With my targets distracted by the unwelcome inspection, my escape went smoother than I expected … though I had some mixed feelings about the result.

"I was hasty," I murmured even as I balanced the crate with one hand, the other occupied with my halberd as I slashed continuously. Maybe it was the sensation of excitement that resulted from my newest stat, maybe it was discovering a new, novel way of using Charisma making me overconfident.

Either way, I had taken some rash risks as I pushed for the deal, confident that the Promotion was worth it, not even questioning whether the amount I would get from the deal would be enough. After all, the previous time, just a couple rocks was enough to trigger it.

A mistake.

"At least I'm not returning empty-handed," I murmured. After all, mana stones were at the top of the list that Zolast required to establish a dungeon, not to mention they were just as useful as currency for more exotic materials.

I was sure that, one way or another, they would prove useful.

I still made sure to take a complicated path as I returned back to my moving home, with no intention to lead people back there. Hopefully, it wouldn't be the case, but I had no idea the exact capabilities of magic in this new world — and more importantly, the amount of resources they were willing to dedicate to track a petty thief.

My disguise was a very useful shield.

It was an hour after dawn when I had arrived at the caravan, which was still mobile, with no sign of camping even for a short moment. Even the animals that were pulling the carts were showing signs of total exhaustion, let alone people.

And, in the middle of it, there was the young noble, just as exhausted, still radiating his adrenaline aura to encourage people to move faster.

As much as I wanted to go to the point of the camp to reinforce the area, I chose to move to the center of the camp … where Zolast was on top of an open cart, busy with a huge cauldron.

I had already covered the crate with a cloak and placed it in a concealed corner that I could watch, so so I approached him calmly. "It looks like someone went back to cooking. Retired from the guild already?" I asked with a chuckle. "I would have expected you to last longer."

"Unlike some, I have work to do," he answered tersely before barking orders to one of his assistants. He sounded exhausted.

"You look like you can use a break," I called. He looked ready to argue, but luckily, he was sharp enough to notice my pointed glare.

"Make sure you don't burn it," he ordered to his assistants, followed by several more pointed commands before he stepped down. "Let's go to my tent," he ordered.

I followed him, stopping only to pick up the crate. He looked at me questioningly, but had enough presence of mind not to ask questions until we were in his tent once more.

"Tell me, what was the urgent thing that you interrupted my cooking," Zolast said, looking impatient.

"Nothing much, I just helped a few friends move…" I started, but as I teased him, I could see he was not in the mood. I decided to cut it short, and got rid of the cloak, showing the crate. "And, while helping them, a crate fell out of their cart, and in their hurry, they had forgotten it."

Zolast didn't seem to enjoy my abridged explanation, but the same didn't apply to the sudden blue glow that hit his face as I opened the crate. "Unprocessed mana stones? How?" Zolast gasped in shock.

I shrugged. "I just told you," I said, my tone light, but with a hint of finality that implied he would receive no answer. Zolast might be an ally, but even to him, I didn't want to reveal the existence of Speed. And, without it, I couldn't just say I went to the nearest operating dungeon and picked them. "I hope they'll be useful," he said.

"Oh, they'll be very useful," Zolast said in excitement. "There's enough to start the construction of the dungeon with some to spare to solve the worst of our problems," he said.

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"Speaking of problems," I said. "The camp looks more exhausted than I expected. I'm sure there had been some interesting issues triggering the situation."

At the mention, Zolast's excitement lessened. He reached and grabbed two smaller mana stones, absentmindedly playing with them — which was too natural, suggesting whatever he had been doing, he was not unfamiliar with mana stones, a clue about his past.

"You remember the three that you left for me to interrogate," he mentioned.

"Sure, that was not even a day ago. I might be old, but I'm not that far gone," I said with a chuckle. Though, with the energy infused by my stats, I had to check my reflection to remember I was an old man. "Any useful information from them?"

"Depending on how you look," he grumbled, which was not good news. "Before we could even start, the guild master of Night Blades arrived, and asked us to free their members."

