Chapter 155

Chapter 155

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 155: Gathering Of The Gate Openers (2).

“We’ve met before, haven’t we? Nice to see you again. I’m Group Leader Grenzo.”

“It’s an honor to meet you again, Group Leader.”

[Strength: 15] [Agility: 22] [Stamina: 48] [Intelligence: 74] [Magic: 75]

[Genius] [Holy Intellect] [Will] [Cautious] [Enlightened] [Desire] [Efficiency] [Sensitive]

Allen shook hands with Grenzo and examined his status window. Truly impressive stats and traits… He particularly noticed the [Holy Intellect] and [Enlightened] traits.

Elena, along with Old Man Scone and Noble Lady Shetlan, who had met in reality, turned their gaze towards Allen after greeting Grenzo.

“I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Scone.”

He had the aura of an old sage meditating in the mountains. His snow-white hair and long white beard indicated that he was quite advanced in age.

[Strength: 31] [Agility: 45] [Stamina: 42] [Intelligence: 66] [Magic: 78]

[Common] [Versatile] [Indomitable Will] [Enlightenment] [Direct] [Principled] [Hatred]

Once again, like the Ghost Flame Grenzo, he had remarkable stats and traits. But the most astonishing thing was that he was labeled as [Common].

Not a [Genius], not even a [Talent], but merely a [Common] person who achieved [Enlightenment]? Allen had been a [Guild Master] for over ten years, yet he had never seen anything like it. It was unimaginable how much effort the old man must have put in to reach this position.

“Nice to meet you.”

“No wonder Elena is head over heels. You’ve got quite the handsome face!”

The Milk-Jug Mage’s face turned beet red. Group Leader Allen just laughed heartily and let it pass.

…And then…

As Allen moved on to the next person, he felt a chilling sensation piercing his chest. It was as if he was exposing his deepest core.

The gaze of the middle-aged noblewoman… Outwardly, she seemed to be in her early forties. However, thanks to mana, her aging would have slowed significantly, so she was likely older.

Her beauty, which must have once stirred many men’s hearts, had not completely faded. From the slightly pronounced wrinkles, one could catch a glimpse of her long, eventful years.

“I’m Shetlan.”

This time, it wasn’t a handshake but the back of the hand…. Judging by her speech and attire, she seemed to be quite a high-ranking person.

“I’m Group Leader Allen.”

Allen gently took the noblewoman’s hand and placed a light kiss on the back of it like a gentleman. Simultaneously, he checked her status window.

[Strength: 7] [Agility: 12] [Stamina: 38] [Intelligence: 82] [Magic: 79]

[Genius] [Inspiration of All Things] [Enlightenment] [Longevity] [Insight] [Stubbornness] [Self-love] [Kindness] [Greed] [Hyper-sensitivity]

Hearing that Elena used elemental magic, it was anticipated, yet the trait [Inspiration of All Things] was prominently displayed in the trait window. A trait that would manifest in only a very small number of elemental mages. It was the ultimate in efficiency, so much so that there was a saying to recruit anyone with this trait. Elemental magic was very well balanced in offense and defense, which was a great help in nurturing the mercenary group. It was obviously one of the high-tier traits as rare as [Enlightenment].

…However, Allen was not the only one astonished by this meeting.

Particularly, the one who was freshly shocked was Lady Shetlan.

…This man, I feel nothing from him…!

As she reached the pinnacle of elemental magic and understood the principles of all things, she gained the ability to sense the intentions of others, albeit in a simple manner. It was not a magical function, so it didn’t matter whether one had a lot of mana or not. And the opponent was clearly an ordinary human who didn’t know the ‘ma’ in mana. However, she felt as if she was blocked by a wall, completely in the dark.

This was the first time such a thing had happened, and Shetlan couldn’t help but feel inwardly flustered.

…This woman seems to read thoughts, even if just slightly.

Fortunately, he wasn’t read, but the opponent was. At least, it proved that the status window was superior to her ability.

Honestly, Allen couldn’t help but be a bit surprised. There was nothing good about his thoughts being read…

After all, he needed to appear like an ordinary human. However, the fact that his thoughts couldn’t be read might have distanced him from being ordinary.

Indeed, the Gathering of the Gate Openers…

There wasn’t a single person among them who wasn’t extraordinary. Compared to those three, the Milk-Jug Mage was incredibly unremarkable. Of course, she would grow to be as formidable as them in time, but for now, she was nothing more than a fledgling.

The welcome party itself wasn’t particularly special. It consisted of simple conversations, a meal, and tea time. Occasionally, heated debates over magical realms that Allen couldn’t comprehend would break out, but aside from that, it felt like a modest social gathering.

Then, Allen and Elena stood up before it got too late. Grenzo called for a carriage to ensure their safe return to their lodging.

“I enjoyed today.”

“Thank you for the invitation. We’ll take our leave now.”

“Understood. Travel safely.”

