The guild master’s eyes lingered on Lucavion, her calculating gaze betraying the gears turning in her mind. She seemed to weigh her options, the quiet tension in the room thickening as her fingers resumed their rhythmic drumming against the table. Finally, she let out a resigned sigh, her shoulders relaxing slightly.
“I see your point,” she said, her voice steadier now, though a hint of fatigue bled through her words. “Tight or not, I suppose we don’t have much leverage here. The materials you’ve brought… well, they speak for themselves.”
Lucavion inclined his head graciously, his smirk softening into something more neutral. “A wise decision, Guild master. I look forward to seeing how well the Adventurer’s Guild can handle a challenge.”
As she reached out to shake his hand, a flicker of realization crossed her face, and she froze momentarily. “Ah,” she murmured, pulling back slightly. “I’ve been so preoccupied that I forgot something important.”
She stood, smoothing out her robes before extending her hand more formally. “I never introduced myself. Guild master Corvina Farrow. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Lucavion rose with smooth elegance, clasping her hand firmly but not overly so. “Lucavion,” he replied, his tone light but polished. “The pleasure is mutual, Guild master Farrow.”
As their handshake lingered for a brief moment, Corvina’s thoughts raced. Lucavion… an unusual name. But more than that… who exactly is this man? She stole a glance at him, noting his composed demeanor, the sharp intelligence in his eyes, and the subtle grace with which he carried himself.
This wasn’t the behavior of a simple merchant or trader. If he were a merchant’s son, selling rare monster hides would make little sense—too risky and without the connections required to gather such goods.
No, there was only one plausible explanation: this young man was nobility. Likely one of those adventurous types who indulged in dangerous hobbies or sought to prove themselves outside their gilded lives. If that were the case, forging a formal connection with him could open doors she hadn’t even considered.
Her fingers briefly tightened around his as the realization settled in, her decision solidifying. She released his hand and gestured for him to sit again. “Now that we’ve handled the introductions, let’s finalize the terms.”
Lucavion resumed his seat, his smirk returning faintly as he noticed the subtle shift in her demeanor. She was guarded, yes, but there was a glimmer of respect—or perhaps curiosity—in her eyes now.
Corvina continued, her tone measured but cordial. “I’ll ensure the guild prioritizes the items on your list, as you’ve requested. And I’ll arrange for the agreed-upon payment for your materials. In return, I trust you’ll keep our collaboration… exclusive?”
Lucavion’s smirk deepened. “Exclusivity, Guild master, is the cornerstone of any fruitful partnership. I didn’t mention such a thing.”
Corvina clicked her tongue inwardly, frustration mingling with begrudging admiration. Just as I thought, this one doesn’t miss a beat. She shook her head slightly, more to herself than to him, before reaching for her ledger and writing out a check for the payment. The sound of her quill scratching against the parchment filled the room as she worked, her movements precise and efficient.
Sliding the completed check across the table, she met Lucavion’s gaze. “This is a draft for the total amount. You can collect your payment from the Central Arcanis Bank. It should suffice for our agreement.”
Lucavion took the check with practiced ease, his movements graceful as he folded it neatly and tucked it into his coat. With a slight flourish, he placed the spatial ring on the table and pushed it toward her. “Here,” he said, his voice smooth, “you may verify the contents.”
Corvina eyed him carefully before taking the ring, her fingers brushing its surface. She activated it with a subtle twist of her mana, and an array of monstrous remains shimmered into view within the ring’s storage. As she scanned the contents, her eyes widened slightly—everything he had presented earlier was here, in pristine condition. The Frost Wyrm, the Void Elemental core, and every other piece he had mentioned.
“It’s all here,” she murmured, almost to herself. Efficient, thorough, and precise. Just what I’d expect from someone like him.
Satisfied, Corvina nodded and returned the ring to him. “You’ve delivered as promised. The guild will honor its side of the agreement.”
Lucavion slipped the ring back onto his finger with a faint smile. “A pleasure doing business with you, Guildmaster.”
As he rose to leave, he paused and turned back to her. “Before I go, I have a favor to ask.”
Corvina’s brow arched, suspicion flickering across her face. “A favor?” She leaned back slightly, her arms crossing. “And what might that be?”
Lucavion’s smirk didn’t falter. “As I’ve mentioned, I’m an adventurer under this guild’s registry. Therefore, I’d like my rank updated to B.”