I frowned. "I didn't know we had a rival guild here," I said.

"Neither did I," Zolast answered. "At least, not until they barged to take the traitors off my hands. But, it seems that, our great Duke of Yoentia, in his infinite wisdom, decided to approve the establishment of another guild without even bothering to inform us."

I took note of the name, finally learning the true name of the young noble. "That's his rank and name? I could swear I heard it was something else, and he was a baron or something?"

"Just an attempt to hide his true identity, not that it matters. Most of his lands only technically belong to him, his vassals are simply occupying it, not even sending him scraps."

"In other words, noble nonsense," I said.

"In a way, but it makes him desperate, even more than I had realized," Zolast said. "There's a chance we committed a huge mistake when we allied with him."

I shrugged, not particularly concerned. "We made a decision, knowing it was risky. We needed the legitimacy to prevent thousands from being sacrificed needlessly, and we got it. Other than that, it's idiotic to think that we're even on the same side with the young duke."

"Duke Kryll," Zolast added. "Duke Kryll Yoentia."

I shrugged. "One spoiled noble brat or another. The important thing is, unless the Night Blades are offering to build the dungeon, he can't just discard us," I said. Zolast nodded, confirming it. "Good, it means that their assistance is linked to our success," I smirked. "Now, a question. Can you build that dungeon in a way that … it would experience some dangerous failures if the support from our guild was rescinded?"

Zolast's gaze widened. "That would be … heretical and treasonous at the same time," Zolast gasped loudly. But his outrage was fake. I could see he didn't care overmuch about either concept.

"That wasn't a no," I said with a shrug. "Just made sure to mention that to the old knight so he doesn't have some unfortunate ideas of cutting us off," I said. "Of course, assuming you're confident in keeping the assassins a failing noble house could afford away."

Zolast's gaze dipped down to the mana crystals, his smirk widening slightly. It was all the answers I needed.

"What did this … Night Blades … offered to make themselves valuable," I asked, chuckling at the mention of their name, which had been clearly chosen to mirror ours, a rather transparent attempt to mark themselves as our rivals.

"They promised to cleanse the corrupted beasts along the breach, as well as to handle the security of the town," he said.

"And, in exchange?" I asked.

"Management of the outer town, and priority access rights to the dungeon almost four times what we had received."

"And I'm guessing the inner city will be managed by the Duke himself," I said, realizing that we had been just cut out of the management of the town. A dirty play, one that cut us from potential growth significantly.

Or, at least, at first glance. The management had its advantages, but only when one had the appropriate organization to take advantage of it. I was planning to desperately help hundreds of people to level up, hoping that at least some of them would stay loyal.

Such a sudden growth had benefits, but not as much as its disadvantages.

"What does it mean for the things we had discussed, the store and the hall of relaxation in particular."

"Nothing changed about them. The guild hall will operate in the inner city, which is under the control of the young duke either way. The problem is that the outer city represents a lot of money, money that we need to have any hope of maintaining a guild of decent size," Zolast said.

I waved my hand dismissively. "Don't worry about that," I answered. "There are advantages in having a smaller operation, and it's good that we won't be blamed for the messes at the outer town at least."

"Enough to be worth losing all that money and power?" Zolast said.

I chuckled. "Of course not, or our opponents wouldn't have worked hard to steal it from us. But what's the point of lamenting about the loss. Especially when our opponents are powerful."

Zolast sighed. "You're right. Magical weapons, skill stones, and even some, limited access to stat stones. Whatever we're dealing with, it's big." He sighed. "It was a nice meeting. I should go and finish cooking, to make sure our fighters don't collapse from exhaustion. We're under enough disadvantage."

"Don't worry about it. But try to secure another building for me in the outer city, near the gate, with the condition that it will be solely under our control with no interference." Zolast nodded, though he looked surprised, probably assuming it was a small consolation prize.

With that, the left the tent, and I followed. Interestingly, he showed no sign of panic even as he listed the advantages of the enemies, despite the full awareness of what it implied.

He just had an even more interesting life than I had initially suspected.