After not finding any book or torn pages in the group’s robes, Jack escorted them to the first floor, where the few most dedicated mercenaries inspected the posters pasted on the mission board.
Surprised to see them come down the stairs, Lana waved at them behind her counter. "Your cards are ready! But don’t tell me you spent the night in the library."
"Hahaha. We just lost track of time." Approaching her, Julius rubbed his palms. "Please tell us about the rules before we leave."
With a nod, Lana placed four cards on the counter. A soft silvery hue sparkled between the rows of engraved letters.
On the right side, he read his name, affinity, and rank, while the dots of different depths blending in a complex yet faithful portrait of his face on the left made him gasp.
Lana winked with a soft chuckle. "Told you the cards are much safer. I’d like to see someone try to forge one. I’m sure we’ll catch him before he takes three steps. But back to the rules. They’re nothing out of the ordinary. Don’t attack fellow mercenaries, act for the kingdom’s interest, and complete at least one mission of your rank per month." She raised her finger, emphasising the consequences. "The guild will demote you as a warning the first time. However, we’ll revoke your status if it happens again, so be careful."
"I assume I can take missions from other branches if I travel, correct?" Julius picked up and distributed the cards to his friends.
Lana nodded. "Of course. But let me warn you. The mission types differ from one branch to another. For example, our focus as a countryside town is to ensure citizens’ safety and benefit from natural resources. But in a large city... They’re darker... more focused on..."
Her voice cracked, her lips twisting. "Fighting and killing humans during caravan escorts or by flushing out criminal organisations, or wanted individuals. Sordid stories don’t lack. But I can find even more about youngsters leaving their peaceful towns to seek fame..." She sighed. "The outcome is almost always the same: they never return."
"Thank you for your warning, Miss Lana. We’re not headed to a major city, just wishing to see more of our kingdom. After all, doesn’t travel forge character?" Julius waved goodbye, a soft smile curving his lips as he turned to leave. "Who knows? Our journey might lead us back here in a few years. So, stay healthy until we meet again."
Although he didn’t plan to return, he didn’t want to let the gentle receptionist worry for them.
Leaving the guild, he crossed the still-empty main street and rounded a corner before the town’s gates met his eyes. Before crossing them, he leaned against a somber alley wall and brought his communication device to his lips.
"Do you hear me, Director Shepard?"
"I don’t." Shepard’s exasperated voice echoed, surprising him. "What do you think? Of course, I do. More seriously, are you in trouble?"
"Wouldn’t it be weird after a single day?"
"We both know your brother needed a single minute, much less a day..." Shepard’s reminiscent and amused voice echoed before it died down.
"That’s..." Julius hesitated before a brief chuckle escaped his lips. "True. But let’s focus on the mission. We collected vital information and a reliable method to access the kingdom’s cities. We’re moving out, so call the others back."
"Meet me by the fields. I’ll judge whether I should recall them after hearing what you’ve learned."
Julius nodded. "See you in five minutes." Then, he left the alley and crossed the gate.
The guards glanced at them, yawning in disinterest as his steps echoed on the old pavements, then dirt road.
Five minutes later, the swaying wheat parted with a soft rustle, revealing Shepard’s figure. The arcanist smiled, relief and pride melding in his voice. "Explain as we walk."
Julius’ eyes narrowed, his features tensing. "The real realm is too complex. Powers we only read in legends are as real as you and me. But let me start with the basics."
He raised four fingers, his face growing somber. "Four monarchs divided the realms into as many continents. Our province is in the west, ruled by the copper dragon king. I didn’t find much about the other rulers except for their species—a colossal bear commanding ice in the north and a winged magical beast in the east..." He paused, exhaling heavily. "A human rules the south."
A deep furrow creased Shepard’s brows. "We might have better luck south then."
"Yeah. Better luck to die." Julius’ lips twisted.
If information about the north and east was scarce, dozens of books covered the southern continent—all with horrifying warnings.
He quoted a sentence that summarised it all. "The livings have no place in the shadow monarch’s dominion. He’s a necromancer, Director Shepard. The only loyalty he accepts is from his undead minions. Nothing edible grows from the eternal darkness blanketing the lands." He shook his head. "No. This continent is a forbidden zone."
Shepard’s pupils constricted, his heart pounding against his ribs hard enough to deafen him. "Is he as powerful as the magus?"
"The magus? Ah!" Julius clicked his tongue and snorted. "That fool is a toddler in comparison. Forget everything you know..." His voice deepened, turning almost guttural. "Each ruler is of the ninth tier. You hear me? There are four monsters powerful enough to destroy our province a thousand times over with a flick of their fingers."
An oppressive silence, thick as a failed potion, pressed on everyone’s shoulders. Their eyes widened in horror, understanding Julius’ talk about legends. The ninth tier no one had ever reached. Four of them!
Before despair could shred their hearts like the fangs of a beast, Julius continued. "The copper dragon king doesn’t interfere with his continent. Instead, he appointed magical beasts to oversee each kingdom."
Shepard nodded slowly, yet his voice trembled. "Where are we, and how do we avoid angering that overseer?"
"The Lionheart kingdom, named after the griffin who ensures its prosperity. I doubt we’ll anger him as long as we don’t trespass on his territory or threaten the royal family."
"At last, a piece of good news." Shepard sighed. "How about your infiltration method?"
Julius closed his eyes, his solemness fading. "It’s quite easy. The king enforced a new law to compensate for the conscripted soldiers." He showed his mercenary card. "Even if the kingdom is winning, it can’t let magical beasts and criminals proliferate. My plan is straightforward: we drop a few people in each city we pass..."
Shepard paused, his lips curving as he cut Julius off. "They’ll register as mercenaries progressively not to draw attention. It’s worth pondering."
Julius raised his thumb. "We have so much to learn. Our magic, the tier system—everything we know is... outdated. But I’ll let Arun and Asha explain this part to you."