“Rank B?” Corvina’s eyes narrowed. “What was your previous rank?”
Lucavion shrugged lightly, his smirk never fading. “Rank D.”
“…You do realize that upgrading from D to B requires examinations, don’t you? And you’re skipping rank C entirely.”
“Indeed, I do,” Lucavion replied smoothly. “But these monsters should speak for themselves, no? Do you think a normal person could capture them?”
Corvina tapped her fingers against the table, her tone turning more stern. “Mister Lucavion. While these materials are impressive, they don’t serve as proof that you killed these creatures yourself. Even though we’re conducting business, rank advancement requires adherence to guild regulations. Without confirmation of your involvement, you’ll need to undergo the necessary examinations.”
Lucavion tilted his head slightly, considering her words before a new spark of mischief lit his eyes. “I see. Then, let’s change the conditions.”
Corvina frowned, her suspicion returning in full force. “Change the conditions? To what?”
Lucavion leaned in slightly, his tone calm but with a faint undertone of intrigue. “If possible, issue me a new ID card—with a new name.”
Corvina’s eyes widened in shock, her composure slipping for just a moment. “A new name? You do know that identity fraud is a dangerous crime, right?”
Lucavion coughed softly, a hand rising to his mouth in a gesture of mock propriety. “What crime, Miss Corvina? I simply wish to delay… certain reactions.”
Corvina’s brow furrowed, her suspicion deepening. “Why? What are you trying to avoid?”
“Well,” Lucavion began, his tone light but laced with something heavier, “let’s just say I’ve encountered someone from my past. Someone I’m not quite ready to confront yet. Would that suffice as an explanation?”
The guild master leaned back slightly, studying him with a mixture of curiosity and unease. “Someone from your past…” She crossed her arms, her tone skeptical. “Mister Lucavion, you’re making me think you’re a criminal.”
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Lucavion smirked, his dark eyes gleaming with amusement. “Miss Corvina, surely you don’t know my name?”
“Should I?” she asked, her voice flat. “Are you supposed to be famous?”
Lucavion’s smirk widened, carrying a faint edge of self-satisfaction. “Ah, so the news hasn’t reached here yet? I suppose the East is quite far from the West. Allow me to drop a hint.”
He leaned back in his chair, his tone turning almost conspiratorial. “Cloud Heavens Sect.”
The words hung in the air like a storm cloud, and Corvina’s breath caught. Her composed demeanor wavered, her fingers tightening imperceptibly on the edge of the table. “Cloud Heavens Sect?” she repeated, her voice low, almost disbelieving. “You’re affiliated with them?”
Lucavion chuckled softly, his gloved fingers tapping a faint rhythm against the armrest of his chair. “….”
But he didn’t answer.
Corvina stared at Lucavion, her thoughts churning as she pieced together the fragments of information he’d let slip. Her fingers drummed against the table as realization dawned, her sharp mind connecting the dots. A sudden flicker of recognition sparked in her eyes, and she leaned forward, her voice dropping to a near whisper.
“Sword Demon.”
Lucavion’s smirk didn’t waver, but his dark eyes gleamed with a hint of satisfaction. He said nothing, letting her fill the silence with her thoughts.
The name was infamous—a moniker whispered across the empire. A mysterious figure who had risen to prominence seemingly overnight, cutting through the Andelheim tournament like a blade through silk. He’d singlehandedly confronted members of the Cloud Heavens Sect, a force few dared to oppose, and walked away unscathed.
Corvina’s breath caught as her mind raced. Some even held him responsible for the Witch Hunt—the brutal purge initiated by Marquis Ventor and the Olarion Family against Cloud Heavens Sect. The devastation it left in its wake has been being felt across the entire empire and it is still going on.
And that man’s name…
“Lucavion,” she murmured, her gaze sharpening as she took him in anew. The scar tracing his cheek, the piercing black eyes, the raven-black hair that framed his sharp features—it all matched. And the sheer quantity of rare monster hides and cores he’d casually produced? It made too much sense.
Her hands gripped the edge of the table as she stared at him, her voice rising slightly. “You’re the Sword Demon!”
Lucavion’s smirk widened into a grin, and he inclined his head slightly, a gesture of mock humility. “Took you long enough, Guild master.”