The receptionist disappeared behind the counter, leaving me to wait in the bustling hall.

A few minutes passed before she returned, carrying a small envelope in her hand.

She approached me, her earlier concern still etched on her face.

"Here you go." She handed me the envelope, her fingers lingering on it for a moment as if reconsidering her choice to give it to me.

"This is to be presented to the guards at the entrance of the Steelheart building. It’s proof that you’ve officially accepted the request."

I looked down at the envelope, the paper was crisp, stamped with a seal.

"Once you hand this over to the guards, they’ll guide you from there." Her voice was softer now, almost as if she was trying to give me one last chance to back out.

I nodded, slipping the envelope into my bag. "I appreciate the help."

She gave me a small, unsure smile.

With that, I turned and made my way out of the hall.

The Steelheart building, one of the major guilds in Arn, was hard to miss.

Located not far from the Adventurer’s Hall, it loomed over the surrounding buildings, a massive structure that radiated authority and power.

The path to it was one I knew well, having memorized its direction long ago.

Lila, hidden away in the bag, couldn’t stay silent. Her voice, small but filled with concern, reached my ears as I walked. "Leon… are you sure about this? What if you don’t know the password? I mean… I don’t want to see you lose a limb over this. It’s just… I don’t know, it feels too risky."

I smirked to myself, appreciating her concern but knowing full well the importance of this decision. "I understand, Lila. It’s true, this is greed. No point lying about it."

"But what if—" she started to say, the anxiety in her voice growing stronger.

"I won’t lose a limb." I interrupted, my voice calm but firm. "Because I already know the password."

The silence from the bag was immediate, like she was processing my words. "You know the password? How? That pouch has been locked for a century."

I couldn’t help but chuckle softly at her disbelief. "Well, I was a fan of Valerian’s story, you could say. I know his character in and out, Lila. I’ve spent hours—days, studying him, so I have a pretty good idea of what the password might be."

She was quiet for a moment, then she spoke again, her voice laced with skepticism but also a hint of trust. "You’re not lying to me, are you?"

I shook my head. "I’m not lying to you, Lila. It’s not exactly the same as it seems, but I’m confident."

She didn’t press further, but I could still feel her worry from inside the bag. In a way, she was right. It was a gamble, but it wasn’t one I would lose. Valerian wasn’t just any adventurer—he was the character I had played back on Earth. If anyone knew the password, it would be me.

I kept walking, the imposing silhouette of the Steelheart building growing larger in the distance.

The building stood like a fortress, an imposing structure that lived up to its name.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Its exterior was forged from dark, iron-gray stone that seemed to absorb the sunlight rather than reflect it.

Massive pillars lined the front. At the very top of each pillar, steel accents gleamed, polished to perfection.

The entrance was dominated by two towering steel doors, each reinforced with thick iron rivets and etched with the unyielding crest of the Steelheart family.

The crest bore a heart forged from steel, a representation of the family's unbreakable resolve and cold, unwavering nature.

Above the doors, a massive steel banner hung proudly, with the words "Steel Through Blood" carved deep into the meta.

Everything about the building radiated authority, power, and an air of exclusivity.

There were no unnecessary embellishments, no soft curves or welcoming facades. It was a building that didn't try to charm or impress—it was built to intimidate.

As I approached, I noticed the guards stationed at the entrance. They stood rigid and unmoving, their armor gleaming like freshly forged steel, matching the building’s cold demeanor.

Their faces were hard as the stone they guarded, and their eyes tracked every movement with the same precision you’d expect from a blade being drawn in battle.

It wasn’t a place that welcomed just anyone.

This was the home of a guild that prided itself on being the best, where only those part of the family were allowed beyond its gates.

I tightened my grip on the envelope in my hand.

The moment I got close enough, they immediately pointed their weapons at me, halting my steps.

"Oi! Stop right there!" the first guard shouted, his eyes narrowing as he sized me up. "What's your business here, slum rat?"

I raised my hands slightly, trying to show I wasn’t a threat. "I'm here about the Steelheart request. The one regarding Valerian's locked pouch."

Both guards froze for a moment, their eyes widening as if I'd just told them I had a death wish.

One guard glanced at the other, then back at me. His lips twitched.

"Wait, wait, wait... Did you just say Valerian's request?" the second guard asked, his voice barely holding back laughter.

"Yeah?" I nodded. "I got this." I held up the small envelope the receptionist had given me.

They both stared at the envelope, then at me, then back at each other. The tension in the air broke like a dam.

"BWAHAHAHA!" The first guard doubled over, clutching his stomach. "You’ve gotta be joking! This scrawny kid thinks he’s gonna crack the Steelheart pouch!"

"Oh gods, I can’t breathe!" The second guard leaned on his weapon's hilt for support, wiping away tears of laughter.

"You mean to tell me... you, of all people, are going to try opening the pouch that's been locked for over a century?!"

"What's next?" the first guard snorted between gasps, "Are you gonna walk in there and give the Steelhearts a dungeon lesson while you’re at it?"

"Yeah, yeah! Maybe you’ll show them how to polish their armor too!" The second guard was wheezing by this point, his face turning red from laughter.

I stood there, arms crossed, waiting for them to finish their little comedy routine. "Look, are you two done?" I asked flatly, glancing at the steel doors behind them.

The first guard, still struggling to catch his breath, wiped the tears from his eyes and straightened up. "Alright, alright," he wheezed, still chuckling.

"Sorry, kid, it's just... we've seen too many like you come in, thinking they'll be the one to crack it. But they never make it far—most end up dead before they even get a chance to walk out of these doors."

The second guard smirked, "And you know what happens next? They try their best to run out of here crying for their mamas when they realize they can’t pay the penalty."

"Don’t say we didn’t warn you, kid," the first one said, waving me forward. "But go on, give it your best shot. Just don’t come back crying if you lose a finger or two."

Just as I was about to step past them, the first guard placed his hand on my shoulder, stopping me in my tracks.

"Hold up, slum rat." he said, snatching the envelope from my hand. "You’re not walking in just yet. I gotta bring this to someone in charge first."

I raised an eyebrow. "Why? Isn’t this proof enough?"

The second guard grinned. "Steelheart family doesn’t let just anyone waltz in because they’ve got some piece of paper. Gotta get permission from someone higher up. Standard procedure. You don’t wanna upset the big guys upstairs, do ya?"

With that, the first guard turned on his heel, still chuckling under his breath, and made his way inside the massive steel doors, the envelope clutched tightly in his hand.

The second guard, now left to watch me, leaned against his weapon, smirking like he had front row seats to the world’s biggest joke.

"Don’t get too excited, slum rat." he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "They might not even let you through. Most people end up turned away before they can even try the damn thing."

I crossed my arms, staring back at the enormous doors. "I’ll wait. But I’m not planning on leaving until I get what I came for."

He shrugged. "Suit yourself."

I gave him a look, unamused by the constant jabs. But I waited.