Chapter 73: Why does the guild's restart smell like Ancia...?
Ancia brought Merri to the new base, both of them still looking a little tired.
Upon recognizing the newcomers, Tucker's wariness transformed into ecstatic joy. "Master! Lord Mertri! You're back!"
Merri nodded slightly. "Yes."
Franka strode over, her gaze lingering for a moment on the string of purple hearts. Her tone was calm. "President, Lord Merri, welcome back. Do these need to be cleaned up immediately?"
Merri shook his head and handed the hearts to Tucker. "These are the hearts of demons. If the royal family or the Church of Light comes, give them this evidence."
Ancia pulled Mortley into the conference room, sat down at the head of the table, placed the Shadow Embrace on the table, and pushed it in front of him. "I've fulfilled the previous deal. Now it's time to return the guild and the Shadow Embrace to you."
Mortley's voice was deep and firm. "Its past belongs to me, and its present and future belong only to the one who can lead the guild forward." He sat down below Ancia. "Even if I had stayed in the Eternal City back then, I might not have done as well as you. You are more suitable to be the guild leader, and I prefer to be an assassin. The Embrace of Shadows and I will always be at your service."
Ancia didn't refuse again and nodded gently, "Okay."
The core members entered the conference room one after another. Franka was angry but dared not say anything about the seat that had been taken from her, so she moved to the back one seat.
Franka: "Guild Master, I just received news that the Royal Family has publicly withdrawn all charges against the Guild, unsealed our sealed-off strongholds, and seems to have stopped the suppression."
The system notification sounded promptly.
[Congratulations to the player for completing the side quest [The Calamity of the Dark Night Guild].]
A series of warm, upgraded currents swept through, and the staff beside Ancia lit up with a sixth star.
She's at level 60; according to Gracia's graduation standards, she's eligible to apply for direct graduation this academic year.
Ancia chuckled, "Just wait. Once that string of hearts is handed over, the guild will even receive a commendation order recognizing our Night Walkers' achievement in eliminating the Demon General."
With the pressure suddenly relieved, the core members present chuckled softly.
Ancia, however, was not so happy. She didn't know how much truth the Lord of Lust had said before his death, and it couldn't be used as evidence to accuse the royal family. Moreover, the person he mentioned was the Lionheart King, who led the Augustinian Empire to resist the invasion of the demons and had extremely high prestige among the people.
Her face was calm as she tapped her fingertips lightly on the conference table. Murtrie noticed that Ancia was tapping a little too fast, so she placed her hand under Ancia's fingers and said softly, "It's okay, I'm here."
Ancia grasped his well-defined fingers and smiled in agreement, "Okay."
The core members pretended not to see the new president taking office under the guise of quid pro quo in the meeting room; it was a case of mutual consent.
Ancia: "What's been happening with the royal family while I was away?"
Franka flipped through the intelligence reports. "His Highness the Crown Prince did not return to the Eternal City as expected. He and the Griffin Guard remain stationed on the northern border, holding back their troops, and no exercises have been conducted." She hesitated for a moment, then provided another piece of intelligence, "Also, the Orc Prince Skark returned to the Northern Snow Mountains three days ago."
Ancia's expression changed, and she immediately connected the three things together. The Lionheart King was old, while Skalk was strong and a brave orc warrior. Could it be that the Lionheart King used his body as a vessel for transferring souls?
Merri knew what she was worried about and whispered reassurances, "Don't worry, maybe Skark is just going home because of the Northern Guard."
Ancia shook her head. "I can't help but worry, Mortley. I have to go to the orc territory. Verion's intentions are unclear, and Skalk may be in danger."
Murtrie: "It's precisely because it's too dangerous that I have to go with you."
A green light flashed from Ancia's fingertips as gentle wood-type magic entered Mertri's body. The power within this body was unstable, and many parts were still being reshaped and grown.
She patted Merriel reassuringly, "You can't go. You need time to recover, otherwise there's a risk of things getting out of control. And once I leave, the guild needs someone to stay. The royal family has dropped the charges against the guild, but we also need to guard against them going back on their word. You need to stay here and stabilize the situation."
Murtrie's gaze softened. In just one month, Ancia had grown from a student into a qualified leader. He nodded, "Okay, I'll listen to you. Do you want to bring the others with you?"
Tucker: "Guild Master, I'll go with you! I have some orc blood in my family, so it's reasonable for me to go there."
Ancia hesitated for a moment, "No, I'll go alone. I'm already a six-star priest, so unless a mage personally intervenes, I can protect myself. If I bring others, it will take seven days to reach the Northern Snow Mountains. I can directly apply to use the Holy See's teleportation array and arrive at Cangbai City, the closest city to the snow mountains, instantly. Whether it's Verion or Skark, at least they won't attack me. As for you, it's hard to say."
