The Guilds Association was an organisation founded, as was the trend, by an ambitious man who despised the systematic tyranny of hierarchy that the Capital Service dominated with under the incompetent Royal Family.
As a someone of high standing, featuring the rank of Honoured in the Capital Service, this man's decision to detach from the system to form his own was met with opposition, then cautious, reluctant approval but building his own format and overlaying it onto the pre-established structure... proved to be nigh impossible.
Who would let him do as he pleased?
This man's efforts were not for naught though.
After gathering several dozen individuals with the same mind-set as him as well as similar levels of power, he managed to broker a deal with the Capital Service, taking advantage of all lands unclaimed by Families and Houses, as atrociously few as they were, and making them territory for his fighting force.
Mercenaries.
Because of this man's growing power, his opinions grew to be respected. He did not overreach his growing authority however, choosing to engage in mutually beneficial talks with the Capital Service and Families to propose how they could both benefit from his arrangement.
Because the threat of Clusters, criminals and the rare beast hordes that strayed from Sacred Forests was ever present, sometimes its might unbearable for weaker Families, this man managed to convince the nation that he and his forces were needed.
The setup which was arranged was simple.
All the unclaimed lands would not feature the establishment of a Capital Service base and all criminals as well as Clusters emerging within them would be for his mercenaries to clear.
Such a condition was taken advantage of by city Lords such as Yugefet of Eofel, who setup his own mini empire in one of these unclaimed lands. Due to how heavy the responsibility could get though, he tended to blame the Capital Service and the Guilds Association for poor management, but the latter usually sent mercenaries to his region whenever a significant threat arose.
In addition to the aforementioned strategy, Families who were incapable of dealing with threats in their own boundaries, could request the assistance of the Guilds Association while offering something of equal value in exchange.
They wouldn't turn to the Capital Service instead as usually because of the fear of owing favours, thus transactions were more acceptable.
As mentioned before, this was something only weaker Families entertained.
This system was why some of the rewards for certain missions were not displayed until after a mission was completed – to indicate that the Association was not sponsoring said missions.
This was the case with some of the Hybrid Luman's mission rewards.
"You've come to collect your rewards, sir?"
"Yes," Skullius responded.
The lady serving him, Rist, smiled as she processed what looked to be a receipt that Skullius could use to claim his spoils. Since he had already handed in the evidence for his completed missions, the process was quick.
So far, Skullius had completed two of the missions he took.
The first was the one where he had to clear the Cluster that had appeared on the unique landmark, the Creeping Chill, which had featured the Grand Flame Bringer as well as the Fire Breeders. The reward for it was 200 Plasma coins in addition to one Unique grade treasure and one Legendary treasure of his choosing.
The other was the one with the Cluster Beasts that had already escaped their Cluster, inhabiting a forest as their home. Skullius had accomplished that one easily after taking up his Hybrid Luman form and the reward for it was 280 Plasma coins in addition to something called the Simmering Cloud, the details of which he was about to find out.
Silrat had answered some of his burning questions on the way here and the secrecy of these rewards didn't bother him as much anymore.
What did start to bother him though was the knowledge that there were a total of 121 exclusive mercenaries, 30 of which were Rank 4 and above, higher in ranking than him.
Furthermore, he had never see them. These parts of the Association were usually devoid of human activity.
'I don't think I'll be meeting them anytime soon from the looks of it. Besides that idiot from that day of course,' Skullius thought, thinking back to that man who had started flirting with Yuyui from the blue.
Tsk.
480 Plasma coins were laid in front of Skullius in a simple spatial storage ring that he established a connection with through his mana. The receipt he had seen Rist produce was also placed through the slot from her desk which he quizzically felt over.
"One of the evaluators will be coming to lead you to the First treasury soon," the woman said with a smile, choosing not to say more.
Skullius blinked.
'Right. Silrat said he already informed everyone up here about UNCoddled in a 'less terrifying way' as he claims,' Skullius thought with a subdued chuckle.
*
With the guidance of an evaluator who wasn't Alaris, Skullius found himself inside the First Treasury once again.
He skimmed over the items in this treasury once again.
'One Legendary item and one Unique huh?' he thought.
Armour and swords weren't something he was too concerned with. The Bryne Family had their own treasury which he was sure had stuff like that. That was one of the stipulations he and Stylla had agreed on back then after all, though Skullius hadn't tapped into that yet.
The Hybrid Luman walked over to the Prompt Spells again. According to Alaris, the ones in the First treasury were Unique grade at beast, though they held powerful skills. This would make one wonder what could be found in the other treasuries and what it took to get the clearance to them.
Skullius had thought about it but for now, he focused on what he could get his hands on.
The Prompt Spells were more interesting than any armour or weapon because they could used to create more terrifying skills like [Serration Zone: Baneful Edge] with [Unbound].
Come to think of it...
'Now that I have a maximum of 12,000 Null Life Essence, its possibly that [Unbound] can grant items past the Unique grade!' Skullius thought.
With how [Serration Zone], which was birthed using 6000 Null Life Essence points, Skullius couldn't help but wonder what would be born from double that amount...
Damn, he needed to kill more and see.
The Hybrid Luman grabbed one Prompt Spell after careful analysis with Koten and [Greater Mana Crafter]. He also grabbed one of the few Legendary items in here which had some pretty unique effects – a neat dagger.
He didn't pick it for himself though.
Yuyui would probably find more use out of this if she focused on combat.
Skullius and the evaluator exited the First treasury before the latter told him to wait on the fifth floor as he went to collect his other reward.
It didn't take long for the man to return, finding Skullius seated before the pristine seat that faced Rist at the desk on this floor.
"The Simmering Cloud," the evaluator said as he presented an ordinary box that was the carrier of the mostly undisclosed reward.
Skullius took the box and opened it to find...
"Hmm?"
A inverted triangular glass container was in his palm.
It was roughly half the size of his hand, its colour a pretty shade of lilac with a black cork over it.
There seemed to be something liquid inside this container.
"Let's see," Skullius said as he exited this room through the doors and ignited his Crude Vision so that he could use his guidance field.
~~~
[Simmering Cloud]
<Legendary>
The graceful waters within are as clear and as pristine as the will of the lady of the waters. As soon as they meet with the open world, they sift out as a blessing of vapour that offers clarity, strength and precision to the holder and their allies and the opposite to their enemies.
-Special Effects-
+80% mental clarity
+85% soul clarity
+65% to all stats
+60% precision
--
-Caution-
If enemies exceed the level of the user, effects will be affected.
~~~
Skullius nodded.
This was a pretty cool treasure, undoubtedly acquired from whoever either couldn't be bothered or couldn't deal with the creatures that had escaped from a Cluster and landed in their territory.
Skullius didn't have that many allies in battle But he looked forward to seeing this in action against enemies.
All those numbers in buffs would turn into nightmares for whoever was opposing him.
"Hehe," Skullius chuckled before realising something.
The Plasma coins.
Silrat had also informed him about something akin to a store that he could buy basic supplies from in the Association.
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