Chapter 118
Chapter 118
. The Second Deal with the Phantom (3)
5.
“It’s a rejection.”
Cheryl, as soon as she heard El Palm’s story, she refused without a second thought.
“Creating a new identity is beyond my ability.”
It’s not that I just don’t do it, it’s that I can’t do it.
“It’s true that we are experts in that area.”
In fact, it wasn’t that difficult to hide one’s identity in Maple World.
Although the Adventurer’s Guild provides proof of adventurers’ identities, the proof itself isn’t anything spectacular.
Also, being an adventurer did not necessarily require recognition from the Adventurer’s Association.
Being recognized meant that the Adventurer’s Guild acknowledged the adventurer’s skills, which was advantageous in many ways, but there was an even more certain proof for adventurers.
A very definite proof of a circle.
Above all, it was the era of the Mystic Gate. It was an era where there were plenty of places for adventurers to go on adventures, and the demand for adventurers was also abundant.
It was a time when even adventurers who were not properly recognized had no problem going on adventures.
“But it’s a different story for 5th circle adventurers.”
The problem was that El Palm was a 5 circle.
First of all, the number of 5 circle adventurers was small.
Although the number of adventurers increased rapidly during the Mystic Gate era, the number of Circle 5 adventurers was still not large.
This means that it is not easy to deceive because the number is small.
“From now on, only those with a green rank or higher will be able to attack, but green rank requires special management.”
In particular, El Palm needed not just an identity, but an identity to conquer the Green Grade Mystic Gate.
That was the problem.
When it comes to green rank, not only is the management just management, but the faces of the adventurers participating are bound to be different.
Accordingly, the checks and balances on each other had to be different.
No adventurer would want to enter the Mystic Gate with someone whose identity and background are unclear.
Even more so if it’s a 5 circle.
“I know it’s not easy.”
El Palm knew too.
“Still, this is the only place I can ask for help.”
‘There is a way.’
It’s difficult, but on the other hand, it’s possible if you’re a cross hunter.
Actually, El Palm knew.
‘I just can’t tell you the easy way to do it.’
What Cheryl is doing now is bargaining.
It was as expected.
“We can’t do it, but there is someone who can help us.”
Cheryl started bargaining.
“I’ll connect you with him if you need it.”
As expected, El Palm gladly accepted the offer.
“great.”
And we were able to meet.
6.
“nice to meet you.”
She was a very attractive beauty with red hair and emerald green eyes.
“I heard the story, El Palm.”
When she reached out her hand, El Palm’s reaction was a little slower than usual.
“Yes, my name is El Palm.”
It was a very subtle difference. No one would notice it.
But there was clearly a difference, and that was the evidence. The evidence that El Palm was flustered the moment he saw the woman in front of him.
Of course, it wasn’t because she was a great beauty.
“It is an honor to meet you, Commander of the Knights of Fire, Lord Oz.”
“Do you know me?”
“If you don’t know, that would be strange.”
The opponent is none other than Oz, one of the commanders of the Knights of Signus.
It was a well-known fact that she had come to the Kingdom of Ariant.
‘I’ve met someone who is hard to meet.’
But meeting her was in some ways much more difficult than meeting Abdullah VIII.
‘Because not many people want to meet the Commander of the Signus Knights.’
That’s understandable, because encounters with the Knights of Signus were often not good.
In the first place, the organization called the Knights of Signus itself was the administrator.
Administrators who ensure that the rules set by Empress Signus are followed.
Of course, that management was never just about talking.
If it had been possible to control it with words in the first place, there would have been no reason for the Knights of Signus to move.
That is, most of the times when you meet the Knights of Signus, you are forced to be under their control.
It means that there aren’t many good encounters.
‘That’s why the knight commanders themselves are even more reluctant to meet.’
The Knight Commanders of the Signus Knights were also well aware of this fact, and so they refrained from meeting each other outside of official meetings as much as possible.
‘Because the knight commanders are full of loyalty.’
Crucially, the Knight Commanders of the Signus Order were extremely loyal to Empress Signus, and so they never did anything that would arouse unnecessary suspicion.
Even private meetings were avoided.
It means that it is bound to be difficult to meet.
‘But I can definitely give you what you want.’
But on the contrary, he was the one who could most definitely give El Palm what he wanted in Maple World, which was a fake identity.
It wasn’t difficult.
‘The Knight Commander guarantees, nothing is more certain than that.’
After El Palm creates a new identity and gives it the certification of the Commander of the Knights of Signus, there will be no one who will not believe him.
Of course, as I said before, it was not an ordinary thing for the Knights of Signus to move.
That he requested a meeting in such a private place.
“I’ve heard that story often.”
Even this place was a place for trading.
A place for bargaining in exchange for breaking the rules, where the Knight Commander of the Signus guarantees a false identity.
‘I have no idea what to ask for.’
It’s probably going to require a lot of things.
Naturally, the conversation that will unfold from now on will have a different weight.
“ah.”
For that reason, Oz, the commander of the Knights of Fire, spoke to El Palm, who was nervous.
“How is Kiri doing?”
Those words were unexpected.
In this conversation that is supposed to be full of weight, the first question is about Kiri?
