Chapter 155: Josh's True Identity Revealed
****(POV)
In a relatively cheap-looking bar, many patrons could be seen enjoying themselves. There was one man at the counter that was apparently trying to kill himself from alcohol poisoning. Sadly Brad was a Climber, so he was bound to fail.
Life was shit, wasn't it? Yes, it was. He felt like his life was akin to his glass: empty and pitiful. "Barman, another one! The strong kind ant for Climbers!" Tonight he would let loose.
The lanky, handso man on the other side was about to comply when he received a call. The more he listened, and the darker his expression beca. After hanging up, he turned toward Brad: "I'll ask you to leave. We don't want your kind here."
"Is that so? I'll ask you to shut your trap and keep pouring. I'm in a bad mood today." His kind? What did that even an?
"How is your bad mood my problem? Get out and—" the barman was interrupted.
"You can get out. You're fired." A deep voice resounded.
The newcor was an old gentleman that looked too fancy for the place. This man wore a black suit wherever he went, and today was no exception. He gestured for Brad to remain seated.
"Sir, why?! I was just —" He tried protesting.
"Just driving my most devoted custor away, right? Driving the man that saved my life twice away? Because so A-Rank shithead asked you to? You can go work for him instead. Now, get the fuck out of my sight!" He powerfully declared.
Hearing this tirade almost made Brad forget that he was depressed. He couldn't help but smile lightly. The old man sat next to him. Grabbing a bottle of scotch, he poured both of them so before asking:
"What's your plan now? Random Parties? There is that one application called . You could always use that. Other than that, I'm guessing you'll have to run away."
"Not possible. This shit only works until D-Rank at best. Any decent Climber above level 30 finds himself a guild. This is how things work. I just have to find one that will accept . As for running, I kinda like this city. It would be easier if I still had my gear..."
"Yep, I always told you the Golden Wolves contract is shady as Hell! Repossession of all the gear upon leaving, that's bullshit! Actually…you're pretty much holess now, right? You can sleep here in the anti."
"Thanks, old man. Here is a toast to new beginnings!" Brad raised his cup high up.
That is when they heard soone coming their way. He looked relatively young, had short brown hair, and an air of naivety to him. As he called out to them, he seed slightly intoxicated. He spoke clearly but fast and with a changing tone.
"You guys are so loud! I heard everything. So you got kicked out of Golden Wolves, eh?"
"This is my bar. I'll be as loud as I want, young man. Now, I'll act as if you hadn't said anything and—"
"No, that's not what I ant, like at all! You see I, Jack, just got kicked out of my guild too. Well, technically, I'm suspended for an undetermined duration that can be up to 3 months. You guys know how long 3 months are for a Climber?!"
"I feel you, brother. Here." Both n nodded, with the old man pouring the youngster a glass. He smiled as he kept rambling.
"At first, I was devastated, but then it got worse. Now, it turns out that this guy that caused my suspension could very well be a" he approached and whispered "a spy!"
"I think you drank a bit too much, friend." Brad gave a slight smile.
"No, I'm serious. I have an informant and proof— A full mailbox full of proof! Who uses mail nowadays anyway?" Jack mumbled the last part.
"Oh? What guild is getting plotted against then?" He played along.
"My old guild…oh, you an the na! Draconic."
That made Brad instantly sober up. Was the man really from Draconic?
Without the public altercation with Kasha, Josef could have never kicked him out no matter his pull at Adamantium Wolves. Could he perhaps use this man's connection to have her forgive him?
He had said sothing about a spy in the guild too. Was that real or false? Was he just rambling because of the alcohol? Could there really be a spy at Draconic? If yes, who knew?
"Tell more about this spy." Brad made it sound casual, but he had already gestured to the owner to subtly evacuate the remaining clients.
"Josh, Josh Malum. He ca out of nowhere. He has the trust of the guild master and is using it to slowly use guild resources for his own plans. Even his own identity seems to be falsified."
"What do you an?"
"He's supposed to be a Fallen, but there are records of him being in this world long before the Tower appeared. His picture appears in the records of an asylum, delusional disorder or sothing."
"That's impossible! People would have noticed his absence in the Tutorial." Brad stated the obvious.
"I thought so too. He can fake everything, but not that, right? You know how there are random drops in the Tower from ti to ti? One is a Floor Access ticket. It allows one to bypass the usual 3 level difference between party mbers."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"It's possible for a low-level Climber to access the Tutorial with it if there is an instance going on. Just that no one does it since it's rare to get one and a waste."
"Why would he have gone through all that trouble? It doesn't make any sense. This is clearly a conspiracy theory! What would even be his goal?"
"Destruction of this world," Jack uttered with a cold face.
"Pfft. HAHAHA, Nice one!…. Wait, you weren't kidding?!" Brad couldn't believe this man.
"Draconic has access to so of the latest information. Right now, he seems to be looking for the one cursed by the Greenwood Lord."
"Why are you telling all this?"
"You just lost your guild, and I need help figuring out how to make him talk or get rid of him directly. This is fate, I'm telling you!" Ensued a very long and uncomfortable mont of silence.
"You said you had proof, right? Show !"
They slowly left the bar, the flashing
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