Chapter 433: Maze Conference |
After the battle ended, the Red Dragon Guild simply set up camp on the spot.
Other adventuring guilds that arrived shortly after, after discussing with Gauss and the others, also set up camp on the periphery.
There was no other way. The strong ruled supreme. At least at this moment in the Maze, Gauss had the final say. The others could only follow behind him to get a piece of the pie, so they had no choice but to act according to his wishes.
If back on the fourth level of the Maze, the way Gauss demonstrated his power was still limited to the scouts' verbal accounts and the recorded images they brought back, remaining at a relatively superficial level of perception, then now, the scene of him slaying the lord creature on the fifth level was witnessed firsthand by members of all the adventuring guilds present.
Having personally experienced it, they could better appreciate the crushing, overwhelming power Gauss possessed, far beyond that of an ordinary adventurer.
None of the guild leaders present dared to confront him head-on. Even if they bundled all their high-end combat power together, they might not be able to gain much advantage.
Transcendent-level combat power was an extremely distinct and insurmountable chasm.
Even if a flock of sheep gathered, they could not threaten a fierce tiger.
Moreover, even if they could truly achieve the effect of "many hands make light work," they had to ask themselves: before achieving final victory, most of them would be consumed as fuel.
Therefore, this desperate gamble of judging both sides' combat strength was destined to remain nothing more than empty talk on paper.
Since they couldn't afford to provoke him, they could only rein in their own sharp edges.
Adventurers were never synonymous with tough guys. The ability to bend and stretch was what achieved great things.
Before entering the fifth level, the higher-ups of each adventuring guild had already held ideological meetings with their numerous members to ensure their people wouldn't, in a moment of brainlessness, rely on their numbers and cause unnecessary conflicts with the Red Dragon Guild like they might with other adventurers. If that happened, they wouldn't be able to shield their own people; instead, they would have to actively reprimand their subordinates.
Soon, the main tents of each adventuring guild received invitations from Gauss.
Gauss invited them to the Red Dragon Guild's main tent for a discussion to explore matters related to the fifth level of the Maze.
Normally, organizing a large-scale conference like this, gathering numerous adventuring guilds and powerful adventurer squads, would be very difficult in an environment like the Maze.
After all, everyone's strength was roughly similar; no one could take the lead.
Even if they reluctantly gathered together, it would be hard to discuss any substantive results. Human nature is greedy; everyone would want to secure more benefits for their own team.
In the end, it would only lead to a parting on bad terms.
But facing Gauss's invitation, everyone who received the notice immediately perked up with full attention.
From a combat power perspective, Gauss himself possessed Transcendent-level combat power, a powerhouse they couldn't afford to offend. Even though a few guilds here had Transcendent-rank leaders who hadn't come to the scene, the combat power Gauss displayed was not far inferior to theirs.
Moreover, if one looked at talent, Gauss, who could easily cross levels at such a young age and master that incredible power, was undoubtedly far stronger than the vast majority of powerhouses.
He wasn't even truly Transcendent yet, but he already possessed Transcendent combat power. What about when he leveled up to Transcendent?
And Transcendent was certainly not his endpoint. Even those least optimistic about Gauss wouldn't believe such a young genius would stagnate at the Transcendent stage. For Gauss, Transcendent could only be a waystation, even though for these "ordinary people," it was already the pinnacle of strength they dreamed of.
Outside the Ironhand Brotherhood's camp at this moment, George Bell, as the president, was adjusting his attire and still couldn't help but turn to the man beside him to ask for his opinion.
The man leaned down and gently straightened his collar for him.
After receiving the usual positive feedback from him, smelling that pleasant fragrance, George's mood couldn't help but calm down slightly.
To be honest, it had been a long time since he had felt this constrained and cautious.
The status of a Level 10 professional was almost at the pinnacle of what ordinary people could imagine. Even direct descendants of nobles in the city would show basic respect to someone like him, a hero among men, even if only for appearances' sake.
Only those whose own strength far surpassed his could make him feel nervous.
He had been fortunate enough to witness one of the few truly powerful existences among Transcendent powerhouses, the real masters behind the city's myriad industries.
The leader of Barry's top adventuring guild, the Golden Company, the Severing Sky String, a terrifying man named Wes August.
Even watching from over ten kilometers away, he felt a terrifying, almost world-destroying power from the arrow Wes shot.
