The Kicked Out S-Rank Appraiser Creates The Strongest Guild - Chapter 54

Chapter 54   Power and Corruption

While the members of the second squadron celebrated their victory in extracting concessions from Laurent, Miguel, Aina, Oscar, and the others who had been ordered by Laurent to change their equipment and training, huddled awkwardly at a corner table, sipping their drinks uneasily.

“Hey, you lot, are you drinking?”

One of the second squadron’s officers approached Miguel and his group.

“Uh, yes.”

“Just now, new orders came from Captain Ist. The second squadron will continue negotiations with the Guild Master until the 22nd. You are to continue ignoring any orders from the Guild Master.”

“Uh, okay…”

Miguel and the others looked down, unsure of how to respond.

“What’s with you guys, looking so down? Listen, you haven’t done anything wrong. Keep your heads up. Miguel, whatever the Guild Master says, do not comply. If he targets you for anything, come to me. On the honor of the second squadron, we will protect you.”

“…Okay.”

With that, the officer returned to where Ist and the others were gathered.

Miguel and his friends sighed deeply.

“Man, we’ve gotten ourselves into a mess, haven’t we?”

“Seriously, I wish the higher-ups would stop dragging us into their power struggles.”

They all looked equally dejected. This kind of situation was commonplace within the Golden Hawk.

Although they had their own thoughts about neglecting their training as adventurers and constantly watching their superiors’ moods, they couldn’t deny that their current situation offered some stability.

“What are we even doing?”

“It can’t be helped. In the ‘Golden Hawk,’ we lower-ranked members don’t have the right to voice our opinions.”

“Anyway, if we make a wrong move now, who knows where the bullet will come from. Let’s just keep a low profile and avoid any trouble.”

“Yeah.”

“That’s the best approach.”

While Ist and the others were having a drinking party at the tavern, Laurent had called Claria to the Guild Master’s office.

“You wanted to see me, Guild Master?”

“Claria, thanks for coming. I have a favor to ask.”

Laurent invited Claria into the room, then stepped into the hallway, glancing around to ensure no one was eavesdropping. Although Deanna had already left for the day, Laurent wanted to be extra cautious.

Seeing his behavior, Claria understood that this was about a top-secret mission.

“Is this something that’s hard to discuss with others?”

“Yes. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I should ask this of you…”

“Please, say whatever you need.”

Claria leaned forward eagerly.

“If I can be of service to the Guild Master, I’ll gladly do anything.”

“Alright. But this is a top-secret mission. You mustn’t talk about it to anyone. No one else can know, especially Deanna. Be very careful.”

“Especially Deanna? Understood. I’ll be careful.”

Seeing that Claria grasped the importance of the task, Laurent began to speak carefully, choosing his words with caution.

“An internal investigation of the Second Division…?”

“Yes, something about the Second Division’s behavior lately feels off.”

“What do you mean?”

“They’re negotiating too aggressively, as if they know exactly how far they can push us. It feels like someone on the inside is leaking information to them.”

“I see. So you want me to find out about this information leaker?”

“That’s part of it. But more importantly, I want you to find out the true objective of the Second Division. (I’m pretty sure Deanna is the informant, but we’ll let that slide for now.)”

“Their true objective?”

“I don’t think their goal is simply to sabotage my plans by being difficult. They’ve shown willingness to compromise when I present a concession. They seem to be aiming for some form of advancement, but they’re not openly stating their demands. Whether it’s a salary increase, better conditions, or contract renewals… they clearly have some reason to compete with Alric’s team, but they’re keeping their true intentions hidden. I need you to find out what they really want and why they’re not saying it. We can’t keep wasting time and money guessing.”

“Understood. I’ll give it a try. But…”

“What is it?”

“Am I really capable of handling such a difficult task?”

Laurent looked puzzled for a moment, then burst into laughter.

“Hahaha, don’t worry. You’ll handle this just fine.”

Now it was Claria’s turn to look puzzled.

