The second floor of the Adventurer Guild had never experienced this kind of energy before. It wasn’t chaos or disorder; it was a vibrant hum that filled the vast hall, resonating from wall to wall.
Bronze Rank Adventurers filled nearly every available space, so leaned against the polished marble pillars, while others occupied the newly expanded tables that dotted the floor like islands in a sea of activity.
The bar counter buzzed with life as mugs clinked, bottles popped open, and laughter surged and ebbed in waves, blending seamlessly with the constant murmur of conversation.
Waiters moved through the crowd with practiced ease, trays balanced effortlessly in their hands as they delivered wine, ale, and steaming dishes from the Adventurer Restaurant below. The sharp tang of alcohol mingled with hints of tal in the air, creating an atmosphere that felt alive, dangerous yet oddly comforting.
At the far end of the hall lood the Mission Board, its tallic surface gleaming under mana lamps. Adventurers gathered there in clusters: so pointed excitedly, others argued animatedly, while a few stood frozen in disbelief as they reread lines that seed too incredible to be true.
A six-star mission.
Just saying those words ignited a flurry of chatter.
"Did you hear?" a broad-shouldered swordsman leaned closer to his companions. "A six-star mission was posted this morning. Six stars! I swear it on my blade."
"No way," another scoffed while swirling wine in his cup. "This isn’t so backwater Guild. They wouldn’t let sothing like that slip through."
"I saw it myself," insisted a third adventurer. "Gregor took it, Gregor! And Valeria’s na was on there too."
The rumor spread like wildfire throughout the second floor, mutating as it passed from mouth to mouth. Ten million gold coins beca twenty; twenty turned into fifty.
By the ti it reached distant tables, figures so absurd were whispered that they bordered on madness, but no one laughed. The re idea that such a monuntal mission had been posted and accepted, by this Guild sent an electric thrill through everyone present that no amount of wine could dull.
So adventurers shook their heads in disbelief while others stared at the Mission Board with burning eyes, a mix of envy and awe tightening their chests.
A few fell silent altogether, thoughts drifting toward the Evergreen Mountain Range and what kind of beast warranted such a rating: A Sixth Order Lord Beast.
For many among them, those words carried a weight akin to a death sentence.
The reason this information was now public knowledge and why Sage had pinned up the Mission Docket for all to see, was due to two weeks of secrecy surrounding its existence. Sage had his reasons for waiting until today to reveal it.
At the receptionist desk, the transformation was striking. Ten receptionists now stood behind the expanded counter, five n and five won, all dressed in crisp uniforms adorned with the Guild’s emblem.
Their smiles were both professional and warm, their voices steady as they processed registrations, issued mission dockets, and answered questions with remarkable composure despite the relentless pace.
"Bronze Rank confirmation?" one asked smoothly, fingers flying across a ledger.
"Mission accepted. Please report back within three days."
"Next in line, please."
In stark contrast to this bustling scene was the lounge area behind them.
Here, noise softened, filtered by thick walls and thoughtfully arranged furniture. Plush couches and low tables ford a semi-circle around the central space, creating an atmosphere that felt removed from the chaos outside yet still connected to it.
Sage sat at the center of it all. He leaned back against the couch, one arm draped casually along the backrest.
His posture appeared relaxed but belied a tension beneath as his eyes tracked movent beyond the receptionist desk through an open archway.
He took in the sheer volu of activity with a mix of satisfaction and unease he couldn’t quite shake off.
Across from him sat Mina, her arms crossed tightly over her chest and her cheeks puffed out in unmistakable frustration. Her golden eyes flicked repeatedly toward the stairway leading down to the first floor before darting back to Sage, irritation radiating off her in waves.
"This is unfair," she declared for what felt like the fifth ti, her voice sharp with indignation. "Completely unfair! You let them go but won’t let ."
Sage didn’t even glance at her as he replied flatly, "You’d be eaten before you could even bring out your shield."
Mina’s jaw dropped. "Hey!"
Boren, seated beside Lyana, let out an awkward cough, clearly caught between amusent and concern.
Lyana pressed her lips together, fingers intertwined in her lap as she observed their exchange with quiet worry.
"You didn’t have to say it like that," Lyana murmured gently; yet everyone knew Sage spoke truthfully.
Finally turning his head toward Mina’s glare, Sage raised an eyebrow. "Would you rather I lie? That thing is a Sixth Order Lord Beast, not just a dungeon boss or sparring partner, a monster that wipes out veteran teams without breaking a sweat."
"I’m not weak!" Mina shot back, rising halfway from her seat before plopping back down with a huff. "I’ve trained hard! Big sis even said..."
"Well your big sis also said," Sage interrupted calmly, "that experience matters more than enthusiasm when you’re facing sothing that can kill you just by breathing too hard."
Mina fell silent; her expression twisted between anger and reluctant understanding as she looked away, fingers tightening around the edge of the cushion.
"I just hate being left behind," she muttered softly.
That, more than anything else, softened Sage’s expression.
He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees as his voice lost its edge. "This isn’t about leaving you behind. It’s about ensuring there’s still a place for you to co back to. If sothing happens to you out there... I can’t fix that with gold or systems."
Boren shifted uncomfortably, furrowing his brow. "Still," he said slowly, "it’s hard not to worry. Valeria is strong, yes. Gregor too. But a Lord Beast is... different."
Lyana nodded, her gaze drifting toward the distant Mission Board as if she could see through walls and mountains alike. "We’ve built so much in such a short ti," she said quietly. "Sotis it feels like everything is happening too fast."
Sage exhaled and ran a hand through his hair. "I know," he admitted. "I feel it too. But growth like this always attracts storms. The Guild isn’t a small operation anymore; we were bound to face sothing like this eventually."
Mina glanced back at him, her pout fading into reluctant resolve. "So you really think they’ll be okay?"
Sage held her gaze for a long mont before nodding. "They’re the best we have, and they’re not charging in blind. If anyone can handle this, it’s them."
Outside the lounge, laughter erupted from the bar as soone slamd down a mug in triumph. The sound carried into the space like an echo from another world, one where danger felt distant and theoretical.
Sage leaned back again, letting the noise wash over him. From where he sat, he could see the Guild in full motion: receptionists moving with synchronized efficiency, waiters delivering als with practiced grace, adventurers animated by ambition and rumor.
This was what they were protecting not just a building or an organization but a living system of people whose dreams and futures intersected under one roof.
Mina let out a quiet sigh as her shoulders relaxed against the couch. "When they co back," she said softly, "I’m going to train even harder."
Sage smirked faintly. "Good idea, because next ti I might not stop you."
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"
"Don’t get too excited," he added dryly. "You still have a long way to go."
Lyana chuckled softly, easing so of the tension in the room while even Boren managed a small smile, though his eyes remained serious.
Beyond the lounge, the Guild continued to buzz with activity, either unaware or deliberately ignoring the shadow cast by the Evergreen Mountain Range.
Sowhere far away, eleven figures moved deeper into a place where kings slept.
And here in the heart of Greyvale, the Adventurer Guild waited patiently for their return.
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