Summoned with an SSS-Rank Portal Skill

William tried to press the guild manager for more information about Collin, but no matter what he said or did, it was no use.

He had a frank conversation with the manager, who was upfront with him.

"I really don't know the details of his mission," the manager said. "We only have a file stating he went out on a mission, and that's it. Someone important must have hired him to keep it so secretive."

The nature of Collin's mission was odd. Realizing he wouldn't get anywhere with Collin, William shifted focus to someone else.

Geneva's group usually consisted of three people: Geneva herself, Collin, and another woman named Seraphina.

William showed the files to the manager. "Like I said, we're looking for Geneva, and we believe her teammates might know something about her. If we can't reach Collin, maybe we can find Seraphina? Can you help with that?"

The manager nodded. "Let me check her files. Wait here."

Just like before, William and Rebo settled in the private room with the fireplace, enjoying the food and drinks.

"How does someone get a 'special mission' like that?" Rebo asked. "My mother's missing, right? But this Collin guy… we could say he's missing too, since no one knows a thing about his mission."

William was deep in thought, trying to piece together the situation or at least catch a glimpse of what was going on.

"But your mother vanished years ago, didn't she? And she wasn't taking guild missions anymore, so she's basically a ghost to us. This Collin guy… when did he leave? Did we even ask the manager?"

When the manager returned, his expression said it all. William first asked when Collin had left for his special mission.

"About a month ago, I think," the manager said, then added, "And Seraphina—she left for a special mission too. Two months ago."

William frowned. The situation was getting stranger by the minute. Both of Geneva's teammates had gone on mysterious missions within a short time frame, and no one knew what the missions were or who had hired them.

"Do you know if the same person hired them both, or if their missions are related in any way?" William asked.

"There's nothing in the files to indicate that," the manager replied. "Look, I wish I could help, but I can't. I'm really sorry."

"It's alright. Thanks for your time," William said.

They left the guild after that. Rebo was visibly shaken. "What do we even do now?"

"The manager knows more than he's letting on," William said.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you really think he doesn't know who hired two of his adventurers? They work for the guild. The files might not say anything, but the manager knows who hired Collin and Seraphina. I'm sure of it!"

As the head of the adventurers' guild branch in the capital, the manager was an important figure. William couldn't imagine a world where someone hired two of his adventurers for secretive missions without him knowing something.

"And what do you want to do about it?" Rebo asked.

William smirked. "Get the answers we need from him. A real talk."

"Torture?"

"Only if he doesn't talk. But considering he's not that powerful, I think he will. We just need to wait for the right moment to confront him."

They returned to the tavern where they were staying. Rebo went to their room to wait. The mission would be tough and dangerous, and William didn't want to drag him into the mess.

After that, William went looking for Bruce. The merchant had said he'd help if needed, and now was the time. William knew a few places Bruce might be. He found him in a bar, drinking and chatting with some women.

"Bruce," William said, placing a hand on his shoulder from behind. "Can we talk?"

"William!"

Bruce was both surprised to see him and a bit annoyed that his good time was interrupted. Still, he stepped aside to speak with William privately.

"Let me get this straight," Bruce said. "You want me to find out where the guild manager lives and help you get into his house?"

"Exactly," William said. "Can you do it?"

The best way to make the manager talk was in his own home. Attacking or kidnapping him in the middle of the city was out of the question—the capital's security was too tight for that.

The manager also didn't venture into the poorer parts of the city where security was lax, so ambushing him there wasn't an option either.

"Can you do it?" William pressed. "I really need to talk to him and get some answers."

Bruce looked thoughtful. "I mean, I can, but what's in it for me? This is a risky move."

"Let's say I'll owe you a favor," William said. "But don't push it when you come to collect. It'll depend on what kind of favor you ask for."

That changed everything. Bruce knew William was a powerful warrior, capable of things his hired guards could never do. Having someone like that owe him a favor was huge.

"Alright," Bruce said. "I'll find out where he lives, and we can break into his place tonight. He's probably working late, so we'll have time to plan. Which tavern are you staying at?"

William told Bruce where he was staying and returned to his room to talk with Rebo. All he had to do now was wait for Bruce to find out where the manager lived and how to get into his house.

He had no idea how Bruce would pull it off, but why should he worry about the details?

Rebo was surprised to hear the plan.

"Bruce is helping us? That's great! But he asked for something in return, didn't he?" Rebo said.

The kid wasn't as naive as he used to be.

"Yeah, a favor from me in the future," William replied. "But I told him I'd only do it if it's not something outrageous."

"I see…"

Now they just had to wait for Bruce. Two hours later, someone knocked on their room's door. It was Bruce.

"I know where he lives, and someone's already opened the house for us. Let's go," Bruce said.

"So fast!"

Bruce's money and connections worked wonders in the capital. He'd located the home of an important figure and arranged a break-in, all in less than two hours.

The manager's house surely had high security, like magical formations guarding the entrance, so Bruce must have paid a fortune to get someone skilled enough to bypass them.

William followed Bruce, while Rebo stayed at the tavern. There was no telling if getting answers from the manager would require torture, and William didn't want Rebo to witness that.

Seeing someone die quickly and painlessly was one thing—torture was something else entirely.

The manager lived in a wealthy part of the city, naturally. To enter the area, everyone had to pass through guards who controlled access.

But, for some reason, the gate was unguarded when they arrived.

"I have contacts," Bruce explained. "I paid them to leave the gate empty for a few minutes so we could slip in unnoticed. And I've got someone on the inside to help you get out, so don't worry."

Bruce had arranged everything in record time. The man was far more resourceful than William had expected.

When they reached the manager's house, Bruce left. He didn't want to stick around for what came next.

One of the house's windows was unlocked, and all the security formations were disabled. In the back of the house, William met the person who'd opened it for him.

"I'll help you get out of this area when you're done," a female voice said. "Meet me here afterward."

The woman was dressed to conceal her face, a common trait for those involved in shady dealings.

William slipped into the house through the open window and found a spot to hide. The entire house was dark, perfect for staying out of sight.

He suppressed his aura completely, ensuring no trace of his mana leaked out. He didn't want the manager to sense anything when he approached the house.

He waited for two full hours until someone opened the front door.

As the manager stepped inside, the lights automatically flickered on. He set some of his belongings on a desk and poured himself a drink.

William stayed put, watching. He needed to be certain no one else was coming. What if the manager had a visitor that night while he was trying to get answers? That could complicate things.

Better to be cautious than act impulsively. That was William's way.

After another thirty minutes, William felt confident enough to make his move. He stepped out of the shadows, and the manager's glass of wine slipped from his hand, shattering on the floor.

"W-What are you doing here?" the manager stammered, visibly shaken.

He knew how powerful William was and that he was no match for him.

"We need to talk," William said.