The period of the war was an equation-changing event.
The secretive organization known as the Illuminati had retreated into the shadows with the onset of the war between the kingdoms of Edinburgh and Layos.
With the Anfang Alliance growing more vigilant, the Illuminati had ceased its activities within these realms, its members adopting new aliases to blend in as ordinary rankers under the watchful eye of Anfang's forces.
Among the Illuminati members residing in the City of White Raven were Julia Ekhart, also known as Jules, Tara Faelar, and Lady Zee. Since the organization had halted its operations, it had relinquished its ambitions of seizing control over Minerva's Utopia. The war had drastically altered the dynamics, making any such move under the vigilant gaze of the Anfang Alliance perilous for the cultist organization.
During these 9 years, Jules, Tara, and Lady Zee had the freedom to operate as regular rankers. Finding themselves with ample spare time, they offered their services as mercenaries to the White Raven Guild, engaging in border patrols and scout missions assigned by the guild's administration.
It was no secret to Jules that Eren had assumed the alternate identity of Ron Damien, the man she had been searching for, and whom she had abandoned the Lionheart Duchy to find. Jules harbored a bit of resentment towards Eren for leaving her behind, yet he managed to assuage her feelings and gain her favor once again by spending time with her whenever he returned to the City of White Raven.
Moreover, he had also branded her with his Sin Series Ability, ensuring her silence regarding his discarded identity as Ron Damien in the presence of her colleagues, Tara and Lady Zee.
Jules, Tara, and Catherine were granted special missions by the White Raven Guild, providing them with higher rewards and lower risks. The chaos of war presented them with unique opportunities to acquire rare ranking resources as part of their mission rewards.
Catherine, formerly known as Lady Zee, was particularly delighted with her situation. Aware of the bounty on her cultist identity, she had sought Tara's assistance in altering her appearance a bit and adopting a new name. Now known as Catherine, she could operate without the burden of her past.
The trio frequently collaborated as a team, undertaking missions together and leveraging their synergy to accomplish their objectives.
During these 9 years, Jules and Tara had achieved the rank of Adept, making remarkable progress in their ranking journey. With just a few more months, they were poised to break into the esteemed Expert rank. Their rapid advancement was largely attributed to the White Raven Guild's rank-up program, an opportunity exclusively offered to Jules' group of mercenaries. The women treasured their time in the guild, demonstrating unwavering commitment to completing guild missions with passion.
Catherine, or Lady Zee in her previous guise, found great satisfaction in the missions she undertook. These assignments allowed her to progress steadily in her ranking journey. The White Raven Guild's generous mission rewards and guidance propelled her towards the Expert rank, with the coveted Master rank within reach.
***
"The completion of mission codename EVL 5432 has been authenticated and recorded in the database. Well done once again, Julia Ekhart," Sharla Hinsken, the head administrator of the White Raven Guild, addressed Jules with a smile, her gaze focused on the spectral screen. After finalizing the entries, Sharla finally looked at Jules and inquired.
"How's it going, Jules?" Sharla inquired, her voice filled with curiosity. However, her tone quickly shifted to the complaint as she frowned at Jules. "You don't stay in the city very often these days, so we rarely get to meet. And when we do, it's either when you're heading out on a mission or here in the guild's grand hall to collect your rewards," Sharla lamented, voicing her frustration.
Jules chuckled and replied.
"Hehe, it's not that I'm trying to avoid you, Sharla. It's just that my reason for staying in the city of White Raven doesn't often cross paths with me. So, I've had to prioritize my ranking journey. Not that I'm complaining, though.
This war has provided an extraordinary opportunity for rankers like us without influential backgrounds. I strive to enhance my skills and make significant progress. Sadly, leisure activities have taken a backseat as a result," Jules responded with a dramatic sigh.
Sharla detected a sense of accomplishment in Jules' voice and smiled wryly before presenting the rewards to her entire party. They exchanged a few more words and decided to catch up over drinks on the upcoming weekend, taking advantage of the vibrant atmosphere in the city.
While Jules conversed with Sharla, Tara, and Catherine patiently awaited her. Finally, when Jules finished her conversation, Tara's excitement couldn't be contained. "What were our bonus rewards this time, Jules?" Tara asked with enthusiasm.
Jules smiled and distributed the rewards to her two team members, including both regular and bonus rewards. However, Catherine frowned when she received her bonus reward. Concerned, Jules asked her, "What happened, Catherine? Are you not happy with your reward?"
Catherine sighed and shook her head.
"It's nothing. I don't have any complaints about my regular rewards. It's just that... I received another C-Rank soul-based potion as an additional reward. I've been getting these potions for quite some time now, and while they enhance my Spiritual Force, they don't contribute to my ranking progress. And I can't make use of my Spiritual Force since I don't have Soul Sense," she explained with a wry smile.
Before Jules and Tara could respond, Catherine waved her hand dismissively and continued, "But you girls don't need to worry. I don't need to request a replacement for the potion. It's not like I'm not receiving anything else besides these potions. I'll consume it and move on. Anyway, what are our next set of missions, Jules?"
Jules and Tara exchanged glances, recognizing that the matter wasn't a significant issue. They shifted their focus to discussing their upcoming missions, heading towards the teleportation portal available for White Raven citizens, ready to embark on their next assignments.
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