The Author's POV

At the same time.

Aaron calmly walked around the venue with a glass cup in his hand.

His brows were locked into a tight frown as he looked at a small letter in his hand.

The first thing he thought as he stared at the letter was, 'Why would they give this to me?'

He was merely drinking and trying to make as many connections as possible when suddenly one of the elven workers handed him the letter.

It was apparently from one of the higher ups. Dwarven elders to be exact. Their comments were rather vague, but in short, they wanted to arrange a meeting with him.

'What exactly do they want from me?' Aaron wondered, taking a sip of his drink.

"…maybe they've heard about the product my guild is making."

A sudden thought occurred to him.

Lowering his head, he looked at his smartwatch. Tapping onto it, he looked through a series of files on his watch.

[Project - Nolon]

[Project - Convention467]

[Project - β98]

[Project - Rentolv]

On his watch was a list. A list of projects that his guild was working on behind the scenes.

Being the number one guild in Lewington city, one of the four great cities, their guild invested in many side projects. This was just what guilds did.

Staring at the list, Aaron's finger soon paused on a certain file.

[Project α-12]

Project detail : Automated machine.

Time of operation : 12 minutes, 09 seconds.

Capabilities : D rank.

Licking his bottom lip, Aaron had a sudden look of enlightenment.

'They must be curious about this.'

He had been worried over nothing. The reason why the dwarves wanted to meet with him had to do with this. Project α-12, one of their latest projects and something that they had been working on for over a decade.

The project idea was simple, create an automated artifact that would act on its own and kill monsters without the need of sending actual heroes. Sort of like a golem.

It was a project in which they had invested billions and billions of U. It was still in the testing phases but without a doubt, it was something that would revolutionize the world once it got out.

Most likely, one of the elders from his guild leaked the contents of the project to one of the dwarven elders in hope of catching their interest.

'I'm sure it's this.' A smirk appeared on Aaron's lips. Folding the letter neatly, he quietly placed it inside of his pocket before heading for the back exit of the building.

Even if it wasn't because of the project, Aaron wasn't suspicious of the contents of the latter.

After all, he didn't think anyone would have the balls to plan something against him when he was so close to so many elites. His death would definitely be a sign of incompetency from them, as well as a declaration of war on the humans.

'According to the letter, I should have no problem exiting the building.' Aaron lightheartedly thought as he followed the instructions written in the letter.

It wasn't long before he arrived at the back door exit of the building where an elven guard stood.

Standing with his back straight, the elven guard stared up ahead. An imposing presence emanating from his body.

Rummaging through his pocket, Aaron showed the elf the letter.

"Here, I've been told to go out of this place."

head and staring at Aaron, the elf wordlessly took the letter in

Ci clank—

the door for Aaron

the whole exchange, the elf never spoke a single word to Aaron, but he didn't seem to care as he also

"Haaa…"

got out, Aaron let out a long breath. He felt a

must mean that the contents of it were legitimate.

Wooosh—

his clothes and hair fluttered. Around him

'What next?'

place and only seeing trees, Aaron licked his lower

letter and taking a good look at it, his

"Go straight?…Okay."

so Aaron headed deeper into the forest. Not an inkling of worry was displayed

Rustle—

out of nowhere a rustling sound rang from next to him. Snapping his head in the direction of where the sound came from, Aaron saw the silhouette of a figure in

hard for Aaron to make out the features of the silhouette, but staring at its outline in

still not worried. With a relaxed tone,

guy that

was polite, but the narcissism and pride behind it could

here to meet

head and staring at the greenery, he

why you want to meet

Rustle— Rustle—

silhouette slowly walked forward, and Aaron, who was

thought as his eyes squinted. Trying to get a better look at the features of the

as big as an orc, nor did he have pointy ears like an elf. The more he stared at the silhouette

"….hm?"

to come out from the bushes as its features were soon revealed for Aaron

hair, emerald-colored eyes, and rounded ears. As he had suspected, he was

the frown

him as the figure just stared at him without saying anything. Aarons's muscles tensed, reading himself for combat

mute or

I'm here

calm and collected voice echoed throughout the

down and a smile returned

I see. That's good. You

sentence, Aaron

because the figure suddenly did something completely

slowly clenched his hand and ripped something off of his face, revealing two distinctive blue-colored eyes that were

did not last for long; what replaced

going on?…he looks

trying to comprehend what was going on, Aaron tilted

that the figure suddenly took a step forward and his face became clearer to see for Aaron as

able to get a clear look

at Aaron from the other

"You remember me?"

***

"Fuck, where is he!"

voice was quite loud, gathering the attention of the people around

what he had done,

"Huuu."

long breath, he lowered his

in the direction of where he had last seen Ren. He only missed him for

Ren…no, no,

names of everyone present, in hopes of finding Ren. But regardless of where he looked, he was unable to see Ren at all. Just where

my visible range,' Kevin tiptoed to get a better look at what was ahead, but

could I

with a voice filled with

you looking for

was about to give up, he suddenly heard a calm voice from

"Who?"

came from. Kevin's eyes soon paused on an old man who was looking at