Claria’s Skills

Secret Negotiation: B → A Information Extraction: B → A

(Claria, you really don’t realize your own potential, do you?)

Laurent couldn’t help but feel a fondness for people who were unaware of their own talents.

(When I first assessed your skills, I was unsure whether it was wise to nurture them… but now, I have no doubts. Even if your skills turn against me, I will have no regrets. Nurturing skills that have lost their way—that is my role, as Lily taught me.)

“You can take a break from your duties related to ‘Spirit Workshop’ and ‘Guardian of the Magic Tree’ for a while. Just focus on this task.”

“Yes, understood.”

“And Claria, one more thing…”

“Yes?”

“You don’t need to call me ‘Guild Master’ anymore. Just ‘Laurent’ is fine.”

“Yes, Laurent,” Claria replied, beaming with happiness.

After that, Laurent busied himself with various mundane tasks.

He neglected his dealings with the Second Division and the management of the ‘Demon Realm Dungeon,’ focusing solely on the controllable, routine tasks, spending all his time on them.

Meanwhile, Gilbert’s manipulations continued.

His influence extended even to Alric’s team, convincing some of its members to agree that they should ignore Laurent’s orders and even push him out of his position as Guild Master.

In this atmosphere, both Alric and Daevin gave Laurent accusatory looks, as if questioning his indecisiveness.

How would he manage the ‘Demon Realm Dungeon’?

What was his plan for dealing with the Second Division, which still showed no intention of providing the necessary personnel?

However, Laurent ignored these issues, enduring silently and waiting for Claria’s report.

Any rash action could expose Claria’s covert operations.

Following Laurent’s orders, Claria subtly approached members of the Second Division, gradually extracting valuable information.

Given their recent lack of notable achievements and waning popularity, the Second Division members eagerly welcomed Claria’s attention. Her flattery and companionship over drinks made them readily divulge their internal affairs, often boasting about them.

“…So, the S-class monster extermination team will have to wait a bit longer,” Laurent said apologetically to Jill at the ‘Spirit Worshop.’

“I see…” Jill replied.

“I’m sorry, especially since the improvements on the ‘Dragon Slayer’ were going so well.”

“No, it’s fine. Laurent, please prioritize your work. Being the Guild Master is demanding.”

“Yeah, thank you.”

(Is Laurent really okay?) Jill wondered, observing his downcast expression with concern.

She recalled the conversations she’d overheard in the waiting room, where they talked about Laurent being isolated among the ‘Golden Hawk’ executives.

(I want to help Laurent, but I don’t understand much about management…)

In the end, Jill decided to focus on the tasks Laurent had assigned her. In her free time, she roamed the ‘Golden Hawk’ headquarters, keenly listening for anyone spreading rumors about Laurent.

Whenever she found such individuals, she interrogated them relentlessly to uncover the source of the rumors.

(Whoever is trying to undermine Laurent, I don’t care what their motives are. If I find them, I won’t wait for orders. I’ll drag them before Laurent after beating them up!)

Despite her efforts, Jill couldn’t pinpoint the mastermind behind the rumors. It seemed the person scheming against Laurent was highly cunning.

On the 21st, Claria finally returned with the information Laurent had been waiting for.

“Thank you for waiting, Laurent.”

“Claria. So, what did you find out? Any good information?”

“Yes. After probing a few members of the Second Division, they easily revealed their intentions behind the current turmoil.”

“I see. Well, go ahead and tell me. What did your investigation uncover?”

“Yes. The members of the Second Division are worried that the Alric squad will be assigned the ‘Mining Dungeon’ in the next dungeon campaign.”

“The ‘Mining Dungeon’? Why would they be concerned about that…”

Laurent paused, suddenly realizing something.

(That’s right, they were fixated on the ‘Mining Dungeon’ during the meetings.)

