Translator: Kazumi
Editor: Silavin
In the heart of Seichun stood rows of impressive buildings that defined the city’s commercial district, housing the main Guilds that drove its economy. Among these towering structures, the Mineille Company building ranked among the five largest in the area—a testament to the merchant Guild’s considerable influence.
The Mineille Company originated in the Kingdom of Heity, located west of Seichun. Its roots stretched back centuries, founded by members of the Heity royal family themselves. This illustrious heritage was officially recognized in the kingdom’s historical records, cementing the company’s unshakeable position within Heity’s political and economic landscape. Even here in neutral Seichun, the Mineille Company wielded considerable influence through this prestigious background.
The imposing building served as the company’s primary branch office outside the kingdom. At its helm was Barnabas, a sharp twenty-five-year-old who had earned his position through both competence and political acumen.
In his spacious office, Barnabas listened intently as his subordinate delivered the day’s report. Despite the formal hierarchy, his subordinate was notably older—a arrangement that spoke to the merit-based nature of Barnabas’s appointment.
“Did you secure Nero Skin?” Barnabas inquired.
“Yes, sir. The Guild just delivered it. Apparently, they processed it as an exception since the original deadline had expired.”
“An exception?” Barnabas’s eyebrows raised. While he wasn’t intimately familiar with adventurer protocols, he possessed an excellent memory for procurement matters. He realized this meant an adventurer had independently brought the item to the Guild rather than accepting a pre-posted request.
The irony was not lost on him. Barnabas had originally submitted the request with little expectation of success—Nero Skin was notoriously difficult to obtain. He’d only set a deadline because Guild regulations demanded it, never imagining anyone would actually fulfill the order, let alone so quickly.
“Who managed to collect it?” he asked, genuinely curious. “Nero only appears on the Tower’s 15th Floor and beyond.”
“An adventurer named Kou from the Guild: Wolf Fang.”
His subordinate handed over the accompanying request form. As Barnabas scanned the document, his eyes narrowed upon seeing the familiar Guild name alongside Kou’s signature.
“Wolf Fang again?” He murmured.
The name had become increasingly frequent in his reports. Beyond this Kou, there was Cory making waves in the arena, plus numerous other parties operating under the Wolf Fang banner. While the Mineille Company typically relied on contracted adventurers for material collection, they occasionally outsourced to public Guilds when short-staffed. Time and again, Wolf Fang members had successfully completed these challenging assignments.
In his years managing the Seichun branch, Barnabas had witnessed many adventuring Guilds rise and fall. However, none had demonstrated such rapid, comprehensive growth as Wolf Fang. Their meteoric ascent was unprecedented in both scope and speed.
Barnabas studied his subordinate’s expectant expression. “The fact that you’re delivering this report personally suggests there’s more to discuss.”
His subordinate smiled knowingly. “Indeed. Here’s our complete investigation report on Wolf Fang.”
Another stack of documents changed hands. Barnabas settled back in his chair and began reading methodically. The only sound in the office was the whisper of turning pages as he absorbed the five-page analysis.
When he finally looked up, his decision was already made.
“Is the carriage ready?”
“Sir? Ah—yes, it can be prepared immediately…” His subordinate stammered, momentarily confused by the non-sequitur. Then understanding dawned, and his expression shifted to surprise. “You mean to visit them personally?”
Barnabas nodded once, his tone leaving no room for debate. “Yes. I’ll handle this myself.”
…
The carriage bearing Barnabas arrived at Wolf Fang’s headquarters on Seichun’s outskirts within the hour. Three company representatives made the journey, including the negotiator who had been attempting to establish contact with the Guild.
When this subordinate first learned that Barnabas intended to visit Wolf Fang personally, he had gone pale with worry. He had assumed his failure to secure meetings had prompted his manager’s direct intervention—a potentially career-ending development.
Barnabas had quickly clarified the misunderstanding, explaining that his interest stemmed from opportunity rather than dissatisfaction. The subordinate’s relief had been palpable.
During the journey, Barnabas had extracted detailed accounts of previous negotiations. While the written report provided facts, hearing firsthand impressions offered valuable context that paper could not convey.
Wolf Fang’s base proved surprisingly accessible. Unlike most Guild headquarters, which restricted entry to members and pre-approved visitors, anyone could apparently walk to the front counter unimpeded.
This unusual openness raised Barnabas’s alertness rather than lowering it. He recognized two possible explanations: either Wolf Fang possessed supremely confident security measures, or they were dangerously naive. Given their remarkable performance record, he strongly suspected the former.
The lead negotiator rang the counter bell, summoning a young woman from the back rooms. She sighed upon recognizing him, then regarded Barnabas with undisguised wariness.
“Welcome back,” she said to the negotiator. “I assume you’re here for the same business as before? My answer hasn’t changed.”
“Actually, no.” The negotiator gestured toward Barnabas. “This is Barnabas, branch manager of Mineille Company, who oversees Seichun operations. He was the one who personally requested this meeting.”
Barnabas stepped forward with a respectful bow. “Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
The woman returned the courtesy. “I’m Eku, responsible for Wolf Fang’s front desk operations. Thank you for visiting us.” Her expression grew apologetic. “Unfortunately, our Guild representative isn’t available at the moment.”
“I understand completely,” Barnabas replied smoothly. “Actually, I was hoping to speak with you directly.”
While he would have preferred meeting with Wolf Fang’s leadership, their continued absence suggested they were likely the adventurer Kou—and adventurers naturally spent most of their time away from headquarters. Rather than wait indefinitely, Barnabas had decided to approach the Guild through its most accessible representative.
“With me?” Eku seemed genuinely surprised. “I’m not authorized to discuss major business matters. Are you certain that’s acceptable?”
“Absolutely.”
Her immediate agreement should have been reassuring, but instead heightened Barnabas’s caution. Eku’s demeanor and instant decisiveness suggested she wielded far more authority than a typical receptionist.
His instincts told him this assumption would soon prove correct.