Xu Feng had thought long and hard about how to compensate Carmen. Although she didn't show any signs of anger or emotion from being killed, he knew she was merely suppressing it.
After all, he practically went berserk and had no hesitation in starting a war on the spot to seek revenge.
Carmen rarely showed much of her concern on the surface, but she definitely understood him. As someone who remained practical and commenced a plan after crafting it carefully, it was easy for Carmen to know he was not the impulsive type.
Yet despite that fact, he revealed a frightening side that caused tremors in everyone.
It was to the point that Hundred Ghost—his spy on the Reaver Guild began to report that they had halted all types of actions. The Guild Leader was frightened deeply by the fierce retaliation that caused Vegan Life to have no future in the Divine World.
The same goes for Lethal Corp, in which DeathLingers of the Eternal Guild secretly send him a message that the Vanguard Guild was considered taboo.
Thanks to the Malefic Order Guild's action that crossed beyond the line and provoked the Vanguard Guild to the max, everyone was now able to tell what it meant to be granted a permanent death.
Even MIST was grateful that they had only been killed in an official guild war. They gladly receive this type of punishment over the so-called permanent death.
With all the chain of reactions happening, Xu Feng was actually displeased.
Had he been a better Guild Leader and prepared for unexpected factors, then Carmen wouldn't have been killed. The prestige she built up was nearly wiped out in an instant.
Of course, some could argue that nobody could have predicted an enemy from another plane would pay a heavy price to cross over to wreak havoc.
However, Xu Feng should have known about that since he agreed to make a deal with the Floral Witch. When he thought about that transaction deal, his mind was constantly being filled with regret.
'I was too impulsive and tried to dabble into the muddy water.' He blamed himself for overstepping this time. He hadn't thought about how the others would view the Hall of Resonance and the related parties.
From their perspective, it was the equivalent of having an outsider suddenly come out of nowhere and swoop in to take a cut of the pie.
Therefore, Xu Feng understood the Malefic Order Guild's action, but understanding and complying were two different things.
Since the conflict was indeed caused by him, he would admit that part. But that didn't mean he was going to let the matter off. Having thought about that, Xu Feng believed giving Carmen some shares of the guild was a great compensation.
Hence, he offered it to her and created the current awkward moment in which Carmen was rendered speechless.
"I-I was just kidding." She hurriedly said and shook her head.
"But I'm serious." Xu Feng responded, his expression solemn. To be fair, if Carmen hadn't requested the shares, he would have given them to her somehow.
It was only 5% and wouldn't have an impact on the guild.
Despite this, the 5% was a symbolization that he trusted her heavily and his method of highlighting her importance to the guild.
"Carmen, I hope you know this. You're indispensable and irreplaceable." Xu Feng spoke softly. "This matter was my fault and I wanted to make it up."
By matter, he naturally referred to her unfair death. If it weren't for the protection of the city's core, then Carmen could have easily escaped with Void Portal.
A few seconds later, Carmen flashed a bittersweet smile.
"I know, Feng. When we first met, I was honestly skeptical as to why you approached me. Even going as far as guiding and trusting me so much." She recalled their first interaction and found it nostalgic. It was as if just yesterday they had met at the Mercenary Association.
She took a deep breath and then exhaled, "But now I know, you choose to place your trust in people and give them an inspection period. If they pass, then you will provide them with abundant resources. So if you give me the shares, then I'll feel like an outcast."
Stunned, Xu Feng was caught off guard. He didn't expect Carmen to interpret his action as such. Sure, he always gave people the benefit of the doubt and waited to see if they would choose betrayal.
However, he didn't intend to do any of that to Carmen.
And she definitely knew it as well, otherwise, she wouldn't have said she would feel like an outcast. It was precisely because Xu Feng didn't treat her the same as he did with the others that made her feel close to him and the guild.
"Ugh, you've got me." Xu Feng raised his hands in a form of surrender.
If he insisted on giving her shares as compensation, then Carmen would believe she was just like the other guild members—inspection period and passing or failing it. She didn't want to be an outcast, someone who was treated with caution and boundaries.
In the end, Xu Feng found it comical that many people sought his shares and got rejected by him. Yet the first time he offered his shares to someone, he got rejected.
"Anyway, I heard that Lumora City is actively recruiting fighters to participate in the City Competition. Will you take a look at the participants there to get a free inspection?" Carmen clasped her hands as she changed the topic.
"The City Competition is something every lower-graded city sought after to win because it's their chance for promotion without going through the regular process." She added.
Speechless, Xu Feng realized she was a terrifying schemer as well.
He had thought she vouched for him to come to this city to deal with Green Life Corp, but her main goal was actually about the participants' list.
As he hailed from Avalon City, a third-graded city, he would need to increase the city's grade or his evaluation to reside in a higher-graded city.
Higher-graded cities meant more security.
'So she remembered about me being ambushed and injured from the assassination huh.' He twitched his mouth in disbelief, referring to the time when Professor Allison was attacked at her mansion.