"Whatever you can afford with your meager earnings, you say?"
Avalon chuckled, "what an euphemistic way of saying that whatever you have been receiving from the guild is not enough. Hahaha."
Avalon's admiration for Piper grew with each passing moment.
Taking charge of the guild had given Avalon the opportunity to identify and nurture new talent. He was keen on planning ahead, cultivating individuals who could be exclusively under his guidance and control within the guild.
Piper, with his unaffiliated status and relative novelty, presented the perfect candidate for such development. By providing financial and ranking resources, Avalon could exert his influence over talented individuals like Piper.
Avalon had heard rumors of Piper's abilities, but meeting him in person revealed a deeper reservoir of potential than anyone had credited him for. Despite Piper's attempts to conceal his true strength, Avalon could discern an overwhelming power lurking beneath the surface, much like an iceberg's hidden depths.
With a self-deprecating smile, Piper admitted, "Keke. My appetite for growth and improvement knows no bounds, Guild Master Avalon. I devour every opportunity that comes my way to better myself and strive for greater heights." Another bow followed, displaying Piper's respect for Avalon as he acknowledged the Grandmaster Ranker's insight into his true nature.
Avalon nodded approvingly, acknowledging Piper's appetite for seizing opportunities as a young Ranker. "Young bloods should always hunger for growth. How else will they thrive and reach their full potential?" Avalon remarked with a warm smile before adopting a more serious expression. He motioned for Piper to follow him, leading the way to the other end of the grand hall.
Once they were away from the oil paintings, Avalon broached a sensitive topic, sensing Piper's lack of enthusiasm regarding the title and rewards bestowed upon him by Edinburgh for his efforts in the war against Layos. "I understand your sentiment," Avalon began candidly.
"The rewards offered to achievers after the war are indeed meager compared to those received during the time of peace. The kingdom's resources are stretched thin, and they must ration the rewards accordingly, you see.
Even the titles given to distinguished Rankers during the decade-long war lacked thoughtful consideration. You weren't even invited to the capital city to receive the title. It's just done as a formality, as a way to inspire Rankers working for Edinburgh. It has not been done keeping your interests in mind."
Piper couldn't help but smile wryly at Avalon's straightforward honesty. Though unspoken, Avalon's words confirmed Piper's suspicion that receiving a title from Edinburgh had lost much of its significance.
The value of such accolades had diminished over time. And Avalon was doing his best to highlight or exaggerate this part. It was a common tactic employed by managers to temper the perceived worth of their employees' accomplishments, subtly implying that their achievements weren't as extraordinary as they might believe. This approach served to discourage employees from demanding higher compensation or privileges, ultimately fostering a sense of loyalty and commitment to the organization.
Piper's mind quickly grasped the subtle implications of Avalon's words, leading him to a clear realization: Avalon wanted to recruit him. After all, Piper's true identity was that of Eren, a seasoned Guild Master of the White Raven Guild, who had adeptly employed similar psychological strategies to hire members without giving in to their exaggerated demands.
In guild-related matters, Avalon was still a junior compared to Eren, who had mastered the art of manipulation and dealt with countless individuals over his decade-long experience. It was effortless for Eren to read through Avalon's approach.
While these thoughts swirled in Piper's mind, Avalon continued speaking, dispelling the notion that titles were mere empty honors and contradicting his earlier statements.
"Young man, whatever I have said is the truth. And yet, titles hold more power and significance than you might think. Their true value lies beyond mere prestige, fiefdoms, and monetary rewards," Avalon turned to face Piper with a knowing smile, allowing his words to sink in.
Confused, Piper inquired, "What do you mean?" Avalon chuckled warmly before responding.
"Titles come with exclusive privileges, young man. These privileges grant you access to hidden truths about the world we live in. Being privy to this valuable information is a gift bestowed upon you by the kingdom.
Now, it's up to you to find a way to seize this opportunity with your own hands," he said, his gaze fixed expectantly on Piper.
Eren had a vivid recollection of how the Amazonians had opened up to him and freely shared historical anecdotes only after he was bestowed with the title of Grimdawn. It became evident that possessing a bona fide title from a kingdom was the key to gaining access to hidden truths from legitimate organizations within the land of Anfang. Such titles granted individuals the right to knowledge that remained concealed from the masses.
Despite being aware of this fact, Piper maintained a composed facade, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully and remaining silent. Avalon expected this reaction and proceeded to elaborate further.
