Chapter 48: Talk With Seraphiel - 1
After leaving the Guild yesterday, Atlas had asked the receptionist about a decent inn nearby.
The receptionist had suggested the Silver Wing Inn, saying that it was clean, reliable, and used often by foreign travelers and explorers who did not want trouble during their stay. Money was not a problem for Atlas right now, so he did not waste time searching for cheaper places.
He went there directly and booked a simple room for seven days.
The room was not luxurious, but it was clean, had a proper lock, a window facing a side road, and enough space for him to keep his explorer bag nearby. That was enough for Atlas. After checking the room once, he took a bath, changed into cleaner clothes, and rested.
That night, he slept on a bed for the first time.
...
..
Night passed and Morning arrived in Lumivale.
Atlas walked toward the Lumivale Guild with his black hood over his head and the mask still covering the lower half of his face. His explorer bag was strapped across his shoulder, and his steps remained steady as he passed through the market road.
The city was already active.
Angels moved through the streets, merchants opened their stalls, explorers went toward the Guild in groups, and from the far white towers, Spirit Jets flew through the sky with faint trails behind them.
Atlas looked at those flying objects once before looking away.
He had already cleared the Abandoned Wind Chapel yesterday, registered the Whirlstone under his name, and received the mission reward.
Thirty gold - That amount was useful, but compared to the Whirlstone, it was nothing.
An Epic-rank catalyst that could become the core material of even a Legendary weapon if a good craftsman handled it properly.
Atlas did not know when he would use it, but selling it was foolish.
He was not short of money right now.
What he lacked was power and things that could help him grow.
As Atlas neared the Guild building, someone stepped in front of him.
A few steps away.
An Angel woman in light white-gray armor lowered her head slightly. Her wings were folded behind her back, and her sword rested at her side. Her posture was clean, and from the way she controlled her presence, Atlas could tell she was not an ordinary guard.
"Mr. Atlas Crosswood."
Atlas stopped.
"Yes?"
The woman spoke politely.
"My name is Flora. My Lady Seraphiel Rosaria wants to talk to you about something important. She is waiting at the Glassy-Tea House. If you are willing, could you please visit there?"
Then she added.
"If you do not want to, that is also fine. My Lady will not force you."
Atlas looked at her for a few moments.
’Important talk?’
The first thing he thought of was the Whirlstone.
’Maybe she wants to buy the relic.’
That made sense.
Seraphiel Rosaria had seen everything yesterday. The Guild had also shouted the value of the Whirlstone in front of everyone. For a noble Household, a catalyst that could become the core of a Legendary weapon would be hard to ignore.
Atlas looked at Flora again.
Her head was slightly bowed.
Her tone was respectful.
She did not speak like someone ordering a commoner.
’Her behavior is good.’
That did not mean Atlas trusted her.
But it meant he would not treat her rudely for no reason.
"If your lady wants to buy the relic from yesterday, please don’t try."
Flora lifted her head slightly.
Atlas continued.
"I am not selling it."
Flora shook her head at once.
"No, no, you misunderstand, Mr. Atlas. My Lady already decided not to talk about buying the relic. She saw yesterday that you are unwilling to sell it."
Atlas’s eyes narrowed faintly.
’Hmm?’
That answer was different from what he expected.
’Then what does she want to talk about?’
For a short moment, he thought of refusing.
But Seraphiel was from Rosaria Household. Atlas had heard that name in the Guild after yesterday’s incident. She had status, business background, and connections. If she wanted to talk, there might be information or work involved.
But following Flora to a tea house was different.
Atlas did not know Flora, he did not know Seraphiel properly.
And he definitely did not know that Glassy-Tea House.
Going to a private place chosen by a noble without knowing the reason was stupid.
And most of all he had stopped trusting anyone from childhood, so who was seraphiel to be an exception to this?
Atlas looked toward the Guild building.
Then he spoke.
"We can talk."
Flora’s expression eased a little.
"But not in that tea house."
She paused for a moment as she looked with confused glance.
Atlas continued.
"I want it to be inside the Guild. Your lady can book a private chamber here if she really wants to talk."
Flora’s eyes widened faintly.
