Chapter 310: Returning to City A

Silas, Chloe, Alpha, and Alicia sat inside a private vehicle rented for their transportation around City AF. The car moved smoothly through the busy streets, heading toward the national airport.

Outside the tinted windows, the city was as lively as ever. Advertisements flickered across enormous screens, awakened security officers patrolled intersections, and crowds gathered around public displays showing highlights from the National Victory Banquet.

Silas watched the scenery pass with a satisfied expression. Finally, they were leaving.

The banquet was over. Their official duties had been fulfilled, their rewards had been announced, and the endless stream of people wanting to speak with them had finally come to an end. Well, almost.

His phone still contained several unanswered messages, including a few from people who wanted to discuss business opportunities. He had also received invitations from different guilds and organizations hoping to establish connections with him, which he had ignored most of them.

For now, he had more important things to worry about, like his guild, or, more accurately, the name of his guild. Silas leaned his head against the seat. ’How hard can naming a guild be?’

Apparently, very hard.

He had spent a considerable amount of time searching the Internet, examining existing guild names, and even asking an AI for suggestions. The results had been disappointing. Some sounded like names for ordinary gaming clans. Others were so exaggerated that he felt embarrassed just reading them. Then there were the names that sounded suspiciously like organizations dedicated to conquering the world.

He wasn’t opposed to becoming powerful enough to conquer the world. He just didn’t want his guild to sound like it was advertising that intention.

"Why are you making that face?" Chloe asked.

"What face?" Silas asked in confusion.

"The one you make whenever you’re thinking too hard."

"I’m contemplating an important matter."

"That sounds serious."

"It is."

"What’s the matter?"

"I can’t name my guild."

There was a brief silence before Alpha burst out laughing. Alicia covered her mouth, attempting to hide her amusement.

"That’s what you’ve been thinking about?" Chloe asked him in shock.

"Yes."

"You survived Blackridge Tower, received the National Sovereign Medal, and gained unrestricted access to the Royal Vault. But naming your guild is what’s troubling you?"

"Exactly."

"You’re unbelievable."

"Thank you. It’s not easy, though..."

"That wasn’t a compliment."

"..."

Alpha chuckled from the opposite seat and said, "Why not call it the Silas Guild?"

Silas looked at him with genuine disappointment. "I expected better from you."

"What? It’s straightforward."

"It’s also terrible."

"Then call it the Pink Hair Guild."

Silas slowly turned his head, while Alpha grinned. Alicia immediately leaned away from him, pretending she had no connection to the man responsible for that suggestion.

Chloe burst out laughing.

"Actually, I like that one."

"No," Silas declared. "Absolutely not. My guild is not going to be named after my hair."

"Why not?" Alpha asked innocently. "Everyone would recognize you immediately."

"That’s precisely the problem." He crossed his arms. "I want a name that sounds powerful, memorable, and prestigious. Something that will still sound impressive a hundred years from now."

Alpha nodded thoughtfully and said, "The Pink Hair Guild of Eternal Domination."

Silas stared at him as if he’d just said poop tasted better than chocolate. Alicia finally lost her composure and laughed aloud, and even Chloe had to turn toward the window to recover.

"You’re officially banned from naming anything."

"That’s unfair."

"You’re lucky I’m not banning you from speaking."

"Now that’s just tyranny."

"Good. I’m the tyrant."

The four of them continued teasing one another as the vehicle approached the airport. Silas felt genuinely relaxed. The National Victory Banquet had been exhausting in ways he hadn’t anticipated. Between the official ceremonies, the media attention, the guild representatives, and Kelvina’s unexpected appearance, he had barely enjoyed a moment of peace.

Speaking of Kelvina...

It had been two days since Chloe’s meeting with her. The following day, Silas had finally managed to speak with the golden-haired woman himself. He had asked her about the thirteen calls, and Kelvina had been thoroughly embarrassed when she realized Chloe had told him.

Eventually, they had settled down and talked properly. Silas thanked her for the dance, wished her well, and bid her farewell before the Valecrest group finalized their departure plans.

There had been no dramatic confession, no sudden declaration of eternal love, and no attempt to force the situation into something it wasn’t. Just a conversation between two people who were still trying to understand each other.

Silas considered that a victory, a small one.

Unfortunately, his system had remained suspiciously quiet about the entire affair. He hadn’t forgotten its warning. He still had no idea what it meant. But for now, he had decided to leave the mystery alone. There were enough problems waiting for him in City A.

The vehicle arrived at the airport entrance, where airport staff directed them toward the private departure area. Their tickets had already been booked, and their luggage was handled quickly. After completing the necessary checks, they boarded their flight.

Silas settled into his seat and fastened his seat belt. Chloe sat beside him, while Alpha and Alicia occupied the seats across the aisle. As the aircraft began moving toward the runway, Silas glanced out the window. City AF stretched beneath them, its towers glittering in the afternoon sunlight.

