Chapter 776. Getting Ready to Depart for War
Jack left the guild leaders who were still hanging inside the Guilds Association. He had his own preparation to do. Red Death left to go somewhere else again. She said she would meet Jack tomorrow morning when the army gathered.
Before leaving Amy’s bakery, Jack had collected his profits from the bakery and restaurant. He collected 235 gold coins. With the coins still in his pocket, he now had 425 gold coins. He went around the shops in the capital spending 150 coins to buy up all the available ores as well as lots of low-grade weapons and equipment, for fusing using his Transformation Prism. He also donated 100 gold coins to the guild again. Leaving him with 175 gold coins for emergency use.
He then went to the Leagues of Champions base. At the counter, he asked for Gruff. He just did it in passing. He was sure the dude was evading him again. But unexpectedly, the counter staff asked him to wait. Not long after, Gruff’s large figure was seen coming out of the door that was reserved for the senior members of the faction.
“Now, look who has finally graced us with his presence? The mighty champion of the world tournament!” Gruff’s voice resonated loudly in the hall, making everyone turn to look at him.
“Would you lower your voice, you oversized ape!” Jack chided.
“Haha. Never pegged you for being shy. What’s wrong with a little recognition,” Gruff said with a laugh.
“I’m surprised,” Jack said. “I was expecting you to again tell the staff here to say that you are not around if I visit.”
“I’m hurt! How can you think that I’m that kind of person?” Gruff protested.
“Actually, he has asked exactly that. Only this morning that he changed it to, call him when Storm Wind comes,” the counter staff said after hearing them.
Gruff glared at the staff but the staff acted as if he didn’t notice.
Jack just gave Gruff a raised eyebrow.
“Hehe, don’t listen to him. Come! Let’s go talk somewhere private,” Gruff said.
Gruff took them to a courtyard with an open garden. Not many people there. They sat on a bench. “So, I heard there will be a civil war. I bet you are involving your ass in that.”
“I do. I have to help Prince Alonzo. His situation doesn’t look good. Will you help as well?” Jack asked.
“I can’t. We league factions have to stay neutral. We might provide some indirect support but we can’t be involved directly in a country’s politics. Especially not help in a war. If we did, you will be worried because our faction’s support is to Therribus, not Alonzo, even if I personally prefer Alonzo.”
“I see, too bad… Hey! But you said you are part of the kingdom faction as well, right? Why can’t you involve yourself by using your kingdom faction status?”
“Because my position in this league faction is more prominent than my kingdom faction status. People will see my act as the act of leagues of champions rather than other factions. Bailey is different, I have asked him to go in my stead, with another capable member who is a member of both factions but not too prominent in this faction. I have asked both of them to serve under you.”
“Under me?” Jack asked.
“Yes. You haven’t heard? The royal advisor is planning to have you lead a regiment,” Gruff answered.
“He did?” Jack was surprised to hear it, but also very happy. If he could utilize this regiment, he might reap a large exp gain in this war.
Gruff nodded and showed his faction badge. “I can’t help with the war, so I will help in another way. Here, take out your leagues of champions badge.”
Jack did as he asked. A stream of light flowed from Gruff’s badge to Jack’s. After the stream stopped, Gruff gave Jack a piece of chest armor.
“Here is a super rare grade armor and I’ve transferred 3000 glory points to your badge. I hope this can help with the war effort,” Gruff said.
Jack’s mouth twitched hearing that. He took out his Storm Breaker. “You, a*shole! That is the deal for our bet! You still dare say it’s to help the war effort. I don’t care if you are stronger, you are asking for a beating!”
“Hold your horses, I’m just joking! Haha.”
“It’s not funny,” Jack said, still brandishing his Storm Breaker.
“Sit down, you are creating a scene. Here, this is the real help for the war effort,” Gruff said and revealed a small token in his hand.
Jack used Inspect on the token.
Twilight Champion (Unique Insignia, for guild purpose only)
Allow the training of Twilight Champions
‘Another unique insignia!’ Jack exclaimed. With this, his guild would have three units of such a grade. The Eagle Rider Hunter was a ranged unit while the Blood Count was rogue-type. This Twilight Champion sounded like a melee unit. If it was so, then it would be perfect.
Gruff confirmed Jack thought, “The Twilight Champions are primarily close-contact warriors who have magic in their arsenal, so they should perform well in melee as well possessing a few long-range capabilities, similar to outworlder’s Mage Knight class.”
“Thank you,” Jack expressed his gratitude.
Gruff Added, “As I said before, I can’t help the war effort directly. Since your guild will be fighting for Alonzo’s side, I figure I can help Alonzo by strengthening your guild. You can only get this insignia after you reach the Angusticlavian rank in this faction, which is my current rank. I used lots of glory points to exchange for that insignia. A few of my earnings from the tournament bet are used on that. Sigh… What can I say, I’m such a kind person, after all. Can’t help to be stingy when helping a friend in need.”
Jack gave him a side-eye. ‘If you truly want to help, then you should have used a lot instead of just a few of your earnings!’ But Jack didn’t whine. Any help was fine. This gift was also a boon to their guild, not just for Prince Alonzo.
Jack thanked Gruff again. He said to the old warrior that if there was nothing else, he would leave first. He still got many preparations to do. Gruff asked if Jack wanted to do any of the challenges to increase his League of Champions’ ranks.
Jack said he would leave the challenges here for next time. He wanted to increase the rank of his Order of Magi first.
“Oh? You are a member of that faction as well?” Gruff asked.
“Yeah. I’m also an Archmage aside from being a Blade Dancer,” Jack answered.
“Okay. I wish you luck on the war then,” Gruff said.
Jack thanked him again. But before he left the building, he went to exchange something from the exchange list first. He used 1600 glory points to get the Wings of Devastation, an exclusive Blade Dancer skill.
Wings of Devastation, level 1/20 (Active skill, range, requires dual-wield swords)
Creates a wave of energy that struck a large area, deals 500% wind damage, 30% chance to cause Bleed, 20% chance to cause Dizzy.
Range: 50 meters
Cooldown: 3 hours
Stamina: 120
‘Fifty meters…, that’s a long distance. Longer range than a Hidden Weapon Specialist’s standard skills. Not to mention this is an area of effect skill. He will be able to hit lots of grouped enemies with this skill. It is a perfect skill to be used during a battlefield situation,’ Jack thought.
Satisfied with his exchange, he left the place. Before he headed to the Order of Magi’s hut, he made a trip back to guild headquarters first. He gave John, who was now back in Guild Hall, the Twilight Insignia token. John assured Jack that he would focus on training this unit right away.
Jack asked John how it went with the quest involving the Hero Token. John informed that one Hero Token had been secured. They only needed to level up to guild level 4 before using it. Jack told John to let him be the one to use the token when it was time. Peniel had informed that the token’s result was random. So, it was based on luck, and he was the God of Luck in the guild.
John told Jack to visit the jail while he was there. Jack was wondering why, but he went down anyway. Jack noticed half of the cells were occupied, but mostly by special elite grades and below. When the guilds met a hideout or outpost with a rare elite boss, they couldn’t afford to capture the boss. Only Jack could solo such a boss and hold it down without killing it. Attempting to do so without Jack would result in a risk of heavy casualty. So, John and Jeanny didn’t ask the members to do it.
All the bosses they captured were to be handed to the kingdom for reputations. There was a cooldown period of handing in captured boss, that’s why the ones here were sitting in the jails, waiting to be handed in.
“You!” Jack heard a voice from the fifth occupied cell which he had yet to check.
Jack approached the cell to take a better look and found that it was Sinful Pleasure inside.
