Proofreader: M_W Miss Fierce

Along the way to the Smiling Lion Village, Elvis had slowly gotten to know some information about the people that have saved them while talking with Ethan and his wife Elaine.

First, they are members of the Mischievous Lion Guild, a level 1 Copper rank Guild. It's a temporary Guild that was just newly registered in the Emerald Tree Kingdom yesterday.

Second, they have just bought 500 square meters of land yesterday located a few kilometers to the northeast area outside of the Emerald City that they have called Smiling Lion Village.

Third, the main reason why they have found them was because they were scouting the surrounding places for anything they could use to further develop their Smiling Lion Village.

And lastly, which is what he had found out just now, is that they are actually the same group of people that have traveled using the three Green Eagle Flyingboats towards the direction of Emerald Tree Kingdom and that their Guild Leader is a young man that goes by the name Mister Loki.

After taking all of the information he had gathered into consideration, Elvis quickly arrived at the conclusion that they should be on the same level as those medium size Guilds in the Emerald Tree Kingdom. How hugely mistaken he was... It was completely contrary to his thoughts; Mister Loki and his Mischievous Lion Guild weren't in any slightest bit similar to those medium size Guild, not even similar to those large size Guilds in the Emerald Tree Kingdom, but rather they are a force comparable to a small Kingdom.

The ruler of the Emerald Tree Kingdom, King Elfin the Fourth, is a 5th Galaxy Mage, and his wife, Queen Tina, is a 3rd Galaxy Mage. Considering both their power together and including the forces they control in the Emerald Tree Kingdom, they are at the level of mid-tier Kingdoms.

This means Mister Loki and his Mischievous Lion Guild is just a level below the Evergreen royal family.

Of course, that's just purely in consideration of the Mischievous Lion Guild having a 1st Galaxy Mage. All together, the Mischievous Lion Guild should only be comparable to almost half of the strength of the Evergreen royal family.

Nevertheless, it's still a shocking strength, because even the Wolf Howl organization, the second largest and most powerful organization in the Underground World of the Emerald Tree Kingdom, doesn't even have a fourth of the strength of the Evergreen royal family.

In the entire Emerald Tree Kingdom, there's only one power that should have the same strength as the Mischievous Lion Guild; the Pierce Noble Household, which is almost in the ranks of a Marquess Noble Household.

This also means that...

"I also don't want to hide anything from you, Elvis," Leo said as he clasped his hand together, and continued, "To be honest, I have the intention of protecting you and your remaining Night Ear group,"

Elvis raised his head to listen carefully to what Mister Loki was going to say.

"But, what can you give me in return for protecting you and your Night Ear group?" Leo said with a mischievous smile on his face.

"Haysttt..." Elvis can't help heaving a sigh of helplessness. To be honest, he had already expected that this is how the situation would turn out to be after hearing Mister Loki's words. It wasn't the least bit surprising, because Ethan's strength alone could already be a sure deterrence against the Wolf Howl organization for them to not make any hasty moves against the Mischievous Lion Guild, hence they certainly won't be afraid of protecting them. This leaves them the only question, why should they protect them? 

Elvis knew clearly that right now their Night Ear group is no longer the same as what it was used to be in the past.

They no longer possessed the strength of 3 Star to 6 Star level, as they have nothing left aside from him and the 4 other currently injured members of the Night Ear group.

Even though these 4 members were actually 4 Star to 5 Star in level, since those that had sacrificed themselves in the battle against the Slave Hunters were the weaker members as they knew that only their powerful comrades could seek revenge for them, they are still not worth the mention in front of the Mischievous Lion Guild who have a 1st Galaxy Mage in their Guild. That strength doesn't even include the other members of the Mischievous Lion Guild, which they have now noticed has the strength in the 1 Star to 6 Star level and with a few others that have strength above that.

Honestly speaking, the Mischievous Lion Guild could in fact gather people with similar strength as them if they really wanted to.

"If it's alright with you, I can suggest you something that you can actually offer," Leo said as he stood up from the chair.

