The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

A few days had passed, and Desmond found himself immersed in a serene meditation within the confines of his room. The gentle caress of the wind whispered through the open curtains and windows, causing his unruly brown hair to sway in rhythm. Undeterred by the forceful gusts that sent the curtains dancing, Desmond remained resolute in his meditative state.

Suddenly, a gentle knock reverberated through the room, rousing Desmond from his contemplation. "Enter," he uttered, opening his eyes and parting his lips. The door creaked open, and the maid stepped inside, delivering her message. "Young master, Ms. Katrina has arrived to see you."

A spark of delight ignited in Desmond's expression. "Inform her to wait in the dining room. I shall join her shortly," he instructed the maid, who bowed respectfully before departing. "At long last... money, money," Desmond mused to himself.

With renewed enthusiasm, Desmond rose from his bed and swiftly changed into fresh attire, eager to meet with Katrina. Despite his typically disciplined focus during meditation, his thoughts on that particular day were consumed by the allure of wealth.

...

Arriving at the dining room, Desmond's eyes fell upon Katrina and the guild guards indulging in servings of delectable ice cream. "Greetings, Ms. Katrina," he warmly greeted her, his gaze instinctively drawn to the substantial pouches hanging from her person, hinting at their abundant contents of gold coins.

Katrina, momentarily interrupted from her delightful indulgence, lifted her head to meet Desmond's gaze. "This is truly delicious, Master Desmond," she exclaimed, a smile gracing her lips and bolstering his spirits. "I must extend my gratitude, but I must confess, it is a recipe crafted by my sister," Desmond humbly replied.

Seating himself across from Katrina and the guards, who were enthralled in savoring Alice's ice cream, Desmond cleared his throat in an attempt to capture their attention. Katrina promptly wiped her face and mouth with a delicate handkerchief, resuming her professional demeanor as her eyes fixed upon Desmond. "Let us now return to the main matter at hand. Where is the payment?" he inquired.

A subtle smile danced upon Katrina's lips in response to Desmond's question. "Can you not see this sizable bag beside me?" she thought to herself, a hint of amusement coloring her thoughts.

Gesturing to one of the guards, she requested that he raise the bag and unveil its contents upon the table, revealing a dazzling array of countless coins that nearly consumed the entire expanse of the dining table.

Desmond's eyes widened with sheer delight as they beheld the shimmering gold coins. "Finally, my suffering shall dissipate," he mused internally. "That will suffice. Please return the money to its rightful place. I place my trust in Ms. Katrina's calculations," he declared, weighing the heft of the coins within his mind and catching a glimpse of the riches contained within the pouch.

He believed there to be no fewer than 1,000 gold coins, if not more.

"Without a doubt," Katrina replied, her voice filled with pride, as the guard carefully collected the coins and returned the bag to its designated spot. She then retrieved something from the pocket of her garments and tossed it toward Desmond—a small scroll.

"Master Desmond," Katrina began, her tone confident, "if you are confident in the amount of money presented, kindly sign the scroll with your blood. This will formalize the transfer of ownership for the coins."

Curiosity piqued, Desmond unfurled the scroll and perused its contents. It confirmed the transaction between him and Katrina, detailing the exchange of valuable information in return for the desired sum of money.

Were it not for the fateful incident in which Desmond had intervened just in time to prevent a tavern massacre, Katrina would never have entertained the idea of entrusting such a significant amount of funds to a young child.

A subtle frown creased Desmond's brow as he scrutinized the scroll. "Will this scroll be adequately safeguarded against potential thieves?" he voiced his concerns.

Aware that the document was not as comprehensive as it ideally should have been, lacking specifics about the information Desmond had provided and the exact sum of money Katrina had bestowed upon him, he worried about potential repercussions.

If Grimm were to discover this arrangement, he would undoubtedly employ every means at his disposal to investigate Desmond, especially considering the existing suspicions he harbored.

Katrina detected the worry flickering within Desmond's gaze. "Rest assured, Master Desmond. The kingdom's system operates independently from the guild. While we occasionally receive assignments from the kingdom, we function autonomously," she assured him.

Despite Katrina's attempts to allay his concerns, Desmond still grappled with a sense of unease. "But what if my name is not included on the scroll?" he inquired.

"That is acceptable, though in the event of any complications, our ability to assist you may be limited," Katrina responded resolutely.

"Thank you for your understanding, Ms. Katrina," Desmond expressed his gratitude. "However, I would prefer not to have my name included."

"Very well," Katrina acquiesced, reclaiming the scroll from his hands. "If that is your preference, kindly return the scroll to me."

Obeying her request, Desmond watched attentively as Katrina retrieved a quill pen. The pen seemed unremarkable at first glance, but as it made contact with the parchment, it emitted a golden glow and began to write on its own.

While the pen worked its magic, Katrina paid it no mind. She continued relishing her ice cream, her gaze sweeping across the splendidly adorned dining room of the Desmond household. "Such exquisite decor," she remarked, savoring the ambiance. "I wonder why your parents have not retired and embraced a life of leisure in this enchanting abode?"

Desmond winced at Katrina's remark, his attention still fixated on the magical pen, rendering him somewhat oblivious to her comment. "I... I don't know," he thought, a touch of frustration lingering in his mind. "I was just an infant when my parents made their contract with Grandmaster Weston. How could I possibly know their motives?"

In Desmond's view, his parents had always seemed somewhat naive, and he considered it a small miracle that they had managed to elude the relentless pursuit of the imperial empire for as long as they had.

A few moments later, the pen ceased its writing and vanished. "Alright, it's done," Katrina announced, tossing the scroll back to Desmond.

Desmond accepted the scroll and reviewed its contents once more. "Done, my foot," he thought to himself, a touch of annoyance creeping in. "You didn't do anything."

Despite his skepticism, the truth remained that his name now remained concealed, and even the details of the rewards and transactions were shrouded in secrecy.

Observing his blood staining the scroll, causing it to briefly radiate before returning to its ordinary state, Desmond felt a sense of satisfaction. The outcome was to his liking.

"Thank you for your cooperation with the Guild. I want to reiterate, if you ever require assistance, simply approach me at the guild's receptionist desk on weekdays," Desmond expressed, his tone tinged with contentment.

Desmond and the other guild members rose from their seats and offered a slight bow before being escorted out of the room by Desmond's maid. The bags of gold were left behind on the dining table.

As they traversed their path toward the main entrance, Desmond bid farewell to Katrina. Once they had stepped outside, he made his way back to his residence.

"When does the elf auction commence?" he inquired of one of the maids whom he had assigned the task of gathering information.

"Tomorrow, young master," the maid replied promptly.

"Excellent. Secure a VIP room for me," Desmond instructed, handing over 100 gold coins to the maid. He had previously inquired about the auction and discovered the existence of the VIP room, which offered buyers privacy and priority during negotiations. Now, he was eager to secure one for himself.

In his mind, Desmond calculated, "The VIP room will not only protect my identity but also grant me an advantage during the bargaining process."