Chapter 81: Chapter 76: An Old Woman Is Worth a Look?

The moment this was said, all the guild’s newcomers and alt-accounts erupted, pinging the vice-leader, @Sandstorm, to complain.

In the end, Sandstorm muted everyone for five minutes, then took the opportunity to reiterate the guild rules.

[Sandstorm]Reiterating the guild rules: No instigating trouble in the guild. Violators will be kicked. Autumn and Barron, this is your one warning.

Because Zeke Quincy and the other three founding members were preparing for their college entrance exams, all guild affairs had been handed over to Sandstorm.

He was a first-year high school student and had a decent amount of time to play the game. To keep the guild atmosphere from getting too tense, he suggested an offline meetup to cheer on the guild leader and the three founders for their college entrance exams.

New and old members alike responded enthusiastically.

[Mr. Newman]The leader and the three founders are all from Kingsford. What about the rest of you?

[Lorraine]I’m from Kingsford, too.

[Sandstorm]I’m in Rhovan, but I can fly over.

[Barron]I live near Kingsford, so I can just take a car over.

[Autumn]Same, Kingsford.

…

[Mr. Newman]Alright, I’ll call the leader and set a time.

Mr. Newman and Zeke Quincy were on good terms and had exchanged phone numbers. Usually, when no one could reach the leader or the three founders, it was Mr. Newman who called Zeke Quincy.

***

8:00 PM.

Zeke Quincy was reading in the study when he suddenly received a call from Mr. Newman.

“Leader, we want to hold a party to cheer you on for the college entrance exams, and we’d like to meet up in Kingsford…”

Zeke Quincy didn’t agree right away. He glanced at Aurora Sinclair, who was beside him, and asked directly, “They want to have a meetup. Are you going?”

“What meetup?” Jean Quincy was the first to reply. She loved parties.

“It’s for the game guild.”

The moment Jean Quincy heard that, she lost all interest. “Not going—”

Zeke Quincy shot her a glare before looking back at Aurora Sinclair. “Are you going?”

“When?”

“After the college entrance exams, probably.”

Aurora Sinclair thought for a moment, then shook her head. “I don’t have time.”

Zeke Quincy sighed with regret and told Mr. Newman, “Forget about anything before the exams. I’m free anytime after they’re over. You guys can pick the date!”

After getting a definite answer, Mr. Newman happily sent a voice message to the small meetup group chat: “The leader said he can make it after the exams and told us to set the time.”

[Autumn: Really? Should we book a large room at the New World Department Store KTV?]

[Barron: KTV is so tacky. Let’s go to a board game cafe. We can play and chat, and if we see any pretty girls, we can invite them to a round of Mafia.]

[Autumn: Who needs other girls? Lorraine is more than enough for everyone!]

[Barron: What do you mean? Is Lorraine a total bombshell?]

[Autumn: Duh! Lorraine is our school’s campus belle.]

[Barron: For real? Post a pic!!!]

Soon, the group chat’s discussion derailed from the meetup time to demanding pictures of the beautiful Lorraine.

Just then, Mr. Newman remembered the two female voices he heard during the call with the leader. He was instantly reminded of Master Rory and Madam Whitlock from a few days ago.

Looking to stir up some gossip, he started dishing the dirt in the group chat.

[Mr. Newman: Everyone, quiet down! Guess what I heard when I was on the phone just now?]

[Barron: What? What?]

[Mr. Newman: The leader was in a room with two girls, and he even asked them if they wanted to come.]

[Barron: Holy crap, no way! Could it be Master Rory and Madam Whitlock?]

[Mr. Newman: The leader already acknowledged that Master Rory is a relative. But for Madam Whitlock to still be there this late… their relationship must be…]

[Autumn: Maybe they’re just classmates studying together?]

[Mr. Newman: What kind of classmates study together in the same room this late? Their relationship can’t be ordinary!]

[Barron: Madam Whitlock has to be the leader’s girlfriend. Last time we were running a dungeon, the leader kicked Lorraine from the party without even hesitating right after Madam Whitlock said something…]

Lorraine Morrison’s expression darkened again as she read the discussion in the group chat.

***

「The next day.」

The few guild members who had participated in the group chat discussion became even more enthusiastic toward Madam Whitlock, the character being piloted by Beta Morgan.

Beta Morgan felt a bad premonition rising in his heart.

To avoid trouble, he stopped advertising for materials in the guild chat and started shouting in the world channel instead.

Suddenly, he received a private message from Lorraine:

[Lorraine]Madam Whitlock, don’t you have to take the college entrance exams?

[Madam Whitlock]No, I’ve already taken them.

[Lorraine]You have? You’re not a student?

