"And so I had no other choice than to come to Miami. It's the only place big enough to have multiple guilds that could do something about that dungeon, even if the first rejected me. Luckily, it didn't happen, but still." James concluded, scratching the back of his head in faux embarrassment.

He had just finished weaving the tragic tale of Thomas Green, the young Awakener who lost his whole family and was then abandoned by the AA, who let the monsters run rampant, not deeming the small suburb on the outskirts of Fort Lauderdale he came from important enough to dispatch a team immediately.

While doing so, he had kept a careful eye on the two consultants' state of mind, but boredom and greed were the only emotions he sensed.

James had deliberately chosen a story similar enough to his father's death to try and induce a reaction of some kind in the two men, but they seemed on the verge of yawning by the time he got around to telling them that he had seen another dungeon while traveling to Miami. As promised to Mr. Julian, he was testing them to see if they were as wretched as he believed, and so far they were revealing to be even worse, if possible.

That brought them back to earth. Dungeons were usually discovered quickly by the mana-reading apparatuses the AA had placed around the country. Even aquatic ones, as long as they weren't too far from the coast, would be found within a week of their formation.

His claim to have found an undiscovered one would need to be checked to make sure it wasn't just empty or one that had been left fallow after being deemed unprofitable and not dangerous.

If it proved correct, however, it would mean a significant bounty for whoever reported it. Going by the rush of emotions the two were feeling, they quickly realized they could claim the profits for themselves if they could convince the country bumpkin before them to keep quiet.

"And where did you say this was?" Hopkins asked with feigned disinterest, taking notes as if what he was talking about was nothing special.

James had to give it to him. He had a good poker face. Inside, he felt greedy and giddy at the idea of stealing from him. He was actually getting his jollies off at scamming an innocent person.

"Around Taylor Creek, near the shores of Lake Okeechobee," James replied innocently. "There were several monsters inside a cave there, and it led down a much bigger space. I didn't go in too deep because I was afraid something strong was gonna eat me, but I'm pretty sure it's a dungeon. Not that those bastards at the Association would care."

The two men nodded thoughtfully as if commiserating with him. "Yes, the AA has the unfortunate habit of abandoning those it deems not worth it. Well, it's their loss this time since it means we got you!" Knowles replied, giving him a winning smile that should have made him feel welcome.

It gave James the hives, but he focused his psychic powers, keeping himself from reacting despite his desire to reach over and strangle him.

"Was there anything else you can remember in the dungeon, Tom?"

James put up a facade of thinking about it. This was a crucial moment. While the presence of a dungeon would be enticing, it wouldn't be enough for the two to break their character. He wanted them to be exposed before he finally made his move, and only one thing he could think of would make them that excited.

"I remember thinking it was weird, but I can't quite… Ah, yes. There were a ton of eggs in the chamber. I had never seen a monster egg before, which was weird." He finally replied.

A beat of silence followed before Hopkins lunged forward, grabbing James' hand with significant strength. "Eggs? Are you sure it was eggs? How long ago was this?"

James blinked as if surprised by the excitement. "Yeah, it was eggs. Hundreds of them, at least. I didn't get too close because I didn't want to disturb anything, but from what I could see, there were several nests. It was three or four days ago."

Hopkins and Knowles exchanged a long look that spoke volumes. Luckily, James had an in. Their minds revealed what their game was. The two had initially planned to swindle him and pretend that someone else had already reported the dungeon after pocketing the money for themselves, but this was too big.

Stolen story; please report.

Such a vast discovery of monster eggs could go for millions on the market if they could get them to the buyer soon enough. It meant they were tight on time and couldn't allow James to leave. Whoever he told this to would jump at the chance.

"Have you spoken of this with anyone else?" Knowles asked, for the first time seriousness creeping in his tone. Gone was the lighthearted man who had welcomed him, and in his place was a deadly predator. If James hadn't been as strong as he was, he would have been intimidated by the shift.

"No, I told you that the AA didn't listen to anything I said. And I thought the Clearsky Guild could help me now that I'm one of you." He replied.

Knowles held his gaze for a long moment, trying to discern if he was telling the truth. In a way, he was. James hadn't spoken to anyone else of eggs in a dungeon simply because they weren't real.

Eventually, Knowles nodded, seemingly satisfied with James's response. "Alright, Tom, we believe you. This is an important discovery for the guild. We need to check it out as soon as possible."

