Oath of Mana

Blaze was going through the applications and found some of them interesting.

He had only gone through a few of them, when knocks sounded on the door.

Blaze just spoke without taking his eyes off the sheet in front of him.

" Come in."

The door opened and the person walked in.

" To what do I owe the pleasure of having such an important person meet me like this?"

Blaze looked up.

"..Mr. Rin Takayama."

Blaze had sensed an S rank's aura past the door.

He didn't know the identity of the visitor, but it wasn't difficult for him to make a guess.

The three guilds had no reason to visit him or rather, it would be more accurate to say that they would prefer to stay away from him.

The association's S ranker was in the north of the empire and couldn't come to see him.

Out of the two remaining hunters who preffered to work alone, one had the personality that wouldn't allow him to come see him like this to have a chat.

So, only the remaining person could arrange this meeting.

It wasn't a difficult task to do, given who this person was.

The man wearing a black overcoat and black gloves removed his hat and sunglasses to reveal a handsome face and long black hair.

He stuffed the sunglasses in his front pocket and then laughed.

"Hahaha...you really are fearless. Just as I have heard."

He looked around twenty years old and had a build similar to Blaze.

Rin sat down on the sofa opposite to Blaze and lit up a cigarette.

Blaze put the documents on his lap.

Rin puffed out some smoke and continued.

"I apologise for not making an appointment first, before coming."

"Not at all. A busy person auch as yourself, wouldn't come here for a trivial reason after all."

Rin Takayama was the son of the previous head of the Takayama group.

He was a business tycoon and a gang leader.

He was among the wealthiest people of the empire.

In the novel, when Frore was still weak and being chased around by the association's S ranker, who was dead set on getting rid of him; Rin helped him under the condition that Frore would make him an exclusive weapon.

That was how Blaze came to know about the characteristics of Frore's original weapons.

Of course, Rin didn't believe in the cult's nonsense and he knew that the three guilds had framed him as a villian.

Hence he helped Frore out on some occasions.

{Although, he wasn't exactly a good person, at the very least he wasn't an enemy.}

Blaze had this thought, while making eye contact with the person smoking in front of him.

{But that wouldn't be the reason why he is here. He shouldn't have known about Frore's excellent craftsmanship because I didn't make it public that he can create weapons from his imagination and that he can make legendary class wespons.}

"The look in your eyes, is telling me that you are wondering about the reason of my visit. So I will get to the point."

Rin let ash of cigarette fall on the table and looked at Blaze in the eye.

"You killed that bastard Maragmus Lee, didn't you?"

Blaze replied stoically without any change in his expression.

"Yeah."

"You won't even deny it huh? I like honest people like you. To be honest with you, he was a pain for me too."

"I gave him a warning, but he just wouldn't understand...but, you wouldn't come all this way just to thank me for taking out the thorn in your eye."

Rin smiled.

"Indeed. I heard you were looking for founding members for your guild."

"Yes, that's correct."

Blaze nodded and Rin continued.

"As you know, I prefer to work alone. When I need someone, the awakened people under our group go with me to the raids.

But, there is a limit to what one has an access to alone, even as an S-rank.

Preference to bid on dungeons and dungeon items is given to guilds. However I don't want to nor do I have the time to create a guild and I detest the top three guilds.

Thus, I came here to make a deal with you."

Blaze gave him a look to keep going.

"I don't care who you choose as the members and I wouldn't interfere in the guild's business, unless necessary.

I wouldn't ask for shares in the guild and I don't want the position of vice- guild leader. I just want to use your guild's name.

In return, I will help in establishing this guild and provide you with management team and support.

I will also go to raids with you, when there is a need. "

Rin took out a contract from his inventory and handed it to Blaze.

He tossed the ciggerate butt in the bin after putting it out and took out a new cigarette, held it in his mouth.

He took out his lighter and with a *click* lit up his second ciggerate.

Blaze looked through the contract.

"You even prepared an 'oath of mana'."

"I am a man who takes business very seriously. Normal contracts aren't really effective when it comes to deal between hunters. This is the easiest way to build trust with each other. We won't have to worry about getting backstabbed like this. No?"

"That's true."

An 'oath of mana' is simply a contract, which is signed while stacking ones mana on it. Upon breaching the contract, the party responsible for breachment will have their mana cores blocked.

Which basically means that person will die a slow and painful death in a few weeks.

One corner of Blaze's lips curled up.

{It works out perfectly, I couldn't give him the vice-guild master position; because that's for Frore. Plus he is a man who keeps his word. And I didn't have anyone in mind as the fifth founder, it's good.}

"Then can I ask you to add another clause?"

"Yes, what is it?"

Blaze seriously stated his terms.

"You will never trade the guild or it's members' confidential information. I think you are not the sort of person, who will do something like that. But, one can never be too careful. I apologise, if you found it offending."

Rin chuckled.

"It's nothing to be offended about. I am the head of an organisation myself, so I understand your concerns. Alright, I will add that to the contract."

He took the contract from Blaze's hands and supplied mana to the fountain pen in his hand.

He let the pen go and it moved by itself on the contract.

"There you go. There isn't any other problem, right?"

"Yes, I don't have any other issues."

"Then let's sign it."

Both of them took a fountain pen and signed it with their mana.