BONUS Chapter 6/6

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Early in the morning, Ren was startled awake by the nonstop ringing of his phone. He reached for his that gadget on the bedside table and pressed the answer button with half closed eyes.

"Ren. Are you in the game right now?" asked Leonel with his usual hyper voice.

Ren looked at the digital watch on his bedside table and groaned. It was already seven in the morning. The short nap he was supposed to make yesterday night after his talk with Saya had turned into a twelve hours sleep.

It looked like he was physically and emotionally drained after their raid.

It was more because of the women sucking the energy out of him.

"No. Why?" answered Ren.

"Have you spoken with Saya? Did you agree to enter Black Lion?"

Ren rubbed his eyes and groaned. "Yes and No. I don't want to enter a guild, Leo."

". . ." Leonel was quiet on the other line for a short moment before he told Ren, "I think . . . I'm going to try entering it."

Ren's eyes flung open, and he shot into a sitting position, and the blanket slipped to his torso, baring his naked upper chest. "Huh?"

Ren was still probably dreaming. He was hearing things.

Unfortunately, he wasn't since Leonel was still spouting nonsense.

Leonel shrugged. "I mean . . . nothing will disappear if I will enter together with Saya and Mike. I just wanted to try it, and if I don't like it, I'll just leave. Saya and Mike already agreed that I would stay as a Dwarf Defender, and that's all I ever wanted. However, they told me that I still have to try out in Black Lion to get a spot. Whatever that means."

"Leo . . ." Ren massaged his temple. "Did Saya convince you?"

". . . No."

That short pause was all Ren needed that Saya indeed talked to Leonel and managed to convince him to join Scar's guild. She must have used tears as Leo was weak against those.

Ren couldn't exactly blame him. Leonel was still innocent, and Saya did have this uncanny ability to get what she wanted by just shedding a tear and having a pitiful face.

Even Ren was a victim in the past because of her white lotus act.

"And besides," Leone added, "I'm curious at what a guild is, and I wanted to try if I like it or not. Another thing, I want to ensure that the four of us can still play in the future. I will convince Mike when I am there to party with you."

He snickered.

Mike and Ren had a rift in their friendship because of what happened with Scar, and Leonel was playing mediator.

Ren just shook his head. If Leonel were just curious and wanted to try a guild, then he wouldn't stop him.

But good luck with trying to fix his relationship with Mike and Saya because that wasn't going to happen.

"If you really want to try a guild, then I'm fine with that. You can do whatever you want. Just remember not to sign anything, okay? That legal binding of paper might trap you in years of something you don't want to do."

Leonel laughed. "Of course, I won't. I want to know why Saya and Mike were so adamant about joining Scar's guild. What's in a guild anyway?"

It's because Mike always wanted to become a pro player but lacked the skills and patience to become one. Ren thought. Mike believed by riding in the fame of Black Lion, he would instantly become one. And that he wanted so badly to become like Scar.

While Saya . . . Saya was just there to make sure that Mike didn't look at other girls. Mike was too good of a fish for her to lose.

"Leo, I heard from Saya that you refer someone to Mike to take up a classless mage so the two could take a spot in Black Lion."

"Ah yeah. Remember that kid at the restaurant?" Leonel began telling Ren what happened after Leonel met Roz at the convenience store.

"I see . . ." Ren wasn't interested much in the story. "So the kid got a contract at Black Lion?"

"Sadly no. I heard from Saya that Roz would only get a contract in Black Lion if he managed to get a rare class. While Mike and Saya did secure a spot in Black Lion, but Saya said that they are only on probation until Roz could get that rare class. So everything is dependent on Roz right now. "

Leonel scratched his head. "I don't know how that works. But it sounded complicated."

Ren was quiet. Leave it to Scar to make use of Mike. Without paying a single thing and reaping all the benefits in one go.

As Scar said in the restaurant yesterday, Black Lion already had enough Swordsman and White Mages. But even so, Scar could surely squeeze in one more, especially since he knew Mike.

And this baffled Ren until now. Scar must know that Mike wanted to enter at all costs, and Scar used it to his advantage, and he succeeded.

Mike was so blinded by his ambition that he could no longer see that he was being used by the person he looked up the most.

No longer my problem. Ren thought. If Mike wanted to be a loyal dog of Scar, then so be it.

"I've also asked Isolde if she wanted to try out for the guild." Leonel happily said, cutting Ren's thoughts. "But she said that she already belonged in a guild that will be put up by her family."

"That's a given." Ren wasn't surprised about it. He could still have Leonel and Isolde help him do mercenary jobs even if they belonged in a guild. Most of the guild contracts didn't restrict players from doing side jobs and another quest out from the guild anyway.

With hundreds of members in a guild, most players were just idling at their headquarters if not doing their daily grind. So doing a quest, adventuring in dungeons, and doing side jobs outside of the guild were allowed.

"Heh. We'll be enemies if I ever like Scar's guild."

". . ." Ren didn't comment.

"I'm going online after breakfast and hoping that there is a spot in the café. Mike and Saya wanted to meet in Black Lion's temporary headquarters. What about you?"

Ren thought for a second. He had enough of exploring caves and dungeons at the moment. "I think I'll level my Life skills."

"Life skills? What's that?"

Ren shook his head. "Check it out later when you log in. It's in your player status."

"Okay. See you later. Have to make breakfast first. Ciao!"

Ren and Leonel ended the call.

Ren then scrolled to the forums for any latest news while he was away from COVENANT.

And the headlines for the day were still Golden Phoenix's victory over Black Lion, while the latter's name was still nowhere to be found on the Stone of Fame even after numerous tries in Vulcan's Cave.

Golden Phoenix was all the players talked about, especially after they had shared a hundred percent completion of Vulcan's Map Online.

Many players have let their desires known to enter the all-girls guild, men and women alike.

Ren smirked. Silvia and the others were probably busy with the amount of players showing interest in their guild.

Ren tossed his phone on the bed before he got up, stretched, and put some clothes on before he took a light exercise around the park nearby.