The Kicked Out S-Rank Appraiser Creates The Strongest Guild - Chapter 118

Chapter 118   Diversionary Tactics

At Lilianne’s request, Laurent hurried to the quest reception office.

In a private room at the reception office, he sifted through stacks of papers detailing monsters and items, searching for a suitable quest.

(If it’s an A-class quest that can utilize Lily’s skills, ‘Lightning’ and ‘Levitation’… here it is. A-class monster ‘Flood Dragon’.)

The A-class monster ‘Flood Dragon’ is a water dragon that inhabits the lake at the end of the ‘Lake Route’. It appears about once a month, causing floods that damage the town. Despite numerous requests from the townspeople to subdue it, it has been ignored by adventurer guilds from outside the area because it lives off the main mining route.

The residents, having given up, have been enduring the monthly floods.

(If the ‘Spirit Workshop’ can subdue this A-class monster that outside adventurers have ignored, it will earn the respect and admiration of the local residents. It might make the guild feel more accessible to the locals.)

Laurent took the documents on the ‘Flood Dragon’ and left the quest reception office.

(This A-class quest is suitable for Lily. Now, to deal with the ‘White Wolf’.)

The next day, the town was flooded with flyers.

The flyers read:

“The Spirit Workshop is once again forming a large-scale alliance to conquer a dungeon. Adventurers who wish to join the alliance should contact the ‘Spirit Workshop.”

The townspeople, seeing these flyers, felt it was a promising opportunity, and the small adventurer guilds were thrilled at this unexpected chance.

Both the ‘Dragon’s Ember’ and ‘White Wolf’ guilds reacted to this large-scale recruitment and began to move to thwart the alliance’s quest.

At the guild ‘Dragon’s Ember,’ the key members gathered in the meeting room to counter the movement of Spirits Workshop forming a new alliance.

“‘Spirits Workshop’ is forming a new alliance. We, ‘Dragon’s Ember,’ cannot ignore this. We need to take countermeasures. Now, Edgar, present your plan.”

“Yes, sir.”

Edgar stood up and began outlining his strategy with documents in hand.

“Despite our numerous battles against ‘Spirits Workshop,’ we haven’t achieved satisfactory results. This is primarily because, despite being an alchemy guild, we got too involved in battles within dungeons between adventurers, thereby misjudging our strengths. Therefore, this time, we will refrain from engaging in combat within the dungeon.”

“Refrain from combat within the dungeon? But how will we strike at ‘Spirits Workshop’ then?” Raoul questioned skeptically.

“Don’t be hasty. I’ll explain step by step.”

Edgar continued, drawing diagrams on the blackboard.

“The current strategy of ‘Spirits Workshop’ avoids competition with external adventurer guilds and focuses on acquiring ore by targeting the mining sites along the ‘Lake Route.’ Their last exploration targeted the mining sites along the ‘Crater Route,’ but they suffered significant damage from ‘White Wolf’ and barely broke even. Hence, they are unlikely to venture into the ‘Crater Route’ for some time. Therefore, our strategy will focus on securing the mining sites along the ‘Lake Route.’ If we can control most of the ore from these sites, we can deplete ‘Spirits Workshop’ ore supply, thus crippling them. This way, we can leverage our expertise in alchemy and adventurer support to strike at ‘Spirits Workshop.'”

“Ah!”

“I see. This way, we can harm ‘Spirits Workshop’ without direct combat,” came the murmurs of appreciation in the meeting room.

Even Raoul, with his arms crossed and a difficult expression, was impressed internally.

(I see. As expected of Edgar, who became a Quartet member with his strategic planning and brawn. He constantly comes up with new strategies. This seems well-thought-out and logical at first glance. But why do I feel uneasy? As if we’re overlooking something important…)

Nonetheless, Edgar’s plan was unanimously adopted, and to counter ‘Spirit Workshop,’ the ‘Dragon’s Ember’ alliance was formed, and equipment for the alliance was manufactured at their workshop.

On the day that the ‘Spirit Workshop’ alliance set out for dungeon exploration,

A vast number of adventurers had gathered in the plaza.

The thieves of ‘White Wolf’ watched the scene from a distance.

They too had rushed to prepare for this day.

“‘Spirits Workshop’ managed to form such a large alliance even after being beaten so badly?”

“With this massive force, their target must be the large-scale mining site in the ‘Crater Route,’ right? It has to be.”

“Damn it. Even with ‘Spirits Workshop’ making such a public move, what are ‘Dragon’s Ember’ doing? Do they even realize that the biggest problem is Spirits Workshop growing stronger?”

Jamil and his group had requested assistance from ‘Dragon’s Ember’ to thwart the ‘Spirits Workshop ‘ alliance.

However, there had been no response from ‘Dragon’s Ember’ yet.

“Oh, the messenger from ‘Dragon’s Ember’ is back.”

“Oh, finally. What did ‘Dragon’s Ember’ say?”

“They believe ‘Spirits Workshop’ is heading to the ‘Lake Route.’ We’ve formed the ‘Dragon’s Ember’ alliance to deplete the main ores of the ‘Lake Route.’ They say ‘White Wolf’ should support the ‘Dragon’s Ember’ alliance while also interfering with ‘Spirits Workshop’.”

Jamil and his group looked at each other in silence for a moment.

“See, I knew it. ‘Dragon’s Ember’ doesn’t have a clue.”

“With such a large alliance, there’s no way they’re targeting the ‘Lake Route.’ It’s definitely the ‘Crater Route.’ Otherwise, it wouldn’t be profitable.”

“Those guys don’t understand dungeon exploration at all.”

“Edgar probably came up with this plan. That meddlesome guy.”

“We can’t count on support from ‘Dragon’s Ember.’ It can’t be helped. We’ll take down ‘Spirits Workshop’ ourselves!”

However, this time, Edgar’s assessment was correct.

The majority of the assembled adventurers were a decoy to distract ‘White Wolf.’

As instructed by Laurent, they wandered aimlessly through the forest at the base, where no powerful monsters appeared, and eventually returned to the city.

Meanwhile, while ‘White Wolf’ was caught in the diversion, Laurent and Lilianne, along with the main forces of the alliance, made their way calmly through the ‘Lake Route’ to confront the A-class monster, ‘Flood Dragon.’