9 / 10 Acting

Nick Rogers took a few deep breaths. After calming himself down, this young guildmaster coldly looked around.

After a determined nod, Nick Rogers walked forward. Clearly, he had been set up.

At this point, backing out was not possible any more. His dear fellow family members wouldn't accept further delays. The fellow team leaders demanded an answer right now. Refusal could lead to armed conflict. His odds of winning...

Putting more bet onto the gambling table was the only path left. A path forced onto him by his dear family.

Nick Rogers chuckled and took a look at Jake.

Lightly shaking his head, Nick seemed to be amused by his fate. In the end, an outsider decided the outcome of their family matters.

With another sigh, this young guildmaster seemed to have totally relaxed himself. At this point, there wasn't anything he could do anymore.

Either way, they would see the results today.

Passing through the cavern, there was another hidden door behind rock walls. Not even surprised anymore.

The group entered a wide hallway. No torches were needed here now. The place was lit up by white fluorescent lights.

Clean and reflective floor. Metallic-looking walls. LED electronic signs. Locked doors labeled with numbers. This place looked like a futuristic doomsday vault.

Just like Jake, the team leaders curiously looked around as well. By the looks of it, this was their first time here as well.

Walking up to a dead-end, Nick Rogers tapped his wand onto a wall. The wall inched backwards, and then slid away like a sliding door.

A gust of freezing air burst out that tunnel.

Jake took a sip of coffee. What could he say.

Rich people sure had fancy ways to play around.

The butlers had to lit up the torches again.

Looking behind him, those members of the Rogers family walked off by themselves. They were either not interested, or this was too cold for them.

Walking down this tunnel, going through another hidden wall-door, the group finally reached their destination. A freezing-cold cellar.

As light shined into this hidden cellar, a frozen pillar could be seen at the center of the room.

That ice pillar was the only thing in this spacious room. Its surface looked a little rough. This pillar looked like it's covered by a layer of frost.

As the group flocked into this room, the team leaders exchanged confused eye contacts. They seemed rather confused by this sight. This was Nick Roger's answer?

As a detector, Jake could easily see a human figure inside that frozen pillar. This seemed to be some sort of seal spell. Four light-blue chains binding his limbs. One chain on his chest.

Emitting a teal-colored mana, the dude inside slumped on a chair. He seemed to be sleeping.

Yep. The dude was sealed, not frozen. The pillar of ice was made out of mana, not real ice. So this guy could still stay awake.

Taking a closer look, His condition was no good at all.

Nevertheless...

Threat level by instinct: moderate.

This was the strongest explorer Jake had met so far.

In a moment, Jake could guess some information about the current situation. This guy was the actual guildmaster of the Iron Sparrow Guild. But for some reason, he sealed himself?

Yep. Those chains looked like they had impaled this mid-aged dude. But in reality, they were more like extrusions attached to his body. Kind of like headphones. Or earrings that didn't need piercings.

Sensing the questioning gazes from the team leaders, Nick Rogers walked up to that ice pillar.

"This is my father. Our guildmaster. He prefers to go by the codename, Badger..." Nick Rogers explained to Jake.

Scrapping the frost off, the team leaders could crudely see the inside now.

As these guys made their observations, the members of the Rogers family had returned. They were in winter outfit now. Various designs of thick black jackets.

Nick Rogers looked around. "This is my answer... Anyone have any solutions?"

The team leaders answered with silence.

An unranked-tier taking an iron-tier's wand by force? Since when was that possible? But in this situation...

Some team leaders looked at Nick Rogers with suspicion. Some just looked shocked, unable to cope with this reality.

And some maintained a blank expression, as if they didn't care.

The eyes of some team leaders glinted. By the looks of it, they were busy thinking of other things now. Especially about their own situation.

They were probably trying to find an excuse and leave Shine city.

As a member of the Iron Sparrow Guild, they didn't lack beef with the other two Iron-tier guilds. Now that the only iron-tier in their guild looked like this...

After all, only iron-tiers could stand against iron-tiers.

Looking into that ice pillar, their guildmaster, Badger looked half-dead already. And nobody here had a solution.

If the news got out... No.

The team leaders looked at each other in suspicion. The true question was 'when will the news get out'.

The members of the Rogers family weren't blind. They could sense that the team leaders were losing loyalty.

After the team leaders moved out of the way, these family members took a look as well.

Some widen their eyes in disbelief. Some gasped out loud.

Some were genuinely surprised. Others had great acting skills.

Nathaniel Rogers closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Looked like he was thinking things through.

"You've made a rash decision Nick." Nathaniel sighed.

The team leaders looked at Nathaniel with cold gazes. What's that supposed to mean? They had no rights to know?

"You should have told us about the situation earlier." Nathaniel shook his head in self-guilt. "But I am at fault too. I should have insisted on figuring out the situation."

"Am I that untrustworthy to you." Nathaniel looked truly sorrowful about the situation.

Hearing this, the gazes of the team leaders softened. So Nathaniel just didn't want them to enter this vault? Nathaniel didn't know the situation either? They couldn't be certain now.

Nick Rogers chuckled in rage.

"That is right Nick."

"Nathaniel does have a point."

"You should have trusted us. Together, we would have had more time!" The big dude angrily pounded his cane onto the cement floor.

The family members all nodded and agreed. They had a mixed expression. Scared. Angry. Disappointed. Suspicion. Some were genuine. Others probably graduated with an acting degree.

Jake glanced around at their performance. As an iron-tier, noticing the minor details in expressions weren't difficult. Focussing his mind, Jake could even see their change of expressions in slow motion.

Got to admit. Pretty good acting. 9/10!

They were all in disapproval of Nick Roger's decisions.

Looking at his dear fellow family members. Nick shook his head in disbelief. It was as if he had known these guys for the first time.

"Things are dragged out now..." The lady in violet robe shook her head. "We needed more time to find a solution."

The team leaders nodded in agreement.

In a moment, Nick Rogers, the current temporary family head, the steward guildmaster, had been isolated. Only having those titles, what could he do?

Nick Rogers tiredly sighed. Turning his head, he looked at Jake with a dead-eyed stare. His sulk expression had faded away now. This dude didn't care anymore.

Jake subtly nodded, feeling sorry for this guy.

Backstabbing family members. Team leaders with no loyalty. The other oblivious half just blindly followed along. Must be tough.

"Master Collins..." Nick Rogers hoped for an answer from Jake. Nobody else here was capable of providing a solution anyways.

"Give me a second." Jake went back to his observation, taking a closer look this time. The ice pillar was obstructing his ability a little.

"Naturally Master Collins. We have plenty of time." Nathaniel 'bitterly' smiled and sighed.

Everyone else subtly shook their heads as well.

Nick Rogers sighed, puffing out a cloud of white mist.

Looks like this young guildmaster had totally given up now. He hadn't expected much from Jake in the first place. It's just that he had no other options. Like a drowning person, he would grab onto anything he had.

Nick Rogers looked up at the ceiling.

Memories of growing up flashed by. Being raised up by Badger. Scene by scene.

Sure. Badger was strict. But nevertheless, he's a good father.

Nick Rogers sighed.

Now taking a calmer look about it...

Sure, artisans were be helpful. To unranked explorers, any artisan product could be an extraordinary aid.

But iron-tier matters?

Nobody here expected Jake to be able to change anything.