That evening, they arrived in the capital.
Melissa was planning to go to the guild and exchange magic stones, and asked what he would do. Allen immediately decided to go to the tavern without exchanging anything. He would use the magic stones for crafting.
She waved her hand with a smile and remarked that their paths were parting for today, then. It must be hard for him to leave her —
He didn't let her finish and said goodbye, which made her indignant, and she exclaimed that it was too abrupt. Didn't he have anything else to say?
He silently noted how troublesome she was, and she sighed heavily, saying that she understood why it bothered him. She had gotten the item she wanted, but had only given him vague information. Right?
He agreed with this, and she exclaimed that she didn't like it. It was unfair. She didn't want to be in his debt, so she would investigate the Demon Lord's Legacy faction as much as she could.
He thought about it and noted that the more information, the better.
She agreed with him, so he should leave it to her and wait. He told her not to die in the process, which made her indignant, and then she suggested that they hunt together again sometime. Next time, she would go first.
He only smirked at her in response, and she told him to take care of himself as a parting shot, after which they parted.
She still couldn't believe that she, of all people, had been dragged through a dungeon by a level 27 craftsman. If she mastered the sorceress class perfectly, could she gain power like his?
Suddenly, she felt a strong thirst for blood. She turned around and saw an assassin on the roof, and when he fired an arrow, she ran toward Allen and called out to him loudly.
He turned at her voice. Fortunately, he was able to react in time and deflect the arrow, which the assassin clearly hadn't expected, and he hurried away.
Melissa said with annoyance that he had gotten away. That had been dangerous.
Allen sighed heavily and said that he hadn't thought they would attack him inside the capital, and she noted that they were clearly starting to despair.
Allen was upset. At this rate, he wouldn't even be able to walk around the city, let alone hunt, and she said that this was exactly why she had told him how to deal with assassins.
He clicked his tongue in frustration and decided to try the method she had mentioned. She irritably asked why he was clicking his tongue, and then offered to act as his guard — for a fee, of course.
He immediately refused, since that already sounded expensive. He could handle it himself.
She smiled and said, what a pity. Well, let him not do anything reckless. If something happened, he could count on her. After all, they were now members of the same group.
He thought about it, and she indignantly asked if he had a problem with that. Since he was a man whom she acknowledged, she would not forgive him if some assassin killed him.
He told her in response that he would not die even if he was killed. At least, not until he reached level 999.
Melissa smiled and said goodbye to him, and he thought about it. In ZFO, he had focused exclusively on solo leveling. It was easier alone, and there was no extra burden. He had thought it would always be fine. But maybe having partners wasn't so bad.
He sighed heavily, realizing that he was not himself, and left, deciding to deal with these assassins for now.
The next morning, he came to a place he never thought he'd get involved with. But because of the Demon Lord's Legacy faction, here he was, at the clan association.
The day before, right after defeating the crystal dragon, Melissa had told him about the measures against assassins. The fastest way was to join a clan. He had looked at her in confusion, and she had begun to explain what clans were, but he stopped her immediately, interested only in how joining would help him deal with the assassins.
She told him that it was like animals. When you're in a pack, you're less likely to be attacked. There was safety in numbers. Therefore, she would recommend that he join a large, high ranking clan. Besides, large clans usually had connections with people in power.
He thought about it. The leaders of the Adventurers Guild had mentioned that they could help him join a clan. Simply put, by joining a clan, he could ensure his safety and gather information at the same time.
At the moment, he had entered the association building and didn't even know where to go. How could he figure out which clan he should choose?
He heard his name. The adventurers there recognized it and started discussing him. They all knew him as the guy who had completely smashed the Wolf Mine record, and yesterday's dungeon was on top of that.
Allen wasn't listening at all. He looked around and found that there was a separate reception desk for each clan type. A clan's type indicated its main goal. For example, subjugation was focused on clearing dungeons. There were also defense, social and gathering types. Then there was the versatile general type, which wasn't limited to one specific goal. Judging by the queues, the most popular ones seemed to be general, subjugation and gathering. Although he didn't really care what was popular.
A guy approached him and asked if he was looking for a clan. He was the leader of a B-rank clan of the subjugation type, the Gazelles. His name was Max. According to rumors, Allen was a very powerful craftsman. He would like him to lend his power to his clan.
Allen was lost in thought, and then another adventurer approached him and advised him not to get involved with the subjugation type. If he was going to join something, it should be the general type, where he could do a variety of things. Let him join their B-rank general clan, the Tigers. They would gladly accept him.
Max was indignant at his interference, and they started arguing. Other adventurers came over, attracted by the noise, and someone asked if they were arguing over that craftsman named Allen. Another asked why they should bother with him, since he was level 27. The first adventurer said he must have some amazing secret.
Because of this, everyone decided to try to recruit him. One woman even started seducing him.
Allen asked them all to be quiet for a minute. He appreciated their offers, but he was only interested in defense clans of rank A or higher.
The adventurers were simultaneously upset and surprised.
Defense clans had connections with the government and local lords, making them ideal for gathering information. Moreover, under the guise of defense, he might be able to distribute his newly created weapons to different cities, and the clan's high rank would give him the ideal support he needed.
He told them that if their clan didn't meet these conditions, they should leave. He wouldn't discuss other options, no matter how good the conditions were.
They all clicked their tongues in disappointment and dispersed. Allen thought that they were leaving faster than he had expected. At this rate, no one would be left.
A man approached him and remarked that it seemed everyone else didn't meet his requirements. Except him. His name was Flynn. He was a level 378 player, and the clan master of a rank A defense type clan, Holy Guardian.
Allen frowned. He had a high level. Even in ZFO, it was rare to see that.
The man asked if he was sure he wanted to join a defense type clan. Unlike other types, they had strict discipline and couldn't offer special treatment.
Allen remembered what Melissa had told him. If he joined on a probationary basis first, it would be easier to leave. Plus, his name would get more exposure, so he'd kill two birds with one stone.
He told Flynn that if probationary membership was possible, he'd like to join.
Flynn wasn't against it. After all, it was important to check compatibility. He sent him an invitation to join the clan. Allen accepted, and Flynn shook his hand, welcoming him to the team. He'd show him their headquarters right away. They'd discuss the details there.