Pre chapter Note: I’m going to be trying to implement multiple perspectives into this chapter, being Amaya and Katsu’s perspectives. I’m hoping it’ll be easy to follow and doesn’t throw any of my readers off. So please leave a comment and let me know if you’d like to see more chapters like this.

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(Perpestive: Amaya)

As soon as I stepped inside the guild, the first thing I did was talk to lady at the front desk. Dark brown hair and big round glasses, she had that nerdy but pretty look to her.

With a few simple words exchanged, I told her my reason for coming and she welcomed me to the back of the guild. She led me into a very specious room, it was the very picture of luxury. Black leathery couches that had a nice shine to them, and beautiful paintings of nature across the walls. There was even a big fireplace in the back.

“Usually there’s a wait for adventurers wanting to get their rank re-evaluated. We always have numbers of them coming in every day. Today, however, seems like you’re the first. Lucky you.”

The guild lady stepped ahead and stopped right besides this large crystal ball.

“Just place your hand here and we’re all set to start.”

Almost feels like I came for a physic reading. What does my future hold for me today?

Gently, I pressed my palm up against the crystal ball. Just at the touch, it made my hand all tingly, like it fell asleep.

“So uhm, how does this work?”

This was my first doing doing this. Had me a little nervous.

“Simply put, it sends magical signals throughout your body to determine your current strengths. Those same signals return back to the ball itself.” she lifted a small device in her hand, it almost looked like a phone, “The results will transfer to this and tell us where your new rank lies at. Any questions?”

It was a good enough explanation. I basically got the whole picutre.

“I guess not. Do we start now?” I asked. Though technically I just asked a question after saying i didn’t have any question.

“Whenever you are ready, we will begin.”

“In that case...” I took a deep breath, “I’m more than ready.”

“Awesome! Just a quick warning. Since it is your first time, this might feel a bit weird.”

Weird how?

Before I could ask, the crystal ball lit up brightly. A surge traveled through every vein in my body. My arms, my legs, my face, everything tingled. Like I was being electrocuted, but not in a painful way, more in a way that tickled. My heart throbbed and my vision darkened for a second. Then suddenly, it all came to a stop and I was left panting, sweating, grabbing onto the crystal ball.

“.....”

Even after everything i just felt, there was just one thing on my mind. My rank. As dumb as it sounded, it mattered to me. Any improvement was proof that I was getting stronger.

The guild lady looked down at her device for a moment then looked right at me.

“I’ll say, this isn’t bad in the slightest.”

This crystal ball drained me of my energy, or what was left of it from today. But i finally regained the strength to stand on my own, without holding onto the something.

“What do you mean? Are my results good? Do I rank up?”

“They’re as good as they can get for a beginner. You went from D-rank, all the way up to B.”

So, I skipped C-rank all together. As good of news as this was, I kinda felt a little...let down in a way. The blood and sweat I put into monster fights, the near-death experiences. And B-rank is all I get? I was still nowhere near the top. I’m not sure what I was expecting. I wasn’t a main character that could jump the ranks without effort. Far from it. This was reality. This was real life.

“You seem disappointed.” said the guild lady, “You were hoping for a better ranking. Is that it?”

“Guess you can say that.”

“If it helps any, you should know, I see many adventurers like yourself. Every day here. Ranking up isn’t done easy, or fast. So, take your time, go at your own pase. B-rank may not my the highest, but it’s certainly not the lowest.”

Guess this concludes the reason for my visit. I headed for the door.

“I’ll be sure to update your information in our system. Is there anything else i can help you with today?” she asked.

“I think that’s all today. Thank you for seeing me.”

“Not a problem at all. Come back anytime.”

It was a long day. I was ready to head back to the mansion and tuck myself in for a nice long sleep. But Katsu wasn’t back yet, and I was too impatient to wait any longer. I left him note on the wagon then caught a ride with some elderly woman. She was very kind, dropping me off at the mansion on her way home.

