Kaito spoke calmly, "Besides, I can also provide you with the coordinates of four sub-elite and two elite monsters—along with complete strategies. All I ask in return is half of whatever loot they drop."
His final words weren't a favor. They were a deal.
The kind of deal that might seem lopsided—especially since those six monsters weren't something a solo player could take down. Each of them roamed areas teeming with threats. Only organized, large-scale parties could handle them properly.
Eventually, once Stormlife and Crimson Rose solidified their control over South Glade and started exploring the surrounding zones, they'd stumble upon those monsters anyway. By that point, there'd be no reason to give Kaito half the drops. Even so, both Zephyr and Velena found the offer more than acceptable.
Taking a small loss now was worth maintaining a long-term relationship with someone like Raen.
"Four sub-elites and two elites…" Zephyr's expression tightened. The more he heard, the more alarmed he felt. Just how had this guy uncovered so much? Was he secretly a developer? Did he even sleep?
A medium-sized map typically held only three elite or sub-elite monsters at most. Town maps were even smaller. Even the Echoing Deep's entrance—a massive area spanning nearly 10,000 yards—barely qualified as a smaller medium-sized map.
And now Raen was casually offering coordinates to six high-value monsters?
If they managed to rotate through those six every day, Their guilds could earn dozens of high-level Bronze gear pieces and several skill books. With a bit of luck, even Silver gear could drop. This wasn't just a good deal—it was an opportunity to snowball their lead in the early stages of Glory.
"And there's more," Kaito added casually. "There's a Level 11 Iron-ranked boss in the Bat Cave, and another in the Corroded Swamp west of Echoing Deep. That swamp also houses the town's only known Bronze-ranked boss—a Level 18 threat."
He leaned forward slightly.
"I've already worked out strategies for both. I'll give you the first skill-clear notice. But on one condition: I need to be there for the kill. I want the honor points. The drops go to me."
Zephyr and Velena both frowned slightly at the condition—but before they could object, Kaito raised a hand.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not being greedy," he said, tone cool. "I could just share the coordinates now and let you figure it out yourselves. But if you fail, you waste time and manpower. If you want guaranteed results—call me. If not, try your luck."
After hearing Kaito's words, both Zephyr and Velena let out helpless sighs.
Having experienced the Echoing Deep dungeon firsthand, they knew exactly how brutal Glory's mechanics could be. Before Kaito had provided his guide—and personally led them through key stages—their teams had been wiped out twice each. It was then they realized that Glory's bosses weren't like those of past VRMMORPGs.
These weren't just stat walls. Each boss had unique mechanics, attack patterns, timing windows, and skill synergies that punished mistakes with ruthless precision.
More than anything, it wasn't just about gear—it was about adapting to this new era of combat. If Stormlife Guild or Crimson Rose had their average level at 15 and had no level penalties, the Echoflame Sovereign would have fallen much more easily. At the very least, their attacks would deal more than single-digit damage.
"Well, that's all I have for now," Kaito said calmly, standing from his chair. "Since we've agreed to cooperate, I'll continue supporting you—but only once the deal is in motion. My involvement won't come for free, as the payment only begins after you become guild president. I have no intention of letting my initial investment go to waste."
He turned to Velena. "And Crimson Rose—if you're willing to accept the same conditions, everything I've offered is open to you as well."
He smiled faintly.
Honestly, Kaito didn't have much experience in supporting others to rise to power. But results spoke louder than anything. If first-kill announcements, consistent dominance over elite monsters, and flawless dungeon clears weren't enough to earn someone their seat at the top—then the problem wasn't competence.
It was politics.
"Okay," Velena and Zephyr both nodded in unison.
"But we have one more condition," Zephyr added.
The two of them exchanged a glance—then said in sync, "We want the first-clear announcement for the next Hard-difficulty dungeon in South Glade Town."
Kaito raised an eyebrow.
He had considered offering it earlier but decided against it, unsure how far they were willing to go. He didn't want to make them too prominent and risk dragging unnecessary heat on them from Zastrelis City's superguilds.
To think they would bring it up themselves—and even lower the difficulty from what he had expected.
Kaito chuckled inwardly.
They're still underestimating me. They think I can't repeat a King-level clear this early in the game.
But what interested him more was their intention. Both Zephyr and Velena had been veterans in their respective guilds for years. There was no way they weren't aware of the underlying power plays between the top guilds.
That they were now willing to push forward—willing to risk visibility—meant only one thing.
They no longer wanted their guilds to remain second-rate.
Kaito smiled faintly to himself.
This was good. Let Stormlife and Crimson Rose hog the spotlight. Genesis had already drawn enough attention. From here on, it was all about control—quiet, calculated expansion.
"Alright," he said. "But the dungeon drops belong to me. If that's acceptable, let's finalize the deal and sign the contract."
Seeing them agreeing, Kaito nodded and brought up the contract interface. A translucent golden scroll appeared before him—an in-game system that most players had long forgotten or outright ignored.
The Contract System had existed in Glory since day one. However, due to its steep price—12 silver coins per contract—very few had used it during the early stages. With most players still struggling to scrape together copper, formal contracts were a luxury few could afford. Verbal agreements, handshakes, and guild chat promises had become the standard.
But Kaito was no ordinary player.
He knew the true weight of the Contract System.
This wasn't just a mechanical feature. The God of Law, a powerful deity recognized within the core of Glory's lore and systems, personally presided over every contract signed through this feature. He was a neutral entity bound to the will of balance and order—his only allegiance was to the game's laws.
Violating a contract overseen by the God of Law wasn't just a matter of penalties or fines.
It could result in a permanent ban from Glory.
In fact, by the time Glory reached its global height, this Contract System had gained more legal authority than many real-world agreements. Corporations, chambers of commerce, trading syndicates—even government proxies—had begun using in-game contracts for high-stakes deals. Why? Because unlike real-world loopholes, the Contract System was absolute. There was no court case. No appeals.
Only judgment.
And the God of Law never erred.
Kaito calmly began drafting the terms.
Each clause was etched into the golden scroll in real-time, glowing with divine runes. Across the table, Zephyr and Velena watched in silence, the gravity of the moment sinking in. They knew what signing this meant. It wasn't just a player alliance anymore. This was a strategic merger, backed by Glory's highest enforcement mechanism.