"Please," Elvis bowed his head ninety degrees to express his sincerity. In his heart, he knew clearly that only Mister Loki and his Mischievous Lion Guild could protect them and also give them the chance to save their comrades that have been captured by the Slave Hunters of the Wolf Howl organization. If he doesn't grab this opportunity presented to him now, then they would surely be captured next as soon as they stepped out from the Smiling Lion Village.

"Actually, it's very simple," Leo said as he slowly walked towards Elvis. The moment he arrived in front of Elvis, he then tapped the latter's shoulder to make him raise his head up as he soon after said, "Are you willing to join me?"

Elvis can't help blinking his eyes multiple times as he can't believe what he had just heard. He asked, "Are you telling me to join Mischievous Lion Guild?"

"Yes!"

"I..."

Even after hearing the confirmation from Mister Loki that he indeed wanted them to join the Mischievous Lion Guild, Elvis was still having trouble believing it. The reason is simply because he has never considered in his mind that Mister Loki would actually propose him such a suggestion.

At this moment, the Night Ear group is nothing but just a broken piece of what it used to be. In short, they are basically useless. So, why would a Guild that has a strength almost comparable to half of the strength of the Evergreen royal family want them, right?

"I believe that what you are thinking right now should be that you don't have any value anymore as your Night Ear group has already been reduced to such an unfortunate state," Leo easily guess what Elvis was thinking as he looked at the expression of his face. He right after continued, "But I don't actually believe that you don't have any value anymore,"

"Why?" Elvis doubtfully asked.

"Remember the maps that you had sold to me?"

"Yes..." Elvis nodded his head. Of course, he remembered clearly the maps that he had sold to Mister Loki before. In fact, even if he didn't encounter him today, he would still not forget him as he was one of the people that had easily spotted the hidden meaning behind his words and is also a member of the Underground World like him. At that time, he fully believed in his mind that Mister Loki is a potential and worthy customer, that's the main reason why he didn't bother denying his identity as an Information Dealer to him.

"Those maps that you had sold to me were all necessary information that I needed so that I will have an easy journey towards the Emerald Tree Kingdom. It was really a detailed and informative map, implying that you have a great capability in gathering information. This capability is something that I need... No, to be more precise, your capability is needed for the establishment of the Intelligence Department of the Mischievous Lion Guild. So, will you join me?" Leo finished explaining.

However, it wasn't the only reason why he wanted Elvis to join his Mischievous Lion Guild. The reason why he recruited him is mainly because of the green-colored string of Fate that connects the both of them.

Without the green-colored string of Fate, even if Elvis has the capability that he needed, or perhaps even the best, he would still not easily suggest recruiting him as he can't be sure yet whether he can really trust him or not, not to mention giving him such an important position as a part of the Intelligence Department of the Mischievous Lion Guild that he had long been planning of establishing.

Elvis finally understood the reason why Mister Loki wanted to recruit him to join his Mischievous Lion Guild. Simply put, Mister Loki doesn't care about the current state of the Night Ear group as what he wanted to have is an individual with a capability like his.

"You don't have to worry, I assure you that my Mischievous Lion Guild could provide you whatever you desire, including revenge and strength, but that is in the condition that you can also provide me what I need," Leo added to further convince Elvis.

"To be honest," Elvis shook his head with a smile on his face, "I'm actually not worried about anything. I can see clearly what you are capable of,"

Elvis paused as he looked at Ethan by his side. Even a fool would know that someone who can successfully recruit a 1st Galaxy Mage despite being only a 1 Star Mage is a person with great capability. After all, having the strength of a 1st Galaxy Mage alone could already guarantee an important position in the Emerald Tree Kingdom or even high-tier Human Kingdoms in the Celestial World, yet Ethan actually chooses not to work for them. Even if it wasn't because of Mister Loki's great capability, it should still be of something with similar value.

Without any further questions, Elvis nodded his head and said, "I accept!"

.....

Meanwhile, on top of one of the trees nearby the Smiling Lion Village, a Dark Elf could be seen secretly observing Leo and everyone else.

"An unknown force with a 1st Galaxy Mage?!" The Dark Elf said with an expression of extreme shock on his face.

"I need to quickly report this to President Sigfried,"

Silently, the Dark Elf disappeared from the top of the tree.