Her gaze swept over everyone present. "Alright, it's decided then. Franka is going to reopen the seized outposts, and the guild's operations will also resume. While I'm away, Mortley can take over the guild. Meeting adjourned."
Ancia returned to her room at the base and checked the Shadow Messenger's inventory. There was no sound at the door, but she smiled and called out, "Come in."
The door was pushed open, and the aroma of food wafted in. Merriel stood in the doorway holding a plate of steaks.
In Ancia's perception, even though he walked silently, there was an undeniable dark energy behind the door.
Murtrie added a perfunctory knock, "It's time to eat."
He sat at the table, watching Ancia eat heartily, and helped her tie up her long, loose hair. "Eat slowly, this is what I made, it's very clean."
Ancia was already captivated by the steak, and after a couple of "uh-huhs," she continued to conquer the food.
Merriel then pulled out many bottles and jars from his spatial jewelry, "Antidote potions, mana restoration potions, warming potions, frostbite cream, flint..." The table was almost overflowing, so he took some more and placed them on the bed, "A winter cloak, a compass, a blanket..."
Ancia couldn't help but chuckle. "Am I going camping in the snow mountains? Why are you bringing so much stuff?" She herself was a priest, so why was Murtrie preparing so many healing potions?
Murtrie: "Are you sure you don't need me to come? Take me with you, you don't need to bring any of this, I'll take good care of you."
Ancia sighed. "Really, no need. I'll worry about you if you go. Just stay in the Eternal City." She added, "I'm leaving for the Holy See soon, no need to see me off."
Murtrie lowered his dark red eyes and said, "Hmm." He checked the supplies over and over again, his movements focused.
Ancia looked at him, her heart softening. She packed all her belongings and whispered a promise, "Don't worry, I'll come back, I promise you."
Franka handed her a map of the Northern Snow Mountains and the contact point for the Azure Cypress City Guild. "Guild Master, if needed, you can contact Laura of the Azure Cypress City Dark Night Guild."
Tucker scratched his head. "If you need help, just send a message, and we'll all be there."
Ancia accepted their kindness and said, "Okay."
The gate to the outpost closed. Ancia stood at the street corner and glanced one last time at the window of the room on the third floor of the outpost. She knew that Mortley was there, and she smiled in that direction.
The dark red eyes behind the curtains watched her leave silently until her figure completely disappeared around the street corner.
After Ancia arrived at the Holy See of Light, she only said that she needed to use the teleportation array before the nun led her to the inner court.
Cardinal Finnel smiled warmly. "Miss Ancia, it's been a long time. Which city do you need to go to?"
Ancia skipped the pleasantries and said, "Good day, Your Excellency, I wish to go to Cangbai City."
Finier channeled magic into the teleportation array. "No problem."
A complex teleportation array lit up, and the buildings before Ancia's eyes changed slightly; she had arrived at the inner court of the Holy See in Cangbai City.
A bishop she had never seen before was staring at her in surprise. He quickly matched her appearance with the information coming from the Eternal City. "Miss Ancia?"
Ancia nodded slightly, "Sorry to bother you, I just need to pass through." It only took her a short while to find the side gate of the Vatican.
The Griffin Guard was stationed outside the city, with a particularly magnificent tent nestled among many of their tents. Verion should be inside. Ancia bypassed them and climbed the snow mountain from another direction.
The temperature on the snow-capped mountain dropped sharply, and the icy wind blew from all directions, making people feel like sneezing. The sky also darkened early.
Ancia opened the system map and sighed. All the places she hadn't been to were shrouded in mist. Fortunately, she had a snow mountain map provided by Franka in her backpack. She unfolded the map, lit a small light with her fingertip, and used the light source to find her way.
A cold wind blew past Ancia again, almost blowing her cloak open. Ancia pulled the cloak tighter and waited for the wind to pass before continuing her ascent up the mountain, her steps uneven.
Deep in the snow-capped mountains, Skark sat atop the highest point of his territory, gazing at the round moon in the sky. It resembled the golden, crispy, and fragrant flatbread sold in the Eternal City. He sniffed, as if he could smell the aroma of meat pies again, along with the sweet scent of the person who always sneaked out with him to enjoy delicious food.
A gust of wind and snow brought in fresh air, and Skark suddenly turned his ears in confusion, sniffing even more intensely.
Skulk was bewildered; it didn't taste like shortbread, but...
Why does it smell like Ancia?
His amber eyes shone brightly, and a joyful gurgling sound came from his throat. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately leaped down from the mountaintop, transforming into a crimson lightning bolt as he rushed into the snowstorm, frantically running towards the direction from which the scent was coming.
Even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance, he'll still go and find it!
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Author's Note: Ancia: I'll save you first, then I'll save you... Don't worry, everything is under control.
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