Blood's in The Water

  "Winter Legendary Greats? When did he change his name to that? Quite the overachiever it seems," Jonah thought, reading the reports about Winter. "Regardless, I was able to survive two catastrophic incidents," he thought, moving on from the name change, "First was the annihilation of Bobby's strike squad, and then the second was a recent case involving a hunter from the surveillance team who was hired as an assassin," Jonah thought to himself, "Winter is noteworthy because he's connected to Winter Throndsen's EWR," he added, beginning to connect the dots. "There's a rumor the chairman's first 3 sons were too unstable to take over the company, but they seem to be frontiers of researching skills, powers, abilities, and anything magical," Jonah continued, resting his head against his intertwined hands. His shoulder resting on the desk, "If they're studying everything magical, it would explain why Winter Greats brought his research home to test," he thought, getting closer to the bigger picture. "Considering the absurd incidents, he's survived all of them despite his lacking physical prowess. "He's defeated D-ranks, cleared two C-rank gates, and possibly killed a B-rank. Considering all of these factors," Jonah thought, seeing the picture now. "There's a possibility that Winter Greats became stronger!" He thought standing up and gathering a few things.

  "The E-rank Mythic Winter Greats have become stronger?!" Asks Chul, following his boss down the hallway to the building's elevator. "That's right, there's no way he could've survived both events otherwise," Jonah explained, "Both were major accidents where the majority of the participants died. Unless he's become stronger, there's no other explanation," he continued, waiting for the elevator to reach their floor. "According to the documents on file, for the most recent case, a C-rank mage and a B-rank healer combined their powers to defeat the surveillance agent, but I'm not buying it," Jonah turned over at Chul, "The guy was a B-rank assassin type mythic. Mages have a hard time with assassins, and unless he was an idiot, he would've taken out the healer first. Which means it would've been a fight between the c-rank mage and a b-rank assassin," Jonah continued, helping Chul connect the dots for himself. "I can't help but think that someone else defeated the agent from the surveillance team. Plus, the only three survivors were the healer, the mage, and Winter Greats. That means there's only one likely suspect," he explained, walking into the elevator, and pressing the lobby button. "I see, but Mr. Jonah, where are we going right now?" Chul asks, following him into the elevator. "Isn't it obvious? We're on our way to scout a new member," Jonah explained, looking back, over his shoulder at Chul. "I can't believe Mr. Jonah is personally recruiting a new hire... This must be a big deal!" Chul thought to himself, in surprise. "Let's go," Jonah walked out into the lobby.

  Returning to the dungeons, the massive beasley humanoids growl and snarl. The wolf-like beings began to tremble, their teeth chattering. In camouflage, Winter stalked the monsters, nearly bored to death by the similar mobs and monsters in each dungeon. Each one searched the area, in fear of a stronger threat. Then, one fell from their chest being ripped from their body, then the next from was cut into threes, and finally the third was left with holes in their body. An explosion of blood splashed onto the dungeon ground as Winter walked past the three, bloody messes. "I'm only level 39, and I can feel myself slowing down with each dungeon," Winter thought looking at his stats. "Although, I've learned new skills, and increased the level of my old skills," he added.

~>System<{" [Skill: Speed] Has Leveled up!"}>It displaed<~< p>

~>System<{" You Have Learned Two Skills! [Skill: Vital Strike] Level 1. Advanced Dagger Arts] 1,"}>it displayed<~< p>

  "The Stealth Skill I got from Kang is quite hard to sustain... I'm a bit reluctant to use it, but it's a lot more efficient than my other skills," Winter thought, drinking a mana potion. "I'm really glad my intelligence stat is quite efficient with ability points to mana points," he added, noticing another wolf-like man rushing at him, it threw its claw at Winter. With little to no effort, he swiftly sidesteps the claw, and enables his two new skills, creating three holes in the monster.

~>System<{" 70 [Skill: Advanced Dagger Techniques], For Daggers Only. Due to Your Extensive Use of Daggers, You Are Now More Proficient When Attacking With a Dagger. 33% Damage Daggers. Vital Strike Have Been Activated]. Mana Required, Attacks Become Efficient. Able Find Opponent's Points And Inflict Critical Damage,"}>it displayed<~< p>

  "This skill's not bad," Winter thought, watching the lifeless monster fall to the rocky ground.

~>System<{" Level up!"}>It rang<~< p>

~>System<{" The [Player] Has Reached Required Level,"}>it rang again, displayed this directly in front of Winter<~< p>

  "Required Level? For what?" He thought, baffled by what he had access to now.

