Chapter 751: The Adopted Son

Miller and the others still carry the Civilization's Protection marks Henwell placed on them.

It does not take Henwell long to sense where they are.

Miller's group is holed up in a cavern, not daring to venture out.

There are no mechanical traps or vicious guardian beasts blocking their way.

Instead, Miller has discovered that someone set up a spell formation here.

He learned a great deal about extraordinary magic during his time with Henwell.

He cannot use magic himself, but he can still make basic assessments.

This is not an offensive spell formation. It is a warning spell formation.

Whoever placed it, Miller has no intention of triggering it.

The four of them retrace their steps and search for another route.

By now, however, the Lady of Calamity has claimed her divine office and erected a simple idol and temple.

The entire ruins have been sealed, making retreat impossible.

With nowhere left to go, the four can only hunker down in the cavern and wait for Henwell.

Fortunately, Henwell arrives before long. They would not have lasted much longer.

The moment Henwell enters the cavern, he notices the warning spell formation.

One look at its ancient design tells him that it must have been prepared by the Lady of Calamity's teacher.

Its purpose is to monitor everyone who leaves the ruins.

Henwell would wager that the wily old schemer placed one at every exit to alert him whenever anyone leaves.

He studies it for a while, but still cannot break it.

Henwell may not be able to break the formation, but he has strength to spare. He picks another spot and bores through dozens of meters of rock as if drilling a well, opening a passage straight to Miller's group.

After rescuing them, the party spends a day recovering at the abandoned camp below the mountain.

Daisy and Doyle then escort Abbas back to Peace Haven.

Henwell stays behind with Miller to deal with Qili Guild. The guild is still useful, and he has no intention of discarding it.

His Adolf identity, however, can no longer be used.

He must return and arrange the guild's succession.

Half a month later, Philir reaches Qili Guild's headquarters in Kriye City, having escaped at the cost of an arm.

Henwell's adopted son, Lodar, is currently running the guild in his absence.

Only nine years younger than Henwell, the broad-shouldered blond man projects authority without seeming overbearing.

The moment he sees Philir, Lodar frowns. "What happened? Where is Father? Why didn't he come back with you?"

Philir immediately bursts into tears. "The guildmaster died during the expedition into the ruins."

"The entire team was wiped out. Only I and a few scattered survivors escaped."

Lodar reaches for Philir's throat, but another arm blocks him before he can seize it.

Lodar glances at the man who stopped him. Philir brought the stranger along, but Lodar has never seen him before.

That brief exchange is enough for Lodar to recognize the strength of a Grand Knight.

Lodar steps back beside his chair and says calmly, "So you found yourself a new backer. I was wondering what gave you the courage to come back."

Philir hastily explains, "Vice Guildmaster, you misunderstand. This is Sir Paleo. He explored the ruins with us."

"Without him, none of the survivors would have made it out alive. They mean no harm, and I haven't betrayed the guild."

Paleo steps forward and bows. "King's Shield deeply regrets Guildmaster Adolf's death."

"However, we had an agreement in place, and it clearly set out the dangers of the ruins."

"On my honor as a Knight, we had no part in any plot against Guildmaster Adolf."

With that, Paleo takes out a document and hands it to Lodar.

It is the contract both sides signed before the expedition, complete with a warning about the risks.

Lodar studies his adoptive father's signature and seal, then puts the document away without a flicker of emotion.

"Then why are you here? Merely to tell me what happened to my adoptive father?"

"If so, your message has been delivered. You may leave."

Lodar turns to Philir. "Go downstairs. I'll come for you shortly, and then you'll tell me everything about those ruins."

The instant he finishes speaking, the two captains beside him, both Battle Knights, step forward and close in on Philir.

Their meaning is obvious: Philir is not going anywhere unguarded.

Philir hurriedly retreats behind Paleo, who raises a hand to stop Lodar's two deputies.

Being challenged on their own ground is more than Lodar's deputies can stomach. Both draw their longswords several inches from their sheaths.

Paleo speaks at once. "Guildmaster Lodar, please remain calm and hear me out."

Lodar corrects him. "I'm not the guildmaster, only the acting vice guildmaster."

"I believe you should become guildmaster. We came partly to explain what happened to Mr. Adolf."

"We also came to honor our agreement with him and settle the outstanding balance from our previous transaction."

"Mr. Adolf's share of the treasure has not yet been converted into cash, but it has undergone a professional appraisal."

"It is valued at nine hundred and forty thousand gold coins. By way of apology, we will round the outstanding balance up to one million."

Lodar corrects him again. "The money is not for me. It belongs to the guild."

"Whether I take over Qili Guild is not my decision, and it certainly is not yours."

Paleo smiles. "Of course. I misspoke. The decision belongs to Qili Guild as a whole."

"Now that Adolf is gone, you are his adopted son. You have both a duty to carry on his work and the right to inherit his shares."

"As I understand it, Mr. Adolf controlled half of Qili Guild's shares."

"You hold twenty percent, while Captain Miller held another ten percent."

"Both men are now dead. As the person closest to them, you have the first right of inheritance."

"In other words, you now control eighty percent of Qili Guild. That makes you its rightful successor."

Lodar gives him a cool glance. "That is Qili Guild's internal affair. You would do well to stay out of it."

Paleo smiles. "We may have been outsiders before, but that is no longer necessarily the case."

"To be frank, King's Shield has already purchased Mr. Philir's shares."

"Strictly speaking, that makes us members of Qili Guild too."

Lodar turns to Philir. "Who gave you permission to sell your guild shares?"

"The contract states that shares may be sold to outsiders only after every guild shareholder declines to buy them."

Philir avoids his gaze. "I only wanted what was mine. Qili Guild's affairs have nothing to do with me anymore."

Lodar slowly rises. "Take him."

His two deputies draw their swords and charge. Paleo raises a hand to intervene. "Please, don't do anything rash..."

Before he can finish, Lodar is already in front of him, sweeping the raised hand aside.

Paleo throws a punch to stop him, but Lodar catches it and yanks him forward. His left palm glides along Paleo's right arm before slamming into his shoulder.