He had arrived there as a student who had survived a catastrophic tournament. He was leaving with a national medal, a considerable collection of rewards, a growing list of powerful acquaintances, and an increasingly complicated romantic life. That was not a bad result, though he would have preferred fewer phone calls.

The aircraft accelerated, and moments later, they were airborne. Silas leaned back and closed his eyes.

’City A. My own bed. My own house. No banquet. No reporters. No more people asking me to give speeches.’

[Your expectations are optimistic.]

’What does that mean?’

[Multiple pending obligations remain unresolved.]

’I’m on vacation.’

[You’re currently traveling for personal and organizational purposes.]

’That’s another way of saying vacation.’

[Incorrect.]

Silas dismissed the window. He wasn’t going to argue with a machine while flying across the country. That would be ridiculous. He was a perfectly reasonable person.

The flight passed without any major incidents.

Alpha and Alicia spent most of the journey talking quietly, occasionally sharing looks that made Silas question whether the two of them had forgotten other people existed.

Chloe rested against his shoulder for a while, and Silas eventually fell asleep.

When he woke, the aircraft was already beginning its descent toward City A. The familiar skyline appeared through the window. Unlike City AF, which was crowded with officials, visiting academies, and tournament-related security personnel, City A felt comfortably familiar.

Silas had spent enough time there to recognize several districts from the air. More importantly, his estate was there, and somewhere beyond the city, the enormous compound he had recently acquired was waiting to become the headquarters of a guild that still didn’t have a name.

Silas sighed, "Back to reality."

"You say that as if you’ve been working hard," Chloe muttered.

"I’ve been emotionally exhausted."

"From what?"

"Life."

Alpha leaned across the aisle and whispered, "Don’t forget the Pink Hair Guild."

Silas pointed at him without looking.

"One more word and you’re walking home."

"From the airport?"

"Yes."

"That’s several hours away."

"Then you should start walking early."

Alicia laughed and pulled Alpha back into his seat as the aircraft touched down smoothly. After disembarking and collecting their luggage, the four made their way through the airport until they reached the designated pickup area.

A familiar black SUV was waiting nearby, and beside it stood Raymond. The moment Raymond spotted Silas, he straightened and raised a hand.

"Welcome back!"

Silas’s expression brightened.

"Raymond!"

He approached the SUV, handed over his luggage, and looked at the vehicle appreciatively.

"Now this is what I’m talking about. My car, my driver, my city. I’ve missed you, buddy."

Raymond chuckled. "You were only gone for a few days."

"A few very difficult days."

"I heard about the banquet." Silas froze as Raymond’s smile widened. "And the dancing."

He slowly turned toward Chloe, and she immediately looked away.

"Interesting," he murmured. Chloe smiled sweetly.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Raymond opened the rear door for them. "I also heard about the medal. Congratulations, young master. You’ve made quite a name for yourself."

"Thank you, Raymond."

Silas climbed into the SUV, followed by Chloe. Alpha and Alicia settled into the remaining seats. Once everyone was comfortable, Raymond entered the driver’s seat and started the engine.

"Shall we head home?"

Silas looked out through the windshield. For a moment, he simply enjoyed the sight of the city. He smiled.

"Yes. Let’s go home."

The SUV pulled away from the airport. As the familiar streets passed outside, Silas took out his phone and opened the group chat containing his women. He had a question for them-a very important question.

[Silas: I’m back in City A.]

Replies appeared almost immediately.

[Anna: Finally.]

[Gromda: WHEN ARE YOU COMING HOME?]

[Echidna: Welcome back.]

[Chloe: He’s sitting beside me.]

[Anna: I know. I’m asking when he’s coming home to the rest of us.]

Silas chuckled and typed his next message.

[Silas: I need help with something.]

[Anna: What happened?]

[Gromda: WHO DO I NEED TO PUNCH?]

[Echidna: Let him explain first.]

[Silas: Nobody needs punching. I’m trying to name my guild.]

The chat went silent, while Silas waited. Five seconds passed. Then ten. Finally, Gromda responded.

[Gromda: NAME IT THE DRAGON SLAYERS.]

Silas stared at the screen in disbelief.

’Why would I name my guild after something that might get me killed by dragons?’

Anna replied next.

[Anna: That’s terrible.]

[Gromda: YOU’RE TERRIBLE.]

[Echidna: We should consider the purpose of the guild before choosing a name.]

Silas smiled. Finally, someone sensible. Not that the rest were senseless. No one would know he thought that; he was doomed. Chloe leaned over and read the messages.

"What about the Pink Hair Guild?"

Silas locked his phone.

"No."

Alpha burst out laughing, while Alicia shook her head. Raymond glanced at them through the rearview mirror, clearly curious but wise enough not to ask. The SUV continued toward the estate.

Silas leaned back, surrounded by people he trusted, with his next major undertaking waiting just beyond the horizon. He still had a guild to establish, a mysterious system to investigate, rewards to collect, and several women whose opinions he needed to consider, but for now, he was home, and that was enough.

At least until someone suggested naming his guild the Pink Hair Guild of Eternal Domination.