CHAPTER 69: MEETING MAYA

The Golden Sun City stretched out before him like a jewel carved from light itself. Its walls gleamed with a warm, almost metallic luster, each brick etched with faint holy runes that pulsed in rhythm with the sun above. Tall spires reached into the sky, crowned with golden banners that swayed lazily in the wind. The air smelled faintly of incense and fresh bread from nearby market stalls.

Rhys stepped forward, boots clicking against the polished stone road. Guards in radiant armor stood at the gate, their shields engraved with the emblem of the Sun God—a blazing halo surrounding a single, unblinking eye. They barely spared him a glance; the teleportation seal on his wrist marked him as a permitted traveler.

Inside, the city was alive with movement. Merchants hawked rare wares beneath silk canopies, street performers twirled flaming batons, and paladins in white and gold strode past on patrol. The sound of distant bells echoed through the streets, announcing the hour.

Rhys adjusted the strap of his pack, keeping one hand near his sword as he navigated through the bustling crowd. Puddle peeked out from his shoulder like a curious child, its newly emerald-tinged body shimmering faintly under the sunlight.

"Kyuu..." the slime warbled softly, its gaze darting toward a stall selling candied fruits.

"We’re not here for snacks," Rhys murmured, smirking. "At least, not yet."

The Golden Fox Hotel wasn’t hard to spot—it was a massive, multi-tiered building with a facade of polished marble and fox-shaped lanterns hanging at its entrance. The moment Rhys stepped inside, he was greeted by the scent of jasmine tea and the soft plucking of a stringed instrument from somewhere upstairs.

The receptionist, a smiling fox-eared woman in a scarlet kimono, bowed slightly. "Welcome, traveler. Do you have a reservation?"

"Room 12. Golden Sun City booking. Someone’s expecting me."

Her eyes flicked over him once, noting the teleport seal and the faint shimmer of his equipment, before she nodded and gestured toward the stairs. "Up the second floor, to your left."

Rhys ascended the stairs, the wooden steps creaking faintly under his boots. At the far end of the hallway, he spotted the engraved number ’12’ on an ornate golden plaque.

He knocked once.

The door opened a crack, and Maya’s sharp eyes met his. She was dressed simply but practically, her black hair tied back, her armor polished but clearly worn from recent travel. The wolf pup he’d seen earlier in her messages was curled up on the bed behind her, sleeping soundly.

"You’re fast," she said, opening the door wider.

"You’re eager," Rhys replied, stepping inside and closing it behind him.

The air in the room was thick with unspoken tension—not hostility, but the wary curiosity of two players who knew the other had cards they weren’t showing yet.

Maya’s gaze slid to the pet ring on Rhys’s belt. "So... let’s see it."

Rhys smirked. "As you wish" He unclipped the ring and, with a faint shimmer of light, the Spirit of the Forest slime appeared on the carpet between them, its translucent green body pulsing faintly like a living heartbeat.

Maya’s breath caught. "...That’s really an Ancient."

Puddle let out a jealous "Kyuu!" and bounced forward, as if to remind her that he was special too.

Maya’s eyes slid to the slime and then back to him as she added, "Oh, so you have an Ancient beast... which means your class is Ancient Tamer too?"

He nodded. "Yes. That’s how I thought you must be an Ancient Tamer class as well."

She merely grinned, a small smile tugging at her lips, as she picked the Life Slime and then She let it drop to the bed, where it gave a soft "Kyuu..." before sitting there quietly.

"It’s very rare," she said, "as well as powerful."

"Okay... what do you need from me in return?" she asked, still watching the slime on the table. She hadn’t contracted it yet until she understood what she have to pay in return.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Rhys Mercer. You must have heard of the Mercer family, right?" he asked.

She tilted her head. "Wait... are you the Rhys Mercer? The Rhys Mercer that the business world calls a prodigy?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Depends on what you’ve heard."

She smirked. "I’ve heard you’re the one who single-handedly took a declining company back to its prime, then surpassed it, and kept climbing even higher."

"Yeah... that’s me," Rhys said.

She leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing with interest. "You really are far from what I expected."

"What do you mean?" he asked.