~>System<{" The [Player] Has Received a [Quest: Job Change Quest]. Does Accept This Quest? [Y N],"}>it displayed over the previous notice<~< p>

  "A Job Change Quest? The System says I do have a job already, but I use a lot of Druidry," he mumbled, the dungeon dissolving around him after clearing the whole dungeon. Just at the front door of Winter's home, Jonah and Chul finally arrive on the scene. To see a strangely well-kept home, on the outside. Jonah looked through the windows to see a mess of fast food, beer bottles, dishes, and a complete mess with workout equipment. "What the hell?" He asked, half unsurprised and disgusted. "Does he do nothing but work, study, eat, and drink?" Jonah asks, ringing on the doorbell. Minutes later, Winter opened the door, confused. "May I help you?" He asks, looking at the two businessmen. "U-uh. Winter Greats, right?" Jonah asks, baffled by Winter's New appearance. "Yeah," he replied awkwardly, "Will I get in trouble for answering that question?" Winter thought, "He's changed so much from his photo, and it was only taken a year ago!" Jonah thought, "If I'm right about you, Winter Greats, you'll be the strongest rookie of the century!" Jonah continued with deep surprise and marvel. "It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Mr. Sangmin, and I'm the chief of the White Lion guild's management department, 2nd division," Sangmin explained, offering Winter a handshake. "White Lion guild?" He asked, looking down at his hand and taking it.

  In a different part of the neighborhood, they sat down in a coffee shop, both facing each other in the cool interior of the shop. "I'm sure you've heard of the different guilds. There's Hunters, Fiend, the Knights, the Fame, and then us, the White Lion," Sangmin began, taking a moment to drink his hot coffee, "I don't think there's any need for me to mention that the White Lion guild is one of the finest guilds in this area," he explained, setting his coffee down. "So, let me cut to the chase... Mr. Greats, I came to ask you to join the White Lion guild. We'll double whatever you're paid in EWR for raiding," Jonah explained with his hands on the clipboard he had set up beforehand. "There's no need to drag things out. This should be an easy win," he thought, smiling warmly. "We're willing to make you an even better offer if you feel that the amount is not enough for your exceptional skills," Jonah added, but Winter sat there thinking. Possibly doing the math, "How's that?! For a Mythic that hasn't raided many dungeons, this should be an offer he can't refuse!" Jonah thought, baffled by Winter's ways. "Just how expensive is the White Lion guild's building?" Winter finally spoke, his eyes meeting Jonah's. "Pardon?" He asks, "What does he mean by that?" Jonah asked himself, sweating. "We're currently not using the entire building, but if you combine all the floors, the value amounts to about $50 million," he explained. "Then are you saying the guild is willing to give me all of that?" Winter asks, crossing his arms. "Sorry? I'm having a hard time understanding what you're trying to say," Jonah sweats profusely, with the insurmountable money that Winter is paid.

  "Thirty Million Dollars?!" He asks half yelling and half whispering, his jaw dropping to the table. "Yes, I'm paid $30 million for each raid completed," Winter explained to Jonah. "You've just offered me double that, so it sounds like you're willing to give me the White Lion guild's building which is worth $50 million," he continued as a face of despair and surprise set into Jonah's face. "EWR pays him 30 million dollars? And by the looks of it, he's just been at home!" Jonah thought, "Are his skills that exceptional? He hasn't even been re-evaluated yet," he added in thought, "C-could he be lying to me because I have no way of confirming?!" Jonah thought, trying to see through the buff that wasn't there. "If you think I'm bluffing I can give you proof," Winter offered, taking out his phone and setting it on the table. "I thought he already knew about the deal I made with EWR since he offered me double what they offered right off the bat, but I guess not," Winter thought, showing the digital contract. "He's not bluffing!" Jonah thought, internal panicking. "Um, well, you see, I don't have full authority to sign off such a large sum of money," he began, "If you could give me some time, I'll discuss this matter with my superiors at the guild, and," Jonah explained to Winter, but he seemed uninterested. "Then I guess our conversation about business ends here," he stood up and pushed the chair in. "Maybe I got ahead of myself!" Jonah thought, gritting his teeth and looking down. "I should've figured out how much EWR offered him, and gotten the guild to back me up before recruiting him!" he thought, knowing his mistake intimately, now.

  "Now for something more personal. How did you find out about me?" Winter asked, suddenly becoming invisible, "You ran a background check, right?" He asked from no distinguishable direction. "S-sorry, what?" Jonah asked, baffled about where he went. A cut appeared on his cheek, and a drop of blood fell on his white undershirt. He was sweating profusely, with fear of what'd happen next. "D-did he go invisible?!" Jonah thought, looking around. "Look straight, and down at your clipboard," Winter demanded, a dagger's blade pressed on his collar. "I see! He's a powerful Mythic with the ability to go invisible! That must be why they pay him so much," Jonah thought, doing as was demanded of him. "Ah, we d-didn't mean to run a background check on you in the first place," he began, "After receiving some intel that someone's been messing with powerful magic in our area, we did some research, and that led us to you, Mr. Greats," Jonah explained. "We don't have any hard evidence but we firmly believe that you've experienced a sudden increase in strength. That's how you were able to consequently survive the deathly accidents," he explained. "Following this logic, everything makes sense. That's what brought me here today," Jonah explained with Winter's eyes on him. The hot blade of Winter's dagger pressed up against his collar remained. "How many know about me?" Winter asks. "Just me and one of my subordinates," Jonah explained, Chul enjoying himself outside, eating an ice cream cone. "Looks like I drew unwanted attention to myself by doing instant dungeons in my backyard," Winter thought, looking down at Jonah, "I don't want any more people to know about me. If I hear anyone else talking about me, would it be okay to assume that you and your subordinate were responsible?" Winter asks him, suspecting something more to come if he's not careful.

