CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 38 - A DISGUISE UNDER SCRUTINY

That request caught me off guard, but I forced myself not to let it show on my face. Quickly, my eyes darted toward Ruth, silently begging for help. She patted my shoulder and smirked.

"Good luck! I’ll be praying you don’t get caught," she whispered, that sly grin only making me more nervous.

Damn... I cursed inwardly.

I followed the well-dressed man down a long marble corridor, anxiety creeping up my spine. Every step echoed loudly, syncing with my heartbeat that refused to calm down.

How on earth was I supposed to stay calm when I was in disguise like this? What if they found out? For now, I just had to mimic the behavior of the other Master Guild leaders around me.

We arrived at a chamber, still impressive despite its modest size.

Inside, beneath the glow of crystal lights, three members of the Guardian Council were already waiting.

The first thing that caught my attention was the poised figure seated at the center: Star Witch. Her presence alone filled the room with authority. Two other legendary figures sat on either side of her, their aura of power weighing heavily on everyone present.

Blood Valkyrie, the legendary female knight, had intricately braided chestnut-blonde hair forming a crown atop her head. Every braid looked perfect, as if done with incredible precision. Her emerald-green eyes sparkled with intelligence and resolve, her facial features strong yet feminine.

Even wearing a semi-formal navy blue suit, the clothing couldn’t hide her athletic yet sensual figure. Her broad shoulders, slim waist, and proportionate curves made her look like a living statue of a war goddess.

Next to her sat Saint Archer, the mysterious man I’d only known from stories. His hair, black and smooth as silk, cascaded long down to his waist. His handsome face had somewhat feminine features that contrasted with the powerful aura he emitted—a straight nose, thin lips, and high cheekbones.

Most striking was the white cloth binding his eyes, giving him a profound air of mystery and reminding me of anime characters I often saw. He wore a simple black hanfu that accentuated his tall, slender build.

Several other people, seemingly summoned for similar reasons, were also in the room. The tense atmosphere was palpable, and I could feel the gaze of the three Council members, which felt like they could pierce straight into my soul.

Strangely enough, the sharpest stare seemed to come from Saint Archer.

Even though his eyes were clearly covered.

Must be my imagination...

I quietly activated the [Eye of Desire] skill and directed it at the three Council members.

_______________

NAME: Delilah Socheron

AGE: 41

CLASS: Star Witch

RANK: SSS

DOMINANCE: 1%

SEXUAL AROUSAL: 1%

VAGINA VIRGINITY: No

ANAL VIRGINITY: Yes

WEAK POINTS: -

FETISH: -

_______________

_______________

NAME: Zephyr

AGE: 46

CLASS: Saint Archer

RANK: SS

DOMINANCE: 1%

SEXUAL AROUSAL: 1%

VIRGINITY: Yes

WEAK POINTS: -

FETISH: -

_______________

_______________

NAME: Athena Targosa

AGE: 38

CLASS: Blood Valkyrie

RANK: SS

DOMINANCE: 1%

SEXUAL AROUSAL: 6%

VAGINA VIRGINITY: No

ANAL VIRGINITY: Yes

WEAK POINTS: Vagina, Breasts, Armpit

FETISH: Submission and Exhibitionism

_______________

The information about my stepmother hadn’t changed.

Oh, so those are their real names. It seems they use their Class names as their Hunter codenames, which is common for high-level Hunters. After an Awakener reaches S-rank, their Class upgrades to a unique class specific to them. Therefore, most S-rank and above Hunters use their Class name as their Hunter codename.

I wasn’t surprised by their ranks; that information is public knowledge. But what stunned me was the information about Saint Archer.

How could a man with such a mesmerizing appearance have such low sexual arousal, still be a virgin, and have no sexual weak points at all? Is he a eunuch or something?

Then my focus shifted to Blood Valkyrie, or Athena Targosa.

Who would have guessed this formidable warrior had a fetish for submission and exhibitionism? I’d always assumed she was a natural dominant, like my stepsister. It was a fascinating contradiction; beneath that tough, authoritative exterior lay a hidden desire to be dominated and put on display, making her all the more intriguing.

The Star Witch rose from her chair with a slow yet confident movement. Just by standing, she managed to halt all whispers and return the room to silence.

"First," she said, her voice clear and calm, "allow me to express our highest appreciation to the Guild Masters present here."

She looked at each of our faces, one by one.

"You have all worked hard to maintain the world’s stability. Without you, chaos might have occurred much sooner."

I glanced around the room and saw the other Guild Masters puffing out their chests slightly, their faces showing unconcealed pride. But I only felt increasingly anxious, wondering what the real purpose of this meeting was.

"We’ll be direct," the Star Witch continued. "The situation is becoming critical."

A hologram materialized, displaying a map splattered with glaring red zones.

"As you know, the red indicates territories completely overrun by dungeon-break monsters or malevolent Awakener organizations."

She pointed to a major location on the map.

"Regisfall. For a decade, this city has served as the stronghold of the Abyss Syndicate. Your mission is straightforward: reclaim Regisfall and eradicate the Syndicate within."

A soft, collective gasp rippled through the room. No one took that name lightly.

The Star Witch offered a thin, captivating smile. "The reward for participating in guilds is substantial."

"Succeed, and your guild rank will be directly promoted from Class IV to Class III—Apex Tier. Furthermore, you will be granted full administrative rights over the city once it’s secured."

As everyone knew, Hunter guilds were ranked in a five-tier system. Vanguard guilds, Rank V, formed the base, small outfits struggling to protect their cities. Then came Force guilds... Crimson Dawn’s current rank.

Higher up were the Apex guilds—Tier III. National celebrities, always flashing confident smiles on the news. Then Prime—Tier II, national prides boasting top-tier Hunters, powerful enough to make governments tread carefully. And at the very peak... Myth Guilds, Tier I. Living legends.

The Star Witch then explained in detail all the benefits to be gained—from exclusive dungeon exploration rights in the region, resource distribution, to full support from the HGA.

"We are not forcing you," she added, "but I’m sure many of you are interested."

And she was right, the gazes of the Guild Masters in the room instantly changed, filled with enthusiasm. I could see the glint of ambition in their eyes. Meanwhile, I just remained silent, trying not to draw attention. Fortunately, no one tried to talk to me—it seemed the Iron Knight really didn’t have many friends among this elite group.

After the explanation finished, when given the chance to choose whether to accept the mission or not, I immediately stood up and walked out of the room. But imagine my surprise when I realized I was the only one leaving. All the other Guild Masters chose to stay and accept the mission.

Instantly, all eyes were on me. Dozens of pairs of eyes—questioning, cynical, judgmental—stared at me as if I were the most despicable person in the world.

My chest tightened; the trauma of such scornful looks came rushing back. But I had to keep my composure. Forcing my steps to remain steady, I exited the room, a messy mix of relief and dread churning inside me.

Meanwhile, back in the room buzzing with enthusiastic Guild Masters, Saint Archer—who had been quietly observing the Iron Knight’s every move—stood up. After a brief exchange with Blood Valkyrie, he calmly walked out.