Hero of Darkness

After giving it a thought… Edmund was certain that Merlin had some sort of huge background or belonged to some house with high standing in society.

Otherwise, why would Legolas Ragnarsson, the ironborn elf leader of the strongest and most popular mercenary guild who had numbers of people lined up to hire them, would personally come and recommend this teenager to be his disciple?

On the accords of appearance, Merlin was a human and didn't even have the insignia of the Misthios guild on his clothes. Also, his clothing was that of someone from a noble background.

[Who is he?] asked Edmund to Legolas using a telepathic communication artifact.

[Although I cannot tell you his true identity… just know that he's the son of an Exalted Noble.

They made me a promise to become a long-term client of your company if you let their son learn from you. And trust me… the number of profits would be huge.] responded Legolas.

Kahn had already created a backstory for his Merlin persona and was going to persuade the alchemist to accept his proposition one way or another.

[Good. Means it will be worth sparing some time in grooming this child.] said Edmund and nodded back at Legolas.

Kahn had already figured out that not only this saint alchemist was a talented fellow… but he also coveted wealth and fame greatly.

The more popularity and prestige he had, the more satisfied he would be.

This personality trait could be associated with narcissistic behavior so Kahn created this fake story.

Because even someone like Edmund understood that Merlin could bring him a lot of benefits and by being his mentor… this noble house would also become his unofficial backer.

In the end, Merlin was just going to receive his tutelage and learn the basics of the trade while all Edmund had to do was act as his mentor figure.

Edmund wasn't being hired as his teacher or had any obligation to turn this boy into a great Alchemist either. Given his reputation and rank, many noble clans were already queued up to have their members learn from him.

Just that Legolas brought this boy who was going to bring him the most benefits in the long run.

What Legolas was doing is favoritism and making a 'recommendation' to accept him as a disciple.

Merlin would be the one to do the work and Edmund would be doing a big favor to Legolas while also benefiting at the same time.

"Alright, boy. From now on…" spoke Edmund as he declared his final decision.

"I'm your mentor."

Counting this day… it had been 6 months since Kahn started the Misthios guild and close to 7 months since they entered the Zivot empire after fleeing from the Vulcan empire.

"Alright then… who's up for this job?" asked Kahn to his subordinates.

"Meh… too boring." said Rudra as he rolled his eyes.

"I'm simply too busy these days." spoke Jugram.

"I have a mission to escort 3 helicarriers today. I'm committed." replied Oliver, under his mask and hood.

"I'm busy with my magic study. I have to make a breakthrough soon. I can't be behind these dimwits." responded Ceril as if he was running against the clock.

Given his infatuation with being Kahn's strongest subordinate and yet being the only a 2nd stage currently, Ceril was greatly disappointed in himself and thus he was training and trying to make a breakthrough day and night.

"Master, I'm busy at the Alchemy company. I'm close to making a breakthrough soon." spoke Armin.

Omega and Blackwall were also busy with a lot of work for top-tier clients so they also declined.

"I guess I'll have to do it this time." said Kahn as he sighed.

Just then… Ronin, who had been resting and concentrating his world energy and aura inside the Table of Arcana ever since he broke through to the Mythical Rank showed up out of thin air.

"Master… you're needed here to protect the headquarters and also do a lot of work as the guild leader.

Also, you can't be seen in both the office and on a job at the same time.

So I'll go." he declared in a deep voice.

"On top of it… it's just a mere high-tier dungeon anyone." he said in a casual tone.

"This fucker! Now he's treating a high-tier dungeon as nothing worth worrying.

Just wait! I will break through to Mythical Rank as well!" exclaimed Ceril in an infuriated tone as if Ronin was stepping on his pride.

And Ronin being Ronin… he just ignored Ceril as if he didn't hear anything.

"Alright. But be careful. You're supposed to be an assassin and not a damage dealer.

With your skills… killing a high lord dungeon boss won't be a problem either. But you're not going alone. So maintain secrecy." warned Kahn.

"Alright then… it's decided. Go and earn us more cores. At this rate, we will cross our target of 80 million SS Rank cores soon." said Kahn and clapped.

The next moment, all of them disappeared from the spot and went to different tasks and places they were supposed to.

