Zephyr and Velena were secretly astonished.
Raen... the name was living up to its growing reputation.
After a long breath, Zephyr finally spoke up.
"If I become the next Guildmaster of Stormlife, I'll give you 5% of the guild's shares as thanks for your support."
His declaration caused a stir.
Even Marek and Revera visibly flinched.
Stormlife wasn't a top-tier guild yet, but with its current strength and history across multiple games, 5% shares could easily be worth nearly a million credits.
It was no small token.
But Kaito didn't react with surprise.
He didn't even raise an eyebrow.
Because 5% wasn't what tempted him.
What tempted him… was Stormlife itself.
"Could a second-rate guild really be bought out with just twenty million?"
That was the thought that crossed his mind.
Not that he planned to buy them now—not yet.
And truthfully, a guild like Stormlife wasn't worth buying just yet. Its potential was still limited.
But…
If he could start controlling guilds—indirectly through shares and influence—then Genesis wouldn't just be a studio anymore.
It would become a power broker.
A kingmaker.
Seeing Kaito hesitate—but not the slightest bit impressed—Zephyr's heart sank a little.
Sure enough,
5% wasn't enough to feed a lion.
"Brother Zephyr," Kaito finally said, shaking his head slowly, "you should know that in the early stages of the game, shares aren't profit. Unless I sell them outright—which is pointless—they're just paper."
Marek, growing anxious, quickly added from the side,
"But we've already developed in other games! Several divisions are already turning a profit—"
"Sell them."
Kaito cut him off cleanly.
His voice was calm, but carried weight.
"If you trust me at all, sell off all virtual assets from those games immediately."
The words dropped like a bomb.
Zephyr's pupils trembled.
He didn't know whether to believe Kaito—but something in his voice made him hesitate.
He had heard rumors… but nothing concrete.
Kaito didn't expect them to believe him. Not yet.
But he knew this:
The Earth Federation is going to shut every other game down one by one leaving only Glory.
And Once the collapse of the other games began, it would be the opening he needed.
The fall of the super guilds would leave a void—and Genesis would rise.
Dozens of mid-sized guilds and independent studios would be wiped off the board.
And that's why Kaito had already sent out messages to 10 different studios in the Silvercrest city, quietly lining them up for acquisition.
He was waiting for the exact moment to strike.
Because when the giants fell—only the fastest would survive.
As they say in troubled times only the heroes rise.
"Then… what do you want, Brother Raen?"
Zephyr asked, already sensing that he'd have to part with far more than just 5%.
Kaito met his gaze directly.
"10% of the guild's shares."
A short pause.
"Plus—50% of all common and special materials Stormlife acquires will be sold directly to me… at 90% of market price."
Zephyr's expression shifted.
But Kaito wasn't done.
"In exchange, I'll give you first access to all gear, potions, and consumables I produce. And during wartime… I'll sell at 30% off base market price."
Kaito's offer was undoubtedly audacious.
He wasn't just asking for 10% of Stormlife's shares—he was also demanding half of all materials and item drops, the very lifeblood of any rising guild.
Every veteran knew the reality:
A guild that couldn't support its own subclass teams—for potion crafting, forging—would collapse the moment a war broke out.
Because if a guild had to purchase everything from the open market, its funding chain could be cut off overnight.
But developing subclass players was a massive investment.
Training even one took immense time and resources—and a staggering amount of materials.
Zephyr frowned deeply.
This wasn't a light price to pay.
But… he didn't refuse. Not right away.
Instead, he met Kaito's eyes and asked:
"Brother Raen, if I may—how exactly do you intend to help me?
With all due respect, you've already offended a number of powerful factions by releasing those strategy guides. If you step in openly, you'll attract even more attention.
And if they pressure the current guild master, I could be eliminated—long before Derrick even makes a move."
Kaito didn't respond immediately.
He knew Zephyr had a point.
He had indeed made enemies—more than a few.
By publishing the Normal and Elite-level dungeon guides, he had robbed countless elite players and guilds of their first-clear opportunities.
It wasn't something they'd forget. Or forgive.
But Kaito didn't argue.
He simply reached into his inventory… and pulled out a glass vial.
A Minor Regeneration Potion.
The second everyone at the table saw it, the atmosphere shifted.
Velena sat up straighter.
Marek narrowed his eyes.
Even Revera's calm face showed a flicker of surprise.
Potions that restored health and mana over time were the most valuable combat supplies in the game.
Yet up until now, no one had found the recipe for one—not even after reaching Level 20.
"This…" Zephyr's voice trailed off. "But… according to the official announcements, only monsters above Level 20 have a chance of dropping recovery potion recipes…"
They had sent scouts, researchers—even offered coin rewards.
The only known recovery potions were found in high-tier treasure chests, special questline treasuries, or as rare drops from named hostile NPCs.
Even enhanced elites, treasure monsters, and Horror-mode dungeon bosses didn't drop them.
But now… one was sitting in Kaito's hand.
"The Everhold Dominion was just bled dry today," Kaito said casually, rotating the vial between his fingers.
"They've lost men. Gear. Morale."
He let that hang in the air before continuing.
"But if you had an exclusive supply of minor regeneration potions—enough to sustain a dungeon-clearing team or even an entire warband—you both could force them out of South Glade without losing another soldier."
Everyone at the table froze.
"As for Derrick…" Kaito smirked.
"Even with Silent Reign's help, it won't be easy. His branch may have won some scraps today, but their average level is bound to drop—and it's going to cost them dearly."
He leaned back.
"Meanwhile, you… just crushed a force that they needed to establish dominance.
You think your guild leader won't notice that?"
The table fell silent again.
Even Velena sat in silence.
Initially, she had only agreed to attend this meeting out of courtesy—because Zephyr had privately informed her of his predicament. Given their solid cooperation in recent battles, she had agreed to lend support. In return, she had also asked that if she ever needed help in the future, Zephyr would stand by her.
But now, after listening to Kaito lay out the pros and cons so clearly, she found herself thinking deeply.
She understood what Kaito was doing.
He wasn't just making an offer to Stormlife—he was also making one to Crimson Rose.
And since she was the Guild President, the decision was entirely in her hands.
Whether Crimson Rose would become a part of this larger deal… would be up to her.
After playing Glory for the past few days, Velena had already realized something—this game was nothing like the virtual reality titles they had conquered before with sheer numbers. Glory wasn't just different… it was a game filled with unprecedented opportunity. An opportunity that could elevate Crimson Rose to an entirely new level.
But for that to happen, she needed a much stronger foundation.
Her guild's current base wasn't enough.
Not yet.