Heroic Rank Gathering [Pt 3]

"I'll get straight to the point."

The Guildmaster closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. His deep tone perfectly represented the mature features that were vividly outlined on his face.

"Congratulations on joining the highest echelon in this trade we call Adventuring." He said, looking at the three newcomers.

—Jet, Lux, and Sebas.

In his eyes, all three were splendid. They would make for good candidates to succeed him once he no longer occupied the position of Guildmaster.

'I'm not growing any younger. Someone will have to step up eventually…' He often said this as a joke, but he genuinely meant it.

He—Richard Lysth—was not as strong as he was in his prime.

After reaching the pinnacle of strength, the only place you could go was down. As such, his abilities were already showing a rapidly growing rate of decline.

He didn't think he would last another decade before he had to permanently retire from this position.

'To do that, though, I need a capable successor.'

Before the advent of the three newcomers, he only had Noah and Britta, and just a month ago… there was only the latter.

The numbers had increased so much in such a short span that he couldn't help but be relieved.

'Is this some kind of sign?' Richard thought to himself with a wry smile. 'It seems my time as Guildmaster is coming to an end sooner than I imagined.'

He just had to choose his successor before then.

'I can't choose any of the Vice Guildmasters, so it has to be one of these ones.'

The operations of the Adventurer Guild was too vast for just one or two people to properly manage. As a result, there were five Vice Guildmasters in total.

Two belonged to his faction, and they wholeheartedly agreed with his decision to seek an heir outside the administrative system of the Guild.

However, the other three didn't like the idea at all.

They insisted that whoever would run the Guild after the Guildmaster retired had to be a qualified person who was already in the Guild's framework.

The 'qualification' for such a position was—unsurprisingly—being a Vice Guildmaster.

Their reasoning wasn't unfounded, though. Based on the records of the Adventurers City, this had always been how things were.

The role of Guildmaster wasn't one that could be handled with muscles alone, but brains. As a result, Vice Guildmasters were traditionally chosen to fill up the position of their predecessors.

'But… times have changed.' Richard sighed internally.

With the war against the Dragons reaching a crescendo, and the appearance of more skilled Adventurers and deadlier Dungeons, it was obvious that the world was marching forward.

The Adventurers Guild—no, the entire City—had to do the same.

'They don't seem to realize that strength is becoming extremely crucial in the current world. It is the most valuable commodity at the moment.'

Of course, that didn't mean brains were useless. However, any true Heroic Rank Adventurer had to have the spirit of Adventuring embedded in them, coupled with the instinct of a truly strong person.

Weak men like the Vice Guildmasters didn't understand it, but once humans reached a certain level of strength, they saw the world a lot differently.

That was what Richard was after! He desired a champion that could lead the Adventurers City into a new path that would allow them to thrive in the changing times.

'But those fools don't see it.' He nearly sighed again. 'They cling onto the old ways without consideration for the future…'

They were the same people who kept opposing compliance with the United Human Alliance and also reinforced the narrative of hatred in the minds of many Adventurers towards the Alliance, all while the latter fought the war on everyone's behalf.

'I had to request the assistance of the Royal Council for this Grand Calmity Class Dungeon behind their backs. Other than the two in my faction, no one else knows about this…'

And he would like to keep it that way.

Richard cast his gaze on each and every one of the people present and nodded to himself.

'Perhaps I should finally make a choice in the upcoming Conquest.'

He would choose an heir and groom the person to take on his role. Of course, that meant teaching him the rules of administration and qualities of leadership.

'All for a better future…'

"Huu… I have something important to discuss with you all." Richard said, calmly ensuring everyone was paying attention before proceeding.

However—

"Tell us why you were so late, Richard! You can't keep doing this!" Britta yelled out.

"As much as I hate to agree with the spiteful woman, she has a point, you know? What took you so long?" Noah asked, folding his arms and exhaling with a bit of annoyance.

Richard instantly felt trapped.

The new Heroic Rank Adventurers said nothing, but merely judging from their silent gaze, it was obvious that they desired answers.

"Ahh… well…"

He took his time studying the faces of everyone present and decided to proceed with caution.

"I went to the Grand Calamity Class Dungeon to observe it again."

He wasn't lying.

Richard had a policy about honesty that he never broke. As a result, he was able to get the trust and respect of everyone around him.

Honesty really was the best policy!

"Yeah, no shit! There's no way observing it would have caused you to be so late!" Britta yelled with narrowed eyes.

Richard gulped.

"Come on, just give it to us straight." Noah sighed. "We can handle it."

Beads of sweat formed on his face as he sighed and decided to come out with it.

Honesty was the best policy, except in situations like this.

"I… got lost." As he said this, there was a moment of silence dedicated to his statement.

It didn't last for very long, though.

"Again?"

"What the hell, man?!"

"I can't believe this!"

"Right? Every time! Just go with a staff or something!"

"Exactly! EXACTLY!"

Richard couldn't help but sit still and accept everything thrown at him with a smile on his face.

'I'm sorry, everyone. It's my fault… haha…'