Amber liquid was poured generously.
Nyxian nearly finished hers before Zee had even lifted her glass.
The attendant blinked when Nyxian immediately raised her empty glass for another refill.
Kaelor sighed.
"Fill it."
Nyxian smiled victoriously.
Jax still hadn't reached halfway through his first drink.
Guild Master Kaelor Fangmere watched him carefully over the rim of his glass.
The man didn't move like an E-Rank adventurer.
Didn't speak like one.
And certainly didn't solve problems like one.
Before discussing ranks, Kaelor opened a thin folder resting on his desk.
"There is one report I'd like clarification on."
The Vixens exchanged glances.
Kaelor began reading.
"Approximately two dozen dead bandits discovered near the eastern bridge leading toward Crystalshire."
His golden eyes moved down the page.
"Several identified murderers."
Another line.
"Several identified rapists."
Another.
"Witnesses reported four women and one man."
The room remained silent.
Kaelor continued.
"Additional witness descriptions include: fire tornadoes, explosive arrows, giant hammers..."
He paused.
Then looked directly at Jax.
"...and a man dressed like a vacationing idiot."
The Vixens lost the battle immediately.
Bunny snorted.
Zee covered her mouth.
Llandra looked away.
Nyxian outright laughed.
Jax took a slow sip of his drink.
"Well," he said calmly, "banditry is a dangerous profession."
Kaelor waited.
Jax shrugged.
"I'm sure there are plenty of men capable of dressing like vacationing idiots."
That only made the girls laugh harder.
Kaelor studied him for a long moment.
Then took another drink.
The report disappeared back into the folder.
The folder disappeared into a drawer.
"Sounds like a mystery that may never be solved."
Nyxian nearly spat out her drink.
Jax smiled.
Kaelor smiled back.
The matter was closed.
Officially.
Unofficially?
Everyone in the room knew exactly what had happened.
No one cared.
The Guild Master leaned back in his chair.
"Now."
His expression sharpened.
"Let's discuss your rank."
Jax nodded.
"Experience levels measure points earned."
Kaelor listened.
"They don't measure leadership."
Jax took another sip.
"They don't measure judgment."
Another.
"They don't measure execution."
He set the glass down.
"And nobody has ever defeated a monster by showing it their experience level."
A grin tugged at one corner of Kaelor's mouth.
"And your proposal?"
"A reevaluation."
The room quieted.
Kaelor folded his hands.
"A reevaluation is not a small thing."
"No."
"Ranks exist for a reason."
"They do."
Kaelor nodded.
Good answer.
Too many adventurers treated rankings as insults.
Jax understood their purpose.
"You've created an interesting problem for me," Kaelor admitted.
The Vixens listened carefully.
"Most Guild Masters spend their careers trying to attract powerful adventurers."
He gestured toward the guild outside.
"Successful adventurers attract contracts."
Another gesture.
"Contracts attract merchants."
Another.
"Merchants attract money."
His eyes settled on Jax.
"And money attracts more adventurers."
Jax nodded.
Makes sense.
Kaelor continued.
"An A-Rank party registered in Solmere would raise the prestige of this guild overnight."
Bunny blinked.
"Oh."
The Guild Master pointed at her.
"Exactly."
He looked around the room.
"You cleared an A-Rank dungeon."
Another pause.
"You set a continental record."
Another.
"And somehow you all still carry E-Rank badges."
His ears twitched.
"Frankly, it makes my guild look incompetent."
The Vixens laughed.
Even Jax couldn't argue with that.
"Of course," Kaelor continued, "before I promote anyone, I need evidence."
Jax smiled.
The portal opened beside him.
Darkness rippled.
Then—
THUD.
The severed head of an A-Rank Crystal-Armored Grimsteed landed beside the desk.
The room froze.
Several guild officials physically stood up.
Kaelor's golden eyes widened.
The crystal armor remained pristine.
No cracks.
No damage.
No decay.
Perfect.
"You killed this?" Kaelor asked quietly.
"In the dungeon."
Jax nodded.
The Guild Master stepped around his desk.
Years of discipline vanished for a moment as he examined the trophy.
Beautiful.
Rare.
Perfectly preserved.
Then Jax reached back into storage.
THUD.
The second head landed beside the first.
"They came as a pair," Jax said.
"It seemed rude to separate them."
Kaelor barked out a laugh.
The Vixens smiled.
That landed perfectly.
Behind them, Nyxian's eyes lingered briefly on the heads.
A small part of her still disliked seeing them like this.
But another part understood.
The originals were gone.
Grim and Steed still existed.
Still followed her.
Still occasionally tried to eat flowers.
The contradiction eased the sting.
Kaelor finally straightened.
"What are your terms?"
"A fair evaluation."
Jax's voice remained calm.
"Based on capability."
He gestured toward the Vixens.
"Not experience levels."
Kaelor nodded slowly.
Reasonable.
"And?"
Jax smiled.
"The trophies remain here."
Kaelor liked that answer.
Very much.
"And?"
"Fair compensation for our remaining crystal stock."
The Guild Master chuckled.
"Anything else while we're negotiating?"
Jax thought for a moment.
"No."
"Good."
Kaelor pointed toward the attendant.
"Fill the glasses."
The attendant obeyed.
Nyxian raised hers immediately.
Kaelor ignored her.
Then he looked at Jax.
Really looked.
This wasn't charity.
This wasn't favoritism.
This wasn't bending rules.
It was correcting an obvious mistake.
Every instinct he possessed screamed the same conclusion.
These people were not E-Rank adventurers.
Not even close.
"I believe," Kaelor said slowly, "we have a deal."
He extended his clawed hand.
Jax clasped it firmly.
The handshake lingered.
Neither released first.
Then Kaelor's expression shifted.
The humor faded.
The Guild Master opened a drawer.
Inside rested three sealed letters.
Each carried a different crest.
Each bore a different kingdom's seal.
And each had arrived within the last two days.
Addressed to the same people.
The Vixens.
Kaelor placed them carefully on the desk.
The room grew quiet.
"You've attracted attention."
For the first time that afternoon—
Jax stopped smiling.
And for the first time that afternoon—
The Vixens looked nervous.