Free Web NovelChapter 237: _Too Independent For His Own Good
Steel Falcon Guild
"Guide Ambrose." Guild master Dorothy beamed when he strode into her office. She was leaning against her desk, a cup of what seemed to be tea in one hand. "Glad you could make it."
Ambrose hesitated for a second, first using spatial awareness to scan the place.
He didn’t know why he did it.
But at this point, it felt like the universe or the sick fuck who runs it always threw something bad his way whenever his life was getting too peaceful even for a minute.
Fortunately, there was nothing out of the ordinary, making him relax with a smile of his own.
"Good morning, Ma’am." He greeted, shutting the door behind him before making his way to the desk. "And of course, I showed up. The message said it was urgent."
"Indeed." Dorothy turned to her seat, crashing into it with a small sigh. Setting her teacup aside, her head tilted slowly with curiosity. "I heard about your... performance in the dungeon raid yesterday."
Sigh.
As expected.
"And I must say," she continued, "I’m impressed with all I heard."
Ambrose let his smile widen.
This seemed good.
"Not only did you assist with killing beasts alongside your teammates, but you showed tremendous bravery when you managed to scale out with your life and the team’s aether crystal loots intact."
The Guild master straightened, her gaze sharpening on him. "It’s impeccable work considering it’s your first mission on the team," a shrug. "Although then again, it’s expected from someone recommended by the Morozov heir himself."
The smile on Ambrose’s face twitched.
Okay, what the fuck?
[You haven’t even heard her out yet.]
’I’m doing that and so far all she’s saying is the fucking obvious,’ he grunted mentally. ’Like we get it. Am I getting rewarded or is this another Federation scheme in disguise?’
He was no fool.
He knew damn well that some in the Federation or even his own team won’t buy his story of the orc king letting him escape.
And with the threat of President Josiah still possibly looming out there... he wasn’t about to lower his guard for a minute.
As if noticing his growing unease, Dorothy soon cut to her main point. "I called you in not just to shower you with praise... but to hand you a reward for a job well done."
She reached for a drawer under her desk, opened it, and searched for a bit. After a few seconds, she pulled out something.
A key.
For some reason, Ambrose’s heart skipped a beat when he saw the key dangling before him, perhaps because of the trauma from the system’s black key.
But then he saw the sincerity behind her eyes and allowed himself to show interest.
"Uhm, what is that?"
"It’s the key to your new home." Dorothy typed a few buttons on her laptop before spinning it for him to see.
He arched his brow. Squinted. Then his pupils blew wide with surprise.
"Is this—"
"A private penthouse." She spoke with such confidence. "As you can see it’s located at a strategic position in the city. It’s also pretty close to the Guild HQ. We got it arranged for you by pulling aside your raid participation bonus."
Ambrose gawked speechlessly, admiring the architecture and interior designs without realising it.
This place looked even more spacious than their current house. Well, except for the lack of an open lawn or backyard.
If they’d shown him this a week or two ago, he might’ve moved in without second thoughts. But now—
"I can’t." He shook his head, voice firm with finality. "It feels hella expensive."
"Well," Dorothy chuckled lightly. "Not exactly..."
"How much is it then?"
"... Excuse me?"
"How much is this penthouse? I’m not trying to spit on your gift or whatever but I didn’t ask for this. I don’t exactly recall telling you I have living issues."
[Well, someone’s on a roll.]
Dorothy’s mouth parted and closed a few times. Ambrose noted everything—from the way her pupils diverted from his face once or twice. To the way her heart beat quickened just a bit.
All signs of a woman playing in his fucking face.
"The price doesn’t matter, Guide Ambrose—" she was about to vomit some patronising shit but Ambrose wasn’t having it.
"The fuck it doesn’t." He rose to his feet, a dark blue light flickering in his eyes.
Only for a moment.
Yet enough to make her muscles tighten with unexplainable dread.
"I do not appreciate this, Ma’am," he didn’t bother hiding the agitation behind his words. "I don’t know what you think this is but I’ve got a house already. I don’t plan to move out soon."
"I wasn’t aware you—"
"And I sure had to spend a lot for that place." He added. "So I’d appreciate it if you just sent that bonus money to me instead. If not you can just keep it and don’t bother me aga—"
"No, no, no." Dorothy got on her feet as well, raising her hands. "I didn’t mean any harm at all, Mr Hale. T–The Guild got word that Phoenix Flight assigned you to a suite before you left them. We only wished to offer you a better living option."
Silence.
Ambrose’s forehead creased.
He’d already been considering leaving to go do literally anything else.
But right now she sounded honest.
After giving it a few more seconds, he heaved. "Thank you for being so considerate." A small bow. "I’d still prefer you just send me the bonus money. If possible."
The Guild master nodded. "Of course. Absolutely. We can arrange that."
He stood there for a beat.
Then, "If that’s all I’ll be taking my leave now."
Just like he said, he shifted away from the desk before heading for the door. It clicked shut once he left, leaving the Guild master with nothing but her thoughts.
’You saw how that went. He’s just too independent and stubborn for his own good.’
There was no response at first.
Until the lights in her office flickered.
’Looks like we’ll have to be more direct with our approach then.’ A hauntingly calm voice echoed in her head.
