( Luke’s POV )
Luke was a pri student of the Knight Academy and was sought after by various top NPC guilds, rchant unions and even the royal army.
After the final exams were over and before the grand tournant started was the recruitnt period within the various big academies where graduates got their first jobs in big organizations.
A usual royal academy graduate knight was paid an annual starting salary of 4000 gold coins a year benefits like housing, food subsidies, gear benefits etc.
Apart from the base salary they even got a bonus or a % of commission for every special mission or dungeon run that they took part in as an average knight could easily earn 7-8000 gold coins a year, which was a very high starting salary.
However, Luke was offered ludicrous deals worth 20,000 gold coins a year base, plus really good incentives for dungeon raids and more, as looking at Luke’s grades and performance there was not a single organization within the royal capital that did not wish to hire him.
Leading this recruitnt drive was of course Jero who wanted to directly appoint Luke as a legion commander in the Duke’s army, as he gave him the most lucrative offer of them all and was adamant that Luke accept it.
“It is 30 goddamn thousand gold coins as a base salary my friend, 30 thousand base! Low ranking barons don’t make such money a year you understand? This is literally breaking the bank for you-” Jero said, as he tried to drive his point ho on how big of a deal this offer really was.
Whether it was respect that ca with high ranking position, gear, housing or salary, Jero gave Luke the best offer amongst everyone, however, unfortunately Luke declined.
“I have already committed to a small guild my friend, I had committed to them even before I enrolled into the academy.
It’s not that I don’t wish to accept your offer, but it’s just that I can’t.
It’s a matter of my honor as a man” Luke said as Jero stomped his feet in frustration.
“How much is your release clause? 30k 50k 100k? I’ll pay for it. I’ll pay it out of my own pocket, just na it man. I’ll buy your honor guilt free” Jero insisted as a soft smile spread on Luke’s face.
He could see just how much this ant to Jero and had he not already been the vice guild master of Cervantez’s guild he would have accepted this offer in a heartbeat, however, since he was already committed, he could not.
” I’m sorry my friend, I swear to co to your aid whenever you need , however, you need .
If your territory is ever attacked, I’ll be there alongside Brown Pudding on the front lines. However, I’ll have to decline your offer filled with goodwill.
My honor is everything to ” Luke said, as Jero let out a deep sigh.
He had tried his best to recruit Luke, however, it seed like it just wasn’t ant to be.
“Who the fuck even is your master Luke? Which asshole of a master knight allowed you to sign with a small-ti guild? Does he not care for you at all?” Jero spouted in frustration as he could not understand how Luke even ended in such a situation in the first place.
“Whatever man…. I’ll just recruit Gilbert then, he will at least be a knight captain” Jero said as he decided to settle for Gilbert, the seventh ranked student in the academy.
“How much are you gonna pay?” Luke asked with a teasing smile as Jero returned it back ” 7.5k” he said as both Jero and Luke burst out laughing.
Despite Luke not signing with Jero, he handled the situation well enough for their friendship to not be affected, as although he was disappointed, Jero accepted Luke’s decision considering it a matter of honor.
***********
( anwhile Dem Paltrow )
“So…. What happened?” Dem said, looking at his right hand man who had his head hung down in sha.
“You were right about Ben Faulkner being with the boy guildmaster, the four B ranked assassin’s we sent after them were killed in under 30 seconds once the fight broke out” Hollard, his right hand man, who had placed the tracking spell on Leo reported.
“I told you so, Hollard, Ben Faulkner is in the city, he would never send the boy alone” Dem said, as he grit his teeth in annoyance.
Only once in his life had Dem ever t a warrior that was superior to him in every aspect and that man was the pri Ben Faulkner.
Before he subjugated him and offered him a place in the Night Guild, he tried to claim the bounty on his head, however failed miserably, getting a huge scar on his abdon and barely surviving.
It was the only ti in his entire career as an Assassin that he suffered a defeat and although he had grown a lot since that defeat, the psychological horror of it remained.
“Ben fucking Faulkner…..I hope you’re ready for war. Because after you left the Assassin Alliance, there is no way I’m going to let you live as a free man” Dem Paltrow said with a voice full of spite as he knew the repercussions of the news breaking out that Ben Faulkner had left their group.
Although he did not like to admit it, this Assassin Alliance was only held together because of the legend of Ben Faulkner and his successful assassination of the royal prince.
Without his prestige there are no nobles willing to shield and protect the various assassin’s clans operating in their territories and should the news ever break out that he left, the entire organization would be brought to its knees in a year or two.
“You know what to do next Hollard. The ti for hunting has begun. Injure them, maim them, exhaust them. Until they beco easy pickings.
Assign this mission as priority and involve the A, S and SS ranked assassin’s in this.
The boy and his master both need to be killed before the grand tournant is over” Dem Paltrow commanded as he gave the order to prepare for war.
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