"Hmph! How arrogant! You have reassured once more that I have made the correct decision. From the way you speak, you would believe that you and your Enrhivers family owns the Formation Master Guild!" Arden stated with a harsh tone.
Rionso’s face beca flushed red in anger. He could not rember the last ti he had been so humiliated. Rather, he had never been so humiliated in his entire life.
"Good...! Very good, old man! We’ll see what the elders of my family and the family head have to say about this matter! Do not think this is the end!" Rionso snarled as he stord toward the exit.
"How brazen of you, Formation Master Rionso." Arden comnted.
Rionso quickly turned around as he opened his mouth to speak. However, his anger had reached the point where words seed to no longer escape.
The next mont, Rionso clenched his fists tightly behind his back as he managed to recover a bit of his nerves. His gaze swept across the room one last ti.
"I will be sure to repay my debt to the three of you..!" Rionso uttered before he turned and left the room.
Not long after Rionso left, Arden released a heavy sigh as he shook his head.
"Elder Arden, allow to apologize. It seems I’ve put you in a tough spot." Haku said with a hint of remorse.
"Enough of that. This was rely the straw that broke the cal’s back. Rionso and the Enrhivers family has long since overstepped their authority in the Formation Master Guild. This was a long ti coming. I just fear that, in a mont of anger, I may have played my hand too soon. Regardless, rest easy, Guard Captain Haku. This entire situation was the doing of the arrogant fellow—not you. I will have to send an urgent ssage to the Head. After this incident, it won’t be long until the Vice-Head and Enrhivers family moves." Arden reassured.
Arden faced Izroth and said, "I apologize that you had to witness such an unsightly exchange, Honorary Elder Apothecary Izroth. It is shaful to say, but these days, the Formation Master Guild has been undergoing many changes. I know that our eting was not done under the most ideal of circumstances; however, would you be willing to spare so of your ti and lend your ear?"
’He doesn’t waste any ti. Though I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to hear what he has to say.’
Izroth could already guess Arden’s intent.
"I can spare a mont. Of course, my ti does not co cheap. I also still have yet to forgive the matter of discourtesy from earlier. Nevertheless, I am not a narrowminded person. There is a matter that perhaps Elder Arden can assist with. If so, I am willing to overlook what has transpired today." Izroth stated calmly.
Arden narrowed his gaze. He figured things would not pass so easily.
"I prepared to pay a certain price beforehand. As long as his demands are not too outrageous, I am willing to part with what is necessary. This is also a chance that I cannot allow to escape . If I can build a favorable rapport with this young man, then perhaps I can ease so of the Head’s worries of the Vice-Head’s faction." Arden thought to himself.
"As I said before, I wish to maintain a friendly relationship between our two profession guilds. Naturally, I will assist in anyway that I can if it will help to smooth over matters. From your words, I assu you already have sothing in mind?" Arden responded.
"I would like access to your Formation Master Guild’s library." Izroth said without hesitation.
Arden’s brows rose in surprise. A look of curiosity ford on his face.
Arden thought that Izroth would request a pinnacle-ranked magic formation or sothing of great value that was difficult to co by. Yet, all he wanted was access to the Formation Master Guild’s library? It was the last request Arden anticipated.
"This old mory mine may not be what it used to be, but I do recall that you are an Apothecary. I fear there are no books about pills in out Formation Master Guild’s library, so you may be disappointed. Not to ntion, outsiders are not typically permitted to enter our library. Of course, exceptions can be made under special circumstances, but... Well, I suppose these are so rather special circumstances." Arden said with furrowed brows.
"I may be an Apothecary, but I have my reasons for this request. As for being disappointed or not, there’s no need for you to be concerned with that." Izroth said in a carefree manner.
Arden lightly stroked his beard as he entered a mont of deep thought.
A few monts later, he gave a small nod and said, "Very well. Using my authority as an Elder of the Formation Master Guild, I can grant you access to our library. However, I can only grant you access up to the fifth layer. Above that, outsiders must gain the permission of the Elder Council or Head of the Formation Master Guild."
"Even the fifth layer is pushing the limits of my authority. But, I must show my sincerity if I wish for him to listen to my words intently." Arden thought to himself.
’Oh? I thought I would only be allowed up to the third floor—perhaps, the fourth floor, if I pushed the matter. To think he would outright grant access up to the fifth floor of the library.’
"Then, I will thank you in advance. Now that we’ve settled that matter, I will listen to what you have to say." Izroth said calmly.
"It will take a few minutes to explain. If you will." Arden said as he motioned his hand toward the chair before his desk.
Izroth walked over to the chair and took a seat. Arden followed after him and returned to where he was first sat when Izroth entered the room.
"Guard Captain Haku, you are dismissed. For the ti being, I want you to keep a close eye on any unusual movents. From this mont onward, you and the guards are moving on the Head’s authority. You will report only to and the Head." Arden said as he handed Haku a golden naplate.
"I understand, Elder Arden. I will take care of it." Haku replied as he accepted the golden naplate.
The golden naplate was a symbol of the Head of the Formation Master Guild’s authority. To wield it was no different than being able to move the Formation Master Guild to your will. For Arden to hand such an authority over to Haku ant that the Guard Captain had earned his trust. It also showed the amount of trust the Head of the Formation Master Guild placed in Arden.
"Then, I will excuse myself. Elder Arden. Honorary Elder Apothecary Izroth." Haku cupped his hand into his fist as he gave a respectful farewell before he departed from the room.
Once Haku left the room, Arden lightly tapped on his desk. The mont he perford this action, the mana in the room seed to shift.
’A magic formation?’
"I took a few extra precautions to ensure that our conversation does not escape this room. So, I hope that you can be at ease. Then, I will start with the important details of what I wished to discuss." Arden started.
...
A few monts later...
Over the last few monts, Arden explained the state of the Formation Master Guild to Izroth. And, from that, Izroth uncovered quite a few interesting details.
’The Duvelle family is more ticulous and vicious than I gave them credit for.’
According to Arden, there were two factions in the Formation Master Guild. One faction followed the Head of the Formation Master Guild. As for the other, it consisted of the Vice-Head’s faction. The two had always been keeping each other in check. Unfortunately, the Vice-Head’s faction had only been growing stronger in recent years. Though this was no coincidence.
The Vice-Head of the Formation Master Guild was also the current acting head of the Enrhivers family. And, given that they were being backed by the Duvelle family, the Vice-Head’s faction were steadily gaining ground in their influence over the Formation Master Guild. If things continued going at its current rate, it would not be long before they pushed out the Head of the Formation Master Guild and took over completely.
At that point, on the surface, it would seem that the Enrhivers family were the ones calling the shots. However, the true power behind the Formation Master Guild would be none other than the Duvelle family.
’If the Duvelle family manages to take control of the Apothecary Guild and Formation Master Guild in Danaharpe City, it won’t be long before their influence spreads to other places. Once they have their teeth sunk in, they won’t let go easily. That aside, I wonder if this is also a part of their plans—the League of the Eidolon. I can’t dismiss the possibility. It’s also possible that the Apothecary Guild and Formation Master Guild are not the only targets. Perhaps, all the profession guilds in Danaharpe are being targeted. If that is the case, this goes even deeper than I anticipated.’
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