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A path to ascention. Soul lords trials.
Chapter 13. Preperations for the raid.

Chapter 13. Preperations for the raid.

It took more than an hour of retelling everything that Rex and Lightning Sparrow had gone through, up to and including the moment rex had sensed the lives of hundreds of kobolds, deeper in the burrow. He had explained how the city was deeper below, either behind some hidden entrance, since neither of their party had seen one, or a different set of tunnels all together, but he was sure that it was there, and if needed, with the apropriate front line and numbers he would be willing to bet even his life, shoving the way personaly. The conviction and the wager that Rex was willing to set forth, was enough to convince the guild master of the absolute belief Rex held in his own senses, entirely convinced that a city was there.

"What the hell, lets see how true it is then." the guild master sighed, rubbing his temple, the pain from a hangover still racking his brain.

"Send a messanger to the city lord, see if he wants a chance at the spoils of a possible kobold city?"

"At once guild master!" exclaimed the attendant that was standing to the side still, and with those words he bolted out of the room.

"I expect you, at the very least" he looked at Rex dirrectly "to be present and show the way, since it is your life that you are betting here with the claim. As for therest of your party."

"I am a Solo." Rex spoke, ensuring the mistake does not complicate things.

"Hired as a plus one for a quest, yes?" questioned guildmaster.

"Exactly." Rex replied.

"Well, your presence is mandatory, as we have established. Lightning Sparrow was it?" he looked at the rest of the group, and recieving a nod, continiued. "Well, as the rules state, you will earn a generous reward for the discovery, if it turns out to be true, as well as retain an axclusive right to take part in the coming raid. Do you wish to use that privilege?"

Derek had to only glance at his party, who all as one nodded their heads vigorosly. "Yes sir."

"Understood. expect the raid to start three days from now. Rest well untill then. I have a few things to discuss with our solo here still. I believe you will find your way downstairs, yes?"

"Of course, guildmaster." Replied Derek, as the group started to rise from their seats.

"I think I was Lisa at the counter, hand the kobold bounty in to her, along with a 'hi' from me. Leave my part of the reward with her as well. Say I will come by to pick it up later." Rex spoke up, reminding the group about their reward, that still had to be divided. "On that note" he looked at the guildmaster. "Our job was to take out a nest, and with the fourty something kobolds we slew, the job should be considered finished, no?"

"Ehem, yes. That should be the case." the guildmaster coughed and answered, and seeing Rex stare at him, took a paper sheet from one of the tables in teh room, wrote something on it and after fishing out a small stamp frm hi breast pocket, stamped the paper sheet.

"Hand this over to Lisa when you go over to exchange the monster bounty. She will mark thequest as finished. You can go by to recieve your reward, as wellas the update on your guild card once we are done with our pending conversation." he looked at Rex, still intent on having a one on one conversation.

"See ya around." Rex waved to Derek and hi group, as the four left the rooom, and the floor consequently.

"So, what is it that you still might have questions about?" rex asked in a rather plain, yet polite manner.

"Which hall are you a part of?" the guildmaster asked, not mincing words, as he did not see any discernable insignia anywhere on Rex's person.

"I am a Solo, as stated before. No hall afiliations whatsoever."

"Wait, none? Not even a recruiter to the guild?"

"I know a hunter who said hewould welcome me any time, though he was of low rank, and I have recieved no benefits from any hall to be considered recruited by them."

"Then who taught you whatever technique you used to sense those supposed hundreds of kobolds further ahead?"

"Taught? Thats a funny idea. Everything I am, is my own hard work." Rex replied, even if it was not entirely true. His cultivator self has had quite a few fellows who had shown him a thing or two, but none of those techniques were on the spot right now, so theoretcally, he was speaking thruth at the moment. The guild master eyes Rex for a moment, trying to discern any lies in his words, but sensing none, he moved on based of off the infor he had currently, as well as asuming that Rex was indeed correct about the kobold city.

"If what you say is correct, you have quite the potential. As such, one the monster city is located, and subsequently raided, how about joining the guilds special academy?"

"Care to elaborate?"

"Of course. Like many institutions in the capital, it serves the purpose of teaching gifted youngsters in order to reach their potential. But unlike the scholarly pursuit of the academies, teaching clerks and other such proffesion workers, guild academy teaches the arts of war, to recieve new and capable adventurers who would pave the way into the unknown and cull the dangers the monsters bring along with their existance and expansion into humanoid controlled territories."

"That sounds like a place filled with arrogant and pompous noble children, having earned their place not through merit, but mouontains of coin their parents would donate guild, alongside commoners with talents who are then either pouched by said noble spaws or beaten down because of their rebelious nature. Sounds about right?"

And akward laugh escaped guildmaster mouth, not knowing how exactly to answer this statement, as it was pretty much on point with how the academy was these days.

"But is such a place not the perfect location to hone ones skills and character?"

"Yea, I will pass."

"Any particular reason as to why, besides disliking the idea of such an enviroment?"

"Yes. I am sure I would end up killing one of those arrogant little shits in the first few weeks."

