Guild Master Banks of the capital was alone in his office, pondering what to do next.

He had yet to report the failure to capture Ryuujin to the client.

Raitou and the others had said it was better not to be on bad terms with Ryuujin. However, given the capture request, he was likely being targeted.

However, according to receptionist Mirei, the young man who visited was not violent and had asked to speak to the Guild Master politely.

Maybe he didn't have that much hostility?

If so, he might be able to be persuaded to join their side. In fact, if he was truly such a skilled adventurer, if he could join the Adventurer's Guild in the capital...

With S-rank adventurer Batt effectively retired, a new, powerful force could be recruited, which would be ideal.

S-rank adventurers were important figures, representing not only the Guild but the city itself.

Losing S-rank adventurer Batt would be a huge loss for the Guild. But if the one who defeated that S-rank adventurer joined them...

He was supposed to be an F-rank adventurer. He didn't know why such a skilled person was still F-rank, but he had heard reports that there were problems with the Guild Master of Mimul, so it was probably related to that.

Maybe he would be eager if they offered him a quick test and let him skip ranks to B-rank, or even A-rank depending on his skill. If his skill was genuine, he might even have a chance to become S-rank.

No, no, no, calm down. This is a bad idea.

The client wouldn't accept this.

He had to report the mission as a failure, but he was a dangerous person who had caught the attention of the Royal Family. He didn't know what would happen if he brought him inside, and he wanted to avoid worsening relations with the Royal Family. Although the Adventurer's Guild was an independent organization from the country, they still had to consider the wishes of the country they belonged to.

While thinking about these things, the receptionist knocked on the door.

Ryuujin had appeared again.

Banks felt a surge of tension.

Banks: "Show him in!"

He had imagined a large, mean, and arrogant young man, based on the way he had outsmarted Raitou and the others. But the boy who entered was surprisingly small and baby-faced, not looking like a strong figure at all.

Ryu: "I'm Ryuujin. Are you the Guild Master here?"

Banks: "Yes, I am. Banks. Nice to meet you."

Ryu: "I don't intend to be nice. You want to capture me, right?"

Banks: "Ah, well, I'm going to report that the mission was a failure. Don't worry, you won't be attacked anymore..."

Ryu continued to glare at Banks.

Banks: "Don't take it personally. I was simply following the orders of the mission. I don't know the details at all."

Banks became flustered and started speaking quickly.

Ryu: "Isn't the Adventurer's Guild supposed to be an organization to protect adventurers? I was also an adventurer who belonged to the Adventurer's Guild. But to capture an adventurer and hand them over without reason, a Guild Master obediently accepting such a request... What kind of behavior is that?"

Banks: "Well, it's just that there was a misunderstanding. I was just going to bring you in peacefully."

Ryu: "I heard you were told to bring him back alive, even if he was not in one piece?"

Banks: "Yes, that's what the client said, but that's not what I intended. To begin with, why did I send A-rank and S-rank adventurers after an F-rank adventurer? I thought it would be possible to capture him without causing any injuries, or rather, to bring him in. That didn't happen, did it?"

Ryu: "...You liar."

Banks noticed that Ryu's eye color had changed to gold without him realizing it.

Banks: "...? Your eyes..."

Ryu: "I came here to ask who commissioned this. Who is the client?"

Banks: "...There's a confidentiality agreement about the client. I can't tell you."

Ryu: "You're not willing to tell me. Fine. I guess I'll take it out on you instead."

Banks had already read Ryu's mind and knew the answer, but he decided to be cruel.

Banks: "Take it out on me? What do you mean?!"

Ryu: "I've already dealt with the people who attacked me. It's unfair that you're getting off scot-free."

Banks: "No, it's not unfair at all. The Adventurer's Guild is a fair and just organization."

Ryu: "I have no idea what you're talking about... You don't want the mission to fail, do you? You want to capture me, right? Go ahead, try it. Oh, by the way, Catherine told me that the Guild Master in the capital is a former S-rank adventurer."

Banks: "Catherine? Catherine who was at the Guild headquarters? Ah, I heard she was sent to Mimul."

Ryu: "Headquarters? Is that different from here?"

Banks: "This is simply the Adventurer's Guild. It's in the capital, but its status is no different from the Adventurer's Guilds in other towns. The Guild headquarters is located elsewhere."

Ryu: "I see. I didn't know. So, what are you going to do? You're not going to fight me?"

Banks: "... I have no intention of fighting you."

Ryu: "I see. Well, it's not very pleasant to torment a reluctant opponent. If you're not going to fight, I'll be on my way. I have to find the client."

Ryu got up from his seat.

Banks: "Wait! You can't leave!"

Ryu: "What? Have you changed your mind and decided to fight?"

Banks: "No, that's not it. I have something I want to ask. I heard that you can use teleportation magic. Is that true?"

Ryu: "I'm not obligated to answer."

Banks: "Teleportation magic is a fictional magic found only in children's fairy tales. It doesn't exist. I can't believe it."

Ryu: "I'm not obligated to answer."

Banks: "Hmm... Fine. By the way, I heard you showed a Commercial Guild ID. What happened to your Adventurer's Guild card?"

Ryu: "I quit being an adventurer before I left Mimul. There's no point in belonging to a guild that tries to capture its own members."

Banks: "R-Right... So, do you have any intention of becoming an adventurer here again? If you register as an adventurer here, I'll allow you to register as C-rank, no, B-rank. With enough achievements, you could easily become A-rank, and in some cases even S-rank!"

Ryu: "Not interested. Besides, if you do that, won't you get into trouble with the royal family who commissioned this?"

Banks: "Of course, if that happens, I'll protect you, even if the other party is royalty. Don't worry."

Ryu: "I don't trust you."

Banks: "Wait, what? How do you know about the royal family? ...You tricked me!"

Ryu: "What a fool of a Guild Master."

Ryu smirked and walked towards the door.

Banks: "..." (Just a little more...)

Banks kept a poker face and reached under the desk, pulling a lever that was hidden underneath.

Pulling the lever would open a trapdoor in the floor in front of the door. The hole led directly to the dungeon. This way, he could capture Ryuujin without any effort.

Ryuujin reached the door.

Banks (Now!)

Banks pulled the lever.

Next Episode

Banks faints from the terror of Ryuujin's punishment.

Stay tuned!