The campaign in Moonlight City was advancing smoothly . Meanwhile, Nie Yan used all sorts of methods to amass more wealth . He wanted to ensure the guild wouldn’t run short on funds while at war .
During this time, Guo Hua sent word that several members wanted to leave the guild . The withdrawal form required Nie Yan to sign off on, so Guo Huai contacted him .
「Who wants to leave the guild?」Nie Yan asked in alarm . This was the first time Asskickers United players had requested to withdraw from the guild . The previous time with Smoke Stub didn’t count since something had come up .
「Sesame Cake and five others,」Guo Huai replied with a heavy heart . Among the second-rate players in Asskickers United, they ranked among the top . They had been with the guild since the beginning and were slowly nurtured up . So, their request to leave was especially hard to swallow .
Nie Yan was familiar with Sesame Cake, a long standing member of the guild . He had once asked Sesame Cake to help him take care of Zhai Hao and his other friends from school . 「Where are they right now?」He had already guessed what was going on . Likely, Sesame Cake and the others had been approached by the Century Financial Group with an offer they couldn’t resist . Under the allure of money and other benefits, those blinded by greed would naturally gravitate toward leaving .
If Nie Yan agreed to sign the form, they could leave the guild without any burden . If Nie Yan refused to sign the form, they would leave anyway . As for the penalty, with a behemoth like the Century Financial Group backing them, they wouldn’t care about such a little amount of money .
「The Cripps Stronghold guild headquarters,」Guo Huai replied . He was still trying to convince them to reconsider .
「I’ll be right there . 」Nie Yan dropped everything he was doing and headed for the Cripps Stronghold .
About 10 minutes later, Nie Yan arrived outside of the guild headquarters . As he headed inside, he could hear people chattering up ahead . About 30 or so players were gathered in the lobby . Guo Huai was talking with Sesame Cake and several others .
“Sesame Cake, tell me . Ever since you’ve joined the guild, have we ever done you wrong? If we have, please tell me, so I can make it right,” Guo Huai said .
“Executive Guild Leader, after following you and Nirvana Flame for so long, we’ve never once felt we’ve been mistreated . However, everyone has their own ambitions . I hope we part amicably today,” Sesame Cake said in a somewhat ashamed tone .
“Sesame Cake, when I first joined Asskickers United, it was you who helped guide me . If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be where I am today . All of us brothers want you to stay,” Zhai Hao chimed in from the side .
Sesame Cake let out a deep sigh . “Brother, I’ve carved your feelings deep into my heart . I’ve let you all down . But we simply can’t stay in Asskickers United . Nothing lasts forever . Even if we part ways, we’ll still be brothers in the future…” Speaking to this point, he felt a pang of guilt in his heart . He had already signed the contract with the Century Financial Group . They had offered him sixfold what he was earning at Asskickers United . Even though he also didn’t wish to leave, for the sake of securing a better future for himself and his family, he had to make this choice . This money was extremely important to him .
The other five players beside Sesame Cake also had looks of shame on their faces . They couldn’t even look their comrades in the eyes .
“Think about how much the boss and Bladelight helped you in the past . Now that you can stand on your own and made a bit of a name for yourself, the first thing you do is leave the guild? This is how you’re going to repay them!? Old Yu, you ungrateful bastard!” A Warrior rushed up to a Thief in Sesame Cake’s group and grabbed him by the collar before being pulled away by his companions .
“Luo Fei, forget it . Everyone has their own path!” a player comforted .
Having stayed silent with his head lowered this whole time, Old Yu shook his head and finally opened his mouth, “No, he’s right . I’ve let both the boss and Bladelight down . ”
“If you turn back now, I, Luo Fei, will still call you a brother . If you leave the guild today, don’t blame me for killing you on sight the next time we meet!”
Hearing Luo Fei’s cursing, Old Yu kept his head down without speaking . His heart was filled with guilt and shame .
Seeing Old Yu still not saying anything, Luo Fei continued, “I see, you have your eyes set on leaving the guild . Fine! Don’t blame for being blunt in the future!”
A ruckus broke out in the lobby . Nie Yan understood that Sesame Cake and the others were only the first batch of people to leave the guild . They definitely wouldn’t be the last . In the future, even more people would be poached away . If he didn’t handle this matter appropriately, it would have a negative impact on the future of Asskickers United .
“The boss is here!” a player shouted .
“Boss!”
Seeing Nie Yan arrive, the players stepped aside .
Nie Yan walked over to Sesame Cake’s group .
After seeing Nie Yan, Sesame Cake lowered his head . He still held Nie Yan in high regard . He didn’t dare to show the slightest disprect . At this moment, he didn’t have the courage to look Nie Yan in the eyes . He was a traitor to the guild .
Sesame Cake was already waiting for Nie Yan to rain down a barrage of curses on him . Only like this would he feel a little less guilty about leaving . The other five players were also thinking roughly along the same lines .
