"Hold on just for a moment, Marquis." With how sudden Aster had mentioned that an entire guild was on the lookout for his whereabouts, Valyr could not help but ask the man to give him some time to process his words. After a while, Valyr took in a deep breath before looking back at Aster.
"You're saying an entire guild is on the lookout for my current whereabouts?"
"To be more specific, there's a chance," Aster clarified. "After all, I am uncertain whether or not they have considered you as a candidate for the Four Pillars' Inheritance. Nevertheless, the chances of you being chosen are higher than not being chosen, young man."
"What's the name of the guild again?" Taking yet another deep breath, Valyr posed another question to Aster.
"The Imperial Production Guild. Although it's considered a class guild, its members are comprised of blacksmiths, alchemists, tailors, and sages," Aster said in response, prompting a question to pop up in Valyr's mind as he recalled the man's words from earlier.
"But didn't you say earlier that the ambush was a test from the Blacksmith Guild? How is the Imperial Production Guild involved in all of this?"
Hearing the question that came out of Valyr's mouth, Aster pondered over it for a bit before giving an answer. "The Imperial Production Guild is considered as the main class guild for the four classes I've mentioned. Consider the guilds for each separate class as a subsidiary of the Imperial Production Guild in a way."
Seeing Valyr lightly nod even though an expression of slight befuddlement still graced his face, Aster took it as a cue to continue where he had left off earlier, which was the part where he had told Valyr that the Imperial Production Guild was on the lookout for him.
"The reason why they're on the lookout for you is to escort you to Algerie City as soon as possible, the capital city of the Algerie Kingdom," Aster said. "In fact, it's also where our main clans are located."
At Aster's final statement, Valyr could not help but perk up his ears, finding it quite a lucky coincidence that the World Quest he got needed him to head to where the Zeihardt Royal Clan was located, which he found out from Aster was located in the Algerie Kingdom. In other words, once the Imperial Production Guild located his whereabouts, he would be brought to the Algerie Kingdom for the inheritance, thus killing two birds with one stone.
'Then again, I should keep in mind that Aster's words are only what-ifs.' Valyr reminded himself after that. 'It's not certain that the Imperial Production Guild is on the lookout for me. Though…'
"Why do they want to find me as soon as possible?" Valyr could not help but ask soon after.
"That's because the Four Pillars' Inheritance is set to open at the end of the following month," said Aster in response. "The Imperial Production Guild likes to have everything prepared for the inheritance in advance."
"I see…" Valyr nodded after that, pondering over something for a bit before a question popped up in his mind, prompting him to look at Aster. "Should I just head to Algerie City before they find me, then?"
"Although it's solely up to you on what choice you make, I'd suggest you stay here if you don't have any plans to head to the Algerie Kingdom." Aster looked back at him with a calm expression. "After all, everything I've said so far is purely speculation."
"Though that may be the case, you have broadened my horizons, Marquis," Valyr said with a grateful expression. "I also thank you for warning me of the problem that's happening in my clan."
"As long as you understand." Nodding back with a light smile, Valyr and Aster talked for a bit more before heading back to where Arcenne and Gabriel were, arriving around 15 minutes later.
…
Seeing that the two men were finally back, Gabriel and Arcenne, who decided to make use of their time waiting by sparring with one another, could not help but have excited and expectant expressions as Arcenne moved closer to the two of them.
Sensing the slightly arid atmosphere within the room, making it feel as if they've stepped into a desert of sorts, Valyr and Aster could not help but focus their attention onto Arcenne, who had appeared in front of them. "So, what did you two talk about?"
In response to the expectant expressions on both Gabriel and Arcenne's faces, Valyr and Aster looked at each other for a bit before lightly nodding. After that, Valyr looked at Arcenne before shrugging his shoulders. "Nothing much, really. He just wanted to tell me thanks for being your friend. In fact, he even showed me a few things I could learn about combat."
"You've found a good person to become friends with, dear." Aster lightly smiled after hearing that, causing all of the excitement Gabriel and Arcenne to disappear within an instant.
"…Are you two serious?" Arcenne decided to ask the two one more time, knowing for a fact that her father's reason for staying in the city in the first place was because of Valyr. With that, she was certain that what the two of them told her was nothing but a facade.
Hearing Arcenne's question, Valyr and Aster looked at each other before bitterly smiling.
"Let's just say that we discussed about something only men would talk about." As these words came out of Valyr's mouth, he shifted his gaze towards Gabriel. "I'm sure you already know what that topic is, Gabriel."
"Ah…? Ah!" Surprisingly, Gabriel 'understood' what Valyr was trying to say, nodding in response as he gave the latter a thumbs-up. Seeing Gabriel give Valyr a thumbs-up in response to his words, Arcenne could not help but let out a light sigh as she decided to just give up on asking.
Though Arcenne still tried a few more times to make either Valyr or Aster tell her what they actually talked about, she ended up being unsuccessful till the very end.
With Aster apologizing to Gabriel for intruding upon the conversation he and Valyr were having, both Aster and Arcenne then thanked the two for their time before they left the room. However, just as they were about to leave, Valyr stopped them in their tracks for a bit as he asked Arcenne if he could add her to his friend list since he had something to ask her.
Hearing that, Arcenne lightly nodded, adding Valyr to her friend list as she told him that she would be in the room where he took his spear proficiency test until sundown if she wanted to meet her. Surprisingly, Aster had Valyr add him to his friend list as well, causing expressions of shock to appear on both Arcenne and Gabriel's faces as they wondered what the two of them talked about for a marquis to add a young man like Valyr.
Nevertheless, with that, the Stelyra duo eventually left both Gabriel and Valyr to their own devices, prompting the latter two to continue where they had left off before they were interrupted.
"So… are you fine with the hours and salary I've offered earlier?" Gabriel looked at Valyr, a slightly hopeful expression adorning his face.
"Let's put that topic aside for the meantime. I actually have something else to ask you." However, rather than respond to the question, Valyr instead brushed it off for now, piquing a hint of Gabriel's interest.
"What is it?"
"Do you know how to set up a business in this city?"
