Chapter 172: Hunting for the Forest Spirit Seed Part 11

"I take it that you were the one who ambush one of our operations yesterday?" The scholarly man asked.

"They ambushed us first. We simply retaliated in self-defense," Gilbert didn't bother to hide the truth as there is no use doing so.

"Self-defense, I see," The man push his eyeglasses forward. "Then would it also be considered self-defense if we start stealing some of your valuables here, including that Storage Ring of yours? After all, we didn't steal any of your items. As you've said, we only 'Ambushed' you, we didn't actually steal anything from any of you, am I right?"

"I.." Gilbert was instantly left speechless.

"Considering that you didn't attack us immediately, I believe that you have a different intention of coming here," Kayn decided to step in to lend a hand to the helpless Gilbert. The latter was good at talking, it's just that he prefers senseless arguments to logical ones, which is exactly what the scholarly-looking guy is good at.

"I don't really like beating around the bush. It's just not my style. So, who's the leader of this group? Is it you, or him?" The scholarly man pointed at Kayn before Friedrich.

"I am the leader, but I mostly take care of the actual work. Anything that requires the brain, it's entirely up to him," Friedrich motioned at Kayn.historical

"Alright," The scholarly man extended his hand forward. "I am Jericho,"

"Kayn," Kayn accepted the hand and shook it.

Respectfully pulling his hand away, Jericho then continued introducing himself, "I am the vice guild leader of the Thieves Guild Alliance,"

Gilbert can't help asking. "What happened to the previous vice guild leader?"

"He is dead,"

"How?"

"I killed him,"

"That.."

"You see, I don't like people who threaten the goal of the Thieves Guild Alliance. We wanted to become rich, and he was satisfied with merely being one of the average. I offered him to become one since that's what he likes, but he rejected me. So, just like what every ambitious person would do, I cut the dead leaf so that it won't affect the growth of the entire flower,"

"You don't look like the type who would kill people immediately," Kayn felt slightly surprised.

"I didn't actually kill him immediately. I discuss and discuss, but after numerous failed negotiations that all ended with him still not understanding the mission and vision of the people in the Thieves Guild Alliance, I had to do what I must do,"

"I see,"

"And that's also what I am going to do here,"

"As expected," Kayn honestly already knew that Jericho intents to negotiate with him.

"After looking at our inventory yesterday, I saw a few things missing," Jericho immediately went to the point. "Some items that are not so valuable like daggers, staff, and sword, but more importantly,"

"Information about the Forest Spirit Seed," Kayn waves his hand to interrupt and immediately threw a piece of document to Jericho. The latter quickly caught it.

"Yes, this," Jericho stored the item inside his Storage Ring.

"It was useless, see," Kayn pointed at the area where Friedrich had previously pointed. "Nothing,"

"If that's really true, then what are you doing here right now?"

"The clue stops here, which means the Forest Spirit Seed is nearby. So, we are planning to camp here and search the nearby area for any more clues about it,"

"Are you sure that's all there is?"

"We would still be here tomorrow, so you can freely check on us if you want," Kayn waves his hand once again, taking out a Storage Ring. "Here. The payment for the items my group have stolen from you,"

After checking the coins inside, Jericho nodded in satisfaction. "It's enough. But,"

"What else do you need?"

"I am not only here for this," Jericho quickly signals for his men to prepare two chairs and a table.

"It seems to me that your conversation would take a lot of time," Friedrich looks at Kayn. "I'll handle the preparation for the camp in the meantime,"

"Alright,"

"Gilbert and the rest of your team will stay to act as your bodyguard," After saying that, Friedrich left to help the others. There is no need for him to stay any longer since Kayn could obviously handle this problem quite easily.

"Your leader surely trusts you a lot," Jericho followed Friedrich with his eyes before eventually returning back to Kayn.

"Anyone who possesses the brain will always be trusted," Kayn sat on the chair.

"But sometimes they are also the ones the leader should watch out for the most,"

"That depends on what kind of organization you belong to in the first place. If you are talking about the Thieves Guild Alliance, I suppose smart people would be a threat to your guild leader. Luckily for him, he has you,"

"I am actually one of the people he should watch out for," Jericho smiled.

"No wonder Gilbert left your guild,"

"Just like what its name suggests, it is just an alliance of multiple thieves' guilds. So, you could expect that everyone isn't going to be united for the most part," Jericho coughed before quickly changing to the main topic. "Anyways, enough about the Thieves Guild Alliance. I am not here as their representative, I am here to bring benefit to my guild,"

"You definitely fit the description that you've just said," Kayn felt amused. "So, what do you want?"

"I want to propose cooperation,"

"I am interested," Kayn motioned his hand for Jericho to continue.

"I believe that you are also looking for Forest Spirit Seeds in the Slumbering Forest. We are also looking for them,"

"Them? As in you are looking to get more than two Forest Spirit Seeds,"

"Indeed," Jericho nodded. "You see, we've just been given the Slumbering Forest territory by the guild leader of the Thieves Guild Alliance after I replaced the previous vice guild leader. Well, this was one of the territories under the previous regime's management, so I was only being handed the responsibility to continue its management,"

"Let me guess, you want to prove you are worthy of the position since you basically didn't receive it through the fairway," Kayn easily understood since he was a guild leader himself and he had his fair share of similar situations. Not from his guild, but from his ex-allies guild.

"That's right," Jericho can't help smiling upon realizing that Kayn understood.