Bobby could not believe his eyes. She was dead, the memory was telling him. He saw it on the news. He could not remember much of the details, but he remembered. She was dead. And yet here she was, talking to two of the other founders of the guild.
Bobby hesitated only for a few more seconds before he noticed Jeff looking at him. Curiosity in his strange behavior. Taking a moment to take a deep breath, he decides to confront the very attractive elephant in the room.
“ Rachel, long time no see...”
The words barely escaped his lips when he noticed Rachel physically jumping startled and cowering away towards Jeff. Which broke his heart.
“ Bobby, don’t be a jerk. You scaring the poor girl.”
Bobby paused hearing Janice chastise him and saw Rachel really was scared of him. Then it dawned on the others he knew her name without being told.
“ So, you do not remember. We um... met during one of my dad's political parties. He was using me to curry favor with your parents. Your parents were using you as a shield against me. Eventually, we both snuck off and found each other in the same isolated spot. We both complain about our parents and eventually, we do what teenagers do...”
Bobby turned his head away as he blushed and as if a memory came back to her Rachel looked at him a little surprised.
“ I remember it vaguely. Shapes, colors... certain sensations.”
Rachel blushed a little as well and turned toward Jeff.
“ I do not remember all the details. It does not matter anyway, it was literally a past life.”
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She then looks at Janice.
“ What is important right now is our future. I got ahold of one of your drafts of your charter and I have to say, I am impressed. Not enough to join, but at least associated with you.
Bobby realized before the other two this was a power play. A business and political power play.
“ You have several crafters and laborers in the guild. I have access to most of the healers and buffers. In addition, I have several of the family members that are of blue and green dorms as well...”
“ And what exactly is your plan, Save for Jeff here, you are talking like you have the strongest combat group in the room. To be fair, you do have an impressive roster, but nothing like some of the independents that plan on going merc as well. Chutney, the tamer, for example already has a line for some powerful beasts. No one in the room can deal with a level twenty yet, little alone with a level fifty chimera. Luke, over there in the corner has already arranged to be hired by the adventurer guild when he gets out of here. Since barrier magic is always a nice bonus no matter what level it is. I can even theoretically be stronger than your group because I plan on building a city in the future. So, what exactly is your path after you leave here?”
Rachel looks at him coldly in the eyes before sighing.
“ Wow, I really do need more practice. I guess they did not give you the memo.”
Bobby looked confused as Janice spoke up.
“ Yeah, a bit of a prick move, we were helping her with her pitch when you showed up. She must have thought we told you, but we didn’t. Besides, her future path is a lot stronger than yours.”
Bobby raises an eyebrow and looks at her skeptically.
“ I know she is a healer, but I do not think a hospital will be more than a city.”
Rachel chuckled at that.
“ How about a church?”
He pauses to look at her more seriously.
“ Oh, hell no, I am not touching that one with a ten foot pole. Me and God go as well together as cats and dogs.”
Jeff laughed at that and shook his head before taking a drink of wine.
“ Seriously, you all have not been studying history and culture as much as you should be. Lowercase gods do exist in this world. Think really really strong people who have tons of rules they have to follow. Because there are higher-level gods too that enforce those rules. The system is one of those higher-level gods. And before you ask, why haven’t they cleaned up the mess with the demons, rules? You do not gain access to that kind of information till you hit level one hundred. Which is the first step to becoming a demi-god.”
All three of them look at Jeff with slightly open mouths not sure what to make of this revelation. That is when he decides to drop another bombshell.
“Yeah, the demons have killed lowercase gods too. But that is a future problem we can barely dream of even looking at. So, back on topic. What are your thoughts on what Rachel needs to do?”