The Peaceful Life of a Maid Who Hides Her Power and Enjoys It

Part 2 – Episode 25

Inside a large conference room of the Brisher Hill Hotel.

Nearly twenty people were seated facing each other centered around a massive oval table.

Instead of a chair, an image playback device was installed in the empty seat at the head of the table, and the low-toned lighting decorating the interior made the atmosphere of the conference room exceptionally calm and serene.

Ten minutes before the official meeting was set to begin.

As light greetings were exchanged for the biannual reunion in the name of a regular conference, a middle-aged man with squinting eyes, who had taken his seat late, clicked his tongue as he scanned his surroundings.

“The list of conference attendees is as modest as ever. Even if it’s difficult for the likes of Count Rosebell or Count Rogenhoff to attend, shouldn’t at least Baron Desjube have shown up?”

A woman seated to his right replied, lighting a cigar.

“It’s a meeting between private organizations to begin with. As always, there’s a crowd of reporters at the hotel entrance that have come to highlight our agenda. What grand thing do you still want, really?”

“In the Contaninos Republic, high-ranking nobles directly attend and discuss management plans at the biannual guild general meetings, not to mention spare no support and investment, don’t they? What era are we in for the noble lords to put a price on their presence?”

The middle-aged man with squinting eyes had raised his voice enough to capture the attention of the attendees in the conference room and then some.

“Have you forgotten the sacrifices of the young men who bled and perished on the front lines during the Magic War? Each one of them was a hero who protected this country, yet it’s the noble lords who receive adoration! Our great Sir Andert, who perished together with Mephisto, had his body torn to shreds and sunk into the southern sea, forever unable to be found!”

The woman, who exhaled smoke like a sigh, lowered her voice to stop him.

“Lower your voice.”

“No! I must say what I have to say. What are we all here for? With what mindset did we establish the guild?”

The squinting eyes man, agitated, flailed his hands in the air as he passionately argued, unaware of his spittle flying from his beard.

“We established it because we knew the horrors and sorrows of the Magic War. We stepped forward with our sleeves rolled up to support people against the atrocities happening beyond the western border, didn’t we? Yet the noble upper class ignores their suffering and…”

A man who had been glaring at the squint-eyed man with contempt suddenly burst out in anger.

“Enough!”

“Huh?”

“You should be ashamed! At least say something you mean! You established the guild because you knew the horrors and sorrows of the Magic War? Such a person opens a swordsmanship academy using the name of war heroes and steals money from snot-nosed kids while eating a 60% commission? You greedy thing!”

“You, how old are you, young man? How dare you speak so carelessly? Do you think I’m the only one who opened a swordsmanship academy? All the guild masters here…”

At that moment.

“Everyone, hold your snouts. If you’re going to raise your voices talking about war, it would be better for those who’d actually participated in the war to do so.”

The man who intervened between the two was seated at the farthest spot, with short gray hair and unusual knife scars on his face.

Although there were old men who had lived through enough to be here, veterans who had survived the vicissitudes of life and death, and renowned swordsmen who’d made their name among the people present, no one could match the man’s ominous presence.

His physique could be described as slightly smaller than the average man, yet the atmosphere that suggested he had worked in a harsh profession somewhere in the underworld overwhelmed everyone and drew their attention.

Clink.

At a perfect timing, the clock precisely pointed to the number 9, marking the start of the Penrotta Guilds General Conference.

“Thank you, members of the alliance, for gathering in Brisher despite your busy schedules…”

Behind the oval table, among the guild members who had joined to assist their respective guild masters, a small whisper could be heard.

“Senior, about that man who just made the sharp blow. He’s the master of the famous <Gray Spear> guild, right?”

The youthful and enthusiastic gaze of a young man who had just come of age turned towards the woman he called his senior.

She, who was in charge of administrative support for a certain guild and had taken on the role of moderating today’s meeting, replied with a deep nod.

“Yes, that man is Grayspear, the master of the Gray Spear guild. It’s rare to meet him outside of formal occasions like this, so take a good look.”

Fortunately, the other guild assistants were also busy whispering among themselves, so their conversation didn’t attract attention.

If one perked up their ears, the words that could be heard were generally similar.

‘As expected, everyone is here to check out Grayspear, huh.’

Yes.

The much-talked-about guild, the Gray Spear.