However, contrary to their expectations, Nie Yan didn’t curse at them . Instead, he broke out into a faint smile .
“Sesame Cake, I remember when you first entered Asskickers United, you were scolded by me quite a few times . Today, you’re leaving . You won’t resent me for those times, will you?” Nie Yan chuckled .
Sesame Cake vigorously shook his head . “Of course not!”
“Old Yu, you’re one of the few people that has been with the guild since the very beginning . I still remember when we were surrounded by Victorious Return . You died more than 10 times, but you also took out out more than 20 enemies,” Nie Yan said, reminiscing the past .
Old Yu’s eye brimmed with tears as he nodded .
Nie Yan turned to the remaining four . “Melon Seed, Dime, Old Lin, Old Liu, you guys have also been with me for quite some time . It seems I’ve let you all down . There’s nothing this useless leader of yours can do to repent . ” He deeply sighed . These words came from his heart . He understood these guild members also weren’t having it easy .
“No, Boss! You’re wrong! It’s us who’ve let you—no, the entire guild!”
“You guys surely have compelling reasons for leaving the guild, that much I can understand . People seek out higher lands while water flows downstream . I won’t make things difficult for you . As members of Asskickers United, I’ve always treated you as my brothers . If you want to leave, I won’t stop you . It’s a pity I don’t have farewell gifts prepared . You guys can head to the guild treasury and pick a few pieces of equipment . From now on, we’ll be going our separate ways . We can no longer be brothers . The six of you, take care . ” Nie Yan patted Sesame Cake’s shoulder .
Hearing Nie Yan’s words . Sesame Cake and the other five were choking with tears .
“Boss, I’m sorry!” Sesame Cake wiped his tears before bowing deeply to Nie Yan .
“Sesame Cake, Old Yu, take care,” a Warrior in the crowd shouted .
“Take care!” the other Asskickers United players shouted one after another . Some of their voices were filled with helplessness while others deeply sighed .
After all, these were guildmates they had run dungeons and fought together on the battlefield with . Everyone was sad to see them go .
Sesame Cake deeply bowed to the other Asskickers United players . His vision was already blurred with tears . “All of you, take care!”
Only now did Sesame Cake become aware of the deep sense of comradery he shared with the players of Asskickers United . He felt like he had made a dreadful mistake . However, it was already too late to take it back . The other five felt the same .
Nie Yan signed off on the withdrawal forms of Sesame Cake and the other five . With that, their departures from the guild was official .
As Sesame Cake and the others handed over their guild emblems, which had stuck with them ever since they joined Asskickers United, they were struck with a deep sense of loss, though a large hole was carved out of their hearts .
Sesame Cake, Old Yu, Melon Seed… All six of them were no longer affiliated to Asskickers United .
They recalled Nie Yan’s previous words . Only now did they understand the old adage, “As anxious as a stray dog . ” After leaving Asskickers United, they had lost both a patron and the trust they’d built up .
They could never return to Asskickers United . Sesame Cake wanted to find a corner to hide in and bawl his eyes out . The cheeks of the other five were also streaming with tears .
Nie Yan endured the sorrow in his heart . He turned to Zhai Hao and said, “You escort them out . If they want, head to the guild treasury and pick out a few pieces of good equipment for them . ”
“Alright . ” Zhai Hao nodded . “Sesame Cake, I’ll send you guys out . ”
“Brother, I…” Sesame Cake wanted to say something, but the words wouldn’t come out of his mouth .
Zhai Hao shook his head . “That’s enough, let’s go . In the future, don’t address me like that . ”
Sesame Cake felt a sharp pain in his heart . From this day forward, the word “brother” would forever ring hollow . Thinking of the contract he signed with the Century Financial Group, he was filled with a deep sense of shame and regret . He had really been a fool . Asskickers United’s salary was already quite generous, even if it couldn’t compete with the Century Financial Group’s . Nie Yan had never mistreated them .
Watching Zhai Hao send Sesame Cake and the others off, everyone was in low spirits .
Nie Yan turned to the crowd . “If they want to leave, let them . Our guild still has many brothers . All of you, cheer up! After defeating Alliance of Mages and Divine Protectors, we’ll take down Angel Corps and the Century Financial Group too! Our journey is only just beginning! I don’t recall Asskickers United being filled with a bunch of sad mopes!”
“The boss is right! We still have many brothers!”
The players felt their spirits lifted back up .
Nie Yan turned to Guo Huai . “We’ll have to hurry up . Our opponent this time isn’t so easy to deal with . ” The Century FInancial Group was already at their doorsteps . It was crucial for them to come up with countermeasures .
Guo Huai nodded with a solemn expression . Just how many Asskickers United players had already made contact with the Century Financial Group . Would similar events soon become the norm?
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login