(A/N: Bonus Chapter).


    Silrat promptly left with Sty, Jac and Skullius, leaving Tulnas to entertain the new Branch Head.


    The four entered another one of the rooms within the Guilds’ Association which had been refurbished in preparation for meetings such as these after the damage to city.


    The four sat down while a few of Sty’s guards stood behind her as a discussion that would decided the course of future events was underway.


    “So that time…?” Skullius said as he wished to get the full picture.


    “Yes,” Sty replied as she sipped some tea. “I hade to Inhone looking for some strong fighters to fight for my Family. Unfortunately, after Fore died in that Cluster, Bron rejected my offer saying he didn’t want to be a mercenary anymore.”


    The Cluster which featured the Sage Monkeys had been a major point for Skullius and it seemed like this was even more so for Sty and Bron.


    It seemed that Sty had had a mission of her own and was only posing as an everyday mercenary. While she was strong, she was looking for prospective fighters of a higher league that would fight for her in the uing event.


    Who knew that she was actually the daughter of a prestigious family.


    “Hmmm…” Skullius hummed as he processed this information.


    Silrat decided to chip in at this point.


    “Sty came to issue out her proposal a few days ago but you weren’t present within the city yet. I couldn’t make this decision for you,” he said.


    (A/N: Refer to Ch.300)


    Jac pped Skullius’ back again causing the Discount Human to almost topple over.


    “Come on, kid. Bing a member of the Bryne Family will do you a lot of good. Besides, you are pretty strong already. Are you scared of taking part in a few measly fights?” Jac said provocatively while chuckling annoyingly.


    The Discount Human shrugged off the p and twiddled with his fingers as he thought on this matter deeply.


    “I still haven’t heard enough about this to make a decision. What exactly is this for?” he asked.


    “A massively wealthy household called House EverSword, one of the six powers of Pelian is hosting an event they have dubbed the ‘Premium Age Royale’. In this event, any Families participate until a select few who are seen to be worthy enough by the standards of this House will be conscripted into the household as part of the EverSword House, supported financially and in terms of power. This is the first time any House has hosted such an event. For that, I need someone like you.”


    “But I’m not from your Family. Isn’t that like… cheating?”


    “No. You don’t have to inherently be part of the Family to participate. A few legal documents that will change your name and superficially add you to our Family will do. Many families are doing the same the same thing. Hiring powerful mercenaries or Stray Knights to fight for them,” Sty said as she pushed over a paper with the conditions stipted over it.


    The Discount Human looked Sty in the eye, searching for anything that would make him understand a bit more of her motives.


    From the sound of this event, it was… dangerous.


    While Skullius didn’t have any qualms facing strong opponents right now, he had to ensure that this was well worth it.


    “Why don’t you have this guy join in then?” Skullius asked while pointing at Jac.


    The burly manughed his ass off before giving a reply.


    “I can’t do that. I’m an official of the Association in Inhone. Dabbling in these matters would require me to leave this position and, as you can guess, I can’t do that.”


    This to Skullius just sounded like Jac not wanting to be part of the familial hassle and a glint in Sty’s eyes perfectly portrayed how she felt about it.


    “Believe it or not, it’s hard to find capable fighters. Combatants from Families and mercenaries usually look down on each other. Most mercenaries I tried to recruit rejected me solely because of that which is why I had tried to switch my approach but still… I even attempted to ask those twins from the Harem’s Guild but they turned me down. You’re my only hope at this point,” Sty said with a straight face that twitched a bit with emotion.


    Sty felt that if Skullius rejected, she’d had to withdraw her entry into the event.


    Skullius turned to Silrat whose eyes didn’t hide the fact that he wanted him to agree.


    However, the Discount Human was done ascertaining this matter yet.


    “Why are you so eager to join this House thing anyway if you’re already a… prestigious Family?” he asked.


    Sty sucked in a breath as this question pierced her heart.


    “Thepetition among Families is rough and joining a House would increase our status and safety. Right now I… we need it. After my brother left the Family, our strength and status took a severe hit, which is why I’ve had to handle much of the responsibility but my strength is not enough. This is our only chance to maintain our standing.”


    Skullius couldn’t rte but he could smell missing details from thus story.