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(Perspective: Katsu)

In an alleyway, laid the front door to the shadow guild. A place for criminals and assassins alike. A place that serves as both a bar and a black market. This was a place you could find anything you needed, as long as you could afford it.

My two feet arrived at the doorstep and I gave a loud, firm knock. Moments after, it opened and I was face to face with a tall tattooed man. One of this place's security. It’s no doubt he was a man that had killed a few people in is life, just like anyone else inside.

“What’s the reason for your visit?” the man asked, intimidatingly.

“Business.”

“What kind of business?’

“The kind that’s none of yours's.”

After my remark, I was ready for him to attack me. But that didn’t happen. Instead, he laughed a bit and let me right in.

“You mean business alright.” he stepped aside, allowing me to pass before another member of security began checking me for weapons, patting me down. But all I had was the sword on my hip, which they took and placed it down on a bench.

“You can have this back on your way out.” he said.

This was their percussion to prevent any fatal brawls that would likely occur in the bar. Alcohol and deadly criminals were a bad combination.

I stood out from everyone else here, being the only one wearing a knight’s helmet. A look that told everyone loud and clear that I was an adventurer. Cold stared were shot at from every person I passed.

One of them being bold enough to stand up from their seat, a tall glass of bear in hand.

“Don’t reckon I’m familiar with you.” am eyepatch and messy black hair. Just by his face, you could see he was full of booze, drunk beyond compare, looking for any reason to fight.

But these were dangerous waters, a fight with him would result in my fighting any friends of his lurking around.

“Yeah. I don’t think so either. Only been here a handful of times.” I replied.

“An adventurer, I take it. What business you got here?”

For context, adventures are the ones doing good for the kingdom. Slaying monsters on taking down criminals. People here don’t take to kindly to people like me, but it’s not unheard of for adventurers to come by. Can’t say it will always end well.

I took a seat at the bar, ordering a shot of whiskey before I bother to reply.

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“My business here isn’t with you. Don't take it the wrong way. There’s no reason me to discuss it with you.”

Like I predicted, he got went ‘hands-on' mode and grabbed the back of my coat.

“It wouldn’t kill ya to talk. After all, you know what people think of little adventurers coming by. Why should we trust someone like you being here.”

“I’ll tell you again. My business isn’t with you. But I do have business here.”

“Playing that game, huh.”

He yanked me from my stead and smashed his glass into my helmet, glass shattering everywhere. I I fell to my knees. Luckily, this was a good helmet.

“Alright...have it your way, big guy.”

I threw a powerful jab into his ribcage, and as he bent over from the impact, I slammed his face into the table. He was big, but not durable, he fell unconscious.

But this was not the end.

A man came from behind, restraining me with a bear hug, lifting me into the air. He slammed me through another table nearby and climbed on top of me, wrapping his hands around my throat. I sent him staggering against a wall with a solid headbutt to his nose, then I bashed my knee into his stomach. He dropped fast, the wind knocked from his lungs.

Then two more of his buddied sprinted right at me, throwing a combination of jabs and kicks, all which I dodged around. A strong elbow to the first guys face, then a palm strike to second guy’s chin, they crashed against the hard wooden floor of the shadow guild.

Nobody else stepped up. But this little brawl drew everyone’s attention to me. The room from left to right, everyone stared at me, and the four men on the ground.

“Sir...your whiskey.” the bartender left a shot glass on the counter for me.

As awkward as this situation was, I acted like I didn’t just knock four men out and took my seat.

“Thank you.”

“...You’re welcome. Let me know if you need another.”

“I will.” I nodded, “...Sorry about the table. You can put it on my tab.”

The man chuckled, “Eh, forget about it. Probably the most entertaining thing I've seen all week anyway. I’ll let those other assholes pay for it.”

Now to get to the reason for my visit.

“The chairwoman. Is she in today?”

“She’s always in. Don’t got much of a life outside of this place it seems. No family, no love interest. Just work, work, and more work.” the bartender chuckled, “Suppose you got business with her?”

