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."

Aaron, the elf wordlessly took the letter in his hands and

Ci clank—

he opened the door

Aaron, but he didn't seem to care as he also didn't talk back

"Haaa…"

Aaron let out a long breath. He felt a lot

contents of it were legitimate. He no longer needed to worry about it being

Wooosh—

building, a fresh nightly breeze brushed past him as his clothes and hair fluttered. Around him were a lot

'What next?'

place and only seeing trees, Aaron licked his lower

and taking a good look at it, his

"Go straight?…Okay."

of worry was displayed on

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

but staring at its outline in the distance,

worried. With a relaxed tone, he called out for

guy that I'm supposed to

was polite, but the narcissism and pride behind

here to

his head and staring

sure as to why you want to meet me here,

Rustle— Rustle—

faded, the silhouette slowly walked forward, and Aaron, who was paying close attention to it, suddenly

as his eyes squinted. Trying to get a

did he have pointy ears like an elf. The more he stared at

"….hm?"

take long for the silhouette to come out from the bushes as its features were

hair, emerald-colored eyes, and rounded ears. As

asked, the frown

feeling suddenly enshrouded him as the figure just stared at him without saying anything. Aarons's muscles tensed, reading

you mute

here to

calm and collected voice echoed

the words, Aaron finally calmed down and a

see. That's good.

through his sentence, Aaron

because the figure suddenly did something

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

not last for long; what replaced it

on?…he

of times, trying to comprehend what was

the figure suddenly took a step forward and his face became clearer to see for Aaron as the moonlight shone directly onto his

was able to get a clear

at Aaron from the other side,

"You remember me?"

***

"Fuck, where is he!"

quite loud, gathering the attention

what he had

"Huuu."

he lowered his head and walked

Ren. He only missed him

Ren…no,

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

still be within my visible range,' Kevin tiptoed to get a better look at

could I

with a voice

looking for

was about to give up,

"Who?"

where the voice came from. Kevin's eyes soon paused on an old man who