“They believe that your focus on the ‘Demon Realm Dungeon’ is only temporary and that ultimately, those assigned to the ‘Mining Dungeon’ will receive the most benefits. They’ve also held a grudge since before you became Guild Master, feeling that the Alric squad was favored over them. During Lucius’s tenure, the Second Division was originally in charge of the ‘Mining Dungeon,’ but that role was taken over by the Alric squad, which they have resented.”

“But, considering overall strength and performance…”

“Exactly, and that’s why they were desperate to outmatch the Alric squad in overall combat power, even if it meant exaggerating their skills and stats.”

“So, they’re upset at the prospect of the Alric squad being favored over them in the next dungeon campaign. Is that it?”

“Yes, that seems to be the case.”

Laurent put his hand to his forehead and sighed deeply.

(In the end, it’s just territoriality. Competing over something so trivial, making false reports, and ultimately lowering the unit’s combat power—it’s counterproductive.)

“Did you find out anything about the informant leaking our information?”

“I’m sorry. I tried probing about that as well, but they wouldn’t divulge anything. However, it seems that the person inciting them is different from Ms. Deanna. When I brought up her name, there was no suspicious reaction.”

“I see.”

(So, Deanna isn’t directly connected with the Second Division… which means someone else is stirring them up?)

“Thank you, Claria. Now I understand what the Second Division is thinking. I’ll take it from here. You can return to your regular duties.”

Later, Laurent summoned Ist and the others to the Guild Master’s office. They arrived, their faces stern, showing no signs of compromise or leniency as they stood before Laurent.

“What do you need from us, Guild Master?”

“I need your cooperation.”

“Cooperation?”

“Yes, I want you to develop the ‘Demon Realm Dungeon’ together with the Alric squad.”

“Guild Master, as we’ve said before, we will not work under the Alric squad…”

“But in return!”

Laurent cut off Ist’s words.

“I plan to allocate the largest budget of next term to your Second Division.”

Ist’s expression flickered, and he fell silent.

“Furthermore, I want to assign the ‘Mining Dungeon’ to your unit for the next campaign. If you successfully conquer it, I’ll allow your unit to be recognized as the First Division of the Golden Hawk.”

As Laurent finished speaking, the room fell silent, enveloped in a heavy quiet.

(Is this not enough? This is the best compromise I can offer right now…)

“Guild Master…”

Ist, the division leader, broke the silence with a solemn tone.

“Hmm?”

“We, the Second Division, pledge our loyalty to you.”

Ist said this with a bright smile. The members of the Second Division stood at attention and saluted Laurent.

“Uh, so about the dungeon management…”

“Of course, we will fully cooperate.”

(These guys… Is this really okay? Taking on the ‘Mining Dungeon’ next term means competing with my unit, the Guardians of the Magic Tree, but are they really fine with that?)

Laurent observed Ist and his team. They showed no signs of hesitation, only broad smiles.

(Without Savast, I don’t think they can beat my unit. Are they really okay with this?)

But since they agreed, there was no point in questioning them further. Laurent informed Alric that the Second Division would cooperate in managing the ‘Demon Realm Dungeon’ and handle the ‘Mining Dungeon’ next term.

Alric’s face darkened with dissatisfaction.

“I understand your focus on the ‘Demon Realm Dungeon,’ but we’ve always managed the ‘Mining Dungeon.’ You didn’t have to go this far to appease the Second Division…”

Apparently, Alric also expected to manage the ‘Mining Dungeon’ next term. He complained for a while, but when Laurent explained that the ‘Demon Realm Dungeon’ might become a more valuable resource than the ‘Mining Dungeon’ and that this move was to protect the employment of the Golden Hawk, including Alric’s squad, Alric begrudgingly accepted.

Even Alric seemed caught up in this superficial territorial dispute.

(Even after all that, my focus on the ‘Demon Realm Dungeon’ didn’t get through to the higher-ups.)

Realizing his vision hadn’t permeated the guild, Laurent felt disappointed.

(Sigh… The people of the Golden Hawk… really…)

Laurent let out a deep sigh.

