The Author's POV

Sunday, Galxicus guild 80th floor.

It was the day after the battle between me and Alex had taken place. I was currently in my father's office.

Sitting on a large grey sofa, I took a look at the office.

On the opposite side of me, my father, working on a large rosewood desk, was busy compiling a stack of paperwork.

As he compiled the paperwork on the table, his pen would drift in swift and fluent movements across the papers on his desk.

He looked incredibly efficient.

Staring at my father's desk, at eye level, a group of papers, a stack of waiter pads, a portable laptop, and multiple monitors neatly stood on top of the large desk.

On the floor, below the desk, lied a PC tower that hummed quietly. On small occasions, blue light would twinkle on top of the PC tower signaling that its power was on.

On the wall to the right, post-It notes appeared on top of a wooden board with several labels and photos marked on it.

Although the office wasn't the most organized, the number of papers on his desk just went to show how much work my father was investing every day to keep the guild afloat.

"Ren..."

As I was busy looking around, disrupting the silence, my father spoke

"Yes?"

Putting the pen in his hand down, my father's obsidian eyes stared at me.

"What do you think of our guild? Be honest"

Taken aback for a second, I leaned back on the sofa.

What did I think of the guild?

Honestly, it was bad.

From what I've seen yesterday and today, the guild wasn't united. It was split into different factions and there was an evident power struggle.

I didn't even know how they managed to keep what was happening within the guild a secret from outsiders.

I would bet Bronze or silver-graded guilds would love to capitalize on this piece of news. I mean, why wouldn't they? Although Galxicus was failing, if the guilds were looking to expand, absorbing Galxicus was the most optimal thing to do.

Especially since right now, Galxicus was only a 'guild' in name.

It was merely an empty title. It was like a shop that sold nothing. The only reason why it was still standing today was because of my parent's efforts. But that wasn't going to last long. Even they will crumble under all of that work...

As my thoughts reached thus far, I couldn't help but be reminded of the fact that my parents were still working on a Sunday. Not once did they rest.

...If things proceeded to continue like this, I wouldn't give the guild a year before it would be forced to dissolve.

Hesitating for a bit, I looked at my father's earnest expression and shared my thoughts.

"If I had to be honest...terrible"

"The guild members instead of being united are clearly split into factions and..."

As I recounted my honest thoughts, nodding his head, Ronald sighed.

"Judging from the way you are speaking, I can already guess you've already figured out how things are going within the guild."

Glancing at the piles of paper below him, a trace of sadness appeared in my father's eyes as he murmured

"...Sadly the guild is in a state of heavy decline"

Stacking the papers on his desk neatly, leaning on his chair, my father looked towards the ceiling

you be the guild master of this

the future you would carry it to greater success...but it seems like it was all my wishful

took out a silver key from his pocket and inserted it into the

-Clank!

my father slid it

thick green book, my father glanced at it for a second. A hint of nostalgia appeared

having a great defense, you lacked something important. At first, I thought it was an attacking art, but after I put more thought into it, I figured that this book would

one last glance at the book, my father

"Here"

warmth within them. Whatever he was giving me, it

"...Thank you"

solemnly, I took the green

will never forget his

[★★★ Drifting steps]

will increase. Unless user stops, speed

"Tssss..."

what I needed. A movement art. Was this a

look. As though knew from

a guild master for

already detect what I was missing. With this movement art, my strength would see

I was already near breaking through to F+ rank...I could feel that I was only a few

busy admiring the book,

guild's top arts, and I'm technically not supposed to be

it's against the rules as I would normally need to acquire the permission of the board before being allowed to even show you

looked at the window of the office. Towards the

state of the guild, I don't

facing me, my father, Ronald Dover resolutely looked at the people coming

short pause, he turned around and in

set up a different branch for

"A branch?"

aback, I tilted my head in

guild was failing, why set up a branch?

going

"What!?"

at my father

year in the Lock. How could

would mean that I wouldn't even have time to attend my lectures, let alone

the streets below

you're either a pawn or a

can either be someone who continuously follows other's will or be someone who dictates their own will. Although setting up a branch of a failing guild

within his words, a sudden thought occurred to me as I looked at my

"...you don't mean"

set

A mercenary group.

group composed of talented unaffiliated individuals who do tasks for money. Be it killing

just as

father was asking me to set up

hand on my

a

It was possible.

it

mercenary group

two requirements to set up a mercenary

one individual with a Hero certification

recommendation from

certification as I had not yet graduated from the academy, with the recommendation of my father, setting up a

Creating my own organization...

idea did

an organization filled with people that I

I started realizing that this was what I actually

that things did not always go according to plans, rather than remaining passive, why not