After parting with Grey, Carla and Arnold both left with their shadow guards and the time spell was released.

The complexion of Arnold grew grave and serious when they reached their lodging.

“He is too dangerous. He holds many secrets. His double attribute is already very rare, and both of them are emperor grade… Is this a joke? And, it still can’t explain how he turned my little brother in such a state. From what we heard yesterday, his control over mana seems to be outstanding and one of a kind… How can such a monster exist and no one knows about it?”

“Dad, do you think we should kill him?”

Carla’s voice held a faint trace of concern. She had nearly been sold off to Grey this morning, but she had to accept the fact that he wasn’t ordinary. It could be said that he may be the only one which could completely suppress her among the younger generation, so, she was a bit curious about him.

“No. Since my baby daughter and he are engaged there won’t be any problem.”

His face showed a teasing grin. Carla’s face became slightly hotter. She could have said no, but she still said yes. If he revealed himself to be dangerous for the guild, she wouldn’t have considered it. Though she didn’t intend to do more than date him, she was still in this mess.

“A-About that… What are we supposed to do?”

Arnold’s smile grew wider.

“Tomorrow, you too will go out in the forest to have some time between the two of you. You should think about something to cook for him, I am sure he’d love it to death…”

“…”

The face of the following shadow guards grew paler. They had never tasted their little princess’ cooking, but they smelled it. If it weren’t for the fact that they were used to dealing with much more dangerous poison, they thought that anyone who smelled that would fall unconscious on the spot.

“Chief, won’t it treat as a poisoning attempt if he were to try the miss’… cooking.”

One of them suddenly spoke. Offending a level 64 young man wasn’t something he would like to do.

“He won’t mind. All men wish to try their wife’s cooking.”

“Why are you guys talking about my cooking as a weapon? I know that it’s lacking but no one died eating it.”

Yet. Carla tried to cook a few months ago, the ones who tried her cooking were either crippled or wasted. They needed months of treatment to recuperate, some are still bedridden. Remembering this, all members present couldn’t help but let out a sigh. Even her father felt ashamed. He didn’t know how her mother could cook so well but she couldn’t even make the simplest soup without waking up the dead and putting the living to sleep.

“Well, let’s talk about the cooking matter tomorrow. The reason I need you two to go to the forest beside spending some lovey-dovey time is to intercept a carriage which will be coming to the city. Though we don’t have a concrete knowledge of what it contains, what is inside deserve our guild to take it.”

Hearing her father’s words, Carla’s face regained her usual complexion.

“Is there any other information?”

She couldn’t believe that they knew only this much about it. And her father wouldn’t send her on a mission with this little information.

“Indeed. There will be 10 guards escorting the carriage along with adventurers. The adventurer's number 15 people, they are mostly B rank and the guards are around lv.40. At first, I thought about sending you along with some helpers, but now that Grey is with you, it should be enough. I will send some people just in case something goes wrong, but I doubt it.”

“I see…”

“I will give you the map with their route and documents about each guard and adventurer and their speciality.”

“Is it safe… to let Grey know about all this?”

“Already doubting him? He hadn’t done anything. He knew about you. When you appeared in front of him, he didn't look surprised. This and your uncle’s matter mean one thing: he somehow went through his memories. He already knows some secrets about our guild but didn’t say anything. This could only mean two things: either he really didn’t care about us which is unlikely since he decided to associate with us, either he didn’t find any benefits in betraying us which will explain why he accepted. He asked for books and materials. This guy is strong, a mana manipulating and crafting genius, isn’t arrogant and a virgin. Why would he betray us if we can give him what he wants?”

Carla’s cheeks reddened when she heard ‘virgin’. She never thought before today that he was a virgin with such an alluring maid by his side. But still what her father said made sense. He had a goal and betraying them wouldn’t help him achieve it. And if he were to entangle himself with her, he would even proactively help them.

“I see… But please dad… Don’t say that we’re dating… It’s a bit embarrassing…”

Her face was even more flushed. Today, she really wasn’t herself. She needed to calm down.

“Oh… I see. Eh eh. However, you will need to tell him that you change your features, it’ll be awkward if he were to be confused about the real you and the silver-haired you.”

“I-I’ll tell him tomorrow.”

They kept debating about how they should act tomorrow during their operation about that until a shadow guard came to inform them about someone’s arrival.

“Chief, master Krieg has arrived with his son.”