She gave a small shrug. "I don’t see you as... how should I put it... intimidating. From your reputation, I imagined someone older, colder—someone who looked like they’d crush you with a glance. But you..." She tilted her head, studying him carefully. "You still have this... almost youthful, charming look. Like the kind of face that could belong to a playboy, but isn’t. More like... the cute guy people underestimate."

Rhys smirked. "That’s the art of balance—duality," he said, resting his chin on his hand. In the next moment, he let his expression shift just slightly, a subtle change that made the air around him grow heavier. His gaze sharpened, and for a second she could almost see the cold, dangerous figure his reputation described... before it faded away, leaving the easy smile again.

Rhys had been born into both wealth and influence. Years of experience, a carefully cultivated image, daily skin care, and a disciplined lifestyle had kept him at his absolute best—down to the kind of handsome face that made some women have daydreams they wouldn’t admit out loud. And Maya... might have just had one of those.

She snapped out of her daze with a slight start, realizing her cheeks had grown warm. A blush crept across her face as she scolded herself for indulging in such thoughts.

"Hey—are you alright?" Rhys asked, half-smiling.

"Y-yeah!" she said quickly, though her voice betrayed her embarrassment.

"Anyways back to topic, you want to heard the price of Slime righ?" he asked as she nodded her face also serious now.

Rhys leaned back in his chair, his smile calm but his tone direct. "All I want in return," he said, "is for you to work for me. Join my guild when I establish it."

Maya blinked. "That’s it?"

"That’s it," he confirmed. "No demands, no strings—just your presence in my guild. You’d keep your freedom, your own work, and your beasts. I’m not asking you to sign your life away or pledge yourself for eternity. All I need is you sign a contract that, when the time comes, you’ll stand with me."

She tilted her head, clearly skeptical. "That sounds... almost too good to be true. Why?"

"Because," Rhys said simply, "people like you are rare. And I don’t waste the chance to secure rare things when I see them." His eyes held hers, unwavering. "Think of it as... an investment. For both of us."

Maya sat back, crossing her arms. "So, no insane contracts, no draining oaths, no slave bindings?"

Rhys chuckled. "Nope. Almost free. You’d just be part of my guild roster. In exchange... well, I’ll make sure the name ’Maya’ reaches far more ears than it ever has before."

She paused, as if weighing the offer like a merchant sizing up a gemstone.

Maya’s lips quirked upward as she finally gave a slow nod. "Alright... you’ve got yourself a deal."

Rhys extended his hand. She clasped it firmly, the warmth in her grip speaking more than her words.

"Welcome to the team," he said with a grin.

They parted ways for the evening, but not before Rhys, in his usual manner, decided to test the edge of her composure. "Oh, and Maya," he said with a teasing tilt of his head, "Nice place you chossed fro an meeting by the way"

Maya’s smile faltered when she realized where they were. The suite wasn’t just "nice"—it was far too lavish for a casual meeting, soundproofed and furnished like something meant for royalty. Definitely not a conference room.

"For how long did you book this?" Rhys asked casually.

"A day," she replied, trying to sound nonchalant. "I thought... we might need more time to negotiate the terms and prices."

He nodded slowly, stepping closer until the distance between them thinned to a breath. His hand lifted, lightly brushing her chin so she met his eyes.

"Negotiate, hm?" he murmured. "Then maybe we should make full use of the space."

She raised a brow but didn’t step back. Instead, she smirked faintly—though her pulse betrayed her calm. "And what exactly did you have in mind, Rhys?"

He didn’t answer right away, only letting his hand fall away, leaving a lingering heat where his touch had been.

"Let’s just say... you’ll remember this deal."

"Really?" Maya tilted her head, eyes narrowing with a mix of challenge and curiosity. "Show me, then. Show me how I’ll remember it."

Her words hung between them like a dare.

Rhys stepped closer, his gaze never wavering, and before she could draw her next breath, his lips met hers.

She inhaled sharply in surprise, but her hands found his shoulders instinctively. The kiss deepened, each second feeding the spark that had been smoldering since they met.

When she finally pulled back just enough to breathe, her smirk returned—faint, but sharper now.

"So that’s your opening move," she murmured.

Rhys’s smile was slow and certain. "Only the beginning."