So it turned out—everyone knew Count Sindro. That made things much easier.
Dawei crossed his arms and smirked. "The system says she 'suspects' me, but let's be real—suspicion only exists when there's already some level of trust. No one doubts a total stranger—they just ignore them. If the badge confirms it belonged to Sindro, then it means one thing: I killed him. Or at the very least, I killed the Vampire Count. Same difference."
With his thoughts aligned, Dawei took out the Stone of Sighs and placed it before Candice.
Her expression changed instantly—genuine surprise. It reminded him of when the Great Sage Diosse had examined the stone and speculated about the source of Hindlow's corruption. If Candice, a demigod and Guild President, knew Hindlow's past, she'd definitely recognize what this item meant.
Her voice turned quiet. "So it really was Cain—the ancestor of all vampires... No wonder Hindlow fell. According to Mercenary Guild records, he was once a righteous knight, favored by fate itself. He even defeated demons in his youth… but against Cain's overwhelming power, his fall was inevitable."
[System Prompt: You've successfully convinced Candice. Her favorability has increased. Candice is now Friendly toward you.]
[System Prompt: Your reputation within the Mercenary Guild has increased – Current Status: Friendly.]
That last prompt made Dawei's eyebrows rise.
Gaining the favor of Candice wasn't just about one NPC. As the president of the Mercenary Guild, her goodwill basically meant the entire faction now saw him in a positive light. While other players were grinding fetch quests just to talk to entry-level mercs, Dawei had already jumped the line.
Not bad, not bad at all. Though… why was it so easy?
He scratched his chin.
Candice is a demigod-level NPC, higher than Diosse, who's just a top-tier mortal. By logic, she should be harder to impress, not easier.
Then it clicked.
No matter how powerful a mortal gets, they're still locked in the mortal realm. Gods don't pay attention to ants, no matter how strong the ant is. But Candice wasn't just power—she had a history with the bounty guild. What Dawei said wasn't just impressive—it was personally meaningful.
Candice began to recount the past, filling in the blanks that Diosse's explanation had left behind.
"The Mercenary Guild you see now was once the Bounty Guild. It stood as a beacon of justice, with Hindlow as its brightest star… until he fell. His fall not only broke the Guild—it shattered the world."
Dawei listened closely.
"Hindlow, the pride of the Bounty Guild, once defeated demons on the front lines. But when he fell under Cain's influence and became a vampire, he returned as our greatest enemy. The war that followed devastated the guild. Our best hunters died trying to stop him."
She paused, her voice low. "We won, technically. But we lost everything."
Dawei nodded thoughtfully. "It wasn't the guild's weakness. It was Hindlow's immortality. The only thing that could kill him was Cain's power. I was just… lucky enough to learn that secret."
Candice looked at him with deep appreciation. "You've given us clarity. For centuries, people believed we were defeated by the darkness… but you've shown that it wasn't our strength that failed, but the impossibility of the task. Thank you for restoring our honor."
[System Prompt: Mission "Prove Strength" – Completed.]
Candice smiled. "For your contributions, this is your reward."
[System Prompt: Candice will teach you a skill. Accept? Yes / No]Note: Learning this skill will consume 1 Skill Book.
No hesitation.
Dawei tapped Yes.
[You have learned "Wind Speed Strike." Skill Book -1.]
[Wind Speed Strike]Condition: Requires ranged weapon.Effect:
For spellcasters: grants Wind-Speed Casting
For physical classes: grants Wind-Speed Shooting
He whistled. That's new.
This wasn't a one-size-fits-all generic skill. The effect adapted to the user's class type. As a weapon master, Dawei would gain high-speed firing techniques if he used a bow or crossbow, while a mage would benefit from near-instant casting.
The beauty president really knows how to play—ignore the class restrictions and just teach a skill that bends to your build. No wonder otakus worship her.
The reward claimed, Dawei leaned back.
Now came the question: what exactly had he done to deserve all this?
Candice answered by playing with the bounty badge still in her hand. Her expression turned solemn.
"When the Bounty Guild collapsed, it created more than just a power vacuum. It split the world in two—Light and Darkness. That was the birth of the modern era."
Dawei frowned. "And… what does that have to do with me?"
"Everything," Candice said. "People viewed Hindlow's betrayal as proof that darkness was more powerful than light. It was the beginning of the great divide. But now you've shown us the truth—his fall wasn't about strength. It was about corruption. Immortality. Cain."
Dawei nodded. So this is what she meant by 'contribution.' I didn't just kill a boss—I rewrote the narrative that started the global conflict.
"That guilt… that shame we carried for centuries—it was never truly ours," Candice whispered.
Dawei shrugged with a smirk. "Darkness doesn't need Hindlow to exist. It was always there. People just needed someone to blame. That's not on you."
[System Prompt: Candice's favorability has increased again!]
Her smile returned. "Spoken like someone who hasn't been blinded by either side. I admire that. That's why I'm giving you an important mission."
[System Prompt: Candice is offering you a new quest. Accept? Yes / No]
Dawei blinked. "...Wait, what? No details? Just accept or decline?"
He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Is this a blind contract? No quest name? No description? No rewards?"
It was the equivalent of boarding a train and being asked to buy a ticket after it starts moving.
He stared at the glowing Yes/No prompt.
"If this is a pit, it better be a god-tier one."