Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey
Chapter 199: Sunless

The elevator doors slid open, and Lily and I stepped inside. I pressed the button for the top floor, where the guild's main office was located. The elevator ascended smoothly, and Lily's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"Big brother, this building is so tall! Are there lots of strong people here?" she asked, gazing up at the towering structure.

I chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Yeah, Lily. This is where our guild, Sunless, operates. There are indeed many strong people here."

As the elevator reached the top floor, the doors opened to reveal a spacious and modern office space. The Sunless Guild emblem adorned the walls, and guild members were engaged in various activities.

The area I was currently in was the main reception area of the guild. The higher floors were office spaces for administrative management, and the lower floors were for heroes as they provided training facilities and other things heroes required like a potion station and supply replenishment areas.

The ground was covered in a red carpet, and large TV screens were installed in the corner of the space with constant updates on the news and which dungeons were available for raids.

Looking at the scenery before me, I couldn't help but be amazed.

"Lucas!"

Snapping out me out of mvere, was the cheerful sound of my mom's voice.

Turning toward her, I smiled slightly and said

"Hey mom, how's work?"

"As you can see easy."

I nodded my head slightly at that after all she couldn't make it home this morning, she and Dad doing work all night.

"Lilly come to Mom."

"No! I want to be with Big Brother. " Lily said as she tightened her grip around my neck and shook her head wildly.

Mom glared at her, feeling her glair Lily turned toward me which I could only avoid and pretend to feign ignorance.

…I'm sorry.

my mother, took Lily by her hand and urged me to follow her.

"Alright, Follow me up to meet your dad"

Nodding my head I started to follow behind her, as I followed my mother I could feel the stairs of the guild members.

I turned my head towards them and they quickly avoided my eyes.

'Weird, why is everyone staring at me?'

Then I remember something. When Lucas found out that he's mana core potential is [B rank] he stopped doing all training and became delinquent.

It was only for one year maybe but Lucas was doing all kinds of bad things.

For example, hanging out with some local gang members, fighting anyone and coming home for a few days.

But he stopped doing all of that when his father beat some sense into him.

After that, Lucas started his training again and took entrance to Nova Academy and by some luck, he got in.

After that, I was reincarnated in this body.

Sigh

A sigh escaped my mouth, can't believe they believe they still hold onto the past.

'Just a bunch of fools.'

Not caring what they thought of me I continued to walk behind mom.

Suddenly she stopped moving, I walked by her side I saw her face become grim.

I looked towards the direction of where she was starting.

I saw a man standing ahead in front of my headmaster guild office.

My eyes widened when I saw him. A sudden memory comes to my mind.

That man is the Vice-guild leader of the Sunless guild. Jim Darkheart.

Yes, he is a Darkheart. My uncle and my father's younger brother.

He had shoulder-length hair that was curved up slightly, and he had a well-trimmed black beard that nicely fitted around his jaw. The solemnity given off by his extraordinary appearance was similar to that of my father.

He was a very greedy and shady man from what I remember from Lucas's memories.

Staring at him in the distance, my eyes narrowed into slits as I closely scrutinized him.

…According to Lucas's memory, He was a ranked Hero, just slightly weaker than my father, and was selected by the guild investors to become the Vice-guild master. With the aid of the board of directors, he managed to convince them to overthrow the guild leader. My father.

My father knew he was not right for the title of Vice-guild leader but he could do nothing because investor

"…hm?"

As I closely scrutinized Jim, a youth walked out from behind him.

Like Jim, he also has shoulder-length hair with a black colour he was a handsome young man with black eyes.

I also know him from Lucas's memory, he is my cousin, Jack Blackheart son of Jim Blackheart.

We are the same age but his potential ranked his [A-].

I don't like him at first glance, he is very arrogant.

As he followed from behind him, with his back straight he would look down on everyone present in the room. Almost as if he owned the place.

As Jim and Jack were walking, Jim's eyes suddenly drifted toward us. A smirk soon emerged on his face.

"Follow me, Jack".

Ploughing through the crowd of people, Jim and Jack soon stopped in front of me and my mother.

Looking at my mother, Jim politely smiled and said

"It's a pleasure seeing you here Sarphina."

My mother makes disgusting faces but only for a while and quickly hides them, A small smile comes to her face.

"Hello Jim, So what's bring you today at Guild, You never come here."

"Haa, about that just small and serious talk with big brother."

"Did you forget that everyone must have to call him guild master, including you?"

Air becomes thick, as they silently stairs at each other, turning his snake-like eyes toward me, he said

"Ahh! Look at this, Lucas come back home and I don't even know when. Lucas, it's been a long time since have seen each other, how are you?"

Jim's feigned warmth clashed with the underlying tension in the air. I met his gaze evenly.

"I've been doing well, Uncle Jim," I replied, emphasizing the familial tie while maintaining a respectful tone.

Jim's eyes lingered on Lily for a moment, his smirk deepening. "And she is Lily, right? It's been a long time since I saw her, look how big she became."

"Yeah, she is Lily" I stated, a protective edge in my voice.

Jim chuckled, his tone holding a veiled threat. "Family, huh? It's always complicated. Speaking of which, Lucas, we were just discussing a little family matter with your father. Why don't you join us?"

My mother's expression tightened, sensing the underlying motives in Jim's words. "We can discuss any family matters privately. There's no need to involve the guild," she insisted.

Jim's eyes flickered with annoyance, but he maintained his composed facade. "Seraphina, dear, sometimes family matters concern more than just those directly involved. We're merely looking out for the best interests of the Darkheart legacy."

-Click!

At that moment Guild headmaster's office doors opened and my father, Caelum DarkHeart walked outside.

Every member was about to bow their head to him but he stopped them with an eye gesture. Turning his head toward Jim, a deep frown appears on his face.

"Brothe-"

"It's a guild master, that's what you should call me."

Before Jim could say anything, Dad stopped him mid-sentence.

A tick mark appears on him but he hides.

"We were just about to discuss, Darkhert legacy, Guildmaster."

"A Darkhert legacy? What do you mean?".

"It's simple, I want my son to be the next head guild master of Sunless guild."