The Guild's underground altar.
In the dim space, the only light came from the faint glow radiating off the altar.
Uranus sat at the center of it, eyes closed, using his divine authority to suppress the Dungeon itself.
That invisible power flowed endlessly from him into the depths below, pressing down on the unrest of that living labyrinth.
Without his suppression, the Dungeon would have erupted long ago.
The monsters of the deep levels would have poured out in a swarm, reducing all of Orario to ruins.
It was because Uranus had sacrificed his own freedom and remained seated upon this altar, day after day, year after year, guarding the peace of this city, that all the gods were willing to show him a measure of respect, so long as the matter did not concern their own interests.
At that moment, two people stood before the altar.
One was a pot-bellied elf, dressed in splendid clothing, with the shrewd, calculating air unique to a businessman written all over his face.
Royman Mardeel.
The Guild master, a man adventurers jokingly called the Guild Pig.
He had no real combat ability, but in matters of business and administration, his talent was exceptional.
The Guild's smooth operation owed a great deal to him.
The other was Eina.
She stood behind Royman, a trace of tension on her face.
After all, this was the Guild's most secret place. Under normal circumstances, she would never have had a chance to enter it.
"Speak."
Uranus opened his eyes and looked at the two of them with that deep, ancient gaze.
"What is it?"
Royman glanced at Eina.
Eina took a deep breath, then recounted everything she had heard from Genichi, word for word.
"...He said the Guild has been infiltrated by Evilus."
She paused.
"And that he knows who the traitors are."
Uranus fell silent.
A complicated emotion flickered through those deep eyes.
Evilus.
Of course he was familiar with that name.
Over the years, Evilus had always lurked in the shadows of Orario, carrying out all kinds of unspeakable deeds.
The Guild had organized many purges against them, yet every time, something had gone wrong.
Because someone always tipped them off in advance.
Someone always made a mistake at the critical moment.
There were always traitors.
Uranus had long known the Guild had been infiltrated.
But he did not know by whom.
Those traitors had hidden themselves too deeply, too cleverly. There was never any proof to seize.
And now...
Someone was telling him he knew exactly who they were.
Uranus was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.
"What else did that boy say?"
Eina shook her head.
"He only said he wanted to make a deal with the Guild."
"He'll give the Guild the names of the traitors, and in exchange, the Guild won't pursue the matter of him concealing his level."
Uranus gave a slight nod.
"I understand."
He looked at Royman and Eina.
"I'll handle this matter personally."
"You may both leave."
Royman froze for a moment.
"Lord Uranus, you're going to deal with this yourself?"
"Yes."
Uranus's voice was calm, but it carried an unquestionable certainty.
"There are some matters that are not convenient for the two of you to be involved in."
Royman opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he swallowed it.
He bowed to Uranus, then left the altar with Eina.
Their footsteps gradually faded away.
Soon, only Uranus remained in the altar chamber.
He sat there, looking at the sealed door, a complicated light flickering through his deep eyes.
A moment later, he slowly spoke.
"Fels."
The instant the word fell, a figure emerged slowly from the shadows.
It was a person wrapped entirely in black robes.
A wide hood concealed the face, leaving only a pair of hands in black gloves visible.
Those gloves were engraved with complex patterns that glimmered faintly in the darkness.
Fels.
The Guild's hidden trump card, and the person Uranus trusted most.
No one knew Fels's true identity. No one knew Fels's true strength.
All they knew was that Fels handled the matters that could not be brought into the light.
"Go make contact with the boy called Genichi."
Uranus's voice echoed through the chamber.
Fels was silent for a moment, then spoke.
"What are the limits?"
"You may use your own judgment."
Uranus looked at Fels.
"I understand."
Fels said nothing more.
He merely turned and vanished into the shadows.
Once again, Uranus was left alone in the altar chamber.
He looked toward the place where Fels had disappeared, a complicated emotion flickering through those deep eyes.
Genichi...
He had remembered that name.
He hoped this boy would truly bring him a few surprises.
At the Demeter Familia.
Inside Genichi's room, he sat by the window, looking out at the sky.
Sunlight poured down, bathing the entire room in warm gold.
But he was not looking at the view.
He was waiting.
Waiting for the Guild's response.
He knew the Guild would consider his proposal.
After all, knowing the identity of the traitors was far more important than pursuing him for concealing his level.
But...
He did not know who the Guild would send.
Would it be Eina?
Or Royman?
Or...
Someone else?
Genichi narrowed his eyes slightly.
Whoever came this time would not be an ordinary person.
Night fell.
Genichi was still sitting by the window.
Moonlight streamed in, stretching his shadow long across the floor.
Then, suddenly, he sensed something.
That feeling of being watched.
Genichi's gaze sharpened. He rose to his feet in an instant, one hand already resting on the hilt of his sword.
"Who's there?"
His voice was low and wary.
Out of the darkness, a figure slowly emerged.
A person wrapped entirely in black robes.
The wide hood concealed the face, leaving only a pair of black-gloved hands visible.
The figure stood in the shadows, facing him.
Genichi looked at the person, and a sharp light flashed through those black eyes.
"The Guild's?"
His voice was calm, but probing.
The person was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Fels."
Genichi's brow shifted slightly.
Uranus?
The Guild's chief god had personally sent someone?
It seemed he was taking this matter even more seriously than Genichi had expected.
Genichi removed his hand from the hilt and sat back down.
"Please, have a seat."
Fels did not move.
Fels simply remained standing in the shadows, looking at him.
"You want to make a deal with the Guild?"
The voice was still low and heavy.
"Yes."
Genichi nodded.
"I know the Guild has traitors, and I know who they are."
He paused.
"In exchange, the Guild stops pursuing the matter of my concealed level."
Fels was silent for a moment.
"How do you know those people are traitors?"
"I have my own source of information."
Genichi's voice was calm.
"As for what that source is, I can't say."
Fels looked at him, and beneath that hood, a complicated glint flashed through hidden eyes.
This boy was harder to deal with than expected.
But Fels did not press further.
Instead, Fels slowly spoke.
"The Guild can agree to your condition."
A faint smile touched Genichi's lips.
"Then I look forward to working together."
Fels said nothing.
There was only a small nod.
Then the figure melted back into the shadows and vanished into the darkness.
Genichi was left alone in the room once more.
He sat by the window, looking into the darkness outside, the smile on his face deepening.
It was done.
(End of Chapter)
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