Second World

Jack didn't bother to say his words in low voice, hence Queen Magenta heard his words. She turned around and hissing angrily, "what did you say just now?"

Jack pretended to not hear her and just walked towards Bluedaze under her glare. Jeanny was having trouble trying to stifle her giggle.

"What's the matter with those people from Death Associates and Corporate United?" He asked Bluedaze.

She looked at him for a moment then made a glance at Jeanny, "What's the deal between you and those Wicked Witches girls?"

"Nothing, I just met them on the way," Jack said honestly.

Bluedaze eyed him for a moment longer before answering his question, "Those two guilds had found out about this dungeon. We don't know how they knew, probably the same as us through the info in the library. Anyway, now they were also trying to clear this dungeon. And similar to us and the Wicked Witches, those two guilds have partnered up in order to pool their experts together for clearing this dungeon."

"So what's the commotion?" Jack asked. "Is the dungeon can only be entered one at a time? Have they entered first and now we have to wait until they come out?"

"No, there is no limitation to how many groups that go in. Just a limitation of one group at maximum of ten people."

"Then what's the problem? Just go in and see who can clear the dungeon before the others."

"You are thinking this too simply," Bluedaze said. "With so many of us big guilds making a move, there were sure to be people watching. Probably soon there would be many other guilds finding out about this dungeon and will be making their way here. When that happens, our chance of getting the item we want will go down even further. Now we are discussing about putting a joint security team, to prevent the others from going into this dungeon, at least until we got the thing we had come for."

"So you are monopolizing the dungeon?" Jack frowned. "That's rather tyrannical, don't you think? What happens to fair competition?"

Bluedaze rolled her eyes at him, "haven't you heard the saying might makes right? Even if we don't agree to it, the other three guilds will cooperate to monopolize the dungeon. If that happens, we will be the one to suffer. If those small guilds and independent players want to complain, then they should just complain for them being weak."

Jack was reminded again why he hates being in a guild. It just did not feel right. Gaming was supposed to be fun, but those overcompetitive guilds had made it into some kind of live or die experience. They were fighting over in-game resources and sometimes bullying weaker players who had come for the same resources, completely ruining those small players' enjoyment within the games.

Jack had had several confrontations with such guilds in his past games. He was tempted to just say goodbye to them at this moment and to just leave this mess behind. But then again, this world they are currently in couldn't be completely regarded as a game. Still, being a bully did not sit right with him. He figured he would just help them this one time, seeing it as repaying the favor Silverwing had given him before. After this, he would put some distance from them.

'Peniel, do you know what is the item these guilds are trying so hard to get?' Jack asked the hidden Fairy in his mind.

"I could make an educated guess if it is the first clear reward from this dungeon," Peniel answered him.

'What is it?'

"It should be the Guild Creation Token."

'Guild Creation Token?'

"Yes, it was an item that allow you to form a guild without paying the fee to Guilds Association."

'There is a Guilds Association? But I thought they were already a guild? What's there to create?' Jack asked with confusion.

"They are calling themselves guild, but it's only a gathering. They are not yet real guild recognized by this world." Peniel replied. "To form a real guild, you would need to go the Guilds Association to fill in applications and pay a certain fee. You also need to have at least thirty members that are willing to be the guild members. Once everything is fulfilled, then the guilds will be formed. There will be benefits for being members of this world-approved guild, and the benefits will be more as the guild leveled up."

'There is also level for guilds?' Jack asked with a surprise.

"Of course," Peniel answered. "The most obvious difference in guild level is the number limit of their members. First level guild can have at most five hundred members. After it upgrade to level 2, it will double up and can hold one thousand members. Guilds will also be able to receive special quests that are only available for guild members. And they will also have the chance to purchase lands and build guild specific structures provided that they have the funds."

Jack pondered about this information. No wonder they were so desperate to clear this dungeon.

'What's the cost for starting up a guild using fee in the Guilds Association?' Jack asked.

"Ten gold coins," Peniel answered.

'That's cheap,' Jack said.

Peniel had the urge to come out and slap the guy on his face. He had the guts to belittle ten gold coins just because he was lucky enough to have successfully raided a Monster Settlement and got himself a large stack of gold coins. Otherwise, it would take him a very long time to gather such an amount.

"It seemed like the talk is over," Bluedaze said when she saw that Silverwing and Queen Magenta came towards them. Scarface and Manager Steelhand had also turned away with their entourage.

"How does it go?" Bluedaze asked when Silverwing approached.

"Each of us will provide twenty people for security detail around the dungeon entrance," he said. "Each of us will also only send one group at a time. We can partner up among our four guilds, but if one of our members enter the dungeon in a group, then the next one can only enter after the first one comes out. This will take effect until one of us get that item."

Bluedaze nodded her understanding.

There was a commotion from the dungeon entrance, they looked over and saw three people came out from it. The three went towards the Death Associates group after exiting.

"Those are Death Associates scout group," Bluedaze informed. "They had been sending scout parties non-stop since they found out about this dungeon yesterday. It seemed like their determination on getting the item is not weaker than us."

"That is true, and they seemed to be ready to send their main force in now," Silverwing commented when he saw Scarface and Red Death getting ready while listening to the scout group's report. "Just as us who will be entering with Wicked Witches, they will be entering with the experts from Corporate United. It might be a race between us two groups when we entered."

"Even if they fail, they can come out from the entrance?" Jack asked, hinting at the three people who came out a moment before.

"Yes," Bluedaze answered, "the ones who died will be sent back to the capital. But if you are sure to not being able to proceed, you can safely exit again from where you entered."

"You already planning to escape before you go in?" Warpath was intent on picking a fight with Jack.

"That's what happened when you pick a newbie," Queen Magenta joined in, then he turned to Silverwing and said seriously, "I have to say this, if we fail because you bring useless member, I will partner up with Death Associates or Corporate United next. I have no intention to waste my time."

Silverwing who usually smiled was now wearing a somber face instead. This Wicked Witched woman had kept on acting as if they were the one needing her help, while it was actually a mutual partnership. Adding the fact that two new strong competitors had appeared, and that bloody Grimclaw was still nowhere to be found! He had the urge to scold back at Queen Magenta, but he kept his calm, and said instead, "there is no need for you to worry, we've always been giving our best."

Queen Magenta glanced at Jack, "it doesn't seem to be the case."

"The three gold coins bet is still on, right?" Jack shot back at her.

She replied with a smirk, "of course, I have the chance to get a free income, why shouldn't I?"

"Likewise," Jack retorted.