And that arrow truly was like that. When it landed, a mountain peak crumbled and collapsed under the arrow's shockwave, leaving only a bizarre, massive crater.
A few of the strongest among Transcendents already possessed the ability to easily reshape terrain.
Powerhouses like them, who considered themselves heroes and were the envy of countless ordinary people, might be nothing more than insects in the eyes of such individuals, not even worthy of a single attack from them.
Even now, he couldn't comprehend that kind of terrifying power. It was like a frog in a well looking at the moon in the sky. It was only after that experience, after seeing what a true powerhouse truly was, that he reined in his pride and adopted a more humble and peaceful attitude in his dealings with others.
And Gauss, in his view, although still far from that top-tier Transcendent powerhouse, had already revealed a glimpse of that kind of presence.
Especially that unfathomable spatial magic. He had seen others cast similar spells, but the effect was simply incomparable to what Gauss could do. Gauss's spatial magic was like teleportation, with no reaction time whatsoever.
But other spellcasters, even if they had the talent and mastered similar spatial magic, would show obvious flaws: long preparation times, inability to use it flexibly in actual combat, and so on.
Clearly, Gauss's spatial talent, like his professional talent, utterly crushed ordinary people.
As for that sudden downpour of Magic Missiles, the Bigby's Hand that could shatter terrain for kilometers with a wave, and that pillar of light capable of instantly annihilating anything caught within it... all became extremely terrifying in the hands of Gauss, who also mastered instant teleportation.
A versatile spellcaster with maxed-out mobility, yet also possessing defensive and close-combat capabilities far surpassing a Warrior's. Honestly, with his experience, he currently couldn't see any flaws.
Weaknesses like Warriors fearing being kited or Mages fearing getting into close combat simply didn't exist on Gauss. Perhaps only a powerhouse clearly exceeding his current tier, descending from the heavens, could defeat him.
George Bell, having finished adjusting his clothes, walked out of the main tent, his mood becoming somewhat complex.
Come to think of it, he was even one of the earliest guild leaders in this Maze to have contact with Gauss. When Gauss first arrived at the fourth level, they happened to be resting at the exit camp.
At that time, he hadn't realized this young-looking guild leader possessed such formidable strength. He even formed a first impression of Gauss as rash because the Red Dragon Guild hurriedly set off to explore.
But who would have thought the reversal would come so quickly?
Facts proved that Gauss's "recklessness" was merely confidence in his own strength.
Later, on the fourth level, although he wanted to continue getting to know Gauss, the timing he chose wasn't great. Strictly speaking, this conference was actually their first meeting since parting ways last time.
He didn't bring many people, only two subordinates followed him.
On the way, other adventuring guilds did the same.
Everyone nodded to each other and then walked together toward the direction of the Red Dragon Guild's camp.
The atmosphere felt less like a negotiation between adventuring guilds and more like attending a leadership conference, though no one present felt this was inappropriate.
The Red Dragon Guild members worked quickly. The meeting venue had been set up in advance, using a very classic layout.
Two rows of seats were separated on either side of a central aisle, while the main seat at the front was reserved for Gauss.
Dozens of people crowded into one venue, making it quite lively.
Higher-ups from guilds with relatively good relationships also gathered in small groups of two or three to chat.
The fifth level was vast, and unlike the fourth level, this was a fertile land that had hardly been explored yet.
If the person presiding over the meeting wasn't Guild Leader Gauss of the Red Dragon Guild, they probably would have already rushed off eagerly to explore various areas. An ordinary person's face couldn't compare to the real gold, silver, and cultivation resources that ended up in their pockets.
Suddenly, a figure slowly walked in from the entrance. The gazes of those present instinctively turned toward him. It was a special kind of magnetism, as if even standing among thousands of people, one could spot him at a glance.
Gauss, having finished washing up, wore only a very ordinary, lightweight white shirt and a pair of loose, billowy black pants. The fabric was also very common. Compared to most people present, this outfit itself even seemed shabby.
Yet, at this moment, this set of clothes on Gauss seemed to possess a unique charm.
Simple, pure, even faintly emitting a soft white light, as if it were the most top-tier, luxurious item, yet without the ostentatious feeling brought by complex decorations.
If he walked out of a forest at night dressed like this, ordinary people would probably mistake him for a deity walking upon the earth.
As soon as Gauss entered the tent, the previous chatter instantly ceased.
It was an instinctive reaction.
