Chapter 67 Taking over the trade association, but if we're discovered, the two of us will be in serious trouble...

The Royal Ruins Expedition was abruptly ended after only one day due to the leakage of an ancient magical core deep within the ruins. Under Verion's command, the Black Pine Forest was sealed off, and everyone withdrew from the ruins.

Nightingale Salon.

Aurora picked up her coffee, her face beaming with undisguised smugness, and upon closer inspection, a hint of satisfaction. "Before we could take him down, Moreno died."

Ancia said calmly, "If he were alive, even if you submit evidence, the Lionheart would not let him die."

Aurora remained unconcerned. "Although the royal family publicly declared that the depths of the Black Pine Forest ruins contained the core of the abyss sealed by the first emperor, and that the seal had loosened today, Marquis Moreno was ordered to purify and reinforce the seal with demonic flesh and blood, but the seal went out of control, and he died from demonic contamination. Even his only son, Connor, heroically sacrificed himself. His Highness the Crown Prince acted decisively and brought the crisis under control. Regardless of his true cause of death, after he fell, I got a considerable slice of the pie."

Ancia was a little curious, "What did you get? Didn't your title remain unchanged?"

Aurora smiled, clapped her hands, and the Nightingale Salon steward she had met before entered the room, bowed, and asked her what she needed, his tone more respectful than ever before, "Your Excellency, what are your orders?"

She gestured with her chin toward Ansia, "Call over all the best male servants here."

The steward bowed his head. "Yes, Your Excellency."

Ancia quickly stopped her, "Wait! I don't need it!"

Aurora waved the steward away regretfully, rested her chin on her hand, and smiled, hinting to Ancia, "The Nightingale Salon has had several owners, the last one being Marquis Moreno."

Ancia glanced around, her gaze sweeping over the priceless paintings on the walls and the exquisite antiques displayed in the corner. Recalling the Nightingale Salon manager's respectful demeanor towards Aurora, she understood. She raised an eyebrow. "No wonder this room where you invited me today is so luxurious. Is this salon yours now?"

“That’s right, it’s now in my hands.” Aurora sighed again. “It’s just a pity that this salon can only serve a limited purpose. Nobles love to come here for leisure, but when it comes to actual business, they are very careful about privacy. They won’t leave any living creatures in the room, let alone male servants. If eavesdropping devices are left, once discovered, the salon will no longer have any guests.”

She was very satisfied with the privacy of the salon when she was a guest, but when she became the owner of the salon, she felt that this was a real pity.

Ancia shook her head. "They're traumatized by the Vatican's white doves."

Aurora: "Who says otherwise? Even the Nightingale Salon has set up soundproof barriers around important rooms. I've also heard that some nobles carry magical items that can repel birds, haha."

Ancia couldn't help but ponder how she would obtain the information if it were her.

Her gaze inadvertently fell on the vines climbing on the windowsill. The vines looked somewhat familiar... Ancia suddenly remembered the huge Whispering Vine in the Gracia Botanical Garden. In a flash of inspiration, she decisively grabbed it.

Ancia sat up straight in her soft armchair, her voice excited. "Aurora! I know how to solve it!" She pointed to the vine. "They're wary of birds, but they'll never be wary of a silent plant. In Gracia's botanical garden, there's a magical plant called the Whispering Vine. Students always confide their secrets to it. I can cultivate a plant with a similar effect to the Whispering Vine. It will look ordinary—perhaps just a regular vine, or even an unassuming potted plant—but it can be used as decoration in the salon room, unnoticed by anyone!"

Aurora was somewhat skeptical. "Plants...can they eavesdrop? How do they obtain intelligence?"

Ancia: "Cultivating a variant of the Whispering Vine involves passively receiving sound through the plant, and then using a special silent replication array to periodically replicate the sound obtained from the plant. This array has very little fluctuation and is only briefly activated during its use, making it highly unlikely to be discovered. With my wood magic talent and knowledge of array research, this is not a pipe dream. It just requires a completely confidential location to conduct plant research."

Aurora stood up excitedly and paced back and forth in the room. "The location is not a problem. I can set up an underground greenhouse and recruit a few reliable gardeners to help you."

“Morley is currently missing, and I'm temporarily managing the Dark Night Guild. Your Nightingale Salon will gather information, and the Dark Night Guild's intelligence network will handle the analysis. In addition to the intelligence gathered by the Salon, the guild will also share some of its intelligence network with you.” Ancia extended a hand to Aurora. “But if we are discovered, we will both be doomed. So, will you cooperate with me, Your Excellency?”

Aurora's ambition grew stronger, and she shook hands without hesitation, saying, "It would be my honor."

Walking down the streets late at night, Ancia pondered her next steps. Reaching an agreement with Aurora was only the first step; taking over the guild was the most difficult part. Those adventurers had very different personalities and only recognized strength. She was currently just an ungraduated five-star priest, and she was afraid it would be difficult to gain their respect. She needed to think of a way to do it.

