Infinite Genius

The Fake Clipper

After Ben was gone and Shin remained in his seat thinking about all the new information he obtained, an inn keeper of Hawkwar approached Shin and offered him a place to stay for the night. Since he was so tired and did not wanted to disappoint the inn keeper, he agreed.

The inn keeper took Shin to his place and showed him the room.

Shin thanked him for his kindness.

The inn keeper bowed his head down and said in a voice filled with respect "Great hero...no need to thank me...its my atmost pleasure to serve one of the gaurdians of this land...please enjoy your stay...and please don't mind to call me for anything you want, anytime".

After the inn keeper was gone, Shin closed the door, lied down on the bed and looked out through the window on the side. He was going through a wide variety of thoughts as usual.

He thought " I wonder how things are going in the real world at the moment...Had anyone noticed my disappearance?...Is anyone looking for me right now??...nahhh...no way!"

Shin closed his eyes, slowly falling to sleep.

That night passed. The next day morning. The bright sunlight that radiated into the room through the window waked up Shin. Waking up he rubbed his eyes with his hands. Just then he heard lot of noise outside. Going near to the window he looked down outside. To his astonishment, so much people gathered around on the street in front of the inn. He suddenly pulled down the curtain of the window. He thought " Why is it so much people here?...Did something happen?...are they here to see me?"

Suddenly Shin heard a knock on his door. He opened the door and see it was the inn keeper.

Like usual he bowed to Shin and said "Good morning great hero...there are some important people here to see you...please come downstairs."

Shin in a hurry said " ok...give me a seconds". Then he closed his door and thought "Important people who are they...rulers of the land maybe...but he said people...so is it the other clippers or rather is it the central association? ". Whoever it was Shin decided to meet them.

He gone downstairs. The inn keeper was waiting there . As he saw Shin, bowed again as usual and told " Everyone is waiting outside master ".

"Doesn't this guy ever get tired of bowing" Shin thought.

He opened the front door of the inn.

The surrounding crowd started cheering.

There were three people on the right side and four people on the left side, dressed very much in royal style, standing in a line before the main door.

Shin asked himself in his mind "Who are these people...?"

One person standing on the right side , came in front nearer to Shin, bowed down to him with great respect and started talking " Great hero, Gaurdian of Azgal...we all know you are confused"

Shin kept on looking at that guy, closely hearing to what what he is saying.

The person stood straight and continued talking " No need to be in doubt great hero...the people standing before you are the masters of the top most powerful and only S ranked guilds in the World of Azgal. Everyone is here today to greet you sire !"

As he stopped his speech, each of them started introducing themselves.

From the right a very gentle looking young man bowed down to Shin and said " I am the master of the top most powerful guild, 'Dragon Kin', Drake Velmond... it is a great honour to meet you young hero "

Then the man standing next to him who looked like a middle aged guy with a well built physique, started talking. "My name is Ryugen Den, I am the master of fifth most powerful guild 'Night Walker' ".He bowed to Shin as well.

Man in front of Shin, who initiated the conversation started talking " I am the master of sixth most powerful clan 'Hollow Light'. My name is Gordon Green. Please accept this little creatures warm greeting." He bowed down.

"Off all people present here, this guy has the most weirdest fashion..."Shin thought,  seeing the weird fashioned dress he was wearing.

Moving on to the next, this time it was not a human but a dwarf. Shin was very excited too see him. He was just a little short then shin, with a muscular body and carried a two headed axe on his back. With a smile the Dwarf bowed down and talked "Great hero, my name is Hugo Wilder, I am the master of the second most powerful clan 'Red Empire'. I am also the most powerful adventurer of Azgal. Glad to be in your presence sire "

"Hohoho...the most powerful huh?...you should better look around old man?" the master of Dragon Kin guild said.

"Do you want to find answer to that right now, little boy?!" Hugo replied. Both of them were intensely staring into each others eyes. The surrounding wind suddenly felt heated up a little. Shin and the people around felt an immense pressure. 

Shin's mind was running wild with thoughts "What in the world is this...?". 

At that time Ryugen interrupted and said "Ehem...both of you better stop. We are in the presence of one of the great masters."

