Newbie's Quest: Awaiting Challenge
Chapter 44: That Was Then

Before James Mitchell's arrival, Henrik Jensen had already been mining for over half an hour.

Ethan Walker was particularly hard to please: one ore was too small, another of poor quality, and the most absurd complaint was about their unattractive appearance. Henrik held a gray, dust-covered ore, its outer layer encased in sand, concealing the mineral within.

"Can you really discern the good from the bad just by their appearance?"

Henrik asked Ethan, though his tone suggested he already knew Ethan was just being difficult.

"My eyesight is exceptional," Ethan retorted, raising an eyebrow, "Hurry up and dig. You're not going home until you've mined enough."

James, feeling awkward, looked from one to the other - a friend and a boss.

"Captain, maybe... I can help?" he offered, hoping to ease Henrik's burden after a taxing raid. He was fit and experienced, after all.

But Henrik shook his head.

"It's okay, do your own thing."

Then, with a clang, Ethan struck his pickaxe against the rock face.

"No whispering! James, get to work too."

Ethan's domineering attitude was almost unbearable.

"Alright... alright!"

The three of them bent over their task, focused on mining.

Henrik had never mined before and was discovering it to be surprisingly therapeutic. Engulfed in his responsibilities and adhering to a strict routine, he found solace in this rebellious act. Hidden from everyone, he engaged in the most basic labor amidst the dusty mines, listening to the constant pickiness and nagging of his companion.

"Have you considered the suggestion I made?" Henrik suddenly asked.

Ethan's incessant chatter paused as he adjusted his scarf over his nose.

"My rate is quite high; Emerald Tempest Guild can't afford me."

"Avalon Guild offered you a silver+ contract; we can match that. Though Emerald Tempest and Avalon aren't in the same league financially, our offer will exceed your expectations."

"Come on. Your fans, even your own team members, would love to trample me underfoot. If I joined your guild, wouldn't I be ostracized to death?"

"In a team, rules are rules. As long as you're strong enough, gaining respect is only a matter of time."

Ethan laughed at that, his eyes crinkling above his scarf.

He turned to Henrik.

"Henrik, tell me, what would you do if I broke the team's rules?"

Henrik's response was immediate.

"Rules must be followed, of course."

"That's my point," Ethan said, turning back to his mining, "I need rules to be beneath me, everything centered around and based on me. No existing guild can offer that, and I'm not asking them to." "So, you're starting your own?" Henrik seemed to understand, "Not for profit, but to avoid being controlled?"

"Your words are too absolute. Who wouldn't want money? But yes, I hate being controlled more."

"No wonder..."

Henrik realized Alex Johnson, that cunning man, must have thought of this too. Avalon Guild had surely tried everything to retain Ethan, but in the end, they could only sign a lease contract with him. Ethan needed money and could be hired for raids, but no guild could hope to possess him forever.

"You maintain a leasing relationship with Avalon Guild, and I hope Emerald Tempest can secure the same rights."

Henrik Jensen was planning for the guild's future, and Ethan Walker could be a significant asset. If they couldn't have him exclusively, at least they could collaborate.

But Ethan vehemently refused.

"Not a chance. If only I had recorded that conversation, I'd be playing your 'no leasing James Mitchell' in your ear on loop."

Henrik was persistent, a trait necessary in business.

"That was then. But we've now worked together, and there's a certain understanding between us. Besides, your raid on Emerald Tempest caused us substantial losses. If you want to lease James Mitchell, I can agree to that." "Your tone sounds so condescending. From now on, don't mention guild matters! Just mine. You've ruined the mood."

Henrik fell silent, genuinely focusing on his mining.

James, hearing his name, quietly approached Ethan.

"Ethan, if it's troublesome, you don't have to lease me."

Ethan's mood fluctuated rapidly, and he disliked displacing his emotions onto the innocent.

"It's fine, James, this isn't about you. Besides, Henrik seems interested, he's just being stubborn."

Henrik remained silent, not objecting.

"This..."

Confused, James glanced between them, failing to grasp Henrik's intentions. He turned to Ethan again for clarification.

"Did you guys agree on something?"

"Yes. Normally, this would be an internal matter for Emerald Tempest, but since they're all fools from the top down, I, the smart outsider, had to give them a push." The 'fool' Henrik still didn't speak.

In his confusion, James decided not to pry further.

"I'll follow your and the captain's lead. I can't do much, but I'll spare no effort when needed."

His earnest promise touched Ethan, who playfully pretended to wipe away non-existent tears.

"James, you're the best. When I make it big, I won't forget you, old pal. Don't be like some people - ungrateful, biting the hand that feeds."

Unruffled, the 'ungrateful' Henrik continued to work in silence.

Ethan, noticeably less energetic today, was slower with his mining. Usually, he was an unrelenting digging machine, a ruthless miner.

James noticed Ethan dozing off several times.

"Ethan? Ethan?"

He gently nudged the dozing Ethan, who propped his eyelids open with his fingers.

"Mm, I hear you, I hear you."

"You should rest if you're tired."

"Mm..." Ethan yawned broadly, "Alright, I'm heading back."

Though sleepy, he didn't forget to take the ores James and Henrik had mined.

Three large bags of stones shrunk his silhouette as he retrieved a teleportation portal from his cloud space, erecting it like a chimney on the sandy ground. Ethan squeezed himself and the bags through the portal.

Once Ethan left, Henrik casually tossed his pickaxe into his cloud space and told James, "Come to the equipment room later; I have something for you." "Ah, okay..."

At Avalon Guild's teleportation chamber, Ethan, having left the raid, dozed off again, almost instantly. Emily Johnson, not replaceing him in his dorm, tried his luck here and, surprisingly, found him. "Ethan? Ethan?"

Ethan's brow was furrowed, even in sleep, unable to relax.

Emily thought Ethan was too tired to walk and planned to bring a blanket, making a makeshift bed for him right there - the teleportation room was warm enough, after all.

As he was about to leave, he heard Ethan mutter in his sleep.

"The Seventh Hospital..."