Newbie's Quest: Awaiting Challenge
Chapter 36: The Lone Guild

The 547th zone's copy was the next target marked by the Emerald Tempest Guild. If one were to reluctantly make excuses for Ethan Walker, saying the encounter with Alice was just a coincidence, then the matter of the 547th zone was indefensible. Ethan had in his possession maps marked by various major guilds. It wasn't difficult to guess who had sent him those maps. Henrik Jensen exited the chat page and scrolled through his contacts list, sending a message to Alex Johnson.

"Did you give Ethan the map?" Henrik's query was succinct and pointed. It was shortly after dinner, so he anticipated a swift reply. Alex's response was indeed instant. "How could I? Walker's Return Guild isn't even in the running to get that map."

Alex denied it, but only a fool would believe his words. Henrik contemplated the entire situation for about eight or nine minutes, including the intricacies of the 547th zone and the stance of the Avalon Guild, before replying to Ethan. "James Mitchell won't rent it, and you won't get the 547th."

Half a minute later, Ethan replied with just an emoji. Henrik glanced at it, then casually tossed his phone onto the bed, and went to grab a towel to dry his hair.

Meanwhile, in the Avalon Guild, Ethan, having seen the message, flung his chopsticks onto his plate. "This Henrik really is impervious, immune to persuasion by carrot or stick." Alex, the vice leader, was seated opposite him in the guild's dining hall. After the dining rush, the hall had thinned out, leaving only a few people loitering, sneakily eavesdropping on their conversation.

"Henrik won't let anyone trample over him; he's not one to shrink away from difficulties," Alex said, eyes lowered to the sumptuous and nutritious dinner in front of Ethan, a smile playing on his lips. "Is the dinner I arranged for you to your liking?"

Ethan, who had not touched the meal ordered by someone else, upon hearing this, suddenly stuffed two large bites into his mouth, chewing energetically. "Exceptionally delicious."

"What's so delicious?" Emily Johnson approached their table and snagged a meatball from Ethan's plate. "It does taste quite good."

"Emily," Alex said, his smile deepening, "would you mind getting another serving for me?"

"Why me, Vice Leader...?" Emily protested.

"Next time, you won't be included in the mission."

"Alright, alright... I'm going." Emily obediently went to get the food, leaving the two men at the table alone. "Have you vented enough, or is it time for moderation?" Alex sipped from his disposable cup of hot water. "Who said I was just venting?" Ethan replied, idly playing with a meatball, his appetite seemingly diminished. "Hmm? So, are you seriously considering renting James Mitchell?" Alex inquired.

"Absolutely!" Ethan nodded vigorously.

"It's not just because he's affordable, right? You were quite noncommittal on the phone yesterday."

"I've watched the videos of James Mitchell's missions," Ethan said, putting down his chopsticks and leaning back in his chair, gazing up at the colorful ceiling lamp. "He's immensely talented, but his mindset seems off. What's the deal there?" "One of Emerald Tempest's unsolved mysteries," Alex mused. "James Mitchell, who dazzled everyone at his debut, why did he falter after his first performance?"

"Is it related to the vice-captain of the first team?" Ethan's question caught Alex off guard.

"How did you know? Isabella Martínez seems quite favorable towards James Mitchell."

"Well, that's what everyone seems to think," Ethan replied vaguely, then swiftly changed the subject.

At that moment, Emily Johnson returned with a tray, the dishes on it mirroring those on the table. "I'm back," she announced, "They ran out of meatballs, so I got the same dishes as before." "Thank you for your effort, please take a seat," Alex responded.

Emily sat next to Alex, while Ethan Walker rested his chin on his hand, gazing out at the night scenery. "I'm thinking of buying a house." Emily perked up, "Buying a house? Have you saved enough money?" "Not quite, so I'm planning to replace a good deal somewhere."

Emily pondered Ethan's words, then suddenly slammed her fist on the table, causing Alex, who was picking carrots out of his meal, to frown. "Sorry, sorry," Emily quickly apologized, then turned to Ethan, "You're not planning a heist, are you? I mean, Ethan, we need to keep a clear head. It's one thing to challenge the Emerald Tempest Guild, but we can't just usurp someone else's territory!"

"What are you thinking?" Ethan was slightly exasperated with her train of thought. "I don't need such a large place for myself." "Really? That's the reason? Well, as long as you don't lose your mind over it. What kind of property are you considering? If you're starting a guild, I'd suggest renting an office building."

"An office building?" Ethan mused, "That's still too large. I won't need that much space." "But you should think about the future. Once you start a guild, you'll need to hire players, assistants, and so on. Where will all these people stay? You can't just cram them into a drawer."