“Yeah. I’d like a word with her.”

“Good luck with that. Doubt her security would let a stranger like you in.”

“I was hoping you could ask for me to be allowed in.” I said.

Naturally, he wouldn’t do this for free. The chairwoman must be a busy woman. Just wasting her time would likely bring harsh consequences.

I slid four gold coins over, which he quickly pocketed.

“I can’t make any promises she’ll see you.” he said, “I’ll go see if she’d like a drink.”

Minutes passed and the bartender came back with good news.

“She’ll allow it. But she said make it quick.”

“Good.”

“She’s the last room down the hall. Hard to miss.”

Even without directions, I'd just have to find the room with security outside.

I steadily made my way down the hall, all the way to her room. Before her security allowed me in, they were sure to pat me down thoroughly again. Then with a nod to one another, I got the all clear to go in.

As soon as the door shut behind me, the chairwoman spun her chair around to face me. Long purple hair, and an irritated face, she looked the same as she did years ago. Freya Gray, the chairwoman of the shadow guild.

Her irritated expression faded the moment she recognized me.

“Well, isn’t this surprise.” she breathed, “How long as it been? Five-No... eight years since you’ve come to visit.” she stood from her chair, walking circles around me, looking me up and down, “You didn’t come to say hi. Now did you?”

“I didn’t.” I replied, “I have questions. Questions that someone like you would know the answer to.”

She had ears and eyes, far and wide, connections everywhere on this continent. She had to know something about the Claws.

“Questions?” she asked, “What kind of questions?” her hands interlocked.

“The claws. What do you know about their recent activities?”

A single finger on her chin, she played dumb.

“The claws, huh. Can’t say I’ve heard anything of them recently.”

Like I'd believe that.

I grabbed her wrist and pinned her against the wall.

“I know what kind of connections you have. I don’t believe that you know nothing.”

Her gaze casted down, before she looked up into my eyes.

“Now, is the how you treat the woman you’ve shared a kiss with?”

“That’s irrelevant. That was years ago. It was a mistake.” I released my grip, leaving her to rub the red mark I left on her wrist.

“...well. I might know a little tiny bit about their recent project. Remember, you didn’t hear this from me though.”

“Go on, Freya.”

She took her seat, and inhaled a deep breath before going on.

According to her, rumor has it that the Claws have been supplying weapon to a mysterious faction of hobgoblins. The Claws being one of the largest criminal organizations, they had plenty of weapons to go around.

Their motive? Apparently, the Hellbringers made a deal to deliver any rare items and valuables to the Claws, in exchange.

But something didn’t sit right with me. Why would the Claws help the Hellbringer knowing that their goal was to destroy the very kingdom they lived in? Hard to imagine that valuables would be worth helping terrorists.

None of it made any real sense.

“I don’t get it.” I said.

his couldn’t be the whole story. There had to be more to it, something Freya was keeping from me. There had to. I leaned on her desk, bringing my face inches away from hers, “What else do you know? You’re not telling me everything?”

“What is with you?” Freya slightly raised her voice at me, “I swear, that’s all I’ve heard.”

Taking a moment to read her face, it became clear that she was telling the truth. This made this situation more complicated. But there was only way to get the answers I needed. And that was to visit the core of the problem. The Claws themselves.

“There’s just one more thing I need.”

“Then you’ll be done interrogating me?” Freya snared.

After giving her my word, I continued with my last request, “I need to know where to find their leader.”

“The leader of the claws?” her eyebrows raised in question, “It’ not that easy. As you know, the Claws have many leaders among them. What are you planning?”

It’s true, the claws had a different leader for every part of the kingdom. But there was one man above the rest, one man they Claws were loyal to over the others. This was one guy that truly controlled them. Unfortunately, his real name was unknown. All he had was an alias. ‘Red’

“Not just any leader. Tell me where I can find the man at the top.”

