Awakened Talent: 10,000 Exp Converter!

"Relax. I was only gone for a few days, and you're already acting like a scaredy-cat?" Vincent teased, his voice light but laced with amusement.

He squeezed Lizno's shoulder playfully, his fingers pressing into the hard surface of the armor. "Hmm. Nice. You look good in your armor."

Lizno straightened his posture, his expression a mix of pride and gratitude. "It's all thanks to you, Young Master."

Vincent waved his hand dismissively, his tone casual yet commanding. "Forget about that. Why don't you introduce me to the people behind you?"

Lizno turned around to face the still-stunned crowd, his movements deliberate and confident. "Young Master, these are…"

———

In Vincent's office, the atmosphere was calm but charged with purpose. Vincent sat on the edge of his office table, where Mochi lay curled up, sleeping soundly. Lizno stood in front of him, his gaze occasionally flickering to Clauny, who sat quietly on the couch to the side.

While gently caressing the sleeping Mochi, Vincent broke the silence. "How's the progress?"

Lizno's voice was steady as he replied, "Reporting, everything's going well according to your plan. I have already made initial preparations. As of now, the guild has over a hundred members…"

At the mention of this, Vincent's eyes narrowed slightly, his curiosity piqued. "On that note, what did you name the guild?"

Lizno hesitated, his voice slow and measured. "About that… I haven't given the guild a name. I was waiting for the Young Master to decide."

Lizno looked at him with anticipation, his expression earnest.

Vincent subtly nodded, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table as he pondered. Hmm… name, shadow? It sounds so cringe… darkness? Sigh… I'm so useless when it comes to thinking of a name…

Just as he was grumbling internally, a soft, childlike voice cut through his thoughts. "Umbra!"

Vincent's eyes flicked to Mochi, who was still asleep on the table. "Umbra…" he muttered, testing the word on his tongue.

He liked it. Umbra had depth and meaning. In astronomy, the umbra was the innermost and darkest part of a shadow. There were other interpretations, but they all revolved around darkness and shadow. It also aligned perfectly with his alias, Shroud.

When he muttered the name, Lizno naturally heard it and immediately recognized its significance. "Umbra. That's a good name, Young Master! From now on, I'll be a member of the Umbra Guild!"

"No—" Vincent started to say, wanting to clarify that he hadn't fully decided yet. But seeing Lizno's enthusiasm, he simply shook his head and kept his mouth shut.

"Forget about that. Tell me the situation within the Novice Sanctuary while I was gone…" Vincent's tone shifted, his curiosity now focused on the broader events that had unfolded in his absence. He was particularly interested in the Blackthorn Clan's actions.

Since he had suddenly disappeared from their sight, he expected they might have taken extreme measures.

"Right, I was about to tell you, Young Master… but I've been busy recruiting guild members," Lizno admitted, his tone apologetic.

Lizno then proceeded to report all the events that had transpired in the Novice Sanctuary during Vincent's absence. Vincent's expression darkened as he listened.

In summary, aside from the continuous appearance of newly spawned labyrinths, there had also been a significant increase in breakout reports. Additionally, the Blackthorn Clan and the Lionfang Clan had escalated their conflict into an all-out war, resulting in numerous casualties on both sides.

And lastly, the Blackthorn Clan was no longer hiding their pursuit of Vincent. They had even put a bounty on his head—a mere 50,000 Origin Crystals.

Vincent couldn't help but frown at the last detail. He wasn't upset that they had put a bounty on him, but the amount was insulting. Am I only worth 50,000 Origin Crystals?! I'll soon show them how much I'm truly worth!

With that thought burning in his mind, Vincent turned his attention to more practical matters. "How's the fund? Do you still have enough?"

Lizno hesitated, his silence speaking volumes before he awkwardly shook his head. "I apologize, Young Master. I've already used all the funds you gave me last time for recruitment…"

Vincent waved off the apology, his tone reassuring. "It's alright. You have nothing to apologize for. Don't worry about the funds. I'll take care of it soon."

He wasn't overly concerned about resources, as he had already struck a deal with Valyn. He just needed to wait for her to fulfill her end of the bargain. However, this didn't mean he was idle. On the contrary, he had more to do than ever.