"I don't need that many people; I'll be on my own." "Just you...?" Emily repeated in shock, slamming her fist on the table again. "What? Just you? A one-man guild?" "Why not?" Ethan challenged.

"It's not that it's impossible, but how will you manage? What about multiplayer missions? Large-scale operations?" "I'll hire people. Isn't that what I'm doing, securing my first contract? Besides, many missions aren't accessible to solo players; I'd be missing out."

Ethan had carefully planned his strategy when he decided to start his guild. He had thoroughly read the novice guide, familiarizing himself with all the types of copies in the White Tower, and even borrowed books from the Avalon Guild's rarely used library. He immersed himself in understanding as much as possible about this world and the operation of guilds. It had been seven or eight years since the advent of the White Tower, and people had transitioned from initial fear to adaptation, forming the Player's General Association. The guilds, supported by major consortia, gradually became organized, selecting the best players to form teams and slowly shaping the current landscape.

The White Tower's copies were categorized as standard, material, and server life-and-death copies, among others. The standard copies varied in difficulty, with the highest being SSS-level. The material copies dropped materials and tools, with no limit on entry times. The server life-and-death copy, Ethan's first, was a variation of the standard copy but crucial for the fate of the entire server. Failure meant the disappearance of everyone involved, leaving no trace behind. Despite the persistent dangers of the White Tower's copies, the existence of guilds turned these risks into opportunities. The allure of substantial rewards drew in large numbers of players, and high-level team members enjoyed immense prestige and popularity. In addition to the copies generated by the White Tower, the General Association regularly organized events, creating virtual copies using technology and inviting various teams to participate.

The most anticipated of these events was the quarterly All-Star Game, featuring top players from the leading guilds, usually the top 20. Winning this event brought massive point rewards and material benefits, significantly increasing a guild's visibility and reputation. To participate in the All-Star Game, one needed a guild; individual players had no chance

of entering. Ethan, considering competitions like these inaccessible to solo players, felt establishing his own guild was essential.

Ethan briefly shared his thoughts, and Emily, somewhat taken aback, regarded him as if he had just escaped from an asylum and was still adjusting to modern society. Alex, having finally picked out all the carrots he disliked, spoke up. "Not a bad idea. But if you want to participate in major guild-led competitions, like the All-Star Game, you need a substantial amount of points, a tremendous amount."

"How long would that take?" Ethan inquired. "Around ten years or so," Alex estimated. "Then I might not live long enough to see that happen," Ethan half-joked. "So I advise you to dissolve Walker's Return immediately and join Avalon." Ethan shifted his sitting position, crossing his arms and resting them on his forehead in a thoughtful pose. Emily, affected by his apparent distress, hardly dared to breathe. After a moment, Ethan lowered his hands, resting his chin on them, and looked intently at Alex before speaking. "All-knowing, omnipotent, wise, and rational Vice Leader of Avalon, Alex Johnson, what advice would you offer?"

Emily was at a loss for words. "So, you were deep in thought just to figure out how to flatter him?" Ethan shot her a look that seemed to say, "How juvenile can you be?" "Make money without losing dignity," Alex replied, actually appreciating Ethan's approach and providing a clear direction.

"The next All-Star Game is in about two months. Even if you tirelessly grind missions to exhaustion, you won't get an entry ticket." "So?" Ethan pressed for more information. "The General Association also sends their representatives to the All- Star Game. Since most of their staff are administrative and can't handle high-intensity copies, that spot is often vacant each year."

Ethan's eyes lit up, but he had more questions. "So, Alex, can a player who's already part of a guild apply to be a staff member of the General Association?" "Certainly. To balance the powers, many from the management and upper echelons of major guilds hold positions in the General Association. In a world with the White Tower, sacrifices are a constant, and manpower is not as abundant as you might think."

"And how do I, Ethan Walker, propose myself for a position in the General Association?" "The General Association, unlike guilds, is backed by major consortia and gains substantial revenue through streaming and running copies. Popularity can be converted into funds, and you, being a hot topic with a built-in audience, would likely be welcomed if you applied."

"And then I..." Ethan began. "However, you'll need a sponsor," Alex added, smiling. Ethan's face fell slightly. "Alright, tell me, what do you want me to do for Avalon this time?" "Not much. Just add two more missions to your rental contract with Avalon, including the one where I provided you with the marked map."

"Fine," Ethan agreed, albeit reluctantly. With Alex's promise secured and his dinner finished - except for the carrots - he suggested, "Get some rest tonight and wait for good news."