  "Normally, I'd have to submit a formal report about this issue to the guild master, but... I don't want to lose my head," he explained, laughing to himself. "I'll make sure to inform my subordinate about your wishes," Jonah replied, smiling. "Thank you," Winter responded, placing his dagger back into his inventory. "I see that I've been a nuisance to the White Lion guild with my dungeon raiding, but I unfortunately don't plan on stopping any time soon," Winter explained, sitting in front of Jonah once more, his arms crossed. "Well, we can't have that. Because of you, we don't have any gates to train our new Mythics in," he began, awkwardly. "It's not like we can assign them to high-ranking gates," Jonah added, awkwardly smiling. "Then how about we make a deal?" Winter asks, smiling softly. "What kind of deal?" He asked, intrigued. "I'll sell you three of the c-rank dungeons I've reserved. Of course, this offer only stands for today," Winter explained, "If you pass on this opportunity you'll have a hard time reserving any c-rank dungeons for a while," he explained, "He's like a salesman right now... This area isn't the only place where gates appear, so there are options to send our new members to other regions," Jonah thought to himself, "Of course, there are Major Guilds in every province beyond the city or in the borders, so we'd probably be met with some pushback if we chose to do that," he continued with his line of thought, "Alright. What's your asking price for all three dungeons?" Jonah asks, "$1 million for each gate," Winter smirked. In response, Jonah nearly spat out his coffee in surprise, "The maximum profit you can make out of a c-rank dungeon is half a million! Paying 1 mill for each would mean a huge loss on our end," Jonah explained, "We may be a major guild, but 1 mill is still pushing it. How about half a million?" He asks, and with a smile, Winter replies, "Deal," Confused, Jonah didn't quite understand how Winter was so happy about half of his asking price. "Three c-rank gates for a total of $750,000. Please wire the money to my account when you have the time," Winter shooking on it. "Ah, about your cut, this is a gift," Winter summoned a healing potion to his hand. "Drink this, it'll help," he explained, handing it to Jonah.

  Nearly instantly, the cut Winter gave Jonah was gone, "W-what is this?! The cut just disappeared!" He thought seeing a magical aura around his cut. "Y-you revealed your stealth and healing abilities to me. Would it be alright for me to assume that I've earned your trust?" Jonah asks. "Depends if you keep it to yourself or not," Winter replied, starting to leave. "Mr. Jonah! Did things go well with Winter Greats?" Asks Chul, rushing up to his boss. "Chul, he might be even stronger than we'd thought," he turned to look at Chul. Outside, Winter was walking down the street. With his phone up, he listened to his bank, "Sir, the money has been deposited. 750k dollars have been added to your account. Where did you even get that kind of money from?" They ask, "That's confidential information," Winter smiled widely. Several days passed, and Winter was just grinding the instant dungeons he acquired through the System. But, like lock work, Chul rushed into Jonah's office with his phone, "Mr. Jonah! Mr. Jonah!" He exclaimed, "What? There's a surplus of c-rank dungeons in our district?!" Jonah had a sense of betrayal. "Yes! And all of them are 10,000 or less!" Chul added. "No way," Jonah mumbled awkwardly. "Winter Greats hasn't reserved a single gate, yet," Chul explained, showing him his phone. With several dungeons that are still up for auction. "Mr. Jonah. I think we've been had. Winter Greats never seemed to plan on reserving any dungeons for today," Chul added, as Jonah trembled and sweated profusely. "Not only have I failed to scout Winter, but I've also been scammed by the same man! How could I make such a stupid mistake!" He thought looking down. Why would he do this? Was he not worried that I might expose him?" He thought, then his phone went off. It received a text. "An unknown number?" He thought aloud, looking down at his phone. "This is Winter Greats. We're even now, so I'll forget that you even ran a background check on me in the first place," it read. "Deals should only be made based on trust, huh?" Jonah asks himself, "He won't be easy to deal with, that's for sure," he added. "I didn't expect him to contact me personally, though. Did he get my number from the business card I slipped to him with our handshake?" Jonah thought aloud, gripping his phone. "Whatever, at least I know his number, now. That's enough for now," he added. "Our goal is to recruit him to the guild, after all," Jonah explained. "I'll get a slap on the wrist for the money we spent yesterday, but it's not a huge issue, anyways," he added.

  "Alright! Time to see what this is about," Winter looked down at a key in his hand, in a nearby national park with a mountain range running through it in the distance. "Time to see what this is all about," he smirked. A streak of purple lightning and magic fell from the sky, landing on the ground in front of Winter, a portal formed before him. "Let's see what kind of Job I'll get," he stepped into the portal. "I wonder what kind of monsters I'll encounter inside. So exciting!" Winter thought. He stepped in, with a purple aura circling him and his vision. "I'm getting the sense that-" Winter began, as darkness consumed his view. Purple electric sparks erupted from each corner of his vision, with a white dot exit, or entrance in this case. Far in the distance, beyond the darkness- "The real game is starting now," he added in thought.