"You want to grow your guild fast, right?" Hayes leaned back in his chair, tapping the table like a mafia boss about to offer a shipment from some shady port.
Well, that was a stretch—but in many ways, the Association felt like a licensed crime syndicate.
They blackmailed when it suited them, charged guilds just to exist, and took a cut from almost everything. A real crime syndicate would be ashamed.
cleared my throat and answered, "That's my plan. This city is too small for me."
"Careful. People who say things like that usually bite off more than they can chew. Your plan to take on the 15th floor of the new tower… well, do you know what other people are saying about it?"
"That I'm brave?" I chuckled.
"No," he shook his head "They think you're ignorant, and that your ego's gotten too big after gathering multiple S-Ranks. Almost every guild in the city wants to see you fail."
I let out a low chuckle. "Do you think I will also fail, Mr. Hayes?"