James feigned excitement and nervousness; a part of him couldn't help but marvel at the greed shining so clearly in their eyes. "I'd be happy to take you there, but I have my orientation right after this. We could go tomorrow morning if that's fine with you."

The two men exchanged another look, this one of frustration. Hopkins leaned forward, his voice taking on a persuasive tone. "Tom, this can't wait. If what you're saying is true, we need to secure those eggs before anyone else stumbles upon them. It could be extremely dangerous if those monsters hatch all at once."

James shook his head, trying to look as if he was torn. "I really can't miss my orientation. How about this: I take you there first thing in the morning. It's not like anyone else knows where it is. And I haven't seen any signs of other Awakeners in the area when I found it."

After a moment of silent communication between them, Hopkins and Knowles seemed to come to a reluctant agreement. "Fine," Knowles said, his voice tight with barely concealed impatience. "But you have to promise, Tom. You take us there as soon as you wake up tomorrow, and you don't breathe a word of this to anyone else. Not until we've secured the site."

James nodded eagerly, playing his part to the hilt. "Of course! If those eggs hatch, it's gonna be a mess, and the AA certainly wouldn't help."

Satisfied, or at least mollified for the moment, Hopkins and Knowles stood, extending their hands to James. "We'll hold you to that, Tom. We're counting on you," Hopkins said, his handshake firm.

James left the room satisfied with his performance. Tomorrow, he'd get his revenge.

----------------------------------------

Back at the hotel, James relaxed in his room. He hadn't particularly enjoyed spending time with the Clearsky trainer, especially having to feign weakness and exhaustion whenever a G-rank would, but it was necessary for his performance. After all, it wouldn't do for anyone to get suspicious of him.

Also, Tom Green's disappearance would be much easier to overlook if it happened in a dungeon that claimed the lives of two C-rank consultants. People these days are very callous about death.

And that was the fate that awaited them. James had studied their character, as promised, and concluded that removing them was the best choice. They'd pay for their sins and wouldn't be able to hurt anyone else.

If James had truly been a rookie who had made the mistake of trusting the two consultants, he would have ended up dead in a ditch somewhere while they enjoyed the fruits of his labor.

And that was what they planned for him. Had the discovery simply been a new dungeon, they would have allowed him to go on, ignorant of their true character, but an egg chamber brought the worst out of them. No one else could be allowed to know of its existence if they intended to sell it on the black market, which meant that poor Tom Green would have to go.

"Well, Tom Green has a surprise for you." He muttered.

James stirred from his bed when he felt Mr. Julian's presence come closer and stop before his door. He unlatched the lock with a mental flick and allowed the man in.

"Good evening," He said.

"Good evening, James. I hope your day was productive."

James smiled. "It was. I believe I have enough information to go ahead with my plan."

Mr. Julian sighed. He sat down on the couch next to the window and looked out at the sea, "I won't tell you to think it through again. I trust your ability to choose, but are you sure you are ready to go through with it? Killing a man in battle is very different than orchestrating the death of two outside of it."

James felt his lips twist. He had been worried about that, but strangely, no hesitation had emerged. It was still possible his emotions would change in the coming hours and he'd get cold feet, but he didn't think so.

"It's a bit late now to get second thoughts, but I don't feel worried. This is the right path." He replied.

"Ah, the certainty that comes with youth. The world seemed so black and white then. The enemies were enemies, and the allies were allies. Now it's all muddled." Mr. Julian complained.

Considering that the old man had fought nazis, he might have a point. Despite the existence of monsters, humans were still perfectly capable of being terrible to each other. James wouldn't go so far as to say that they were the real monsters, as that was both too cliché and incorrect, but they were up there.

"Some things might be difficult to discern, but this isn't one of those. Hopkins and Knowles would kill an innocent just to be the ones to sell monster eggs. They had no hesitation. In fact, I'm positive they have done something like this before. They communicated too well. Both immediately were on the same page when I revealed what I knew." James said.

"Weeds need to be removed before they choke the garden." The old man sentenced in a heavy tone.

James nodded, "That is the principle, yes. Revenge might be the driving force, but I think this is good. I don't know if I'll be able to defeat the two of them together, and it might have been better just to ambush them one by one, but this way I can get catharsis."

"I am an old man, and this isn't my world anymore. I have agreed to take you on as my student exactly because I wanted to avoid making this choice. I don't know if that makes you a better man than I, James. I just hope you can live with the consequences."