Chapter 51: Deal (1/2)
Red hair and big, green eyes. That young woman's rabid gaze reflected her surly character. A light leather armour wrapped her chest and shoulders, tight with straps.
What's that girl looking at? Anyway, I can't just accept Takamori's invitation and join the guild without knowing what I'm up against. It's time to raise the bar, Yochi thought, slightly embarrassed by the woman's insistent gaze.
”I am delighted that you are asking me to join your guild, Takamori-Sama. Tell me, what would my obligations towards the Nightblades be?” Yoichi questioned, interested.
”Well, you'd do the same assignments as your comrades, of course!” the moustached man smirked. ”Besides me, if you accepted, you would be our twelfth warrior. You know, we Nightblades don't like to consider ourselves a simple guild. We're a real family, Yoichi. We help each other.”
”I see it. I got it since the moment I saw you all sitting at this table. Anyway, maybe I didn't explain myself well. I mean, what am I supposed to do when I agree to join the guild? It's the first time I'm receiving an offer like this, so I'd like to understand every detail specifically,” Yoichi specified, maintaining a calm and relaxed tone.
”Since you're novice tamers, I'll give you a hard training to follow. Once you've completed the first stages, you'll start flanking your teammates in the field, and then... then you will be able to achieve missions on your own,” Takamori explained.
”What kind of missions? Do you fight at the front too?”
After that question, the guild master's gaze suddenly saddened. ”Let's say the Nightblades guild is going through a difficult period. My warriors deal with exploratory missions. Let me explain in detail”, Takamori replied, coughing. ”Current missions consist of journeys to the territories north and west of Tentochu. Our goal is to fortify our arsenal of demons and be able to flank the most powerful guilds to the front, against Kamakiri's army”, he explained.
It was as I imagined. These guys are no match for the Emperor's Heralds and the other guilds fighting on Nomi Island. Nonetheless, joining the Nightblades could be an excellent place to start. Yoichi pondered, reflecting on the words of his interlocutor.
”I understand...” the young tamer confirmed. Before continuing to speak, he slipped his hand into his pouch. During that gesture, Sada Takamori's warriors watched him closely, staying alert.
Under the astonished eyes of Enatsu, who had not yet figured out what his friend had in mind, Yoichi pulled out the Princess's comb. Making room between the food in the centre of the table, he put it under Takamori's eyes.
Everyone present remained silent. The guild chief grabbed the small metal object and approached it to his eyes, looking closely. Yoichi's goal was to make his interlocutor understand that he should make the offer more appealing if he really wanted him to join his warriors.
When Takamori's gaze traced the lines of the imperial symbol carved into the metal, his eyes opened wide. The guild master slammed the comb on the table in a sudden gesture, covering it with his hand.
”How did you get this item, Yoichi?” he trembled, not believing his eyes. The interest of his subordinates, who had failed to see the imperial symbol, was at the highest level.