Free Web NovelChapter 204: _Bad Press Is Still Press
"Hmm... what about this one?" Viktor pointed at Ambrose’s laptop, his mouth half-filled with a turkey sandwich. "Lemon Heights Guild. Other than the poor name choice, it seems decent. Plus, they’re A-Rank."
"Tch." Devon scoffed from one of the sofas in the living room. "You’re one to talk about poor name choices."
For the past thirty minutes since the headlines about him began blowing up, Ambrose had been glued to his laptop, looking through Guild applications he made days back.
He’d specifically placed himself in front of the kitchen island to concentrate but Viktor just had to bring his sandwiches and opinions no one asked for.
"There’s nothing wrong with the name ’Glacier Talon’." Viktor glanced back at Devon, oblivious to Ambrose’s agitation. "Our name is built around my mother’s powers. You know—the Glacier seraph and all. What’s your excuse, chicken flight?"
"How original. The Phoenix is a symbol of power, rebirth and overwhelming authority."
"Yet somehow they’re lacking so much in keeping their members safe." Viktor’s eyes gleamed as he remembered something. "From break-ins to Hunters exploding. No wonder Rory wants nothing to do with you birds anymore."
Before Devon could refute that the ice Prince patted Ambrose hard on his shoulder.
"Tell you what? You don’t have to keep up with your search," he paused long enough for Ambrose to cut him a look. "I can give one of these big Guilds a word. I know Glacier Talon is out of the picture because of my mother but—"
"If you’ve been paying any attention you’d remember when I said how I can’t go into another big Guild." Ambrose interrupted flatly, his eyes moving back to his laptop. "I no longer want the publicity. So... please. Can you just let me handle this myself?"
Viktor’s mouth parted and closed more than twice. His grip on his sandwich tightened as he angled his head to Devon.
The latter gave him a look that basically spelt out: ’Oh, someone’s in trouble now’.
Ambrose barely noticed their silent exchange, taking a quick bite from what was left of his sandwich. He scrolled off the Lemon Heights website and was about to move to the next one on his list.
That’s when he caught something.
"... Fifty plus notifications?" He mumbled under his breath with a frown as he stared at the Gmail icon. "How the hell did I miss these?"
He clicked on it and was stunned at what he saw.
Tens of these emails were from Guilds. All over the country too.
Some offered housing packages alongside relocation benefits. Others promised raid bonuses juicy enough to make even Ambrose blink twice in disbelief.
One particular Guild in Texas outright offered him a salary almost two times what Phoenix Flight paid him monthly—not counting the additional percentages from dungeon clears.
And disturbingly enough... Some of these invitations came from S-Rank Guilds.
His brows knitted tighter the longer he scrolled.
"Why the hell are all these people suddenly reaching out?" He muttered.
Viktor immediately caught onto the distress in his tone. The ice Prince abandoned his sandwich and drifted closer to where Ambrose sat.
Unfortunately for Ambrose’s peace of mind, the movement only dragged his attention toward the obnoxiously exposed chest beneath Viktor’s night robe.
Dear lord.
Why did this man insist on dressing like a thirst trap inside the house?
"What happened now?" Viktor leaned slightly over his shoulder.
Ambrose turned the laptop enough for him to see. "Apparently every Guild in America woke up this morning and collectively decided they suddenly need me."
Viktor skimmed through the emails casually.
Then—to Ambrose’s annoyance—he didn’t look shocked in the slightest.
"Bad press is still press after all." He shrugged. "Maybe they’re curious about you. Or trying to see what all the fuss is about."
Ambrose didn’t answer immediately.
Because mentally?
Bullshit.
This was exactly the kind of attention he’d desperately wanted to avoid.
Big Guilds meant politics. Surveillance. Strong Hunters constantly breathing down his neck and poking into his affairs.
And after everything involving Phoenix Flight, Augustus and Han Jae-won? The last thing he needed was to become some nationwide ’interesting little C-Rank’.
Still, curiosity got the better of him.
He clicked on one of the emails from a Guild based in Nevada and typed out a cautious response.
To his surprise, the reply came almost instantly.
Ambrose blinked before typing again.
Another immediate response.
His suspicion deepened as the conversation went on until finally—the recruiter slipped.
> "With Hunter Viktor Morozov’s recommendation, we’re more than willing to discuss premium benefits for you."<
Silence.
Slowly, Ambrose lifted his head and glared at Viktor.
The latter visibly froze.
"... You recommended me already?" Ambrose repeated flatly.
Viktor opened his mouth. Closed it. Then sighed. "Alright, before you get upset—"
"If I wanted powerful Hunters controlling my life I’d have stayed back at Phoenix Flight." Ambrose snapped, shutting the laptop harder than intended before getting to his feet.
"Rose—"
"No, seriously." He laughed bitterly. "I leave one Guild because I don’t want people pulling strings around me only for you to do the same thing behind my back?"
Devon stared with concern from the living room as Ambrose turned and headed out of the kitchen island area with the laptop tucked beneath his arm.
Behind him, Viktor finally raised his voice:
"I interfered because I care, damn it!"
Ambrose paused for the briefest second.
The frustration in Viktor’s voice sounded genuine enough to chip at his anger a little.
But he still pushed forward.
"That’s not the point." He muttered before heading upstairs.
The bedroom door clicked shut behind him moments later.
Finally alone, Ambrose exhaled deeply and sat at the edge of the bed.
Maybe he overreacted a little.
Still... This was his life. His future. For once he wanted choices that belonged entirely to him.
After a minute of cooling off, he reopened the laptop.
More Guild emails flooded the screen again. Most of them instantly got ignored until one particular application caught his eye.
B-Rank Guild.
Located just outside Aurelia. Small enough to barely have media relevance.
But what truly made Ambrose sit upright was the next detail.
"Access to multiple newly formed low-rank dungeon rifts."
His silver eyes flickered.
And then another line appeared beneath it.
"Currently seeking available Guides urgently."
Ambrose stared at the screen for a long moment. Then slowly... a smile tugged at his lips.
"Maybe this won’t be so bad after all."
