Have Been Busy Bees

"What about the Devils?" I ask and they pull out some papers. They hand the papers to me and I see they're reports about attacks on the Starry Night guild.

"The Devils have been attacking this guild. I don't think we told you but the Starry Night guild is one of the best. They've been around for about as long as we have. However they are much, much stronger. They've accomplished lots and earned a lot of respect in the Lyna world. In fact it was them who first started treating beast men as equals and without them, they'd still be slaves. It's no understatement to say that they're one of the top three most powerful guilds if not the strongest. Anyway we wanted you to see this. We still have no clue as to why the Devils are attacking this guild but they've been relentless. But what's worrying us is that these places are already empty. Only golems or other forms of ranged magic are there. No Lyna, human or beast man is ever at these bases. It's like Larion knows the attacks are coming." Myla says, handing me more papers that confirm the guilds had zero deaths reported in the past month.

"Who's Larion?" I ask her and Hino answers.

"Larion is the Starry Night guild leader, but only the government knows his real identity. In fact most of the guild doesn't either. All we know is that they're a man. Before you ask he keeps his identity secret because some people, especially the dark guilds would do anything to **** him or kill his family." I nod and think about it.

"So you guys are worried that the Devils have been attacking empty buildings?" I ask confused.

"No, well kind of. We're worried as to why they're attacking. But what worries us the most is, why are they empty? We suspect that Larion knows that the attacks are coming. That's what worries us." Myla answers before sighing and continuing. "So what do you think? Do you have any ideas?" I take a deep breath and think it over.

"Well if the guild is trustworthy I'd say that they might've tried to fight them. If not maybe they broke some kind of deal with them. Or maybe the Devils are planning something and want them out of the way. They could also be looking for something in the Starry Nights possession. Or they could be staging something. Maybe taking out one of the guilds best powers to send a message. No that's not it, if they're sending a message why are the guilds bases empty. Maybe... No... Well... Yeah, they could be after Larion himself. But why? And why would the bases be empty? Hmm." I start thinking aloud and feel something firm grip my shoulder. After my encounter with the Troll I cast Draconic Ice on instinct.

-192 Dmg

"That's cold!" I hear a familiar voice call out. I turn around and see Kagiyama holding his hand. It now has a small layer of ice covering it almost like a glove.

"Shit, sorry I didn't mean to do that." I say jumping up and thinking of how to thaw his hand free.

"Guess I did too well on hiding." He says laughing.

"Here, let me thaw it." Myla says standing and reaching both hands out. They glow faintly and she hold them around his, and it thaws in a matter of seconds.

"What are you doing here dad?" Hino asks punching him in his side.

"I wanted to see Eric's reaction to the news. For no reason really, I was just curious. And I must say that I'm impressed. You came up with a number of plausible conclusions quickly. That and you've gained some new magic. What was that ice?" He says and looks at me.

"The ice isn't important right now. Why were you hiding?" I ask him confused and quickly use Observe on him.

Kagiyama Locus Lvl 66, Class: Martial Artist, Title: Guildmaster, RP: 179, Hearts: 2

HP: 2308/2500 MP: 1091/1200

"I was just curious is all. I wanted to see how'd you react and respond." He says putting his hands up.

"So you decided to use magic to spy on us." I say causing him to smile wide.

"So on top of learning new magic you can now use your Observe skill on me." I silently curse myself for letting that out. I mostly trust the guilds but I'm unsure how they'll react when they learn about my seals. Especially Zeferon, the Flame Devil.

"Yep, I haven't spent my time sitting around doing nothing." I say and he chuckles back.

"So dad, did you really come all this way just to see his reaction?" Hino asks him and he sighs.

"I can't get anything past you. Yes I have two other reasons for coming here. Eric, Hino said you could fix the gauntlets and boots her grandmother used with money, is that true?" He asks with a serious look in his eyes.

"Yes, like I told her, my Craft skill can let me repair stuff with money or the items it's made of. Why are you asking?"

"Here can this be used to fix them?" He says handing me a heavy leather bag the size of my head. I look at him confused before opening it. What I see steals my breath away. It's full of shining gold bars. "These gold bars should be worth at least half a million." I start looking at him before looking back at the bag while I hear Myla start coughing.

"W-what are you doing dad?" Hino asks him, shocked and stunned.

"Hino, your not the only one who wants the gauntlets repaired. I've been setting this aside since my mother passed and left you the gauntlets. It's taken 16 years of saving every cent I could. Honestly though I only have half of what I need to buy the materials needed. So what do you say Eric? Can you fix them?" He says smiling, with a sad look in his eyes.

"I, um I can try." I reply still shocked. Hino hands me the broken and rusty gauntlets and boots. I store the gold in my inventory and use Craft, selecting Repair and using the gold as the currency.