BXBX NOVEL Chapter 109: Truth About the Gathering
Chapter 109: Truth About the Gathering
Adam followed after him with his ears perked up, listening to the echo of those footsteps.
Not a single word was uttered between them.
At last, the guard arrived at the guild master's chambers and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
A deep voice came from the inside.
The guard nodded, then stepped aside, turned around, and stood as a guard beside the door.
"You may enter."
Adam buttoned up his shirt, then yanked the door open and entered the chamber.
This was his first time being here-the meeting with Digby was usually in his offices, but now it was in his private chambers.
Without hesitation, he was hit by waves of powerful auras that seemed to pulse throughout his body.
Adam's eyes widened open.
In the office, nearly ten figures were standing around a large conference table, all staring directly at him.
"Adam, there's something we need to discuss." Digby said from the end of the table.
'These are...' Adam looked over the people around the table. 'Crimson Hound's strongest members. What's going on?'
"So, this is the famous S-ranker." A motherly figure said with a giggle. "We've heard so much about you."
She had a warm smile on her face and long, chocolate-colored hair that cascaded down her lower back like a waterfall. She was quite beautiful and gave off very motherly vibes.
"I expected him to be taller." Zahn, a black-eyed man, said with a joking tone. "Didn't the rumors say that he is nearing three meters, is built like a brick house, and has a voice that could shake the earth?"
Lucette, the motherly-looking woman, raised an eyebrow and laughed.
"Those rumors about S-rankers are getting wilder each year, aren't they?"
"You have time to introduce yourselves at a later date." Digby said. "We have gathered you all here for the announcement."
Valora stood beside him with a serious expression on her face.
"It must be that, right?" Morial asked, trying to suppress a smile.
Morial was a bald-headed man with a ruffled beard and a one-handed axe on his back.
It made Adam remember a certain someone after catching a look at him.
"The Gathering," Valora said.
The others gasped in the cold air. It was a very important event, after all.
It was also quite dangerous.
'The Gathering?!' Adam's eyes shook. 'How could I've forgotten? It is happening around this time of the year. But why am I here? I shouldn't be allowed to attend this year.'
"If I may ask, why is the S-ranker here?" Zahn asked. "S-ranker or not, he is still Mercenaryman. Does he need to know about the Gathering yet since he can't even attend?"
Digby sighed and said, "Adam will be joining us."
"What?!"
Others exclaimed in shock. They weren't sure whether that was allowed, and even if it was, it was very reckless and almost idiotic.
After all, the Gathering wasn't a joke, and even they could die if they weren't careful.
'Why?' Adam thought to himself with wide eyes. 'What are they thinking?'
"That's very reckless!"
"The future of this guild lies with Adam; this is not the time to be careless." Lucette said it with worry.
"It was not my choice!" Digby shouted loud enough to silence the room. "It is an order that came from higher than me. It is not an order that can be refused!"
"Seven Ancient Guilds?" A few guessed.
"They shouldn't have the power to do this!"
"That's such bullshit. Tell your father!"
Valora lowered her head and rubbed her forehead.
"I already did." Digby said. "The order came from a higher place than the Council of Mercenaries."
"Even higher?" Zahn frowned. "Elders of the Imperial Palace? No, they shouldn't be higher than the council."
"It came from King Moriarty himself." Digby revealed a shocking truth.
"From the King?!"
"But why..."
"King Moriarty is coming to the Gathering?"
Adam tapped his feet against the carpeted floor, thoughts running around his mind like a whirlwind.
This was shocking news to him.
'I haven't met King Moriarty ever. Not even in my previous life. Why would he want me there?'
"Alright, calm down." Digby said calmly. "I am not thrilled about this order either, but now you can see why we cannot refuse. Adam must come with us."
Lucette looked at Adam and asked, "Young Adam, do you know anything about the
Gathering?"
"No, that's the first time I've heard about that." Adam replied with a quickly cooked lie.
"Let me explain it to you." Digby said and tapped on the conference table.
A holographic image of a fog-shrouded island with waves crashing against craggy cliffs
suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
This was a holographic map.
"This is Kuro Island," Digby said. "The location of the Gathering."
"It's in the Blind Sea, and the only way to get there is from Driftwood. Our ship is already
waiting for us at the docks.
"It's a three day trip, but we should arrive in time for the Gathering.
"The Gathering is a special day of the year.
"During that day, thousands of special breeds of Chaosbeings will respawn on that island.
"That's why hundreds of the guilds go there to kill them and make sure they aren't leaving the
island.
"If we leave them unattended, they can swim to the mainland and cause enormous damage in the New World. It's something we cannot let happen.
"During the years, that day became sort of a festival of some sort as the strongest mercenaries of different factions and guilds gathered in the same place.
"If you're lucky, you may even witness a duel between the most renowned fighters in the
realm.
"Sometimes, during the Gathering, there are friendly sparring matches, but sometimes there're not so-friendly fights, and entire guilds might get destroyed overnight. "That's why it is far from safe. Also, do not underestimate those Chaosbeings. There's something strange about them..."
"I understand." Adam nodded, but his fingers were curled into tight fists. 'Calamity will be there. Sapphira will be there...'
"Also, there has always been one goal during the Gathering." Digby said. "To destroy the respawn crystal that causes their yearly respawning.
"It is rare for them to be on an island so close to the mainland where Chaosbeings can just respawn, even if it is only once a year."
"I see." Adam nodded, but then his lips curled into a slight smirk. 'I forgot about that, yeah...' 'Back in the previous life, was it in the year 2155? No, year 2156. The respawn crystal was
discovered and destroyed.
'It was discovered by Calamity...
'Not in this life, you fucker.'
Adam inhaled a sharp breath and calmed his racing thoughts.
'It's going to be dangerous to try to find the respawn crystal, even though I know where it is.
It's also pretty worthless to find because, a year after the destruction of the crystal, they still
respawned.
'So there might be more than one respawn crystal there, but as long as I steal this find from Calamity, I can steal some of his future.
'That discovery spiraled Calamity to a higher level of fame, and his name was on the tongue of everyone for a long while, which allowed him to gain power and status within the New World.
"We'll be departing tomorrow for Driftwood." Digby said. "After this meeting is over, Adam, meet me at the vault. I can't let you go there unprepared." Adam's eyes widened in a pleasant surprise, and he nodded. "Yes, guild master."