Ancia chuckled and shook her head. "How did I turn a dating game into a fighting game, and now it's become a game of wits?"

She took out the Shadow Embrace and held it tightly in her hand. Its hard texture seemed to give her courage. Mortley had entrusted the guild to her, and she would do it no matter how difficult it was.

Ancia stood at the entrance of the nameless tavern, a sign that read "Closed" hanging above the door. Her hand hovered over the door for a few seconds before she finally pushed it open.

A few people were scattered around the tavern. The bartender wasn't standing behind the counter, but sitting with the customers, all of whom were looking at the unexpected guest.

Ancia's gaze swept over every wary face, noticing that Franka, the receptionist at the outpost, was among them. She had a furrowed brow and was tapping her knuckles lightly on the table, looking quite agitated.

The bartender said calmly, "We're closed today. Please leave, sir."

Ancia walked straight to the center of the crowd, raised the dagger in her hand, and said, "I am not a guest. I am here to take over the Dark Night Guild."

"Embrace of Shadows!" As soon as this jet-black dagger that could absorb light appeared, someone exclaimed in surprise. They instantly recognized this sacred object that represented the guild master's authority.

Suspicious gazes instantly focused on Ancia. Franka was the most shocked, carefully examining Ancia's undisguised face before finally spotting those black eyes that resembled "vines." He recognized Ancia as Gracia's most dazzling student, possessing perfect affinity in both light and wood elements, and studying under the light-elemental mage Cheryl.

Franka blurted out, "Ancia of Gracia, a four-star priest?"

Warrior Tucker slammed his hand on the table, his tall frame taking a few steps to stand in front of her. He looked down at Ancia, his tone contemptuous, "What makes a student think she can be our president? Go back to your ivory tower and be a priest!"

Ancia stood her ground, tilting her head to meet Tucker's sharp gaze, her hand still firmly gripping the Shadow Embrace. "The Shadow Embrace is in my hands. Mortley's choice is the answer. Do you question his choice?"

Others also raised questions like a tidal wave.

"The president is just missing, are you trying to seize power?"

Ancia: "I'm not here to seize power. I'm here to help you preserve the guild until we find Mortley."

"Who would dare entrust the future of the guild to a priest like you? You might ruin the guild before you even find the guild leader!"

Ancia: "I know you doubt my abilities, but just now, I reached a cooperation agreement with Count Aurora, who owns the Nightingale Salon, to open up a new intelligence channel for the guild. This is just the beginning."

...

She refuted every single question, standing firmly in the crowd without backing down an inch. Her voice remained calm, clear, and fearless.

Some members began to waver. Although the warrior Tucker was still dissatisfied, he sat back down and stopped being aggressive, and the atmosphere became delicate.

Franka listened to Ancia's clear and logical rebuttal, her furrowed brows gradually relaxing. When Tucker returned to his seat, she abruptly stood up, bowed deeply to Ancia, and placed her right hand on her chest, saying, "The Embrace of Shadows is here. I acknowledge you as the next Guild Master. Lord Mertri once instructed me that whoever possesses the Embrace of Shadows will be his chosen successor."

"I, Franka, swear allegiance to the new president!"

At that very moment.

Bang--

With a loud crash, the tavern door was smashed open by tremendous force, the old wooden door shattered, and a squad of royal guards in armor surrounded the tavern, even guarding the tavern's hidden back door.

All the discussion abruptly ceased, and the guild members turned their heads warily. Verion led the captain of the guard into the tavern, his demeanor elegant, as if he were strolling leisurely in a royal garden.

Vilian held up a scroll of decree, his voice indifferent, "By order of His Majesty the King, Nightwalker Mortley has been infected with demonic energy within the Blackpine Forest Ruins and has become demonized. He is now in extreme danger and could transform into a demon at any moment! The Nightwalker Guild is suspected of colluding with demons and endangering the Empire's security. Effective immediately, all Nightwalker Guild strongholds are sealed off, assets are frozen, and all members are under investigation! Those who disobey will be prosecuted for treason!"

His gray eyes were devoid of any emotion as he glanced past the others and looked directly at Ancia without uttering a word.

Ancia's breath hitched, and she gripped the dagger tightly. Mortley had become a demon? His last appearance, with his crimson eyes, was indeed a symbol of demons, but Mortley was clearly human! Could it be that Marquis Moreno in the secret chamber was a failed attempt to transform from a human into a demon?

The tavern erupted in chaos. Guild members glared at him, especially Tucker, who gripped his battle axe and gritted his teeth, "Who are you calling demonized?"

Franka drew her dagger, her eyes colder than the blade. "Lord Mertri despises demons the most; he could never become a demon!"

The royal guards drew their longswords, and the important guild members in the tavern also took out their weapons, and the two sides faced off.