***EXTRA LONG CHAP***

——

The sun was just waning below the horizon, so Tyr and the others decided to meet this journalist girl before night fully fell.

The builder was deeper in the city, where security looked to ramp up more and more.

Guards patrolled the streets like worker ants, their expressions dull and numb.

Tyr’s eyes brushed through the passerby as he rode atop Rudra.

‘They must be tired of dealing with this shit for so long. I am too, but they have it much worse. It’s not like they can carry the entire city and run.’

*

After half an hour of walking, they arrived at a small cottage made of dried straws and logs of wood, supported by a circular row of 2-foot tall pillars.

The area around it wasn’t crowded, as it was farther into the suburban areas of the city and not close to the main streets.

After putting away their vehicles and pets, Tyr and the others made their way up the stairs and toward the entrance.

After a slight knock, Tyr opened the thatched door.

As soon as he took a step inside, he was met with a slightly surprising scene.

The inside of the cottage looked to be a fairly large office, about 20 feet in length and 25 feet in width. The walls were covered with hundreds of books, various folders, and other paperwork that were poorly managed.

On the wall below was a board with several papers posted on it. Many were attached using red and white string.

In the very center was a table where paperwork and books towered up over the head of the person sitting on the table behind it–seemingly scribbling away.

‘She’s clearly passionate about it…’ This was Tyr’s first thought as he saw all of this.

“Ahem!” He exclaimed, trying to capture the attention of the woman so he didn’t just barge in and freak her out.

The scribbling behind the books on the table stopped. Then, a head popped out from the side.

It was of a nerdy-looking girl that had black hair and large glasses. She had freckles and looked to be naturally quite pretty despite her messy look.

She noticed Tyr and others and quickly made her way around the table.

She wore a dress skirt and coat with her shirt untucked and her collar lopsided.

Her hair was all over the place as well, but ignoring all of this, she greeted everyone.

Bowing, she exclaimed: “Welcome!” She raised her head, “I am… Reana Golda. Is there… something I can do to help you?” She said in a soft tone, fixing her glasses.

Noa stepped into the cottage, “Yes… we would like to know all the information you have on the Black Merchant Guild.”

Reana’s eyes twitched, raising slightly for a second, “I see…”

Hanzo spoke from behind: “How about we talk over some tea?”

Reana’s polite tone had switched to serious, “I see no problem with that…”

*

Hanzo poured cold tea for everyone, and they all sat on the floor and talked for about 20 or so minutes.

By now, Reana had eased up from her more tense attitude from before.

Tyr and his group had talked about their intentions, which made Reana more comfortable. They also talked about their background.

Now, it was time to know Reana’s intentions and goals.

“Well… my goal in this city is simple… to expose the hideout of the Black Merchant Guild to the rest of the world.”

Hanzo’s brows raised as he heard this. “But… I imagine many people would pay you a crazy lump some for that type of information. Why not just take the money and keep it a secret?”

Reana smiled, “My passion is stories. Not like books or novels, but like breaking news. Things that go on in this world that everyone should know about at once.”

Her eyes seemed to glow as she spoke.

“That look in someone’s eyes when they read a newspaper and see that front page title. The impact the entire society has… the murmurs of suspense and awe. I live for that.” She grinned.

Tyr chuckled on hearing this, “I believe you… but is that why you are doing this right now? Risking your life for a few reactions?”

Reana quickly replied: “What this? No, definitely not! Exposing this gang, which is the largest underground criminal organization in the world, is going to be my way to catapult myself into the continental scene. This is going to be my first big thing. After I am known by many, then I can continue publishing without any risk, capturing the world’s attention each time.

Right now though, I need to get onto the world stage first.”

“Ahh… that makes sense,” Tyr replied.

A short pause ensued, after which Reana looked over at her table.

“So… you guys have come here to eradicate the Black Merchant Guild huh? I will say this, even the largest of snakes die after you cut off their heads… but their remnants will still exist.”

