In This Rebirth, The Male Lead Is Mine [BL]
Chapter 77: Annual Guild Convention (1)

Chapter 77: Annual Guild Convention (1)

Participants from all over the official guilds, which were guilds recognized by the Union, started arriving one after another. A building beside the Union Headquarters was reserved specifically for this event to serve as accommodation.

"The buildings are huge," Kianna commented with both envy and awe. Buildings in the green zones weren’t as restrictive as in the yellow zones. Here, one could see a lot of buildings at a similar height or even higher than the guild’s headquarters back home.

Not long after, their car passed by the Union Headquarters and arrived at the accommodation building.

"Crimson Dark Guild..."

"That’s Guild Leader Han!"

Murmurs began as soon as they arrived, mostly from small to medium guilds. The main discussion was Kamille, but some still stared at Rise, knowing who he was; no one voiced out their opinions at least before he left.

Their party was not as famous as the official parties of the top three guilds; other than Kamille and Rise or the relatively well-known Hayes, the three were unknown and earned quite a few curious glances.

The group occupied the elevator alone; only then did the tensed members relax.

"Just get used to it." Rise’s voice broke the silence. He swept the four with his gaze, and they were obviously overwhelmed by the attention. "Being part of Guild Leader’s party, this much attention was natural."

Rise only casually gave the word to calm the atmosphere. After all, for him, this could not be said to be the real official party that he would go through thick and thin with. He was mainly talking about Hayes and Adelline.

As for Kianna or Oren, Rise could not care less about them. He would bother, for now. Perhaps, depending on their performance.

The four fell silent, and could not refute him. Since they really looked tense, even Hayes was a bit ashamed.

Unlike with other guilds, Dark Crimson was more reclusive. They rarely attend or host any special events. This is also because their Guild Leader, was not one to socialize with others other than official matters.

Ding!

The elevator then stopped at the right floor. It just so happened that after they stepped out of the elevator, another group also arrived on the same floor as them.

The two parties momentarily paused before a kind laugh reverberated.

"What do we have here?" The woman in front smiled, her beautiful smile was still prominent even with the obvious wrinkles in her face. She emitted the approachable air of an elderly.

Kamille paused, then bowed slightly as a respect, a genuine one.

"Madame Silla," Kamille called her name and greeted, not in the usual cold tone but was still rather reserved, which gained another laughter from the elder.

"You’re still so stiff." She approached and patted Kamille’s arm, then her gaze fell on the other members before it landed on Rise. Her inquisitive gaze paused at him for a few seconds.

"It must be Rise Lee." She smiled, "I’ve heard a lot about you, child."

Rise was not one to be intimidated, but he also knew how to respect someone. He chuckled at this. "What kind of scandal did you hear, Guild Leader Silla?"

While his tone was devoid of his usual mockery, it did not have the kind of respect the other usually held when talking with her either. Naturally, the members behind her became displeased about his attitude. Unkind gazes poured on him, wanting to pressure him.

If it were anyone, they might succumb to it, but he was Rise. No one could really pressure him to his knees, but it should always be the other way around.

"Now, now..." The elder woman laughed and waved her hand, dispelling the pressure in the air. She glanced at the members behind her as if scolding them, who immediately bowed their heads in apology.

She returned her curious yet interested gaze to Rise, while laughing more loudly. "You’re more interesting than the rumors!"

Rise only smiled without saying anything more.

The two sides seemed to have fallen into a bit of an ambiguous stalemate because of Rise.

However, Kamille and the elder woman converse in a calm tone.

They did not discuss anything complicated, and it only took more than a minute before the elder woman bid her goodbye.

"Sigh, if only you are like my son." The elder woman sighed in disappointment. A man behind her lowered his head, perhaps ashamed. "Let’s see us later."

She took a final glance at Rise and nodded her head with a kind smile before she proceeded with her members behind her, who also did not forget to give Rise glares.

Kamille did not take a step forward, as though wanting the elder woman’s entourage to finally enter their rooms.

"Rise... You’re really brave." Hayes sighed. He breathed the breath he was keeping in since they coincidentally met the other group. The three were no better; they were so tensed.

Rise sneered at him. "You’re just a coward."

Hayes’s eyelids twitched. Coward? He wanted to scream to Rise’s face that being a coward had nothing to do with it!

That was the Guild Leader of Lilac Rose, okay! The most powerful guild of humanity. It was said that their influence and power did not differ from the government.

Lilac Rose was also one of the oldest guilds and the only one that, for three generations, had one family reigning in as the master. The Silla family.

The current Guild Leader was the old woman earlier; in her fifties, she still held the position and would continue to do so for the next ten years. She was the oldest Esper, but one should not underestimate her.

Before their bickering grew more intense, Kamille finally glanced at them. "Let’s go."

Rise gave him a sweet smile, as if apologizing for his demeanor earlier. Kamille exhaled and did not reprimand him.

"Be careful in the future." Kamille could not help but say as Rise began to cling at him, the other trailing behind them.

"I know... She’s a cunning old woman." Rise did not hold back, almost making Kamille flinch.

He glanced at Rise, speechless more than ever. If he thought Rise would not surprise him anymore, he was always proven wrong.

Rise felt his surprise and laughed joyfully. "Am I wrong, Guild Leader?" Despite saying that, he clearly knew the answer.

Kamille gave up and could only advise again.

"No, you’re not wrong." Kamille blinked, agreeing. He looked ahead as if seeing the woman’s entourage. "She’s a cunning and dangerous woman."

Andrea Silla, the real-life empress of the current times. It was no surprise that she was not a simple person.

The group did not talk about this anymore and only treated it as a surprising encounter. After entering their rooms, each one of them washed up before ordering meals since they had not eaten anything yet.

***

Rise wandered out the streets, his feet going in the direction of the Union Headquarters. After getting his permission from Kamille, he decided to visit some old friends.

Indeed, old friends.

"You..." The old man almost cupped his chest in surprise; if he really had a heart condition, he already had a heart attack. "Uh... You’re here." His attitude quickly returned to calm aside from the obvious drop of sweat that appeared on his forehead.

Rise gave a playful smile as he sat on the sofa comfortably.

"Director, your reaction is a bit suspicious. Did you miss me one bit?"

The director wept inside of him; like hell, I missed you. However, on the surface, he still gave an ingratiating smile.

"Of course, of course." He nodded, agreeing with it.

"Oh?" Rise raised a brow, as if not convinced. Although he did not make it up for him. After all, at one point he still became his superior.

He cut to the chase and proceeded to what he came here for.

"Director, about the convention..." Before he was finished, the Director interrupted him.

"Ah... Rise, you know, I can’t say anything to you. Really. I’m already in a hard position when I let you go, and the higher-ups are keeping an eye on me." The director seemed hard-pressed this time not to give Rise what he wanted.

It was also true. The higher-ups were as surprised as the world when the news of Rise leaving the Union and joining the guild came out. For them, Rise was an important asset that the Union or the government could not possibly let go of no matter what.

However, the termination contract was already signed; no one was brave enough to proceed and question Rise or Kamille, so they could only take it out to the Union’s director.

Rise frowned and hated being interrupted. He rolled his eyes and stopped the incessant chatter. "I’m not talking about that, whatever you are thinking."

He did not come here to ask for insider info about the special gate, which was the important issue of this year’s convention. Rise already had an idea about it.

"Huh? Then... then what do you want?"

"If you just let me finish."

"Ah... hahaha. Please, continue." Giving an awkward laugh, the director gestured for Rise to finish.

Rise’s temper did not flare up this time, and he did continue to where he left off.

"Director, about the guilds participating in this year’s convention, can you give me a copy?"