[I must say, boy. Although you're by yourself and without any backing of an empire like the other summoned heroes…

Your group isn't any weaker than their parties at all. Besides… you're earning a lot of money by yourself.

The majority of the summoned Heroes were too much dependent on their empires and churches for even their single meals. Compared to them… you're very independent.] spoke Rathnaar in Kahn's mind.

However, the latter scoffed off.

"What's there to be proud about?

I always have to work for money and resources to increase my strength and also train by myself at the same time inside the dimensional domain.

Don't you know how taxing it is on me?

I'd rather slack off and depend on some sugar-mommy instead of working day and night tirelessly." complained Kahn.

Although Kahn was not under any empire's control… he never had the option to be dependent on anyone else either.

"Besides… none of them have a group of powerful saints hunting to kill them.

I'd gladly switch places with any of those heroes." he iterated in an exhausted and helpless voice.

[Ha ha! Well, that… I can't argue against.] even Rathnaar took joy in Kahn's misery.

Two Hours Later.

Ronin stood in front of more than 3 thousand mercenaries and employees grouped together in one of the open assembly grounds of their headquarter.

"All of you, I have explained what you have to do after we reach there.

I will not allow for any detours and anyone wasting time doing something we're not supposed to.

Anyone who breaks the rules will be kicked out of the guild without any second warning.

So do you all understand?!" clamored the spirit assassin general aka Ronin in his Scorpion persona.

AHOO!

AHOO!

A group of B-rank guild members shouted in unison.

This was the War Cry of Misthios guild. It meant that they were ready for the job or a battle.

In response, Scorpion replied calmly.

"Good. Now get inside those magic trains…

We're going on a dungeon raid."

5 Hours Later.

50 kilometers outside Alfheim, was a high-tier dungeon named Demeter.

The main reason why Ronin chose this job was because it included harvesting rare minerals that only grew inside the final floor of this high-tier dungeon.

Unlike their time in Flavot City, dungeons in Zivot Empire were classified in tiers.

A high-tier dungeon was the 2nd hardest dungeon and had a total of 81 floors.

The last being the Dungeon Boss floor.

But right now… the Misthios guild was warily on guard while the miners of their guild who also worked in their Blacksmithing company were fearlessly doing their work. Not worried in the slightest.

However, at this moment… it wasn't only the Misthios guild that was present inside this vast final floor.

More than 15 thousand people… mostly Adventurer armies from guilds were present and stood in battle formations.

"Give us the dungeon boss! It's our kill, your mercenary bastards!" shouted an Elf Archer donning golden armor.

GROWL!

GRRR!

To his rude demand, a heart-wrenching growl resounded in this 15 kilometers wide floor.

A 200 meter tall black monster whose upper body was similar to a human but the head and lower portions along with multiple legs were that of a scorpion.

This was none other than the legendary rank Dungeon Boss.

Normally… one would require a group of at least 5 thousand soldiers to kill this beginner legendary rank monster. But for some reason… the boss was greatly in pain and terrified. It didn't attack any people from the Misthios guild who were working around 1 kilometer radius of his body and excavated the rare materials from his domain right under his vision.

Just then… another loud voice reverberated in the surroundings, reaching every Adventurer force in 5 kilometers radius.

"Shut the hell up! I already said we're not here to kill this boss.

We're only here to mine the rare minerals." a stern voice revealed its presence and soon…

SHRILL!

A ghostly shrill spread in the region as a powerful being revealed their killing intent.

And the source of origin being the head of this massive dungeon boss.

"Master said killing the boss would create unnecessary trouble. Otherwise, I would've killed all these morons already." said a green-haired individual who was casually sitting on this massive monster's head.

Ronin is simply sitting on the boss' head while resting, using his saint pressure that had greatly upgraded with his rank up to suppress the dungeon boss while ordering his men to harvest the material.

There was a time when Ronin couldn't even face a High Lord on his own.

Now… he was sitting on top of a Legendary Rank dungeon boss while chilling.

After he revealed his aura… thousands of adventurers on guard were forced to kneel and felt like facing great calamity.

Even the people from the Misthios guild wondered and asked themselves…

Who's the real Dungeon Boss?