Tyr exhaled before replying: “I understand that, but eventually those remnants will rot and disappear.”

Reana paused, seemingly thinking of something in her mind.

Finally, she turned to Tyr and said in a genuine tone: “There’s one problem here, however.”

As Tyr and the others heard this, they furrowed their brows in slight confusion.

“Problem? What problem?” Tyr quickly retorted.

“I know you all want me to give you the information of the Black Merchant Guild so you can eventually destroy the guild… but I can not do that. If I do, I will have no story to publish. What’s the point of revealing the location if they are already wiped out? No one cares about a long gone artifact.”

The others paused, taken aback as they hadn’t thought of it in that way. Reana continued:

“If I help you, my entire plan to stardom will be ruined. I have worked a day in and out for years for this one opportunity. I’m sorry but… I can not help you.”

There was pure silence in the room. And then, Hanzo spoke up.

“Reana…” He said in a stern manner, staring into the young woman’s eyes.

“I’m sure you’re no fool, nor are you evil. I know you care about the smallest of details as well.”

“How exactly do you know that…?” Reana interrupted, questioning about that past part of Hanzo’s statement.

“From the fact that, despite having the location of the Black Merchant Guild, you still haven’t published a single story. You are waiting patiently, gathering information until the perfect story is created. Like a gator on the lake surface, or a diamond-fingered merchant… you are waiting for that opportunity to pounce.”

Reana stayed silent, knowing Hanzo had read her like a book.

After a pause, Hanzo finally said, “If you don’t help us now, your selfish desires will lead to the death of many.”

Reana’s eyes widened slightly as she heard this, gasping slightly on accident.

“No… I–” She tried to refute the accusation but was quickly interrupted.

“Right now, people are dying due to that guild’s influence across the continent. Maybe even in this very city.” Hanzo was being honest.

“But who’s to say they will stop? Their loyalty can not be thought of as being so measly.”

“Yes, it can,” Hanzo replied, dismissing Reana’s statement entirely. “Most members of the Black Merchant Guild are thieves. Criminals and thugs of the past are now acting on their dark and evil, hidden desires. And they are doing it all under the veil and protection of the Black Merchant Guild mantle. Without that name, they are nothing but measly criminals again who hold no standing.

Without that self-confidence, they will fall fickle like infant chicks without their mother.”

Reana was left speechless.

Malon finally added: “We don’t dismiss your life’s work entirely. Do what you want to do, we will not stop you. But please, just give us the information you have… not for you, and not even for us, but for the sake of those suffering out there right now.”

*

The group left Reana’s cottage empty-handed… however, they did have all the information about the black slugs in their brain–which Reana decided to give them in the end.

Despite having their differences, Reana and Tyr’s group also decided that working together would be the best option.

Though their end goal was different, the path to get there was the same–and that path was the investigate and eventually infiltrate the black slug hideout.

Until then, they decided to remain allies with one shared goal in mind.

There was also another figure that Reana had told Hanzo and the others to go and meet, but right now, there was nothing they wanted to do more than take a good night’s sleep…

***

They spent the night at a small tavern, waking up in the middle of the day after catching up on missed sleep for several days.

Afterward, they met up with Reana again to meet this figure that she had spoken about the day prior.

“So… who exactly are we going to see? You still haven’t even told us his or her name.” Tyr asked, confused on the matter.

“Fine… I guess this is the right time to tell you. His name is Helas, and he is the lrax of this city.” Reana replied, her brows furrowed.

“Oh… that’s right, the pub owner was saying good things about him too. I heard he really cares about this city.” Tyr said, thinking back to yesterday.

“That he does.” Reana said instantly, “That’s why he let me work with him as well.”

“Huh?” Tyr exclaimed in slight confusion.

“He understands that if my story is published, it will bring a lot of awareness to this city, and potentially even help it recover. Of course, that’s not a guarantee.”

Tyr paused before saying: “Well… I think we will be happy to meet us.” He smirked.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep