[Arnold IV has st you a frid request.]


    [Would you like to ept?]


    Finally, someone st Jake a frid request!


    He was happy to receive that because he was so done with other guys talking about the dungeon and wom. He didn''t want to learn any tricks or ev more information about it, as it would kill his advture.


    Wom wer''t on Jake''s mind, either.


    He may have be oft charmed by them, but his hormones were high, if not at their highest now.


    He couldn''t have gone against them in any of his close counters with the beautiful gder.


    [You have epted Arnold IV''s frid request.]


    Jake confirmed that this man belonged to The Gold Lotus Guild. This information couldn''t be hidd once someone was on the frid list. Jake also squeezed the owner''s nickname from the guys bothering him, which was the only precious information he had gott from them.


    He excused himself from them, "I need to talk with someone."


    The guys st off their new talking buddy with broad smiles, utterly unaware of how much they had burded Jake.


    Wh Jake took a corner of the first floor to himself, he made a call to Arnold IV.


    It was a private call, so no one could hear him.


    The man answered him.


    Jake respectfully began the conversation, "Nice to meet you. I''m Archer, and I havee to your tavern with a deal. Would you be interested in increasing your tavern''s visitors?"


    His words were confidt.


    It was another lesson Jake had tak from the college. He also learned it from people a him at that ce.


    For job interviews, part-time work, or more, it was better to be assertive, confidt, and stand one''s g straight.


    Nice guys easily get exploited, and ev a few momts of uncertainty and silce can cost one their job interview. Jake had heard his peers talking about that so oft that he believed he could pass any job interview.


    Simr principles are applied here.


    "I''m known as Arnold IV in the outside zone of the condemned dungeon. Pleasure is on my side, as it''s rare to see a yer daring to be an archer. Or is that your real name?" the old voice spoke from the other side.


    Jake was surprised to hear someone that could be his grandpa.


    He grew nervous.


    That said, he managed to keep hisposure.


    He replied, "I''m an archer from blood and bones, sir."


    Arnold IV smiled on his side, "It sounds like a talt, Mr. Archer. I''m personally interested in how you''ve found out about your gift. I reckon, however, that you hav''t arrived at my tavern to talk about yourself. Increasing my tavern''s clits, was it? I find it impossible for an archer ss to help our business, but you may surprise me."


    Jake licked his lips.


    He said, "Your guild is one of the three guilds vying for the spot in The Warmonger Empire. If you could create a safe zone for new yers a the forest and the dungeon, you would be able to get a lot of favor from the imperial family. The other two guilds, however, create a stalemate. At most, you can build taverns—the safe zones—for everyone.


    Your presce and rigid rules also allow forpetition in the outside zone.


    "Which means that if the other two guilds lose their credibility, your influce and good name in those areas should escte. Have you heard about two yers with expsive equipmt? They''re mypanions now, and we''re ready to kill the yers that hunt us. We can make a deal that we will hunt only your rivals. For that, I need to know your guild''s diplomacy.


    All I want in exchange is a room for myself on the second floor of your tavern and discounts and selling befits in your stores." Jake said.


    The old manughed, "You want the guild''s befits without joining the guild. You''ve tak the Sisyphus road, young man. For what reason? To stay as a solo yer? It''s like you don''t know about the honorable rules betwe the guilds. If a yer joins a differt guild on his second character and others find out about it, the said yer will never be able to swap ships.


    The yer''s guild will also lose some trust, and the yer will be ck-marked by all guilds agreeing to this unspok rule. We respect that rule. It sounds like you want to go past that rule. Also, the diplomacy of our guild is too confidtial information for a nobody like you to learn about. If you ar''t a nobody, you will also drag me with yourself.


    We also don''t stoop to such schemes to increase our tavern''s reputation."


    Jake grew cold, and his body perspired so much that he felt like going to a bath.


    He didn''t know about that rule betwe guilds.


    He could only me himself. That said, it was fun to learn about it this way.


    He also found a gap in the old man''s words.


    Jake screwed courage out of himself and said, "I don''t believe you''re such saints, sir. As far as I know, there''s no rule that would prevt you from hunting other guilds rted to yourpetitors. I don''t deem myself a naive yer, which is why I can tell that there has to be something going on in the shadows betwe the three guilds. I''m also risking a lot here.


    I''ve made a connection with valuable yers. If it turns out you''re their emies, I''ll be in a difficult spot. Still, I understand that I''m asking for too much without credibility. I''ll back down."


    The old man faintly smiled. "You have made a good choice, Mr. Archer."


    Since he began calling Jake again with honorifics, Jake believed he had won some of the old man''s respect.


    Arnold IV added, "If I hear about you in days toe, I''ll contact you again."


    Jake smiled, "You will, sir."