Dark Inner Circle, Alchemy Guild, top floor,
Almost all the important figures of the alchemy guild of the dark inner circle were gathered here. The atmosphere was extremely gloomy and apprehensive as all of them were looking at each other with fear and agitation.
"Old Sixth, do you know why we are being summoned by Guild Leader?" A gnome asked in a whispering voice while looking at the brown goblin.
"How the hell do I know? That tyrant had never bothered with us after coming here, but now all of a sudden, he's summing us. No matter how you look at it, it's extremely unsettling!" The goblin snapped.
Almost all of them were talking in this manner, and the top was the same.
There were three people in particular who had ghastly pale expressions and were isolated by the other alchemists for some reason. There was another thing common about them, which was each of them was missing an arm.
One of them was kobold as he asked the elf beside him grimly, "What do you think?"
The elf with a missing arm gritted his teeth in hatred while replying, "How the hell did it matter what I think? Just don't provoke that monster, and we'll be fine. I don't want to lose another arm!"
The kobold with a missing arm, as well as a rat face demi-human who was also missing an arm, also gnashed their teeth in hatred and pain.
These three still remembered that day like it was yesterday when they found out that Braylon was replaced by a new guy and went there to confirm it despite the elf's warning, who met Jacob at the entrance of the lift.
They just wanted to know why Braylon was being replaced and what kind of attitude the new guild leader had. In truth, these three were Braylon's most loyal dogs and were also involved in a good deal of calumniation and denigration of many fellow members of the guild.
Braylon was always busy with research, so these three had gained quite a power behind his back, and Braylon didn't seem to care about it either.
That's why they had gone to Jacob to inquire about why Braylon, who had no plan on leaving just in the morning, was now abruptly replaced by him.
However, not to mention questioning Jacob, the moment they came a meter close to his workshop, Jacob's figure appeared like a shadow, and without giving them any chance, he directly chopped off their limbs and threw them out.
Many who were paying attention to this new guild leader were gobsmacked by this turn of events, and they finally understood that the elf early wasn't joking at all about the new guild leader's brutal warning.
From that day on, no one dared to approach Jacob's workshop, even if they had a thousand guts. As for these three guys, they became the beaten dogs and were instantly isolated by all of them because of their past conduct.
Since their limbs were cut off, they knew their life as an alchemist was as good as over, and they couldn't leave the place either since they were too used to the comfortable life of the inner circle's alchemy guild.
Now, 20 months had passed since Jacob closed himself in the workshop, but today they all received summon from him, which made almost everyone scared. Still, they didn't dare to ignore his summoning.
If Braylon was someone who liked to manipulate others by putting up an amiable front, then Jacob was like a tyrant who didn't care about his image or their feelings at all. He was terrifyingly powerful for them all, not be mention extremely ruthless. This was enough to keep them all in check.
"Click…"
The door was clicked open before a tall figure clad in black entered the hall, and everyone quickly stood up with sweat beaded on their foreheads because this person was none other than their mysterious Guild Leader.
Jacob was wearing his usual black outfit. However, if someone looked closely, there were jet-black markings all over his long black windbreaker. Only someone with extremely good sight could tell the difference between the faint shade of the color.
Furthermore, Jacob was wearing a faceless black mask, and not even his amber eyes weren't visible to anyone, as if he was completely blind. Not even his skin was visible, as his hands were now covered with the same kind of gloves as his windbreaker. Lastly, his head was covered by a long hood, and he looked just like a mysterious killer.
Everyone felt chills just seeing him walking toward the high chair at the very front of the table. They were all used to not wearing any mask in this place, but Jacob was simply too mysterious.
Jacob walked onto his chair and sat down before his impassive voice rang, "Sit."
Everyone bowed their head first before they sat down on their chairs, but their heart rate was wild, and no one knew who Jacob was looking at right now since his eyes were no longer visible. Even his face mask was barely visible under that long hood.
"Today, I summon everyone to discuss three things!" Jacob spoke again and didn't mind their lack of response; he actually liked this silent environment.
"First, I will be leaving the Dark City soon, which means the Guild Leader position will be vacant. So, I will give you guys one week to become a Senior Grandmaster. I will invigilate the test personally. Or I'll choose someone else from the common circle branch if none of you manage to pass. Is that clear?"
Everyone was dumbfounded by this revelation and looked at Jacob with disbelief.
"W-why?... NO! I mean, why did you want to leave?" A wolf face orc stuttered and asked with great difficulty.
"Do I need to answer you about my matter?" Jacob coolly asked without any intent behind his words.
But to the orc, he nearly kneeled down to beg for forgiveness, "I-I… for…forgive me, Guild Leader!" He lowered his head and didn't dare to raise it anymore.
The others also kept their curiosity to themselves now and didn't ask for the reason.
A goblin spoke at this moment, "C-can I ask if there are any particular requirements for the position like our professions?"
This question did not pry into any of Jacob's matters, so everyone was hoping to get an answer for this and also looked at the goblin in admiration to be able to speak in front of this scary guy.
Jacob wasn't unreasonable, and he answered, "There are none. I don't know why there hadn't been any Vice Guild Leader in this place or any senior grandmaster, but I'm pretty sure it has something to do with that prick Braylon.
"I'm not like him, and I think it's time for Guild to return to its track. I have 100 permanent member slots. You guys are 59 Grandmasters, and the first one to achieve Senior Grandmaster Rank will be the Guild and get one slot. The second one will be the vice guild leader and also receive one slot.
"As for the remaining 98 slots, if all of you guys are able to become senior grandmasters in a week, I'll give you one each. You guys can think of it as a competition."
Everyone's eyes brightened, and their heart raced when they heard what Jacob was planning to do. Jacob's image instantly raised in their heart. Although he was tyrannical, he wasn't petty like Braylon.
Just as he said, Braylon never allowed them to enter Senior Grandmaster ranks because they were all lower rank dark nobles and fairy young, nor he ever gave them any permanent member slot.
In comparison, the common circle guild was filled with old guys who had no potential at all.
He even threatened them ambiguously that they were not ready to be senior grandmasters and might lose their membership if they tried to take that step.
It was probably the reason that there were so few permanent members in rare plains. Braylon probably has an influence on the other guilds in the freedom plains as well.
However, Jacob was now telling them to become one, and he was even giving them the positions they deserved. So, they were quite grateful and thrilled to go prepared for the test.
Even if they were not confident, they would still try it since it was a very precious opportunity.
Only those three armless idiots were filled with regret.
Jacob then speaks again, not caring about their enthusiastic expressions, "Second, I want you guys to use your connection and search for three types of materials for me. Anyone who found any one of these materials will get three permanent member slots which means you can use them on yourself or your friends. I won't care."
The hall regained deadly silence again as they looked at Jacob as if he was a god of fortune.
Jacob continued as he expected this much, "Third, I want information about Star Ocean, especially beyond the southern star ocean, which is the uncharted territory.
"If I deem your information useful, I'll give you one slot as a reward. But you only have one week to do these three things before I leave the dark city. You all dismiss!"