"By now, I'm certain you've encountered numerous questions concerning the world's history. Why do monsters exist in our realm? How do they wield advanced magic while being labeled as barbarians in the Badlands? And why are we unable to travel to other worlds despite our great strides in teleportation magic?
These questions must have crossed your mind on numerous occasions, yet satisfactory answers have remained elusive. Of course, this much-needed secrecy is a way of maintaining order throughout the world of Anfang.
However, as you ascend higher in the ranks, these lingering questions can become burdensome obstacles in your path," Avalon concluded with a somber tone as he continued leading Piper deeper into the grand hall.
Eventually, Avalon and Piper who was following right behind him stood in front of a small passageway which seemed to be sealed by a very potent barrier magic. Avalon turned around and faced Piper before speaking further.
"I believe actions speak louder than words, so I'd rather show you the true extent of privileged information. Consider it a gift from me for your well-deserved title, if you're open to accepting it," Avalon proposed, locking eyes with Piper. "So, young man, are you willing to embrace this gift?"
Piper responded with a knowing smile, speaking cordially, "Please, lead the way, Guild Master."
***
Eren had a specific purpose in mind when he instructed Ivor to make a name for himself within the Lancelot Guild as Piper.
At that time, he was unaware that Shallot's Mirror was an Elder Seed Artifact, but he did know it was securely kept in Baelin's forge, protected by numerous runic bindings.
Removing these runic bindings required specific information, so Eren assigned Ivor and Layla the task of gathering intelligence on them. Layla had made considerable progress and was close to deciphering the runic bindings.
However, Eren kept a crucial secret from both of them – he had already awakened the artifact spirit of Shallot's Mirror and bound it to himself. As a result, getting rid of the runic bindings was a simple task for him.
Despite this, Eren chose not to divulge this information to Ivor and Layla. He feared that revealing the true power of the artifact might inadvertently tip off Eliza through Layla, and he didn't fully trust Ivor's acting skills to keep such a significant secret from Layla or Eliza.
However, Ivor had played his role remarkably well, so much so that the new guild master, Avalon, showed genuine interest in having him join his faction. Eren couldn't help but acknowledge Ivor's talent for fitting in seamlessly within the Lancelot Guild.
***
Step. Step. Step.
Footsteps rang in a narrow corridor.
'Hmm. The stability of Avalon's position as Guild Master doesn't seem as secure as I initially thought. The Lancelot Guild's size has led to factions forming within it.
Avalon's focus now is on recruiting young talents to benefit himself with minimal investments,' Eren contemplated inwardly, maintaining his disguise as Piper in front of Avalon.
Eren understood that the absence of factions in his guild was due to its relatively recent establishment. He had managed to maintain a strong grip on the organization with the help of key individuals like Agatha, Levine, Amory, Jiana, and Nina.
Nonetheless, Eren was aware that in the future, if he were to step aside or leave a vacant leadership position, the possibility of factions forming within his guild might arise. However, these were distant concerns that Eren didn't need to fret over at this moment.
'Damn it. This trip is going to be such a waste of time. I already know everything there's to know about thanks to Nira, Sansara Sage's Legacy, and other sources. This man is probably not going to offer any reward for Piper if he is treating the information as this grand and legendary gift.'
Despite not knowing what Avalon had in store, Eren found himself disinterested.
He had taken Ivor's place as Piper, assuming that the Lancelot Guild would offer Piper a significant reward for slaying Isen Osan. However, the prospect of receiving information about Anfang and its secrets wasn't new to him. He wasn't particularly excited about the opportunity Avalon presented.
Eren wondered if it would have been better to let Ivor come as Piper, as Ivor might have been more informed about these matters.
'Ah well, I won't lose anything by playing along and pretending to be impressed with everything I hear and see,' Eren decided, following Avalon down a narrow corridor with a faint light at the other end.
However, the butcher didn't know how wrong he was in his assumptions.
As he crossed the ethereal barrier separating the narrow corridor from the grand hidden chamber, an overwhelming sense of ancient energy washed over him, causing him to freeze in place.
The feeling was all too familiar, and his mind raced to comprehend its significance. He couldn't shake the sense of intimidation emanating from the raised platform not far away.
'It can't be,' Eren whispered to himself, trying to make sense of the situation. The sensation he felt was reminiscent of encountering a Titan before. He realized that Avalon had deliberately led him here to witness something extraordinary.
His heart pounded as he gazed at the giant raised platform, realizing the truth behind Avalon's intent.
Piper was being shown the corpse of a Titan that had fallen during the Calamity War, an ancient event Shallot Lancelot had been part of.
