Chapter 120 - Another Thing To Talk About

When you try to deny something to be true because of how ridiculous it sounds, your brain is forced to think about it more and in the process, you find out that there might be a possibility that even something ridiculous could be true just because of how ridiculous it is.

Kelly's expression became more and more complicated by the minute and the room also got colder as she thought about things carefully. 

Although Marvin had told her not to think about it too much, she was clearly thinking too much at the moment and it almost seemed as if this was exactly what Marvin wanted from her. 

When you tell someone not to do something, the curiosity inside them would make them do it and this was reverse psychology. 

"Are you seriously considering it?" Hecathe asked with an indecipherable tone and expression, "There is no way it can be true." 

"And that is exactly why it may be true," Kelly replied without missing a beat as she slammed her hands on the table and stood up, "Investigate on it further. Find out who this fake hunter is." 

"Eh? Seriously?" Hecathe acted surprised as he questioned. 

"They could be lying about it or maybe they are just mistaken but whatever the case may be, it doesn't change the fact that this rumor is weird. Our client wants to know everything about this rumor so we do what he ordered us to do and get him all the information without ruling anything out," Kelly spoke as she met Hecathe's eyes and her eyes looked too cold as if they had no life in them. 

Hecathe sighed as he heard this but didn't let it show that this was a sigh of relief as he spoke, "Got it. We'll try our best to look into it." 

Kelly also nodded in satisfaction as she heard this response. 

"But before we go, there is one more thing that I wanted to discuss with you," Hecathe straightened his back as he spoke. 

"What is it?" 

"I picked up a girl."

"Cough! Cough!" 

Both Kelly and Marvin choked on empty air at the same time as they heard this. Although the man probably meant something else entirely, his choice of words... Were really a bit shocking... 

Hecathe raised his eyebrows and blinked in confusion as he saw such a dramatic reaction but the man didn't bother questioning it as he continued and explained his words, "She looked like she could become a useful member of the golden fire. Seeing as how you were so desperate to have me join your guild, I'm sure you'll find an interest in her as well." 

"What...?!" Kelly composed herself as she recovered from the shock but when she repeated these words in her head, she was once again left shocked and confused. 

"She has the same power as that dead willow who was killed by Alphius," Hecathe shrugged his shoulder as he explained, "It's both powerful and unique. A perfect fit for our team, don't you think?" 

"..." The speechless expression almost made Hecathe think that the woman was going to reject the idea of having a new member before she even got to know her, but thankfully enough, this was not the case. 

"Where did you get her from?" The woman questioned and Hecathe had a thin smile on his face as he answered truthfully. 

"A gambling den." 

"..." Kelly was a bit taken back and blinked as she wondered if she had heard it right. 

Marvin chuckled as he heard Hecathe and commented, "It seems that Brother Hecathe was busy gambling when he should have been working." 

Hecathe side-glanced at the boy coldly as he heard this unamusing comment but didn't bother saying anything. 

"Hecathe, you do know that we can't just randomly pick people from gambling dens to make them join the guild... Right?" 

"We can't?" Hecathe tilted his head in confusion and surprise as he questioned, "Why?" 

Kelly sighed and rubbed her forehead as she heard this, "It's because they are often not good people. They can't be trusted easily and there are always some or the other problems that arise because of them." 

Hecathe frowned as he heard all this and decided to voice out his thoughts, "Isn't that just discrimination against the poor?" 

"Huh?" 

"When you say you don't take in such people, don't you mean that you don't want to let them enter the guild because you're afraid that they might taint the name of the guild just because they don't have a strong backing or decent family background?" 

Kelly gulped as she heard this but the woman couldn't justify anything nor could she defend herself or the guild since there was some truth in what Hecathe had said. 

"I think it would be best for you to let her enter the team," Hecathe had a small smirk on his face as he spoke, "Since you haven't taken someone like that yet, this might as well be the first time and you can use it to gain some more good reputation for the guild." 

"Good reputation?" Kelly repeated in a questioning manner. 

Hecathe nodded his head as he continued, "If she becomes a great mage, you can boast about it to the world and show everyone that no matter what their background may be, they can still become a mage." 

When Kelly thought about it for a minute, she found out that the man did indeed make some sense, however, there was still a problem... 

"That is 'IF' she becomes a great mage," Kelly pointed out as she asked, "How can you guarantee her future like that?" 

Hecathe chuckled dryly as he heard this and with a nod, he spoke, "You're right. I can't make sure that she becomes a great mage but... She certainly has the ability to become one. Her ability is special and the only other person who had such an ability was one of three willows of spring. Doesn't that speak for itself?" 

"So you trust her and guarantee that she 'CAN' become a great mage that would be helpful to our guild?" Kelly raised her eyebrows as she questioned and Hecathe unhesitantly nodded his head as he confirmed it. 

With a chuckle, Marvin decided to add something, "I also met her this morning and I have to say, she is a real beauty as well!" 

"...." 

"But of course, not as beautiful as our Miss Kelly here," Marvin beamed as he corrected himself after seeing the speechless expression on the woman's face. 

For some reason, Hecathe wanted to slam his face with his hand as he felt second-hand embarrassment for the boy. 

"I'll let her join the guild if she's really as amazing as you claim her to be," Kelly straightaway ignored Marvin as she spoke, looking at Hecathe. 

Hecathe's lips curled up in a small smile as he heard this and with a nod, he responded, "Then it's a good thing that I told her to come here today." 

"..." Kelly blinked in surprise as she heard this and couldn't help but wonder that Hecathe worked fast. 

"You can first get to know her and you'll see for yourself why I chose her," Hecathe added and for some reason, Kelly couldn't help but feel as if Hecathe was a bit too confident with this. 

Marvin also nodded his head as he agreed with Hecathe, "It would be great to work with a beauty like her." 

"I never said anything about meeting her," Kelly clicked her tongue as she spoke, "I'm a busy person and I don't have idol time to chit-chat with someone I hardly even know." 

Hecathe tilted his head in confusion and questioned, "Then what do you plan on doing?" 

"I'm going to be testing her." 

Hecathe and Marvin both looked at each other for a second before turning to face Kelly and the two seemed to have the same bad feeling in their stomach as they questioned in unison, "What type of test?" 

"A test to see if she's truly as amazing as you say she is," Kelly shrugged her shoulders as she replied and Hecathe gulped as he somewhat had an idea of this test that LeiLei would have to pass. 

"You don't... Plan on throwing her in a mutant cave... Do you?" Hecathe asked reluctantly. 

Kelly smirked as she heard this question and didn't even hesitate to nod her head as she confirmed it, "If she can survive two minutes in a mutant cave all by herself then I'll let her join the guild." 

Hecathe's eyebrows creased together as he heard this and he didn't look to be too happy with the idea of making LeiLei go through such a test. 

LeiLei certainly had a harsh life while growing up, but she had never met any real life-threatening dangers nor had she ever met a mutant before this. 

If they were to put her inside a mutant cave for even a single minute, Hecathe was sure that it would be hard for the girl to keep her calm and survive. 

Although she had a great powerful ability, Hecathe still considered her weak in actual combat situations.