"After reviewing the footage from yer exams, I figured it'd be a damn waste lettin' ya start at the bottom."
Griffin folded his arms.
"Yer would spend months doin' nothin' but low-rank missions."
"So I skipped that part."
Adams simply smiled.
'This many unauthorized Direct Ascensions should've drawn the Guild Concord's attention.'
'I warned Griffin against it.'
'He ignored me anyway.'
'He's been hiding the Guild's true strength from the Concord for years now. It's one of the reasons we've remained at Rank Ten despite having far more capable Adventurers than people realize.'
'Just what are you planning... Griffin?'
A trembling hand slowly rose.
"B-But, sir..."
John swallowed.
"If only high-ranks were supposed to be called here..."
He looked around the room.
"Why am I here?"
"I'm only C-Rank."
"New recruits are supposed to start at D-Rank, so I already thought getting C-Rank was strange..."
He scratched his head nervously.
"But now I'm even more confused."
Griffin grinned.
"For someone as timid as ya..."
He pointed at John.
"...yer sure ask a lotta questions."
Adams took over.
"Whenever a new group of recruits joins the Guild, the names of the most promising candidates are brought to Griffin."
"They're monitored closely."
"Given specialized missions."
"And if they consistently prove themselves, they're promoted far faster than normal Adventurers."
He paused.
"Normally."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"This year, however..."
He glanced sideways at Griffin.
"...instead of making those promising recruits earn rapid promotions through missions..."
"He simply gave all of you Direct Ascensions."
The room fell silent.
Everyone understood just how absurd that was.
A Direct Ascension wasn't something handed out lightly.
The Guild Concord rarely approved them.
Even King hadn't received one until after defeating Molthyr, and only then was it announced that whichever Guild recruited him would be permitted to grant him Apex Rank immediately.
That alone showed how difficult obtaining authorization was.
Yet everyone standing in this room had been promoted almost instantly.
It shouldn't have been possible.
Especially not this many people at once.
Still...
None of them voiced the question lingering in their minds.
If Griffin had done this, then somehow...
He must've found a way around the Concord.
"As fer yer question, lad."
Griffin pointed at John.
"Adam personally brought yer name to me."
"That's why yer here."
John blinked.
"Me?"
Griffin nodded.
"Whether yer believe it or not..."
"...yer got potential."
"If I'd thrown ya in with the rest of the low-ranks, it'd only end up wastin' it."
He folded his arms.
"So instead..."
"I'm gonna throw ya in with monsters."
The room went quiet.
"Yer'll be workin' alongside high-rank Adventurers."
"Doin' missions that'll push ya right to the edge."
A savage grin spread across his face.
"So there's only two possible outcomes."
He raised two fingers.
"Either ya die..."
He lowered one.
"...or ya survive."
The grin widened.
"And become stronger than that tiny brain of yers ever thought possible."
He tapped John's forehead with a finger.
Anyone else would've protested.
Anyone else would've begged for another option after being told their future would consist of life-and-death missions.
John did neither.
Instead...
He clenched his fists.
Without flinching, he stared straight into Griffin's eyes, even as the Guildmaster's finger remained pressed against his forehead.
For a long moment, neither of them moved.
Then Griffin burst into laughter.
"HAHAHAHA!"
He suddenly dropped into a crouch in front of John, grabbing both sides of the boy's head.
The grin on his face bordered on insanity.
"How old are ya, lad?"
"Fifteen, sir."
John didn't break eye contact.
Jonas' eyes widened.
Fifteen...?
Kinuko covered her mouth.
He's so young...
The room fell silent.
Everyone turned to look at John.
Adams rested a hand on Griffin's shoulder.
"Easy, Griffin."
"You're releasing too much Nexus."
Only then did everyone notice.
The pressure filling the room.
Sweat rolled down faces.
Breathing had become noticeably heavier.
It was an overwhelming reminder that beneath Griffin's carefree personality...
...stood one of the strongest Adventurers alive.
Griffin glanced over his shoulder.
"Sorry, Adam."
He laughed.
"It's just..."
He turned back toward John.
"...this kid's got me excited."
His smile slowly faded.
