He asked, his voice keeping a low tone but carrying a note of dissatisfaction.

Isolda did not seem surprised by the question. She leaned back in her chair, maintaining the same calm, icy expression as before.

Folding her fingers together over the desk, she observed him for a moment before replying.

“Not for Gold Rank. Not under these circumstances. Low-rank adventurers, such as Bronze or Iron, are seen merely as independent service providers. They come and go. But, as I said, Gold Rank is different. You are now considered an individual powerhouse.”

She paused briefly, adjusting one of the papers on the desk.

“Luminaris, and the Guild as a whole, invests resources and authority in someone at your level. In return, there is a contingency protocol. As long as you are a registered adventurer of the Guild, your strength belongs to the balance of power in this region. If a total war breaks out or if an enemy decides to cross the borders, martial law allows the Guild to summon all of its high-ranking members for defense or strategic missions.”

Isolda tilted her head slightly, raising one finger. “We give prestige and access, and you offer the guarantee that you will stand with the side that welcomed you. If you want the benefits of being Gold Rank, you must accept the risks that come with the title.”

She spoke so naturally that it almost sounded like a fair and obvious exchange.

Mark almost agreed with her.

“So if I accept, I’m basically signing a contract?” He asked, trying to simplify it.

“You could put it that way.” Isolda nodded, not taking her eyes off him. “But remember: martial law is only activated in cases of extreme necessity. If Luminaris is at peace, you are free to do whatever you wish.”

Mark remained silent for a few seconds, staring at the golden plate on the desk.

Internally, he was weighing his options.

“And if I refuse the rank and decide to act on my own?” He asked out of curiosity as a thought crossed his mind.

Isolda’s expression did not change.

“You would face certain limitations.”

She seemed to have expected that kind of question.

“Without an official high-ranking identification, you will not have access to Gold-level missions or above in any city where the Guild operates. You will not be allowed into restricted areas, you will have no right to escorts, and most importantly, you will not have legal immunity for the use of lethal force inside or outside the city walls. In essence, you would be treated as a street mercenary. If you caused any problems, you would be hunted as a common criminal.”

She paused for a moment, as if a trivial memory had surfaced in her mind. “Furthermore, due to the strength you demonstrated in today’s examination, you would not simply be ignored. Someone with your level of power who refuses to cooperate with the system is considered a latent threat. You would be placed under constant surveillance by the Guild and the city’s intelligence network.”

She leaned forward slightly, her blue eyes fixed on his with absolute clarity.

“And if at any point your presence were considered unstable or dangerous to Luminaris’ security, I would have to intervene.”

‘Hm?’

The air in the room seemed to change for a moment.

Was he being threatened?

It was obvious he was being threatened.

She was saying that if he wasn’t an official ally, she would treat him as a potential target before he even did anything.

Mark stared at Isolda for a few seconds.

He had to admit, she spoke with the confidence of someone who truly believed she was capable of neutralizing him.

It was an ironic situation.

Mark had come here to make his life easier, and now he was being cornered by an unexpected logic that left no room for neutrality. Either he joined the club, or he became a problem to be dealt with.

Surveillance?

Intervention?

He almost felt like laughing.

For a moment, Vaelin nearly took control.

The idea of Isolda trying to “intervene” against him was something bordering on absurd, but Mark tried to maintain his neutral façade. He had no interest in causing a massacre or destroying the Guild.

That could bring many problems. And it wasn’t necessary.

“So it’s a choice with only one real path.” Mark said, extending his hand toward the desk after regaining his composure.

If he refused, he would leave with nothing and likely be marked as a potential threat. If he accepted, he would get what he wanted, but he would technically be “on reserve” for that woman.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

In the end, the decision was simple for him.

If war came and he did not want to fight, who there had enough power to force him?

Isolda was Platinum Rank, yes, but he had confidence in his abilities.

Mark sighed.

He picked up the golden plate from the desk, but did not store it immediately. “I’d like to ask just one last thing.”

Isolda looked confused, thinking the conversation had already ended.

“Yes?”

“You mentioned ‘in times of war.’ If Luminaris is a neutral city, why all this effort? The reinforced entrance, the guards’ excessive caution, this strict screening of new adventurers. If neutrality is real, what is the purpose of all this?”

He paused, fixing his gaze on Isolda.

“Or does the Guild have a side?”

Isolda remained motionless.

She did not seem offended by the question; on the contrary, she appeared surprised.

Her gaze evaluated Mark again, as if lost in thought. After nearly a minute of silence, she spoke. “Luminaris is neutral by treaty, Sir Vaelin, but the enemy does not recognize treaties.”

The enemy was clearly the Solis Empire.

“We are in the path. If the Solis Empire decides to advance, or if the conflict in the east spills over, a city’s neutrality is merely an invitation for whoever arrives first. We reinforce our defenses not because we want to fight, but because we do not want to become the prize of whoever wins.”

She slowly stood up and walked toward one of the windows overlooking the Guild’s inner courtyard.

“As for the Guild… our side is stability. Adventurers live off monsters and exploration, not political battlefields. But when politics knocks on our door with armies, neutrality becomes a luxury. The purpose of everything you saw is to ensure that, when the time comes, Luminaris has enough teeth that no one will want to test our ‘neutrality.’”

She turned back toward him.

“So, what is your answer?”

He picked up the golden plate. The metal was heavy and cold to the touch. His gaze shifted between the identification and Isolda’s expression, as if considering his options.

“I accept the rank.”

Isolda nodded, apparently satisfied. “A sensible decision, Sir Vaelin. Mila is waiting for you outside to finalize the formalities. Feel free to seek me out at the Guild if you need anything.”

Mark simply nodded, storing the plate beneath his cloak.

He had the answer he wanted.