“But...” Freya paused for moment, I could see the concern wash onto her expression, “That’s suicide, you don’t plan to interrogate him alone do you?”

Facing him alone would be dangerous, for any man. Excluding those with Legendary status.

But finding him was my only lead. If I find him, I’ll learn where to find more Hellbringers. And if I find the Hellbringers, there’s a chance I'll finally find the shadow Orc.

“Okay, but don’t say i didn’t warn you.” Freya crossed her arms, “If you want to find him. You won’t have to look any further than that capitol. Are you familiar with the Red Corp building?”

It was a tall building in the middle of the capitol. Red Corp was a place that specialized in creating gadgets and weapons alike for the kingdom. But I couldn’t say I was all too familiar with it. I never had any business there.

“Is that where I’ll find him?”

“Red Corp is a front. Sure, they create weapons for the kingdom to give us an edge should a war ever occur. But the money they earn is used to support the Claws. The CEO of Red Corp is a man named James Shyne. He’s your guy. The man at the top.”

To think that a man responsible for creating weapons for this kingdom was the same man in charge of the Claws. Unexpected. But it changed nothing, he was still going to answer all my questions.

“You’re not planning on just walking in there, are you?” Freya asked, “Can’t imagine you getting passed his trained security. I hear they’re all Ex-military.”

I shook my head.

“That would be reckless. Even for me.”

Still, I didn’t see any other way to get to him. Even trying to arrange a meeting with him would be difficult. I don’t see him agreeing to meet with an adventurer like me, especially if I had nothing to offer.

“Katsu...I don’t like when you stand there all quiet.” Freya squinted her eyes, leaning in, “It usually means you're planning something crazy.”

Maybe I was. There was one idea in mind. Like Freya said, the building of Red Corp had lots of security, each being ex-military. Naturally, the best time to strike would be whenever they had the least amount of security, whenever they were at their weakest.

“If you were going to storm Red Corp, when would you do it?” I asked.

“First, I wouldn’t. But if I had too, it would be best to do it at the end of the night security’s shift. Right when they clock out and head home. That would leave a small gap of time where there’s only a handful of guards there.”

“Good to know.”

“W-wait. Did you just use me to form a plan for you?”

I shook my head, “Not entirely. I still need to know the buildings layout. But the information about the time gap will help.”

I thanked her and headed for the door.

Before I left, she threw out a “Wait...Maybe come and visit sometime?”

“I’ll try.” I replied as I left the room.

Nightfall approached. The orange rays of the sun, slowly turning to darkness. I scaled the tallest building I could find, one that offered a view of the Red Crops building.

After pulling my binoculars from my back pouch, I held them up to my eyes, observing the building with enhanced zoom. Red Corps was at least thirty-stories high. Compared everything else, it was like a skyscraper.

“Zil, Del, Al,” I chanted the words to a spell, once taught to me by mentor.

With this, I’ll be able to scan the layout of almost ny structure I desire. Given that it’s not protected by magic that block me out.

The entre building of Lex Corp, lit up in an orange haze. The walls, thinned, allowing me vision to every room and floor, from the bottom all the way to the top. There was an elevator, not the ideal way of getting to the top for an intruder. I’m sure I’d need a keycard to access it.

There was also a large flight of stairs inside. I’d also likely need a keycard to enter the stairway, but I could use sheer force to break any lock in my way.

In just minutes of observing, I had most of the rooms and routes memorized. Above all else, I knew how I would get passed most of the security.

However, that was to be left for another day. In my current state, I was too exhausted to effectively carry out this plan. And so, after climbing down many stories, I made my way back to the carriage, where there was no sight of Amaya.

But I did catch sight of a note left in the back.

{I wasn’t sure when you were going to get back, buttttt I was way too tired to wait around. I caught a ride back to the mansion, so don’t worry about me. All is good. :p}

I couldn’t blame her. If she had waited, she would’ve been here, waiting the entire afternoon.