They parted ways after exchanging farewell handshakes. The three who remained stayed a bit longer instead of leaving immediately.

A peculiar silence hung in the drawing room where the two had vanished. The two men seemed eager to hear from Lady Shetlan first.

“How was it?”

Since opening the door to mana, Shetlan felt the word ‘frustration’ for the first time.

“I couldn’t feel anything at all. This has never happened before… Surely, he’s no ordinary person.”

“What? Our lady who loves to peek couldn’t sense anything?”

Even the fact that the man blocked the gaze of Lady Shetlan, which even Old Man Scone couldn’t avoid, was astonishing.

Ghost Flame Grenzo, while surprised, also had a look of ‘I knew it.’

“I told you, didn’t I? He’s not an ordinary guy. There’s definitely something there.”

The three were convinced that Group Leader Allen possessed some special ability unknown to them. At the same time, a strange sense of unease began to rise.

“Is it okay to just leave it like that? What if it negatively affects the successor…?”

When Scone asked worriedly, Shetlan shook her head firmly.

“It’s fine. She’s just in love.”

The expression of that loyalty was true love. It was enough to make even Shetlan, who had subtly sensed it, feel a lump in her throat.

“And Elena isn’t a fool. She’s also someone who’s opened the Gate like us. She knows how to make judgments. Whatever decision she makes, we should respect it. We’re comrades.”

“…Yeah. That’s right.”

Grenzo and Scone also agreed with Shetlan’s words.

“Anyway, he didn’t seem like a bad person. That’s the feeling I got.”

“Did you fall for his face too?”

The noblewoman snorted as if she couldn’t believe it.

“…Hey, old man. At my age, what with a kid….?!”

Old Man Scone just chuckled frivolously.

Ghost Flame Grenzo fiddled with his teacup, lost in deep thought.

He, too, had realized that Group Leader Allen was no ordinary person and had investigated him.

Elimination of the dark mage in the canyon.

Heroics in the mine dungeon.

War with the necromancer of the West.

Treatment of Natasha’s demonic disease.

Resolution of the Siren incident.

Destruction of the Gate of the Spirit Realm.

Achievements in the Southern expedition.

Treatment of the Northern Tiger’s demonic disease.

Eradication of the worst bandit group, the Martolo Bandits.

And now, resolving the Holy Kingdom incident.

Who would believe that all of this happened in just three years?

Moreover, in most cases, it wasn’t just a simple resolution; it was literally an outstanding level of achievement.

…Honestly, it doesn’t make sense…

But all of this was already the work of the Allen-Mercenary Group. So, for Grenzo, it was even more bewildering.

As a group leader, his capabilities could be considered the best across the continent. He even surpassed Viola and Elizabeth in finding talents. And yet, Shetlan couldn’t even sense his thoughts?

For Grenzo, he was a person difficult to judge. The more frightening part was that despite such tremendous achievements, the rumors about him remained relatively quiet.

No, perhaps even that was something Group Leader Allen intentionally aimed for. The more famous one becomes, the more enemies they attract. He knew that, too, and was keeping quiet until the time came. Under Viola’s protection…!

This couldn’t be seen as the depth of a man merely in his early twenties. He was effortlessly accomplishing things that even the seasoned group leaders who had been through countless battles found difficult. And this, despite being a human with no combat ability…!

Grenzo was a mage, but he was also the leader of a massive mercenary group. If a shift in the mercenary world was certain, then measures had to be prepared in response.

Should he be checked? Or cooperate? Maybe recruit?

He thought this meeting would allow him to decide that right away, but instead, it felt like falling deeper into a labyrinth.

Of course, as long as the Allen-Mercenary Group didn’t intrude into the Grenzo-Mercenary Group’s territory, there was no need for any checks. Moreover, the opponent was a fellow mercenary group. It wouldn’t be proper to suppress them instead of offering cooperation… However, assisting a mercenary group protected by a Top 10 that was considered inferior was somewhat lacking in form, wasn’t it?

Recruitment would be best.

If Elena doesn’t come over, then persuading Group Leader Allen should suffice!

Thus, after the banquet, Grenzo went straight to his daughter’s room, where she was engrossed in her magical training until late at night, and had a secret conversation with her.

Unlike the unmarried Sword Emperor, the Ghost Flame had children with two wives, two sons and two daughters each. Among them, the eldest daughter, Rozanne, had grown up and was active as a second-tier mage in the Grenzo-Mercenary Group. Particularly resembling her beautiful mother; her beauty was renowned even in the capital.

Rozanne, intelligent yet equally ambitious for achievement and success, immediately accepted her father’s proposal.

Talented and skilled in her own right, she was brimming with confidence. Though she accepted, she had not the slightest intention of being tied down by some man. Instead, she planned to win him over and take control.

Thus, the next day, at the break of dawn, Rozanne headed to the inn where the Allen-Mercenary Group was staying.

…And before Rozanne could even properly speak, she was rejected by Group Leader Allen.