Conquering His Cold Heart

A day later the groups from the adventurer and merchant's guilds arrived ready and willing to get to work. A simple shack was erected in the interim while their construction teams discussed terms with Frost's ronsos. Both branches would be positioned near the dungeon's entrance and cover a sizeable area, far more than required by a standard shop.

Once the functions were fully underway Frost would receive rent appropriate for the size of the buildings as well as a very small percentage of any sizeable transactions that took place under the purview of the guilds.

Negotiating such figures was a real uphill battle for the young dungeon core, his natural intelligence and gift for business meant nothing when it came to specialisation and ample experience. He felt railroaded by the negotiating team and would likely have came off worse if the group didn't have orders to be 'lenient' in their efforts.

Regardless in the end a deal was met, and Frost would see a decent pay out for allowing the guilds to spread minor influence within his territory which was officially declared out with the bounds of 'civilised' land. This declaration meant that intelligent monsters weren't restricted in doing business with the guilds within said territory.

Frost thus learned that the relationship between the guilds in 'civilised' territory and the so called wildlands or danger zones was actually closer than he was led to believe. Though different in their rules and views they both fell under the purview of the federation of knowledge and other worldwide organisations thus making them part of the same family tree.

In fact even some of the guilds operating within the ocean and sea kingdoms were subject to the same influence.

With the guilds now staking a claim within the camp, word spread regarding the official status of the Niflheim base camp, drawing far more to the newly established gold mine. Frost practically drooled as he watched his daily DP rise by several hundred every day, in a few weeks he may even surpass 10,000, a super milestone that he greatly desired to achieve.

The 'privateers' swiftly stopped their actions the moment the guilds came into play and instead a more worthy group of 'businessmen' entered the fray, ones that Frost couldn't treat lightly.

"Greetings Lord Frost my name is Auriel and I represent the order of the ice shield." A middle aged elf with a powerful presence greeted Frost with a gentle smile.

"Welcome Sir Auriel what can I do for the order of the ice shield." Unlike the 'privateers' the order of the ice shield was a true big player, a group that made Frost and his budding territory inconsequential in comparison.

The order of the ice shield was the independent body that controlled the vast majority of monster lairs, special zones and even enclaves within the Glacial mountains. Most camps and newly generated territories held their influence.

The group itself was set up through the efforts of multiple big wig kingdoms, tribes and even Northrend's glacial mountain territory as a combined effort to even the playing field and reduce friction between them and all in all the experiment paid off. Disagreements that could lead to all-out war sharply reduced since their conception, preserving a great many lives.

The order was now fully established and held a great deal of authority and sway within the mountains. Frost expected that one of their members would pay him a visit, but he didn't think it'd be so soon nor that they'd send someone at B-rank. Whether this was a sign of respect or a show of force he didn't know but he decided to air on the side of caution.

"Well for starters I'd like to ask you few questions." Auriel released his aura in an imposing fashion, hoping to restrain Frost and force him to answer truthfully, however.

Crack!

The wooden desk separating Frost and Auriel released audible cracks as Frost revealed his own strength. His royal aspected aura battled against the thicker aura of Auriel and forced it back, he wouldn't be pressured in his own home.

His sudden burst of strength surprised Auriel who clenched his teeth and retrieved his aura, accepting that this assignment wasn't going to be so cut and dry, in fact thanks to his lack of information the discussion started off on the wrong foot.

"Apologies Lord Frost I didn't know you were.."

"Someone who could hold his own." Frost retorted with a fiery expression.

"Cough Cough….I meant nothing by it. I merely wanted to be sure that you answered my questions honestly." Auriel suddenly found himself in a rather uncomfortable position, he wasn't expecting to be in the weaker position.

Frost pressed him a little more before retracting his aura.

"Ask away."

"….Ok first do you represent the interests of any to the kingdoms or tribes present within the Glacial mountains?"

"No."

"Do you represent the Northrend empire?"

"No."

"Do you have the backing of any groups that do represent these mentioned organisations?"

"No, my relationships with the Furano Viscounty and the Kranor enclave are based upon friendship first and then equal trade between our territories. They did not bankroll this camp, nor do they have any say in how it is run." Frost knew exactly what the order wished to know.

They needed to know if one of their members was responsible for this camp as that would be a violation of the initial agreement and infringe upon their duties. Only if Frost was truly acting as an individual with his own ambitions devoid of the influence of the Glacial Mountain big wigs would his actions be allowed.

Thankfully he truly had no relationship to these big wigs, everything he created was through his own hard work and the work of his subordinates.

"..." Auriel was silent as he took in Frost's answers. It was harder to tell if he was lying without his aura wrapping around him but from his tone and body language he gauged that Frost wasn't lying.

"Very well, if this camp is truly of your own machinations then the order has no reason to fault you however we would have appreciated a heads up. We could have assisted you in its development and even offered financial aid."

"Hmph I think I'm doing pretty well by myself actually. Though you'd offer assistance it wouldn't be without cost and I'm someone who doesn't like to be in the debt of others." Frost was smart enough to know that involving the order would be anything but beneficial for someone like him, he liked to be in control.

"Haaaaaa I think there's been a misunderstanding, but you're entitled to your own opinion." Auriel sighed and shook his head. "Anyway to keep the peace we'd like to be able to set up a branch within your camp just like the adventurer's guild and the merchant's guild so as to facilitate those who enjoy our services."

"….Why should I do that?"

"Eh?" Auriel didn't expect a negative reaction.

"I've already allowed the adventurer's guild and merchant's guild to create branches here so why would I need to entertain the order. While I understand that you offer alternative services and hold quite a lot of influence within the mountains and even run a vast number of camps what does that have to do with mine?"

"...."

"As it stands the order can likely offer me several things, first being official status which I've already gotten thanks to the guilds and my relationship with the Furano Viscounty. Second, subtle protection from being under your organisation's umbrella. This is also something I have no need of given the military strength at my disposal.

Third which I'll give you could be interesting, is access to your vast network, i.e. materials, people, information etc.. but again it isn't something I necessarily need plus there's other avenues I can use to get such things.

Therefore allowing you to open a branch within my camp serves only your interest, I don't get much value out of such a transaction." He'd be better granting the real estate to merchants or long term residents.

"…..That's a rather narrow minded viewpoint, the order can offer far more than that and commonly any camp set up within the mountains holds one of our branches." Auriel felt snubbed and perhaps even slightly insulted.

"Commonly yes but as I've stated there really isn't anything you can offer me. I have no need of the order's services, simple as that so I won't entertain your request for the establishment of a branch.

If one of your members wishes to set up a shop then by all means go through the approval process and we can work something out, but I don't require the presence of the order within my territory." Frost was firm with his decision, he would not allow a major and in many ways suspicious organisation like the order of the ice shield to take root within his territory.

As far as he was concerned the order was just like the many privateers he threw out previously just more established and with greater backing.

"Lord Frost are you sure? Rejecting the order is not a wise decision."

"Is that a threat?" His royal aura suffused into the nearby air, pressing down upon Auriel. The middle-aged elf blanched and clenched his teeth as his mind ran circles.

'Why the hell is this happening? This isn't how it's supposed to go down.'