With the meeting coming to a close, the upper brass of the guild took a few questions from the expedition members before leaving.
"You all will be shipping out in two days. In that time the guild will provide you with any items that you might need within reason. I would also recommend that you get acquainted with each other. You will be spending a great deal of time in each other's company going forward." The leader of the guild said before taking his leave.
Now the large conference room only had the members of the expedition unit and a few guild staff members in it.
This allowed everyone to move about and talk freely in order to share information and prepare for the upcoming expedition that was likely going to take several months if not longer.
'It is too bad that they were the ones closest to us.' Marcus thought as Round Table approached them.
At the other end of the hall the two parties from the Southern and Eastern Quadrant were greeting each other first. Though many of their members were constantly stealing glances over towards Marcus, Mrazivý, and Miguel who were completely new faces.
"It looks like the Northern Quadrant managed to scrounge up a gem. Mind showing us those fabled Dragon Eyes of yours. If you do, I'll be sure to let you join our party. It will be a lot better with us than these rabble." The leader of Round Table said, addressing Mrazivý and ignoring everyone else.
'Is this guy for real?!' Marcus thought in shock.
The leader of Round Table was offering out a position in his party to Mrazivý as if it was a heavenly favor, rather than a huge annoyance.
His incredibly brazen manner rubbed everyone the wrong way and even Mrazivý's poker face cracked for a moment as she looked at the man in disgust.
"Sorry, but I am here representing the Northern Quadrant of the guild and have no intention of joining your party. Plus, I already have a partner who is far stronger than any of you." Mrazivý said, winking towards Marcus.
Seeing this, Marcus knew what was coming next. Mrazivý had just shoved this nuisance off on him. Though, he was raring to go anyway and was ready to jump in.
The leader of Round Table turned towards Marcus and looked at him indignantly, before saying, "Really? The level seventy-three. Yeah right, he is stronger than us. He's definitely the lowest level individual here. You should ditch him and get a real man."
'Seriously, where did they find this guy?' Marcus thought.
He was bewildered to find someone like this at such a high level.
Normally people with this type of personality were overconfident due to their hereditary positions and were actually lacking in ability, but the leader of Round Table really did have skills and power worthy of praise.
Still, just because he had strength and prestige did not excuse his behavior.
"You must be pretty blind if you only judge people off the information you get from a simple appraisal. Sure, you saw my level, stats, and skills, but my unique skills are still a mystery to you. This is the first time I have ever met someone over level forty that could not assess another's relative strength without using any skills. I am surprised you have not gotten yourself killed. Only an idiot blindly accepts what they can see with the appraisal skill and believes themselves stronger." Marcus said, giving a pitying look towards the other members of Round Table for their incompetent leader.
Of course, the leader of Round Table was not going to just take this and for the first time turned his full attention on Marcus with rage in his eyes.
"You've got a big mouth on you, but talk is cheap. How about we settle this in a match if you think you are better than me? I am never going to lose to someone that is six levels lower than me and coming from the weakest quadrant."
"Sur-
"Sir Cassius, I would ask that you not start another fight. This expedition is far greater than your ego."
Before Marcus could respond, an interruption came from a most unexpected source.
"Lady E-Evette!" Cassius stuttered when he turned around and saw the leader of the party from the Eastern Quadrant
At some point she had finished up her conversation with Intrepid the party from the Southern Quadrant and had interjected herself.
"I understand that you are not the brightest and normally I do not wish to involve myself with you, but I cannot let you go on disrespecting such an esteemed individual." Evette said, her voice soft, but her tone harsh.
Everyone in the room went quiet after Evette stood up for Marcus. Her own party members looked especially surprised by it.
Cassius himself was stunned and his haughtiness had completely disappeared.
As much as he was fine with disrespecting those he thought beneath him, he knew not to defer to people that were above him. And in terms of status among the expedition team, Evette was the leader of the strongest and most esteemed party.
"Very well, Lady Evette. I will excuse his rudeness towards me on your behalf." Cassius said, before pulling out and leading his party away.
As he left though, he gave Marcus one last sharp glare.
Unfortunately, as much as Marcus did find Cassius and his party to be a bother, Evette posed a much larger problem to him.
He could tell that you had figured him out, and if she went spilling what she knew to everyone else, it could present a bit of a problem.
"It is truly an honor to meet you, I am Evette Angerona, the leader of Inexorable."
With a curtsey and a bow Evette introduced herself to Marcus, but also made as show of deferring to him in terms of status.
The members of her party were now looking at her like she was some kind of alien that had replaced their leader and Marcus could understand why.
Among their expedition unit, she would normally be considered the individual with the highest standing. Yet here she was bowing her head to Marcus who was a new mithril rank adventurer from the weakest quadrant.