Hearing this, both of them stopped giving off that intense presence and apologized to Shin.

Shin replied with that weird smile filled with unsurety " it's...It's ok...hahaha...."

"Look at these people acting like children as always" saying this, one person who was standing on the left line of masters, came to the front before Shin, removed the hood which he was wearing and bowed down. A huge person with the face of a tiger, white in colour - a beastmen

His appearance startled Shin a little, but he somehow managed to not show it outside.

The beastman continued "Sire, I... King Cruzo is the master of the fourth most powerful guild 'Havoc'...at your service".

"Oh... look at that cat glowing today " a male strong voice from the back.

Cruzo turned his head ,looked back with an immense killer gaze.

"oh no...here we go again" Shin thought.

The other two remaining masters, removed their hood showing their pointy long ears, icy white skin and golden hair. Elves...one was male and another woman.

"Calm down ...cat " the male elf said to Cruzo with a smirk on his face.

"You darn elf are you trying to belittle me before 'this great one'?" Cruzo replied in anger.

"Hehehe... I..."as the male elf was about to say something, the female elf stopped him.

He seem calmed down all of a sudden.

The male elf bowed down to Shin and introduced himself " My name is Orion Necter...the master of guild 'Clover', the third strongest guild of Azgal".

The woman elf also bowed down and introduced herself " I am Claire Holden...master of the guild 'Venus' and wife of Orion" .

Hearing that Shin thought "Wife huh?...no wonder he stopped when she interfered"

A little smile appeared on Shin's face.

He kept on diving deep into his thoughts " So these are the most powerful guilds here...Why didn't brother Ben informed me about them yesterday...Is this what he meant by surprise??...well this is too much for a surprise...So why these guys here?...just to see me and greet me...or something else?!..."

As Shin was focused on his thoughts, Ryugen moved forward and said " Great hero...we all are here with a humble request!"

Shin, hearing Ryugen's words came to his senses from his world of thoughts.

"What..?!"Shin asked in an unintentional manner.

Every masters in the same voice shouted " Hero...please join my guild...!"

Shin looked even more confused and lost. He thought " First I traveled to this world, then I met some very strange people, now the top most powerful guilds are recruiting me...nothing makes sense"

"By the way sire, why are you not emitting any presence?" Drake asked.

That question put Shin to wonder "emit?...presence?.."

Hugo said " I see you are hiding it, right?...you really are something great one."

Shin replied "Actually I don't know what you guys are talking about. I ain't hiding anything."

Hearing this, everyone was looking at each other, then suddenly Ryugen clapped his hands and said out loud " Bring that to me".

A guy from the sides of the crowd, walked towards Ryugen with a box in his hands. He handed the box to Ryugen and returned. Ryugen opened the box. A very mysterious pink coloured crystal was inside the box.

Seeing the crystal Drake said in astonishment " A 'truth crystal'...how did you get it??"

Ryugen replied " One of our guild members found it in a dungeon, while on a S rank mission."

Ryugen turned to Shin " Young hero...this is a truth crystal. It is a very rare crystal...it brings out the truth in oneself...means if you are hiding something intentionally or unintentionally this crystal will bring it out...please place your hand on the crystal...if you don't know your power yet this will help unlock your true potential"

After completing his explanation Ryugen extended the crystal in his hands to Shin.

Shin was very excited and afraid at the same time. 

He thought "What ever happens...let's face it!".

He moved his right hand towards the crystal and placed it on top of the crystal.

All people gathered around were looking at the scene with eager faces on what is going to happen next. But to their disappointment,...... nothing happened. 

Everyone seem confused, including the guild masters.

Shin stood still in that position placing his hands over the crystal not knowing what to do.

Hugo asked looking at Ryugen "Ryugen are you sure, this is the 'real truth crystal'?...its not working...it is not fake, is it??"

"OR IS IT BECAUSE THE HERO IS FAKE ?!" a voice from the crowd. Everyone including Shin looked towards that direction.

A tall slim old man came to the front of the crowd. There was a crooked smile on his face.

Seeing him Gordon, the master of guild Hollow Light said "That is...the advisor of central association ...Oliver Wyatt"

Seeing that man, Shin's mind sensed a danger coming on his way.