[Madam Whitlock]Nope. I’ve been out in the working world for a while.

[Lorraine]Huh? Then how old are you?

Beta Morgan thought for a moment and replied: 28.

[Lorraine]…

[Lorraine]Our guild leader is only 18.

[Madam Whitlock]Yeah, I know.

[Lorraine]That’s a 10-year age gap.

[Madam Whitlock]…Age shouldn’t be a problem, right?

Beta Morgan scratched his head. ’This girl Lorraine is a bit strange,’ he thought. ’What does age have to do with playing a game?’

On the other end, however, Lorraine Morrison found Madam Whitlock to be utterly shameless, and she was so angry she almost slammed her mouse down.

’A 10-year age gap, and she still has the nerve to go after someone so young?’

’She should take a look at how thick the makeup on her own face is!’

Lorraine Morrison didn’t reply. Instead, during a later group chat, she revealed Madam Whitlock’s age and even threw a screenshot of their conversation into the chat.

[Barron: No way! Mr. Whitlock is a whole 12 years older than me?]

[Mr. Newman: I thought I was the oldest one in the group, but it turns out Madam Whitlock is even older than me. The leader’s got some heavy tastes! (smirk)]

[Sandstorm: I don’t think they’re a couple. The age gap is too big. Maybe she’s a private tutor or something?]

[Mr. Newman: I don’t think so. On the phone that day, the leader’s voice was super patient, not at all like how short-tempered he is during raids and dungeons. My gut tells me their relationship is definitely not ordinary.]

[Barron: I bet Mr. Whitlock is the cool, domineering queen type. Suddenly I’m kind of looking forward to seeing what this Queen White looks like. Hehehe…]

[Autumn: Hah… An old woman is worth looking at? You could probably make dumplings with all the makeup on her face. Kids should just focus on their studies and not think about such nonsense.]

Alvin Morgan, who was conducting an experiment in an underground laboratory, let out a sneeze.

The person next to him was so startled they immediately stood up, ready to call a doctor.

Alvin Morgan replied faintly, “It’s nothing. Continue—”

***

These past few days, Beta Morgan couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Many people in the guild were striking up conversations with him, asking about this and that, and some even asked if he had a thing for younger people.

’Duh! Of course he liked young, beautiful girls. It was a shame he was too average-looking for them to notice him. Aurora was the best; she always comforted him.’

Thinking of this, Beta Morgan glanced at the date.

The college entrance exams were tomorrow. He needed to prepare.

Every year during the college entrance exams, The Martial Affairs Bureau would dispatch experts to stand guard near the examination sites to prevent any danger to the students and teachers.

And as a special consultant for The Martial Affairs Bureau, he was enjoying a special privilege this time: he could patrol the area around Aurora Sinclair’s examination site.

Just before shutting down his computer, he suddenly saw a message pop up in the guild channel.

[Lorraine]Trying to power-level to Level 8 Pharmacist. Long-term buyer of Fallen Leaf Grass and Seven Star Grass, 8 gold per stack.

[Toro]Huh? Lorraine, if you’re trying to get to Level 8, why are you buying Level 3 materials? Crafting one low-level potion only gives 1 proficiency point. Leveling up will be so slow!

[Lorraine]It’s fine. I haven’t crafted any new potions for my alts in a while. I need to level up anyway, so just think of it as me giving everyone a little bonus.

[Autumn]Lorraine is so kind-hearted. She’s buying materials in the guild for 3 gold above market price.

[Bunny Loves Harvesting]Lorraine, I just finished harvesting 50 stacks of Seven Star Grass.

[Savory Porridge]Lorraine, I’ve stockpiled 200 stacks of Fallen Leaf Grass. I was originally going to give them to Madam Whitlock, but if you need them urgently, I’ll sell them to you first.

[Warren The Big Bear]Why beat around the bush? I’ll sell to whoever offers the highest price. That’s just how straightforward I am.

[Snail]Mr. Barron is awesome! Same here, I’ll sell to the highest bidder. Lorraine, cash on delivery.

[Lorraine](chuckle) Alright, I’m over by the warehouse. Come trade!

…

Beta Morgan saw this, and his hand, which was about to close the game, froze.

’Damn it! They’re trying to steal my business!’

’As Master Rory’s most astute and capable subordinate, I absolutely cannot let anyone stand in the way of her becoming a max-level Pharmacist!’

He immediately spammed a small ad for materials in the guild channel.

[Madam Whitlock]Power-leveling to Level 4 Pharmacist. Buying Fallen Leaf Grass and Seven Stars, 10 gold per stack. Mid and High Rank materials, 15 gold per stack. Long-term offer, message me now!

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