But El Palm wasn’t surprised.
‘Kiri must be that important.’
Because it meant that there was something special about Kiri that even Oz, the commander of the Knights of Fire, mentioned.
Actually, I had some feelings about him.
When listening to Kiri’s stories, there were times when she spoke differently from the average person.
A story that only those with unique backgrounds can tell.
‘Even if you just look at it moving on its own.’
The most decisive of these was that she was a member of the El Palm party of her own free will.
The Knights of Signus were different from adventurers. No matter how much of a trainee they were, moving around in an adventurer party like this was absolutely impossible under normal circumstances.
Even she wasn’t just moving.
“Yes, she has saved my life several times.”
El Palm Party, I was active as a member of that huge group.
“That’s great. I ask for your continued support.”
However, El Palm did not expect that Oz, the commander of the Knights of Fire, would personally mention this.
This was a pretty big deal.
When Oz, the commander of the Knights of Fire, says this, it is both a silent request and a threat to protect Kiri’s life.
Very burdensome words.
Of course, this meant nothing to El Palm.
“I will protect my comrades with my life.”
I was thinking that way even without saying it.
“No matter what happens.”
Even if the Knights of Signus were to kill her, El Palm would still protect her.
If he hadn’t been prepared for that, he wouldn’t have accepted her as a member of his party in the first place.
“thank you.”
Oz, the commander of the Knights of Fire, smiled broadly, seemingly satisfied with El Palm’s words.
But El Palm did not smile.
Because now is when the real beginning begins.
“I know you’re very skilled. I’ve heard that your ability to find relics at Mystic Gate is the best.”
The real deal.
“It’s not the best, but I’m confident I won’t fail.”
Here El Palm did not back down.
“Is what you want to retrieve?”
“yes.”
“Is the rating green?”
“that’s right.”
Rather, he actively led the conversation.
This was a place for transactions, so we only had to talk about the transaction and there was no need to talk about anything else at length.
There was no need to even talk about what the trade rewards were.
As I said before, the reward is that the Knight Commander of the Signus will help El Palm forge his identity.
That is, you only need to know one.
“Whose tomb is this?”
“This is the tomb of the Knight of Signus.”
“Can you tell me exactly whose grave this is?”
The dangers there.
“Do I really have to say it?”
Oz seemed to have a hard time saying those words to El Palm.
There was nothing strange.
If someone goes to such lengths to retrieve a relic, it means that the owner of that relic is very special.
Moreover, if he was someone who could be revealed, he would not have come to El Palm in secret and attempted a dangerous deal.
El Palm respected that opinion.
“You don’t have to say anything. If you don’t say anything, you just have to pay the appropriate price.”
If you pay enough compensation to respect it.
“I see you’re using my necklace. Does that mean you use fire attribute magic?”
“That’s right.”
That was the moment.
“Then I guess this makes sense.”
Along with the words, Oz took off the earring he was wearing and handed it to El Palm.
El Palm’s eyes narrowed when he saw that.
‘The Earrings of Oz.’
Okay, I got it.
“These are Helios’ earrings.”
What kind of item is that?
I knew that ability well too.
‘When worn, damage from fire attribute magic increases by 20%.’
Damage increase, the effect itself was simple.
But the merits of that effect were by no means simple.
Just wearing these earrings means that El Palm’s fire attribute magic power increases by 20 percent.
Moreover, El Palm was not just a simple wizard.
The power of a single Fire Arrow unleashed from his hand was more terrifying than the explosion used by other fire attribute magicians.
Because it means more than just a 20 percent increase.
It was a more than welcome reward.
But El Palm was not pleased.
‘I’ll just give this to you.’
They are giving you such an incredible item, a legendary grade item, as a reward?
Just by not asking questions?
That means the owner of that tomb is no ordinary person.
I couldn’t help but be nervous.
On the one hand, I thought.
‘Both.’
Offering compensation like this means that it is risky, but it also means that security is important.
“How many people can enter?”
“There are 33 people.”
That’s why.
“It seems like maintaining security is more important than ever, so it would be best to have as few people in as possible.”
“Yes.”
“If you pay us additional compensation, we will reduce the number of people as much as possible.”
El Palm, he made an additional suggestion.
Of course, it was an excessive suggestion.
To the point where it’s okay to cross the line.
That was why Oz, who received the offer, looked slightly embarrassed.
“You’re going to reduce the number of people? Isn’t that dangerous?”
It’s a well-known fact that the fewer mouths and eyes there are, the easier it is to maintain security, but that also means the chances of being attacked are lower.
For Oz, who valued the recovery of the relics more than anything else, failure was something he wanted to avoid.
“I don’t think security will be maintained better just by reducing the number of members.”
Crucially, 33 people were admitted, but around 30 people were admitted, so the security maintenance merit that could be obtained by reducing the number of people by only three was not that great.
“There’s no point in reducing the number of people.”
Of course, El Palm knew that too.
In other words, if it was at that level, there was no way El Palm would have made such a proposal in the first place.
“But if the numbers decrease significantly, it will be different.”
He said.
“If we reduce the number of people from 33 to 28, I think there will be enough merit in maintaining security.”
fantasy,