League of Firefly Guild Base.
Almond was genuinely surprised by the scale of the base as they entered through the peripheral gate and saw big and exotic buildings.
“Yeah, this is nothing, bro. League of Firefly is over three times bigger than GAA’s branch here in terms of base size,” Roken said upon seeing Almond’s expression.
“But of course, the main headquarters of GAA is the biggest and grandest of all,” Roken added with a grin.
“Let’s go,” Julian said as he parked the car and turned it off.
…
The trio entered the Reception building, which had five desks and a person sitting behind each of them.
Almond, Roken, and Julian walked towards a desk as the black-haired girl in her twenties promptly asked, “How may I help you, visitors?”
“I am here to meet someone,” Almond said with a polite smile. “Would you please tell me where is Lily Darkwood?”
Hearing that, the girl squinted her eyes for a second before replying, “I’m sorry, but reporters are not allowed to have an interview with her.”
Almond blinked.
“Do we look like reporters?” Roken pointed his finger at himself.
“Reporters in camouflage?” the lady tilted her head. “We’ve had five of them since morning.”
Almond wryly smiled.
“We are from GAA,” Julian replied with a deadpan expression.
“Huh? Are you here for her inspection? Nope. Not even your Branch Master is allowed to do that. Her profile will be out when the guild decides to do that.”
“…”
“We are not here for that,” Roken scratched the back of his head and looked at Almond.
“Can you please call her here then?” Almond asked with a dry smile.
The lady rolled her eyes, “Yeah, sure. Who are you? Her brother? Haven’t heard of one.”
“Umm…I am….” Almond paused and leaned ahead before he whispered, “Her life mate.”
The lady was stunned before her expression gradually darkened, “Security!”
…
“This is embarrassing. Do you not have her contact or something?” Julia clicked his tongue as they were escorted out of the reception building.
“I don’t have her contact,” Almond wryly smiled. “I didn’t think it would be hard to meet someone here.”
“And we didn’t think that your girlfriend was the super newbie that’s going to be super rookie soon. She’s the same one some of those people were talking about, right?” Roken curiously asked.
“Yeah, I don’t think there’s another Lily Darkwood here.”
“Hey, chaps from GAA.”
Suddenly, a group of six people approached them. Four of them were in their late teens, and two were in their early twenties.
“What’s up?” Roken blinked.
“What you’re here for?” the red-haired young man in his early twenties asked.
“We came to meet someone. I wonder if you can help us?” Almond asked.
“Huh? You’re asking us means that the receptionist rejected you, eh? Don’t tell me you’re here for Lily Darkwood?”
“…”
Almond had a feeling this group was also about to reject them.
Getting no answer, a few of them in the group burst out laughing while the red-haired senior said, “You’re not the first one to be rejected, heh. Get lost.”
“Actually,” Almond stepped forward as he cracked his knuckle, his face forming a narrowed-eyed grin. “I am here with a challenge. I heard there are some strong newbies in the League of Firefly.”
‘I guess this is the only way to meet her. A little commotion can be helpful,’ Almond thought, smiling inwardly. ‘Might as well see what the chaps of this guild got.’
Julian and Roken were startled, just like the Firefly group.
From that group, a brown-haired eighteen-year-old suddenly sneered and said, “Since you’re here for the challenge, I’m sure you’ll put something on the line. How about the winner take home 100,000 Gold coins?”
“Haha, good idea. The arena’s there,” another said with a grin. “Don’t back off now that you’ve said it.”
“Senior Ryker, it’s fine, right?” the third newbie asked the red-haired twenty-year-old.
Almond looked at Ryker, smiling.
“It’s fine. We’ve had challenges from other guilds before, but this time it’s GAA. No harm in earning pennies,” Ryker said as he formed a faint smile. “Come on, chap.”
“Almond Crowshade,” Almond said and chuckled.
“Don’t worry, we won’t remember that name for long,” the cocky brown-haired newbie said before he strutted towards the Arena’s direction while others also turned.
Almond promptly replied as he followed the group, “That’s an interesting theory, friend. Unfortunately, it only applies to goldfish. So unless you are one, you won’t ever forget my name.”
“He won’t ever forget your face after the battle,” Roken sneered before he quickly whispered to Almond, “Bro, is this really a good idea?”
“Don’t worry, didn’t they say challenges are common?” Almond smiled and glanced at Julian.
“I don’t give a fuck, besides, it’ll be fun to see them eat dirt,” Julian said as he sensed his gaze, causally walking alongside Almond.
Ryker heard them and chuckled, “Let’s let the fist do the talking now. The arena is three hundred meters deep, so we should hurry.”
Almond followed them while looking around, amazed at the whole base.
‘Is that hill at the end a residential area? There’s a cool palace there.’
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Almond didn’t know that Lily and Natalia were training in that private palace that only high-ranking Platinum-rank members could access, and only they could bring others on that hill.
‘That tall and big building must be their main headquarters building.’
They soon arrived at the Arena section. It was a big bow-shaped area slightly bigger than a football field, with five elevated platform rings over it in pentagon-shaped points.
“This is pretty good,” Almond said.
The 4th number platform was empty, so the newbie did a long and high jump, landing squarely on the platform.
“Come on,” he said, beckoning at Almond.
“Sure, but I would like to change the bet,” Almond said, his voice loud as he raised his hand holding an item.
Ryker and others looked at it while the brown-haired boy on the platform also squinted his eyes to see the item.
“This is a Rare-grade weapon drop from the 1st Floor, Stardriver Shard Staff.”
“No fucking way,” Roken shouted.
Julian was also dumbfounded.
“You can’t be serious?” Ryker narrowed his eyes. “That fetches one million Gold coins minimum, and more if it has good perks and skills.”
“No fuck, he said it, so it’s on the game now,” the blond-haired newbie said excitedly.
“But know that we won’t put anything of that value on the line,” the second senior, a tall, muscled man with short indigo hair, said with narrowed eyes. “If you said that in excitement, I’ll allow you to take it back.”
“I am serious,” Almond said as he handed the item over to Julian. “He’ll hold onto it.”
Saying that, he jumped and landed on the platform, ten meters away from the brown-haired newbie.
“Damn, bro is serious,” Roken muttered, his excitement surging. “This is going to be fun.”
On the platform, Cyner grinned at Almond and said, “I am Cyrus, and my role is of a warrior. What’s your name again? I forgot.”
He took out a big mace with a spiked metal ball. It was a Rare-grade item crafted in the guild’s forge house.
Almond took out his Preying Hunter’s Sword.
“Another rare drop,” Ryker muttered. “Two top-notch drops from the first floor.”
“That chap must be from a rich fam, humph.”
“What’s his role?”
Almond stretched his arm and made a showy magic symbol with a star-theme design from his palm facing the ground.
“I am a summoner,” Almond smiled. “Come out, Starlight Beast.”