    Fortunately, he didn’t sweat the sentimental stuff and someone desperate like Sty would surely offer a lot in return.


    She would have to.


    “What do I get if Ipete in this? Is it even worth it?” he asked as he leaned forward in his seat.


    This was what Sty had been waiting for.


    She wanted to give the illusion that she had less to offer from the start and had thus waited until the Discount Human asked for himself what was to be gained.


    “I have close ties to the Boundless Throne Academy in Genhuis City. I can arrange for you to have private tutge with one of the Elder Mages. Surely, that would help you greatly,” Sty said.


    The Discount Human perked up.


    This…


    Frock had told him about this.


    Academies.


    They were specialised ces were Mages could learn their craft!


    Getting private lessons with a Mage did seem attractive, even though Skullius wasn’t a Mage himself.


    Still, it seemed like something he could try.


    “Hmmm. What else? This can’t be everything you have right?” he asked.


    “You will have ess to all the wealth and riches of the Bryne Family. Treasures, gold, crystals, knowledge and all. Our full support will also be guaranteed in cases against offending parties and once you decide to join, we’ll protect and defend you as our own. However, this will be offered in moderation until we manage to secure a slot in the EverSword House,” Sty exined.


    She couldn’t just go all in after all.


    That seemed fair.


    Treasure, wealth and knowledge.


    This was also attractive in some ways to the Discount Human but what he was most interested in was support. The events of the past few days had taught him that with sufficient support, it was easier to move about and do whatever he pleased.


    He had been saved by benefactors who saw his value.


    For now, with how weak he was, he couldn’t afford to just be moving alone.


    In this respect, it was pretty worthwhile to join.


    On the Association side, he would have Silrat while on the Family side, he would Sty.


    While others looked down on this, being part of either one or the other, Skullius wasn’t afraid to take advantage of both.


    But, all this begged the question…


    “Are you aware of my…?”


    “Yes, of course. Silrat already told me,” Sty said as she breathed audibly. “It made sense to me why you insisted on doing things alone and not wanting anyone’s help back then. That’s why this is a contract build on mutual benefit. Like your arrangement with Silrat. He gave me a guarantee it was the safest way to do things. We’ll keep things professional.”


    Skullius narrowed his eyes.


    Most people seemed to quite fine with dealing with him despite his curse.


    Sty was gambling on this chance too.


    That only meant that she had something she wasn’t willing to lose which was on the line.


    Something that made her unafraid of her life getting destroyed in one of the most cruel ways imaginable.


    The Discount Human stared at the paper which had been ced before him on the table along with the quill pen.


    Was this worth it?


    Certainly!


    UNCoddled in the richest of ways could be swindled by these kinds of scenarios.


    It had worked so far, right?


    The Discount Human grabbed the quill pen and drew a simplistic skull where his signature was required, much to everyone’s surprise.


    ‘They said all I need to do is write my consent right? Why are they surprised then?’ Skullius thought as he looked at the odd looks he was getting.


    “I agree to your terms then…” he said.


    Sty smiled and she felt a burden lifted from her chest though this was probably going to be a rtionship where she needed to keep her emotions far away.


    Silrat also sighed.


    Now his backup in case the Association somehow didn’t appreciate Skullius’ prowess was cemented.


    “I have a request, though,” Skullius said, garnering everyone’s attention again.


    “What is it?” Sty asked.


    “There’s somewhere I have to go first before we do this event thing. I’ll need to go alone for a while.”


    “Oh. So you won’t being with us to Genhuis City?”


    “No. I can find my way there after I’m done with the things I have to settle.”


    Silrat, Sty and Jac looked amongst themselves, seeing the vacancy in each others’ eyes. No one else knew of this.


    “If that’s the case then, alright. I just hope it won’t take too long. The event begins in 9 days. It’s best to be back by then.” Sty said as she stood up. “I would prefer to leave for Genhuis by the end of the day. Silrat and Oliviana will being with me as per the arrangement. I only hope we see you soon in the big city.”


    “You should arrive earlier actually,” Silrat chipped in. “I wouldn’t want to make the Association wait for too long after I arrive.”


    Skullius nodded before he cocked his head quizzically.


    “Wait? Oliviana? She’sing too?”


    —-


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