World Online

All three of the representatives left without a deal. At the end of the day, Bright Horizon was an ally with three companies, Gemini, Sirius, and Venur, with Horace also interested.

It was a good day, a bright day for the guild.

Jake was also all grins as he looked at Myriad Arrows.

"Don\'t you think that it was worth it? Sure, we made one small enemy. But enemies come and go. These enemies will always stay. As a guild that wants to grow, we will always be facing those enemies. Aries was going to happen sooner or later. They wanted the guild. Don\'t be so downcast about it." Jake smiled.

"It\'s not just what I think about it though, is it? The guild members should also feel safe. Who would want to be a part of the guild that is going to be blacklisted by a corporation like Aries? No one!" Myriad Arrows said.

He had put in all of his cards into Bright Horizon, mostly because of Jake. He trusted in Jake, and Jake already delivered significantly.

But the move of offending Aries came out of nowhere.

"We have a lot to take care of. Let us not worry about Aries at the moment. Now that we have so many allies, the biggest thing that we can do is flaunt." Jake smiled.

"Right! So are you going to announce the fact that you are partnering up with all these companies and their guilds to create a massive alliance?" Myriad Arrows asked.

"We will have the press conference eventually. I want to see how many people will leave the guild. We have to thin the crowd a little. The main members might not leave, but so many temps will. I mean, their contract is not restrictive, and they will definitely get the jitters." Jake said.

"You WANT them to leave? What kind of guild leader are you? You bring them in and then try to think the crowd?" Myriad Arrows shouted.

"I can\'t go through so many people. Now, all the cowards will leave the guild cause of the Aries fiasco. As for those willing to stay and take the risk, they will be rewarded because after I confirm the deal with Horace, I will announce the setting up of the alliance." Jake said.

"What are you going to call it though? No one asked about that."

"It was in the contract. Blue Star Alliance. Anyways, we have more things to do than just that. Let us go to the raid zone once more. Surely, our guild members must have finished at least a single run by now." Jake said.

They went down the stairs, where they were still greeted by a large crowd of people. All of them were either talking, engaging in chitchat, or registering for the guild, which was now made an open form.

"I am surprised. I thought that the news of the whole Aries thing was going to spread like wildfire." Jake frowned.

"Why are you so pessimistic? Can\'t you just hope that these people still stayed even though that whole incident came into play?" Myriad Arrows asked.

"I am a realist. And I know that there aren\'t this many brave souls in Diffast right now. If I had this many, then why the hell would I need an alliance with so many others? You will see the chaos unfold once the message goes public properly." Jake said.

They walked down to the floor below and forced their way out of the store so that they could finally breathe some fresh air outside.

Although it was virtual, the feeling was authentic.

"Now to the portal. Can you go check on them, Myriad Arrows?" Jake asked.

"You aren\'t coming with me?" Myriad Arrows frowned this time.

"Two people going there to see the same result is kind of useless, don\'t you think? I need you to be my eyes and ears. If they are not able to clear the raid, then something is wrong. We need to fix that something before the expedition starts. Because once it does, the guild will be the main focal point. And if they did finish it, run it back once again. Today, we need to start working together as a guild. We need them to develop chemistry." Jake said.

"Alright, I got it. Where will you be going then?" he asked.

"I am going to the Black Stone Kingdom. The capital of the Black Stone Kingdom to be precise. A small kingdom compared to the Loviel Empire, but their capital city is miles better than Diffast." Jake said.

"To meet the CEO of Horace? I hope that goes well." Myriad Arrows said.

"So do I." Jake said as both of them stopped.

They were in front of the blue swirling portal already. People were coming in, and few were going out. But this was the center of transport for the entire city. From this point, they could see most of the city.

Looking at the crowds of people, Jake felt a little satisfied with what he had produced.

"Alright then. When I get back here, things might just be a little different."

Myriad Arrows went in first. He stepped through the portal, with Jake already setting the destination for him. Only Jake knew where the raids were located.

It all seemed too cryptic for Myriad Arrows to understand in the little time that he used the portal.

Seeing Myriad Arrows go through, Jake nodded and he set his destination as well. Passing through the portal, he entered a different city altogether.

[Capital City, Black Stone Kingdom]

The city that he entered was vast. It was much, much bigger than Diffast. But that was to be expected. Diffast was just the third biggest city in Loviel, whereas the Capital city of Black stone was the biggest city in the kingdom.

And it certainly lived up to its name.

The entire city seemed to be made out of black stones.

Jake\'s eyes slid to a corner of the city. He knew exactly where he needed to go. After all, he did this before.

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