Atlas looked at her directly.
"I don’t trust anyone enough to follow them somewhere else and risk my life."
Flora remained silent for a moment.
Then she lowered her head again.
"Alright, Mr. Atlas. I will inform my Lady. Please wait for a few minutes. Is that alright?"
Atlas nodded.
"That is fine."
Flora gave a small bow before turning away.
She walked toward the route that led to the Glassy-Tea House.
Atlas watched her leave for a few seconds, then turned and entered the Guild.
No one had heard their conversation properly because they had spoken slightly away from the entrance, and the morning road was already busy.
Inside the Guild, the floating mission screen was changing constantly.
Explorers stood before it, checking missions by rank, region, reward, and danger level. Receptionists handled reports at the counters, and workers moved materials into the side rooms.
A few people looked toward Atlas when he entered.
Some probably remembered him from yesterday.
Atlas ignored them and walked toward the mission screen.
He checked the Hollow-Rank Ruin list first.
There were twelve Hollow-Rank Ruins currently open around Lumivale.
Atlas read them one by one.
He was not only looking at reward.
He needed ruins with monsters, low outside attention, and enough space to train Traits without witnesses. A mission that forced a party was useless to him. A mission where Guild staff watched the entry and exit too closely was also annoying.
He needed places where he could enter alone, kill, gather blood, Assimilate the new and remaining low ranked traits, and leave.
After checking the Hollow list, he opened the Abyss-Rank category out of curiosity.
The mission screen changed.
The number of missions became much smaller.
Though the rewards were much higher, so were the warnings.
Atlas read the first one.
[ Abyss-Rank Ruin: Silver Hollow Depth ]
[ Recommended Party: Minimum four A-Rank explorers, one support specialist, one relic handler ]
[ Status: Open ]
He moved to the next.
[ Abyss-Rank Ruin: Broken Wing Catacomb ]
[ Previous Party Status: Returned with severe casualties ]
Then another mission appeared.
[ Abyss-Rank Ruin: Blackglass Underpass ]
[ Previous Party Status: Missing ]
Atlas narrowed his eyes to the word ’Missing’.
He opened the details.
One A-Rank party had entered and never returned. The Guild sent a scouting team later, but that team only found broken equipment near the first inner passage before retreating because the Spirit pressure shifted too violently.
Atlas stared at the record for a few seconds.
Abyss-Rank Ruins were not something he should even think about right now, His strength had increased several folds after the Attributes went to 10, assimilating A and S-rank Traits also made his control over the strength to flow more smoothly but it was still not enough, he knew it by Instinct.
That was not enough for a place where A-Rank parties disappeared.
Atlas closed the Abyss-Rank category.
’...Not now, I have to get stronger then i can be sure.’
He returned to the Hollow-Rank list.
The path was clear.
Clear Hollow-Rank Ruins, train control over his own strength, collect blood or those spirit residue, gather money and information.
Then move higher.
Just then, Footsteps came from the Guild entrance.
Several explorers turned their heads.
Atlas also looked over.
Seraphiel Rosaria entered the Guild.
Her silver-white hair moved lightly behind her, and her wings were folded neatly at her back. She wore a neat grey and white gown with clean noble patterns, nothing too excessive but still clearly expensive. Flora followed slightly behind her.
The Guild became quieter as people noticed her.
Seraphiel’s gaze moved across the hall and landed on Atlas.
Atlas looked back from beneath his hood and mask.
’So she came herself.’
Seraphiel walked toward him.
Atlas stayed in front of the mission screen.
Seraphiel stopped a few steps away.
Her eyes moved briefly to the Hollow-Rank mission list behind him before returning to him.
"Mr. Atlas Crosswood."
Atlas answered.
"Lady Seraphiel."
- - -
[A/N: Support this Novel guys, I am an aspiring new Author who got his first contract in this book and I am improving in real time since I began, So if anyone notice any mistake or wants to give suggestions you can comment or join the discord through the Synopsis Link.
And Maybe throw some Golden tickets if you liked the story so far?
The next few Chapters are gonna blow your mind because something ’GOOD’ will come soon - guess what Atlas will Unlock~~]