"Yer parents."
John hesitated.
For the first time, his eyes left Griffin's.
"...They're dead, sir."
A brief silence followed.
Then Griffin tightened his grip on the boy's head.
"I'll raise ya strong."
John's eyes widened.
"...Yes, sir."
His voice trembled.
A single tear rolled down his cheek and struck the floor.
Griffin finally released him.
He stood, stretched his shoulders, and walked back to the front of the room.
"Yer probably already know that high-rank Adventurers are treated differently."
He folded his arms.
"Unlike ordinary Adventurers, they aren't allowed to freely form or join parties."
"In the rare cases they're permitted to..."
"It's usually only Low-Grade S-Ranks."
"The Guild carefully selects their teammates to keep the party balanced."
He paused.
"But High-Grade S-Ranks..."
His expression hardened.
"...and especially Apex-Rank Adventurers..."
"...aren't allowed to form parties at all."
The room became quiet.
Griffin slowly turned around.
Gone was the carefree grin.
For the first time...
They saw the serious face of the White Tigers' Guildmaster.
"The reason I called all of ya here today..."
His gaze swept across every person in the room.
"...is because I want ya to ignore that rule."
Confused looks spread through the room.
Griffin's grin slowly returned.
"I want all of ya..."
"...to group up..."
"...and form parties."
Everyone had been holding their tongues.
But after hearing Griffin's order...
That was no longer possible.
"High-Grade S-Ranks forming parties?" Naelle blurted out.
"That's insane!"
"She's right," Rayka agreed.
"The Guild Concord would never allow something like that."
Rael folded his arms.
"I'd rather not end up on their bad side."
"Relax."
Jonas shrugged.
"If the old man's telling us to do it..."
He smirked.
"...then he's probably got a reason."
The room erupted into quiet murmurs.
Everyone began whispering among themselves.
Everyone...
Except Boros.
Akeno.
And Kinuko.
Then—
The atmosphere suddenly changed.
A crushing wave of Nexus washed over the room.
Every conversation died instantly.
All eyes turned toward Griffin.
"You lot seem to be forgetting something."
His voice was calm.
Far calmer than before.
"Yer members of my Guild."
He scratched his beard.
"So I apologize if I accidentally made it sound like ya had a choice."
A few nervous gulps echoed through the room.
Griffin smiled.
"Allow me to rephrase."
He pointed at the gathered recruits.
"Yer all..."
"...are gonna group up..."
"...and yer gonna form parties."
"Yes, sir!" the room answered in unison.
"Good."
Griffin nodded in satisfaction before dropping into a chair.
"Now decide who yer wanna team up with, then report back to me."
"No need."
Jonas stepped forward.
"I'll go first."
He looked around the room.
"My name's Jonas Tyrek."
"I'll be creating a party."
His grin widened.
"Anyone interested?"
Silence.
Then—
"I am."
John raised his hand without hesitation.
Jonas nodded.
"Welcome aboard."
Rael stepped forward next.
"Count me in."
Lykon sighed.
"If this bastard Rael's joining..."
"I guess I have to."
Lira raised her hand with a bright smile.
"Sounds fun."
"I'm in too."
Jonas laughed.
"Glad to have you."
Finally...
His eyes shifted toward Boros.
Boros noticed immediately.
"I already know what you're about to ask."
A grin spread across his face.
"And the answer's no."
Jonas clicked his tongue.
"Figured."
"Unless you're willing to hand Captain over to me."
Jonas barked out a laugh.
"Like hell I will."
"Thought so."
Boros shrugged.
"I'll build my own party."
"At my own pace."
"Very well," Adams said.
He glanced down at the document in his hands.
"Jonas Tyrek."
"John Hale."
"Rael Stren."
"Lykon Vren."
"Lira Quilen."
He looked back up.
"As of this moment, you are officially recognized as a party of the White Tigers Guild."
"Since Jonas is the highest-ranked Adventurer among you..."
"He will serve as your Captain."
Adams smiled.
"One last thing."
He looked at Jonas.
"What will your party be called?"
Jonas didn't hesitate.
A grin slowly spread across his face.
"Black Howl."