Yet another akward laugh escaped the guildmaster. "Well, I suppose its not the best place for everyone."

"Is there anything else that you needed of me sir?"

"Yes, wait a moment." Guildmaster spoke, and proceeded to write another message. "Give this to one of the attendants. While I am inclined to believe your story about the city, we cant very well have you run away. So, for the next few days untill the raid comences, you will stay over at the guilds guest house. Bear with it, will ya. Guild rules and all that."

"Fine, what about meals and what not? Do I get to go out, or will there be someone who can get me something? I happen to have an enormous appetite, that needs to be sated."

"Dont worry about that. I will have Lisa take care of you since you seem fond of the girl. Though, a warning of sorts, if you will. Hurt her and I will personaly break your legs."

"Sigh" Rex sighed and shook his head "I wthink you misunderstand something. I think she is cute, like a little sister, but that is all. I want to help her out, maybee spoil her a little and beat the boys that would lust after her, but that is about it. You know, big brother stuff."

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"So, once you are big and strong, can a weak little guild master of a boonies guild ask for your help to save her, should worst comes to bear?" the guild master asked innocently, though Rex somehow missed a glint of something in the mans eyes.

"If I can help, sure, though I doubt it will happen any time soon. Got a lot of growing up to do still." Rex just shrugged as he replied.

"Noted." The guildmaster replied, waving Rex off afterwards. "Go on then. You no doubt would like to rest after such a hectic day."

Rex nodded to the guild master, and then left the place, decending the stairs and moving straight towards the counter where Lisa was working. he had to wait another thirty or so minutes untill his turn came, quite a large amount of men standing before Lisa, waiting their turn. Had Rex not made a deal with Derek's group that their joint monster bounties, should they ever tackle any other job together, would always be handed in to Lisa, he would have walked straight to another attendant, but his share of the quest and bounty reward was no doubt with Lisa, so he just had to endure the waiting.

"Hey Rex!" Lisa exclaimed with a smile as his turn came. "I have your share right here. Derek told me all about your job today. Crazy huh." she beamed as her hands slid under the coounter, grabbing a small pouch of money, while at the same time recieving his adventurers card, adding another completed F rank mission to his tally.

"Sure was." Rex replied with a light smile of his own. "Seems like its not going to calm down any time soon." Rex added, as he looked at the rather heavy activity and ever increasing numbers of adventurers coming and going through the guild.

"Yea, the guards have probably already spread the news of the monster city through half the town, if not all. Anything else I can help you with?" she smiled a bit strained smile as she looked past Rex, clearly more than happy to talk for longer with him, but due to the ever growing line, one that was ammassing with the other two attendanats as well by now, every adventurer clearly aiming for one of the coveted spot in the raid, she had to rush him forward.

"As a matter of fact yes. Here, a message from the guildmaster." Rex replied as he handed her the note with guild masters seal. Lisa read through it in just a moment, then asked a moment later.

"Come with me." She spoke as she left her place by the counter, moving towards one of the doors leading deeper into the building. Rex followed her, through said door, coming to a rather cozy room with a small kitchen, a table and a few couches along the walls.

"Please wait here for a few hours, while I finish my shit and the craziness calms donw a bit. The raids are always a headache to the attendants and the city officials, but at the same time it does bring in a lot of wealth."

"Sure. do what you must. i will be right here, though I was wondering, if there is anything like a pantry that I could raid. I warned the guildmaster that I have a voracious apetite."

"Mhm. Here. Help yourself." She lead him to another door where a rather large pantry with all sorts of dried meats, vegetables, fruits and other sorts of food were stationed.

"Thanks Lisa. Go get em."

"Umm." she beamed with a smile, took a deep breath and left through the door, back into the chaos of the guilds reception hall.

The remaining evening Rex spent as he would usually, having a rather large meal, after which he would spend a few hours expanding his space storage, reaching the size of a small shopping bag. As Lisa had stated, the guards had indeed spread the info throughout the town, with every able bodied adventurer soon rushing the guild hall to try and aquire a spot in the coming raid. While often quite dangerous, they were a veritable gold mines, with every such raid, having multiple parties had had struck gold and becoming rich overnight, not having to worry about income for years to come. As a result, Lisa returned to the back room in the late evening, clearly exausted from the ravenous adventurers.

"Thank you for the hard work." Rex spoke and opened his eyes as he sensed the girl enter the room, moment later slumping on one of the couches, groaning like and old man, eliciting a light chuckle from Rex.

Recieving a pouting look from the exausted lady, Rex chuckled once more, adding/ "You cant blame me. I was relieved when I saw that you are only human, getting tired and not bubbly animated all the time."

"Mrrr, I suppose." she pouted a bit, but enjoying the relatively soft sofa more, quickly relented. "Five more minutes okay? Then I will lead you to the rooms."

"Sure thing. But look at the bright side."

"What bright side?"

"Guild master said that you will look after me untill theraid comences, meaning you dint have to weather the adventurer storm that will no doubt continue for at leat another day or two." At his words, Lisa perked up a bit, a bit of life returning to her eyes. "Really?"

