Chapter 21: Fourth Member

Those 5 stars represented the slots that would enable Venn to absorb five different types of monster cores out of the sixteen.

To be able to reach level 10 within a day of playing was nothing short of a great achievement. Because of his prior game knowledge, and his guts to risk it all, he was able to take a great leap with his progress in catching up with the leading pack.

However, it wasn't enough. And he most certainly isn't out of the danger yet. 

Thus, with great caution, he proceeded forward to meet with the Blood Serpents and see what they were about.

Venn walked for about thirty meters when he came across a wooden door that was open. Carefully moving towards it, his heart began pounding rapidly.

As he was preparing to enter the door as naturally as he could, a man wearing an Orc mask suddenly came out from it.

Venn stopped moving, but the mask-wearing man recoiled backwards with his weapon drawn like he was spooked.

That surprised Venn as well. But he did not speak any words. In this unfamiliar environment, the more things he said, the greater the danger he put himself in. 

Both parties were silent at the development of the situation. Finally, after several moments, the mask-wearing man asked with suspicion.

"Who are you? How did you find this place?"

Venn knew that question was coming. Fortunately, he had formulated an answer with a little help from the orphanage caretaker. 

"I'm the disciple of Mistress Granhiert, here for the initiation." Venn shamelessly assumed the identity of Mistress Granhiert's student and introduced himself politely to the other party. Although he had no idea who Granhiert was, that did not stop the fact that at this moment, he really wished to be her disciple.

"A fourth candidate? How can there be a fourth one?" The mask-wearing man paused upon hearing Venn's answer.

His actions seemed to indicate his distrust towards Venn as he leaned towards Venn until his mask was almost touching Venn's face. 

Meanwhile, Venn was extremely nervous under the man's scrutinising eyes. He was analysing every action and words the mask-wearing man said and where he had messed up for him to react like this.

Thankfully, it seemed that there was nothing to worry about as the man erupted with laughter the next moment.

"Great! That troublesome lass sent a candidate of her own? Didn't she know that all three spots this year have been taken by the others? Marvelous! It sure sounds like her to stir troubles."

"You are barely in time. Come with me."

Venn followed the man inside the chamber with his head lowered. By now, his back was drenched with sweat. That was a close call and Venn knew it.

If he had answered the question in any other way, he would have been slaughtered. By now, he had realised that the game had given him plenty of clues to uncovering the secrets of the Blood Serpents. There was no way the game system would introduce a storyline that a player cannot participate in. If he played his cards right, he might even be able to join the assassin guild.

Following behind the mask-wearing man, Venn entered the chamber. When he saw what was inside, he sucked in a cold breath.

The chamber was larger than he had expected. From what Venn could see, it looked approximately the size of a basketball court. Most of the space was occupied by a giant statue at the back. Due to the lightning condition, he could only see a rough silhouette of the statue.

There was a long dining table in the middle of the chamber. Seated at its side, were seven people wearing black robes and a variety of masks covering them. Three on the left side of the table and three on the right, with the final lone figure sitting at the end of the long table.

Besides the seven people that were sitting down, three other people were standing at the other end of the table with their backs turned against Venn.

Although he couldn't see their faces, judging from the outfits and their bearings, Venn could tell that the three standing had lower standings than the rest of them.

Cross referenced to the information that he had, Venn was almost certain that the three should be the aforementioned new members that were joining the guild.

Eleven of them… including the Orc mask…

Within seconds, Venn had scanned and memorized everything in the chamber with his sharp eyes. He couldn't afford to be careless here.

"Why have you come back here? And who did you bring here?" A black robe who sat on the seat closest to the door stood up. Her voice was pleasing to the ears but the large scythe hanging behind her chair said otherwise.

"I left because the meeting was boring, but not anymore when I found him. Granhiert sent him here as her disciple." The man who brought Venn into the chamber explained while pointing at Venn. Compared to before, his voice sounded much chirpier. Obviously he was enjoying the show that would soon unfold.

"Granhiert? That Granhiert that doesn't give a care in the world about the guild? You mean to tell me that Granhiert sent a candidate to vie for the limited spot? You mean to tell me that Granhiert's disciple don't even know that it's mandatory to wear a mask to hide your identity from the other members as per the guild's rule?"

"Boy. Who exactly are you? Lie and I'll cut your tongue." 

This time, another black robe who sat opposite to the female with the big scythe as her weapon, rose up from his seat with a menacing aura. His robe was barely enough to cover his stout build which allowed Venn to see his chiselled muscles, and his disgruntled voice sounded weird like a non-native person speaking.

However, his words had imposed a nightmare on Venn as it had rung the alarm for everyone in the scene about something obvious.