Among the numerous guilds that had sprung up, with the exception of some large guilds, all had either fallen behind or been merged during a time when winners and losers were being decided. The guild that had appeared like a comet was none other than the Gray Spear.

It was about half a year ago that the Gray Spear made its name.

<What kind of guild is the ‘Gray Spear,’ which purchased the mansion of Weatherwoods, the historical noble family of Midwinterre?>

The Gray Spear made its debut as the main article on the third page of the daily newspaper. A week later, another article about it appeared on the tenth page.

‘The master of the Gray Spear guild was once known as a leading assassin in the underworld.’

The first impression of the newly emerging guild, which had garnered some attention, completely changed after another fortnight had passed.

‘The Gray Spear recruits the next Emperor’s Sword.’

The article boldly featured on the headline of the daily newspaper caused a stir in Penrotta for a while.

Who was Gavroche Berkeley Gratten?

He is someone who survived by trampling over his competitors with an overwhelming difference in skill among the next-generation of swordsmen who were considered the best of the new era.

After his last worthy opponent, Jean Berkeley Gratten, decided to devote her life to the Weatherwoods family, he essentially had no competitor left.

This titan, who was expected to become the new ‘Emperor’s Sword’ within as little as five years, had risen to fame as the deputy guild master of the Gray Spear guild!

‘Maybe it was thanks to his prestige on their back… that monstrous guild received the Silver Lion emblem in less than a year after its establishment.‘

It was very unusual.

Until then, only three guilds in the Penrotta Empire had received the Silver Lion Emblem.

Two city-big stronghold guilds that had a long history of over a hundred years, and the large guild <Golden Lion’s Mane>, which was founded after the ‘Great Declaration of the Siagot’ by the Contaninos Republic and grew at a dazzling pace. These were the other three.

‘No matter how I think about it, it can only be interpreted as the royal family pulling strings from behind the scenes.’

Yet, those with connections to high-ranking nobles claimed that the birth of the Gray Spear guild had nothing to do with the royal family…

Tick-

The first video began to play on the image playback device, breaking the silence in the tea room.

They could tell just from the beginning.

The fact that the video was not new at all.

After watching it countless times over the past four years, one could recite it with their eyes closed.

The large square in the capital of the Contaninos Republic, Siagot, with the Tower of God, the pride of the republic, as its backdrop.

The densely packed citizens of the republic.

Among them, right in the center, the left minister of the Contaninos Republic, standing on a fountain, raised a white vessel towards the sky and shouted.

“By the order of Spolia, I will bestow this ‘Crucible of Deus’ upon whoever brings me the head of the calamity Rein!”

It was the historic day when the Great Heroes’ Rebellion began.

The Crucible of Deus!

‘The legendary divine artifact that turns a mere human into a god…’

To obtain that great treasure, all the heroes of the world flocked to the Contaninos Republic.

The heroes searched for the calamity Rein.

And some, drawn by the scent of money and fame, began to ‘select’ or ‘cultivate’ heroes by establishing guilds. Thus began the formation of a new market known as the guild business.

Clap, clap!

As light applause rang out, everyone’s attention turned to the young instructor who had appeared at the head of the table.

“Well, our guild masters? What thoughts come to mind after watching that video? Did you not think, ‘Ah, that one sentence inspired me to establish my guild!’ ? The first step to becoming a good master and a subordinate employee is to clearly recognize the significance and purpose of our organization.”

Before the official start of the meeting, an external instructor had been assigned to conduct a ‘Golden Master’ lecture, under the pretext of a leadership healing lesson.

‘A healing lesson at the meeting…’

It was a blatant way of saying it, but not incorrect.

There was only significance and ultimate goal of all guilds established within the past four years.

The Crucible of Deus.

It was only natural. After all, the Crucible of Deus was something that could break through the fourth wall of the mind and body…

Kwah-aang!

At that moment.

“Huhk!”

A massive explosion, loud enough to burst eardrums, shook the building.

“What’s going on?!”

The aides who had been seated all rose to their feet in unison. The moderator of the meeting, greatly flustered, was about to go outside the conference room to check the situation when…

“AAAAACK!!”

As the explosions continued one after another, Grayspear shouted.

“What are you idiots standing around for? Open your ears and evacuate!”

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Assassin butler actually being cool is a strange sight to see, they’re all so riled up about our family’s butler