Night Sky Pavilion is a shop that has risen to prominence in the last two years.
Because Night Sky Pavilion has many rare materials that even large merchant guilds might not be able to acquire, people used to have to go to the Adventurers Guild to post requests and try their luck. But now, as long as they go to Night Sky Pavilion, they can basically find the materials they want. Their delivery speed is also very fast; it's said that each branch has a teleportation gate installed, so as long as customers are willing to pay extra, delivery speed is no longer an issue.
Moreover, Night Sky Pavilion has recently started encroaching on the Adventurers Guild's business. Due to efficiency issues, more and more people are coming to Night Sky Pavilion to place requests. The Adventurers Guild has already taken this matter seriously and is secretly investigating information about Night Sky Pavilion's owner, but because that one's origin and whereabouts are too mysterious, they have only been able to collect some useless information.
The high-ranking officials of the Adventurers Guild held an emergency meeting.
During the meeting, the Adventurers Guild's Guild Master brought up the matter and sought out the Branch Masters who had previously targeted Night Sky Pavilion, asking them what they encountered when they targeted Night Sky Pavilion.
The answers from these Branch Masters were all consistent.
That is, terrifying.
They used many methods.
Hiring assassins, creating rumors, and attempting assassinations at the doorstep.
But all methods were useless in front of that one.
Those who hired assassins couldn't even kill the shopkeeper in the opponent's store. They went and never returned, unable to even send back a single message, dying silently. If they hadn't noticed something was wrong, they would have thought the assassins had run away. But afterward, they could no longer find those assassins, and that's when they realized those assassins were all gone.
"That's all I know. A total of fifty-two assassins were sent out, and not one survived to send back a message. Then, one morning, after receiving a blank letter, I gave up on continuing to deal with that adult, because that adult's methods were completely beyond my ability to handle."
As this Branch Master recounted these events, his entire body trembled, and cold sweat poured down, clearly looking utterly terrified. He was an A-rank Adventurer and a mage, so he shouldn't have been so timid, but alas, the opponent's methods were simply too terrifying.
All his moves were silently swallowed by the opponent.
Then, in return, a blank letter was sent to him as a warning. He didn't know what the blank letter meant, but he had already felt the attitude of completely disregarding him and his actions. He felt that in that one's eyes, he might just be an insignificant ant.
It's one thing to crawl in front of them,
But if he continued to push his luck, what awaited him would be destruction.
At this moment, another Branch Master, covered in cold sweat, continued, "I hired people to create rumors, hoping to ruin Night Sky Pavilion's reputation, but the next day, all those people were found hanged on the city wall. The wall also had blood characters clearly detailing how I bribed those people. Although I immediately responded and increased my efforts, even asking the General for help, the General was also found hanging on the wall the next day."
"How can this be? The Royal Family couldn't possibly sit still for such a thing."
"Yes, I initially thought so too, and even felt delighted for a moment. But the subsequent developments far exceeded my expectations. Next, a minister came to investigate the matter. I originally thought I could accuse them, but the next day, a large army surrounded my house, listed various charges, and arrested me. In the end, I spent all my family's assets to clear my name and get out of prison."
After saying this, the Branch Master closed his eyes and remained silent.
From his experience, one conclusion can be drawn.
That is, Night Sky Pavilion also has connections at the top.
And this person's influence is no less than theirs.
Finally, everyone looked at the last experienced Branch Master, who was the strongest Adventurer, rumored to possess strength close to that of a Hero. He had previously gone to that one's residence to assassinate that one's existence. As for who instructed this mission, it was already self-evident. The Guild Master was now waiting for his explanation.
This Branch Master looked at them.
The atmosphere was very heavy.
He thought for a moment before slowly saying, "I don't think I need to explain further."
...
No one expected him to say such a thing.
Even the Guild Master was somewhat moved.
What did he mean by that?
Seeing their expressions, the Branch Master couldn't help but laugh, then he said expressionlessly, with a tone of deep melancholy, "Alright, since you want to know what happened then, I'll explain the situation to you. However, please allow me to withdraw from the guild after this."
Everyone present felt their hearts sink.
They already knew this wasn't good news.
But at this moment, no one spoke to interrupt his explanation.
As he spoke slowly.
People's expressions also became increasingly complex.
That day, this Branch Master received the Guild Master's order to investigate the owner behind Night Sky Pavilion. It was said that she was a powerful Witch. His mission required him to achieve one of several things. The optimal choice was to kill this Witch, dismantle her Night Sky Pavilion, and resolve the crisis of the Adventurers Guild.
If that couldn't be achieved, then as a second-best option, he could cooperate with the opponent, warning them not to push their luck further, or else the Adventurers Guild would use all its power to destroy Night Sky Pavilion.
If even this couldn't be achieved.
Then destroy Night Sky Pavilion's main branch and declare war on Night Sky Pavilion!
When he set off.
He was full of confidence.
Upon arriving in that city, he immediately went to pay a visit.
Then he met the owner of Night Sky Pavilion.
His evaluation of that Witch.
"She was the most beautiful and also the most dangerous woman I have ever seen in my life."
"She didn't pay attention to me at first. When I stated my purpose, she was indifferent, merely waiting for me to make my move. Then I confidently attacked her, but the result was just one move. To be precise, I made one move, and then I was defeated. I didn't even see her actions. When I woke up, I had already been thrown outside the door. She didn't even bother to kill me."
As he said this, his face showed utter collapse.
"Do you know how I crawled up from the ground, and with what confused and helpless feelings I walked back? You don't know at all. That was a monster, a monster more terrifying than the strongest Archmage in legends, a monster more powerful than those demons, an existence that cannot be resisted."
The Guild Master slammed the table and shouted, "Enough!"
If you keep talking.
There's no need to fight this battle.
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