Now that he had started a guild, he had to ensure its growth and support its members. But for the moment, he set those thoughts aside.

His attention shifted to Clauny, who had been silently observing their conversation. "Clauny, this is Lizno. You'll be working together from now on. Lizno, fill her in on the guild's situation. She's a healer with strong support abilities—a valuable asset to the guild. Clauny, if you decide on what you want to do, just let Lizno know."

Lizno nodded at Clauny, who returned the gesture with a polite nod of her own.

Vincent then shifted the topic, his tone casual but probing. "About that barbarian girl—how's her condition?"
Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire

"Oh, Barbara? You have nothing to worry about, Young Master. She'll be in perfect condition in no time. That girl is tenacious. I met her when she was still at the Peak of Tier 1…" Lizno's voice carried a hint of admiration as he recounted the story.

At the time, Lizno had witnessed Barbara single-handedly defeat a group of Tier 2 Origin Warriors using nothing but her physical strength. Initially, he thought she would decline his invitation to join the guild, but she had surprised him. She was simple-minded, her only request being three meals a day.

"Do you know her origin?" Vincent asked, his curiosity piqued.

Lizno shook his head. "Forgive me, Young Master. All I know is that she's from a tribe called Fist. But I haven't been able to find any information about the Fist Tribe."

Vincent fell silent, lost in thought. Barbara's identity was a mystery, and mysteries always intrigued him.

"Is there anything else important I should know?" Vincent asked, his tone shifting back to business.

"There's also someone you might find interesting, Young Master… but that person isn't here at the moment," Lizno replied.

Vincent nodded in understanding, not pressing further.

"Is there anything else?" Vincent asked, his tone indicating that the meeting was nearing its end.

"No, that would be all, Young Master," Lizno replied respectfully.

Vincent nodded. "Alright. Lizno, take Clauny with you and explain everything she needs to know."

"Understood, Young Master," Lizno said before turning to Clauny. "Miss Clauny…"

Clauny quickly waved her hand, her voice soft but firm. "No-no, just Clauny is enough."

Lizno glanced at Vincent, as if seeking permission. Vincent simply nodded, his expression conveying that he trusted Clauny's judgment.

Lizno then nodded. "Alright. Clauny, please follow me."

As they left the office, Clauny paused at the door and turned to Vincent. Without a word, she mouthed a silent "thank you" before following Lizno out.

Vincent watched them go, a small smile playing on his lips. But as soon as the door closed, his expression hardened.

"Grarik… you want me dead that badly? Keep dreaming. That day will never come!"

He pushed the thought aside and pulled out a pen and paper. It was time to organize his plans. He had laid the foundation; now, he needed to build his guild into the strongest force on the Novice Continent.

Meanwhile, in the Blackthorn Clan's territory, Garik sat on a throne made of purple crystal, his expression cold and unreadable. Below him, a thrygian knelt, trembling slightly under Garik's piercing gaze.

"What is it?" Garik's voice was sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade.

The thrygian immediately replied, his voice shaky. "Reporting to Young Master, we've found traces of the human, Vincent."

Garik's purple brows rose, his nonchalant demeanor replaced by a flicker of fury. "You've found him? Where is he?!"

"One of our scouts stationed outside the Novice Sanctuary saw Vincent arrive with a human girl," the thrygian explained.

Garik's face contorted with anger. "I'm not talking about that! I'm asking why you didn't bring him here!"

The thrygian stammered, "I-I apologize, Young Master. The scout who reported this didn't take any action. He immediately left to inform you of Vincent's return."

Garik's rage boiled over. "Are you all fucking stupid?! I told you to bring him here, not to stalk him! Is the clan wasting its resources on incompetents like you?!"

The thrygian lowered his head, his nervousness palpable.

"What are you still doing here? Get out! Don't come back until you bring Vincent to me!" Garik roared.

The thrygian scrambled to his feet, bowing deeply. "Yes, Young Master!" He then hurried out of the room, leaving Garik alone with his thoughts.

Garik's expression was icy, his voice a low growl. "Vincent… you've finally shown yourself. Don't think I've forgotten about you."