Liam’s instincts kicked in the mont he heard Logan Pierce calling out to him.
His first thought was to escape—pretend he hadn’t heard his false na and vanish into the crowd before the scout could reach him.
Without hesitation, he adjusted his cloak and shifted his stance, preparing to weave through the people around him. If he was fast enough, he could disappear before Logan even got a good look at his face.
’System, map the fastest escape route for .’
[Processing... Route calculated. Exit through the west hall, take the ergency stairs, and use minor illusion magic to blend into the crowd.]
Liam didn’t need to be told twice. He imdiately pivoted and made his way toward the west hall, moving swiftly but not suspiciously. Asger, still perched on his shoulder, muttered.
"Running away? That’s nothing new. Now, run human run!"
"I just don’t want to deal with trouble."
Liam muttered back.
Unfortunately, trouble had a way of finding him.
Just before he could slip out, a firm hand clamped down on his shoulder, halting his movents. Liam tensed as Logan Pierce, still as elegant and poised as before, stood beside him with a knowing smile.
"Now, now, Master Vale. Why the rush? Surely, you wouldn’t ignore an invitation from soone who sees true potential in you?"
Logan said smoothly, his grip surprisingly strong. Liam turned his head slightly, his masked face betraying none of the irritation bubbling beneath the surface.
"I wasn’t ignoring you. I simply have other matters to attend to."
Logan chuckled, clearly unfazed by the cold response.
"Oh, but surely you can spare a mont. After all, it’s not every day that soone like extends an opportunity to soone like you."
Liam narrowed his eyes behind the mask.
"Soone like ?"
Logan’s smile widened.
"A young and rough diamond, of course. I see great potential in you, Nico Vale. The way you carry yourself, the aura you exude... you have all the makings of soone remarkable. You just need the right guidance to shine even brighter."
Liam barely stopped himself from scoffing. He had dealt with enough smooth talkers to recognize when soone was trying to manipulate him.
Logan’s words were carefully chosen—ant to flatter him, to make him feel special.
But Liam wasn’t buying it.
Still, he knew he couldn’t just brush Logan off without making himself look suspicious. If he acted too dismissively, the scout might dig even deeper into his identity.
So instead, he played along.
"Interesting offer. But why ? Surely, there are other magicians far more suited for whatever it is you’re planning."
Liam said slowly, tilting his head as if considering it.
Logan’s expression didn’t waver.
"True, but none quite as intriguing as you. Tell , Master Vale—don’t you think it’s ti soone recognized your worth?"
Liam forced a smirk beneath his mask.
"And what exactly are you offering?"
He would play the ga for now—but only until he found a way out.
Logan Pierce’s confident smile never wavered as he smoothly slipped a sleek, silver guild card into Liam’s hand. His movents were effortless, almost like a magician performing a trick.
"You see, Master Vale, the Honor Guild isn’t just any guild. We offer wealth, influence, and most importantly, power. If you join us, you’ll receive an imdiate stipend—a rather generous one, I might add"
Logan began, his tone dripping with persuasion.
Liam glanced down at the card, feigning interest. The Honor Guild’s emblem glead under the light, an intricate design signifying prestige.
But Logan wasn’t finished.
"You’ll also gain access to top-tier resources—rare spell tos, high-quality mana potions, and artifacts that most magicians can only dream of. We nurture talent, Master Vale. And you... you have talent in spades."
Liam remained silent, though internally, he was unimpressed. These were standard recruitnt tactics.
Then Logan leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if he were about to reveal a great secret.
"And of course... there’s the opportunity to et Juna lodious."
Liam blinked.
"Who?"
Logan looked at him as if he had just committed a cri against humanity.
"Juna lodious. The fifteenth-ranked magician in the world. The Divine Songstress. A beauty unlike any other, with magic so powerful that kings bow before her."
Liam stared at him blankly.
Logan coughed, clearly taken aback by the lack of reaction.
"Ahem. Well, I’m sure you’d be interested to know that if you accept our offer, you’ll have the privilege of eting her. In fact, I can personally arrange a private dinner for you two."
Silence.
Logan waited, expecting Liam’s excitent to finally show. Surely, no man alive could resist the allure of Juna lodious.
"Again...who? I don’t think I know anyone like her. Now, can I head out? I need to get back ho. No thanks."
But instead of enthusiasm, Liam rely handed the guild card back to Logan.
"I said, no thanks. Not interested"
Liam repeated, his voice casual.
Logan’s brain short-circuited. He had prepared for many possible responses—hesitation, eager acceptance, maybe even skepticism. But outright rejection? That was unheard of.
And worse—he hadn’t even reacted to Juna lodious.
"You... you’re joking, right? You can take so ti to think about it. I an, Juna lodious—"
Logan laughed nervously.
"Not interested. And I don’t need ti to think."
Liam cut him off.
Logan just stood there, mouth slightly open, looking like soone had slapped him across the face.
And that was all the opportunity Liam needed.
Before Logan could recover, Liam turned on his heel and bolted. His movents were swift, his cloak fluttering behind him as he dashed toward the exit. By the ti Logan snapped out of his shock, Liam was already halfway down the street.
"Wait—! Think it over, at least!"
Logan shouted, finally realizing what had happened.
But Liam was long gone.
Logan could only watch as the mysterious "Nico Vale" disappeared into the city, taking his unanswered questions with him.
"Darn! I never thought I would ever et a human who would be able to say no to Juna’s charms. What the heck is that guy?"
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