Leaving Melchior in the ring and keeping Leonhart and Cero secured within the subspace, I headed toward the nearest regional branch of the Bureau. My goal was simple but mandatory: I needed a party. The 3rd Floor was also a "Party-only" world-stage, and the Tower's entry protocols were absolute, even an S-Rank couldn't force their way in solo.
The moment I stepped into the RMB lobby, the atmosphere shifted. It was a chaotic scramble of flashing cameras and shouting recruiters as people recognized my face from the recent S-Rank announcements. Thankfully, the RMB staff, eager to get into the good graces of a local powerhouse, quickly intervened and escorted me to a private waiting room.
The RMB doesn't manage its own Guilds, but the branches are intensely competitive. They act as the ultimate middleman, and securing a collaboration between an S-Rank and one of their backed Guilds was the kind of achievement that could elevate a regional branch to the top of the hierarchy.
It didn't take long for the door to open. Noah Jackson, the Guild Master of the 'Atlas' Guild, the strongest force in this region, walked in, flanked by three of his highest-ranked members. Noah looked less like a traditional fantasy warrior and more like a heavyweight boxer, his presence filling the room with a blunt pressure.
"[Activating 'Red Demon's Eye' Lvl 3!]"
"[Personal Information]"
- [Name: Noah Jackson]
- [Age: 46 | Gender: Male | Sex: Experienced]
- [Class: Warrior | Rank: A | Level: 22]
- [Stats: STR: 18 | AGI: 15 | VIT: 15 | HP: MAX | PER: 10 | Essence: Aura Lvl 16]
- [Exclusive Skill: 'Body Reinforcement']
- [Skills: 'Heavy Impact' Lvl 4, 'Jump' Lvl 2, 'Lie Detection' Lvl 2, etc.]
- [Anatomical Stats: 7 inches, thick and veiny hairy dick. Loose and pinkish hairy asshole.]
- [Copy Conditions: As the Guild Master of 'Atlas', Noah Jackson prizes Strength more than anything. Show your overwhelming strength to copy his Exclusive Skill or one of his Skills.]
I felt a surge of interest. The [Exclusive Skill, 'Body Reinforcement'] would be an incredible boost to my physical constitution, likely providing a suite of secondary skills that could push my Transcendent body even further.
"It is a pleasure finally meeting you, Mister Arthur Tempest," Noah greeted me, his voice a deep rasp as he offered a firm handshake. Despite his rugged appearance, he possessed the polished tone of an experienced politician. "The 9th S-Rank that no one could get a hold of for weeks."
"I've been busy," I replied simply, responding to the handshake. After the brief formalities, we cut straight to the chase.
"So, you came here seeking a collaboration to enter the 3rd Floor?" Noah asked, leaning back.
"You catch on quick," I confirmed. I wasn't particularly picky about which Guild I worked with for now. If anyone decided to use me as a stepping stone or try a backstab, I was more than capable of returning the favor tenfold.
"That... might be difficult at the moment," Noah said, his expression souring into one of annoyance. "I don't mean to disrespect an S-Rank of your caliber, but the 'Reaper' Guild has already monopolized this region's 3rd Floor rights. Without their permission, even we, the 'Atlas' Guild, are locked out."
"The 'Reaper' Guild?" I frowned. They were the 5th strongest Guild in the country. "Why would a top-tier Guild bother monopolizing a small, far-off regional tower like this?"
"How the hell am I supposed to know?" Noah's temper flared, his fist clenching on the table. "They arrived a few weeks ago and paid a staggering amount in cash and Magic Crystals to the Bureau. They refused to give an explanation. Every local Guild tried to demand an answer, but they brought someone we couldn't stand against."
"Let me guess," I said, a suspicion forming in my mind. "An S-Rank?"
"Exactly. The country's 7th S-Rank, Zang Wilong," Noah sighed, his frustration was clear. "Our sources can't confirm if he's officially with 'Reaper' or just a mercenary for this job, but his presence makes the situation... complicated."
Zang Wilong. A monopoly on regional towers.
My mind raced through the possibilities. Were they trying to thin the competition for the merged global floor by locking out local Rankers? Or were they after 'that'? Either way, the fact that they were intentionally blocking access only made me more determined to get in. If the Reapers were guarding the door, it meant there was something behind it worth taking.