Arnold frowned, and Clara cold gaze returned. Krieg was one of the seven masters in the guild. His fame in the guild was only second to Arnold, and his strength too. However, since Carla was born, he pestered him about marrying his son to her. It’s not that Arnold didn’t want it, he even agreed by saying that when they grew older he would let them try to get t know each other and see if they could match. However, due to Carla’s talent, she underwent an intense training until she was fourteen and didn’t get to interact with many people. And Arnold wanted her to focus on gaining sufficient strength first. Afterwards, Arnold decided to present Krieg’s son to Carla. They decided to give him a surprise by coming to his lodging when he was there. Krieg’s son was 17 at that time, and when they opened his door, they saw him fucking a woman while two other were embracing his arms with their breast. At that time, Arnold’s face lost all colours. The first reason was that his daughter was very similar to his wife. And having multiple women with a wife like his, was the same as courting death. Carla’s disgust in Krieg’s son grew without end, and until today, she would speak to him as if he was the lowest animal.

He tried to redeem himself by saying he would never have any intercourse with another woman than her. She didn’t believe him but didn’t say anything at that time. She used her skill to silently follow him for few days, and when he was at his limits, found him in a brothel under the care of multiple women once again. This meant a lot to her. Not only was he obsessed with women, he was unfaithful.

With time, she came to understand that those men who once tasted a woman had sometimes difficult time to control themselves. It was even worse when they were young. But she didn’t care. Her father had waited years before being able to get intimate with her mother, and he didn’t see any other women in the meantime. So, she didn’t understand why other men couldn’t do the same. Then, she had a basis that her man wouldn’t be any lower than her father in this regard.

Truth to be told, that period was a nightmare for Arnold. If his right hand wasn’t that effective, he might have died out of frustration multiple times…

“Don’t let them enter. Say to him that I already have someone, and if he bothers me again, I don’t mind cutting his thing into pieces and feed it to the dogs.”

Her voice was icy cold, and her words sent a shiver down the shadow guard’s spine. Between offending Krieg’s son and Arnold’s daughter, his choice was evident. He disappeared to relay Carla’s words.

Arnold's face had a trace of shock too.

Are you going to use Grey as a scapegoat?

He just shook his head. Krieg had done many things for the guild, and his son was also very gifted. At 19 years, old, with a dual attribute both rare grade, he already completed many missions for the guild. But his character wasn’t good. He only had one daughter, and if he forced her to marry him, he wouldn’t be able to face his wife and his daughter ever again. He was already greatly surprised when she accepted his offer earlier. Though he didn’t show it, he was afraid that her attitude might erupt.

However, if I have to compare Grey and Cain… Cain wouldn’t even be able to catch Grey’s shadow, and I’d rather face Krieg and Cain than a single Grey... Wait… Yeah, this idea might be interesting…

“Carla, is there a way for people to still apply for the Academy?”

Carla looked confused at her father’s words. She had no idea about what he was thinking.

“Well, if someone from those already selected is ready to bet their place with another participant and lose the match, the participant can get their place. However, it’s up to those selected to agree or not and to choose what type of match they will compete.”

“Good. Tell me the name of those who managed to qualify themselves in the Alpha group.”

In the afternoon, Grey went to the public library to meet up with Maya and Bahus. He hadn’t seen them since the exam, and they might be worried about his conditions. The other reason was that he needed to stay away from was Alexia. He asked what a guy was supposed to do when he was dating a girl. The moment he said that he clearly saw the shadow of the demon behind her while she kept mumbling some nonsense. Feeling that something was amiss, he quietly left while she was still lost in her mumbling and went around town to spend some time.

When he met up with Bahus and Maya at the library the latter jumped at him and hugged him tightly. Grey’s body stiffened instantly. It has been too long since he was hugged so he was biting at lost at what to do, but after some time, he gently hugged her back. Bahus just slapped his back with all his might and ended up the one suffering from his own strike. Maya burst out of laughing seeing him holding his hand while blowing on it until an employee came and threatened them AGAIN to expulse them if they continued to be so noisy.

After going to their usual spot, Bahus started to explain how his exam went to Grey since he couldn’t tell him earlier. As his explanation went on, Grey thought that it was strange that a certain girl’s name was often mentioned.

“Who is this Milena?”

Maya and Bahus were dumbstruck before they recalled that Grey wasn’t from here and was new to all this.

“She is an angel! A goddess of the goddesses! Her smile would make a withered willow flow with life, her hands are smooth as a cloud! She is just the perfect girl!”

Grey was curious. He wondered if she was more beautiful than Carla. When he remembered about her, he suddenly thought of something.

“Oh! This morning I had a talk with a girl and her father and we’re supposed to date now. How am I supposed to do that?”

Silence.

The joyous Bahus who was remembering his goddess became frozen, the smile on Maya’s face started to twitch.

“Is something wrong?”

Tears. Tears were coming out of Bahus eyes. He couldn't believe his ears. He was older than Grey and still didn't have a girlfriend. This world was too unfair. And, Maya who just found a little brother was about to lose him to some random vixen, at least those were her thoughts.