Like birds in a forest suddenly encountering a bird of prey, they were all instinctively awed by him.
However, after reacting, everyone quickly forced smiles onto their faces and stepped forward to greet Gauss.
"Guild Leader Gauss, your heroic bearing is truly something to envy."
"Your strength, to be honest, there aren't many people I, old Harold, have admired in my life. You definitely count as one."
"Yes, before we came, we were worried about whether we could handle the fifth level. Now with Guild Leader Gauss here, our hearts are finally at ease."
"You flatter me."
Voices rose one after another.
At first, some were constrained by their status and felt embarrassed to speak, but seeing all those usually aloof and haughty individuals stepping forward to chat one by one, they also hurried up to get acquainted.
"Guild Leader George, we meet again. Thank you for the information and reminders you provided earlier."
When George stepped forward to take the initiative to greet him, Gauss instead spoke first.
His impression of this guild leader was quite good. When he first arrived at the fourth level, although the other party had advised him not to rush into exploring, he could sense that his intentions at the time weren't bad.
George Bell was slightly taken aback, then quickly reached out to shake Gauss's hand.
"Guild Leader Gauss, as long as you don't blame me for speaking out of turn."
George seemed somewhat embarrassed.
Putting himself in Gauss's shoes, he figured Gauss probably found people like him somewhat laughable.
"How could I?" Gauss smiled and shook his head, his expression quite peaceful, giving off a trustworthy feeling.
He wasn't an arrogant or overbearing person by nature; he always tried to get along with others, unless the other party had poor character or actively sought trouble with him.
Partly because he himself had come up from being a bottom-tier adventurer without anyone to support him, so he understood better how hard-won his current strength and companions were.
There was no need to deliberately slight others to satisfy a momentary whim or to establish authority, since the strength he had already displayed was the best prestige anyway.
It was possible that someone seemingly insignificant could be connected to a troublesome big shot. So, it was better to remain friendly.
Of course, this wasn't weakness. If the other party insisted on looking for trouble, he would launch a swift and decisive counterattack, ensuring to clean up any potential roots thoroughly.
The two exchanged a few more extra words of conversation.
Soon, everyone began to take their seats.
Gauss took the initiative to sit in the main seat. After some polite deference, the others also sat down in their respective places.
Then, the Maze exploration conference organized and led by the Red Dragon Guild officially began.
Ivan served as the assistant, helping to advance the meeting agenda.
First, naturally, was the handling of the monster corpse materials from the creatures Gauss and the others had slain.
They didn't have that many logistics personnel, and besides, using that time to explore other areas of the Maze's fifth level was more worthwhile. So, naturally, they had to subcontract it out, just like they did on the fourth level.
Some adventuring guilds had sufficient numbers in their logistics teams. Even without considering Gauss's face, they themselves were willing to take on similar "business" since there were profits to be made.
After rough processing, the transport teams would deliver the materials to familiar Merchant Guilds outside for sale, earning a decent profit.
No one would turn away money.
The difference was only in how many gold coins it would take to secure those several thousand corpse materials.
The meeting site held a bidding process akin to an auction.
In the end, it was secured by George of the Ironhand Brotherhood at the highest price.
Gauss was also somewhat surprised.
But upon careful thought, it actually made sense.
On one hand, although George's Ironhand Brotherhood was slightly lacking in top-tier combat power, they had a large number of grassroots members, with the capacity and manpower to handle the processing, transportation, and distribution of the materials.
Additionally, unlike some deputy leaders present, George could make decisions for the Ironhand Brotherhood with maximum authority.
Furthermore, he also seemed to have the intention of building a good relationship with him, so offering a high price wasn't strange.
George even proactively asked Gauss if he had any familiar Merchant Guilds in Barry.
After a moment's thought, Gauss actually did think of one.
It was just relatively small in scale: the Golden Beak Trading Company, belonging to the family of Hayley, one of his earliest partners.
After a moment's hesitation, he recommended Hayley's family's trading company to George. After all, whoever made the profit, it might as well support an old teammate's venture.
George carefully noted down the Golden Beak Trading Company and this person named Hayley, planning to instruct his external trade department to treat them seriously upon his return.
However, he didn't seem to have heard of this trading company's name.
But he could only temporarily attribute it to his own lack of knowledge. After all, someone who could be acquainted with Gauss should, in theory, be a very powerful, large trading company in Barry.