"Well, thats what he said."

"Thank lords for that!"

As Lisa requested, there was a five or so minute break, with Lisa gathering herself up to get to her room, and guide him to one thats free and Rex meanwhile enjoying the silence. Once she was ready, the two went deeper still in the guild building and a few minutes later, Rex was shown an empty room and told that he would be woken up by her in the morning, where she would then stay glued to him like a sole to a new shoe.

With that Rex laid down, having already done his exercises for the day and anticipating the next couple of days to be relatively calm as he would have to wait for the raid to be assembled and dispatched.

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As he expected, the next few days were relatively calm, at least for him, and Lisa in extension, somthing the energetic and super friendly bundle of joy was quite thankfull off, repeating it multiple times a day. And while Rex was allowed to move around the city, within reason of course, he spent most of his time in theroom that was sgown to him, only leaving the place to fill his body with a rather large meal. Lisa could only gasp at the amount of food that Rex ate during each meal, clearly complaining that what he was doing would induce a clear jelousy in every single woman. To be able to eact unreasonable amounts of food, while not having it stick to their curves? Yea, countless ladies would kill for the ability, some would go to an even greater lenghts.

There was an interesting development on the morning of the third day, when he was visited by a couple familiar faces. A coworker of Lisas, had informed her, who then in turn informed Rex, about the couple of ladies looking for him, and since Rex needed a break anyhows, having spent a lot of time working either on his space storage, or actively taking part in absorbing words mana into his body, he agreed rather easily, following his watcher to a seperate room where he could have a conversation with the guests.

"Huh? Fancy meeting you here Samanta. How are you doing?" Rex spoke one he entered the room and noticed the two people in question.

"Hello there Rex." She replied, a slightly akward smile on her face, clearly more than a friendly visit to make sure that their aquintance was fine and not abused by the guild.

"Dont think we have been introduced." Rex then turned to Samantas companion, who smiled amiably back at him and bowed slightly, making her large and shapely bust to sway with the movement, clealry catching his gaze for a moment. A mans gotta apreciate the beauty thaths before his eyes after all.

"Ria." she spoke, the smile remaining on her face.

"Pleasure." Rex nodded to return the greeting, moments later returning his gaze to the hazel haired beauty. "So, to what do i owe the pleasure? I doubt that this is a social visit."

A helpless smile adorned Samantas face as she exhaled heavily, trying to find the best words to start with, deciding on an aproach a few moments later.

"Lisa, would you mind leaving us for a few minutes? We would like to discuss this with Rex alone." she finally spoke, her gaze fixated on the bundle of joy.

"Hmm? Sure. Call me when you are done." Lisa only nodded and left the room, leaving the remaining trio in a rather akward silence, that was broken moments later, as the blonde buxom beauty spoke instead of Samanta.

"There is a favour we would like to ask, and I am willing to compensate accordingly. A-anything you whish." She spoke as shyly, one of her hands clenched by her side into a fist, as the other slowly pulled at her cleavage, revealing more and more of her well developed and shapely busom.

"And why do you think I would enjoy something that is offered through gritted teeth?" Rex asked, clearly aware just how much the idea and offer was loathed by the girls, as well as the sheer desperation that both seemed to be in."Better yet, why dont you start with what it is that you believe I have, or can do for that matter, that would warrant your friends body in exchange. And to be specific here, hers precisely. Why not yours, your archers or your fighters for that matter?" he finished, sat at one side of the table and waited on the two women.

A minute or so later, the two ladies sighed, and slumped into their own chairs, a clear exaustion obvious on their faces, as well as resignation and defeat.

"We heard from Derek that you found a monster city during you quest. The one that the whole town is talking about and prepearing to raid." Samanta started, waiting for Rex confirmation.

"So far correct."

"And am I correct to asume that you are going and have not formed a party of your own yet?"

"True as well, though I dont see how that matters. I am a Solo after all."

"Right, you probably would not know all the details here. Every party, Solos included, have a right to take part in a raid of a city they had discovered, since that is not a feat to be achieved by their lonesome, as well as a sizable reward from the spoils attained from the place. There are numerous groups that have made their goal to discover fresh monster cities, getting rich in the process."

"So?" Rex asked, still waiting for the punchline, a realization dawning on his face. "You want to join with me. Why?"

A defeated sigh escaped Samantas lips as she looked at him. "We had taken a quest further away from here, so by the time we returned, all the slots were already taken and we got trapped in a problem that needs a quick influx of funds."

"Okay. That explains the desire to get into raid. I am still confused about the desperate move of offering Rias body. Even I could see the reluctance and gritted teeth as you did so. I know I am not the hottest piece of asss around, but that is just mean."

"S-sorry. We might have overheard how ,uch you apreciated my form."

"Ahh. A favour for a favour. Right. Should have started with the offer of a few dates or something. That calm and slight smile on your face makes you so much more enchanting and desirable. This, this was just sad." Rex sighed, earning an incredulous look from the two beauties. "So, what the problem?"