After that, the Second Division became surprisingly cooperative. Issues regarding the development of the ‘Demon Realm Dungeon,’ training policies, and cooperation with Alric’s squad were quickly resolved.

Laurent’s reforms began to take shape.

Time flew by quickly from that point on.

As the power struggle showed signs of resolution, members of the Golden Hawk sighed with relief and focused on their training and work. With his concerns eased, Laurent also dedicated himself to guild management.

Dungeon management, team training, and the operation of the Spirit Workshop progressed without any issues. As the current term’s dungeon operations approached their climax, Laurent summoned a man to the guild master’s office.

The man entered the room, yawning and looking sleepy.

“Yawn… What do you want? Right when the dungeon operations are reaching their peak. I’m busy with the final push.”

“You’re Gilbert, correct?”

“Yeah, I’m the lowly junior member Gilbert. So? What does the guild master want with someone like me at this busy time? If it’s not important, can it wait?”

“I’ve investigated. The falsification of skills and stats rampant in the Second and Third Divisions. It seems you were behind it.”

Upon hearing this, Gilbert’s sleepy expression vanished, replaced by a serious look. He shot a glare at Deanna, who was standing in the corner of the room. Deanna quickly averted her gaze.

(Damn, she ratted me out.)

Gilbert turned back to Laurent, a defiant smile forming on his lips.

“Yes, that’s right. The falsification of skills and stats that started during former Captain Savast’s time—I’m the one who orchestrated it.”

Laurent appraised Gilbert’s skills.

Gilbert’s Skills

• • • • Spear Techniques: B

• • • • Incitement: A

• • • • Nurturing: A

• • • • Skill Appraisal: A

(Nurturing A and Skill Appraisal A? With these skills, he could have nurtured adventurers without resorting to falsifying skills. Why did he do this?)

“What are you thinking? Do you realize how much trouble you’ve caused the guild by doing this?”

“Sure, I falsified skills and stats. But what’s so bad about that? I gave those who wouldn’t have seen the light of day a brief moment to enjoy life. In fact, many adventurers renewed their contracts and stayed on despite Lucius’s oppressive rule because of the falsified skills. Haha. I saved them.”

“That’s ridiculous. Did you think that could last forever?”

“Come on, Laurent. Think about it. You’ve experienced it firsthand. In this guild, superficiality and loud voices get more recognition than actual work. It doesn’t matter if it’s all a facade. I used to advise everyone to improve their skills. But the people here…they only care about immediate gains and surface-level evaluations. I got fed up. You’ve seen it, haven’t you? Their attitudes. Even when confronted about the skill falsifications, they didn’t bat an eye. There’s no point in genuinely trying to develop the guild. It’s all so foolish.”

Gilbert shrugged and then suddenly gave Laurent a friendly smile.

“Laurent, you, who were once cast out, must understand. This guild is rotten to the core.”

“But that ends today. As long as I’m the guild master, I won’t overlook such corruption any longer! Gilbert, I am expelling you from the Golden Hawk.”

Gilbert’s lips curled into a sly smile.

“Hehehe, I see. That’s fine. From now on, I’ll observe from outside the guild carefully. I’ll watch how you, just like Lucius in the Golden Hawk, decay.”

“I won’t become like Lucius.”

“Is that so? Laurent, you’ve already made the same mistake as Lucius. Favoring the Second Unit, who engaged in misconduct, over the Alric Unit, who served faithfully. You’re getting accustomed to the taste of power without even realizing it. Like they say, ‘Tell me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are.'”

“Is that all you have to say? No matter how much sophistry you employ, the decision won’t change.”

Laurent pointed to the exit door.

“Get out of this guild immediately. Forever!”

Gilbert snorted and grabbed the doorknob.

“Such a fool. Let me tell you, Laurent. Expelling me won’t solve everything. The Golden Hawk will inevitably corrupt you. Just make sure you don’t hang yourself with your own noose.”

With that, Gilbert left the guild master’s office.