Chapter 476: Meeting

The following afternoon, the atmosphere inside the Adventurer Guild Headquarters was considerably different from usual.

While the main hall remained as lively as ever, with adventurers crowding around the mission boards, attendants processing registrations, and the occasional argument breaking out over mission rewards, the meeting chamber on the upper floor had been closed to visitors.

Two Guild guards stood outside its entrance, having received strict instructions that nobody was to interrupt the meeting without an exceptionally good reason.

Inside the chamber, Sage Alistair sat at the head of a long wooden table, casually sipping tea while the others examined the documents spread before them.

Among those present were Marcelline Dacre, the capable administrator responsible for overseeing the Headquarters’ daily affairs; Irene Valcrest, the Guild’s sharp-eyed head of finance; Garran Holt, who supervised mission administration; Tobias Merrow, who handled logistics; and Cassian Rook, who oversaw security. Rowan, Lucan, Iris, and Mina occupied the opposite side of the table, having been invited as representatives of the expedition that had recently returned from Greyfen.

A large map of Greyfen lay across the center of the table, covered with markings, measurements, and several locations circled in red ink.

Beside it rested a collection of parchment reports and a wooden chest containing materials recovered during the expedition.

Although Lucan and Iris still appeared somewhat exhausted, a night’s rest had improved their conditions considerably.

Mina, meanwhile, seemed to have recovered enough energy to resume her usual activities, which currently involved quietly stealing pastries from a plate that had originally been placed near Sage.

"Before we begin, I believe congratulations are in order," Sage announced, placing his teacup down with a satisfied smile. "Our expedition to Greyfen was successful, everyone returned alive, and most importantly, we’ve discovered something that could make our Guild disgustingly wealthy. Personally, I consider that an excellent outcome."

Rowan, who had been reviewing his expedition notes, slowly raised his head. "Guildmaster, I believe you’re forgetting the part where we nearly died."

"Details, Rowan. Mere details," Sage replied dismissively, waving his hand before adopting a more serious expression. "However, before anyone starts celebrating, I want to make one thing clear. Everything discussed within this chamber is confidential. Nothing leaves this room without my permission, particularly anything concerning our most important discovery. Is that understood?"

Everyone nodded in agreement. Although the administrative staff had been informed that the expedition had uncovered something significant, none of them knew exactly what Sage had discovered.

Their curiosity had only grown after seeing the amount of attention he was giving the meeting, especially considering that he had personally invited several adventurers who held no administrative positions within the Guild.

Marcelline, who had been organizing the documents before her, raised her head. "Guildmaster Sage, I’ve already arranged for all records concerning this meeting to be kept separately from our ordinary administrative documents. Only those present will have access to them unless you authorize otherwise."

"Excellent work, Marcelline," Sage replied approvingly. "This is precisely why I hired you. Now, as for our expedition members, they’re here because they risked their lives gathering the information we’re about to discuss. It would be rather shameless of me to exclude them while deciding what to do with their discoveries. Besides, if I tried presenting Rowan’s reports myself, he’d probably interrupt me every five minutes to correct something."

Rowan gave him a long, unimpressed look before shaking his head. "Considering how you describe dangerous situations as minor inconveniences, Guildmaster, I believe that’s a reasonable concern."

A few chuckles escaped around the table, and even Iris managed a faint smile despite the lingering exhaustion visible on her face.

Sage merely shrugged before gesturing toward the documents. "Very well, Rowan. Since you’re so eager to demonstrate your superior attention to detail, the floor is yours."

Rowan stood and approached the map, placing several sheets of parchment beside it. Unlike Sage, whose explanations often wandered toward financial opportunities regardless of the original subject, Rowan was methodical and precise.

He began by outlining the route their expedition had followed through Greyfen, identifying the areas where monster activity had increased and the territories that had suffered the greatest damage.

"During our investigation, we discovered that the disturbances weren’t isolated incidents," Rowan explained, tracing a line across the map with his finger. "Several beast populations have abandoned territories they previously occupied, moving toward regions where they would ordinarily face competition from stronger predators. We also encountered evidence of violent clashes between different groups, including abandoned nesting grounds and large sections of forest that had been completely devastated."

Cassian leaned forward, studying the markings with a troubled expression. "Are you suggesting the beasts were fleeing from something?"

"Precisely," Rowan answered, tapping one of the circled locations. "And we eventually identified the primary cause. A 5th Order Commander Beast had established its presence within the region. The traces we discovered, along with the materials recovered during our confrontation, provide sufficient evidence to confirm its involvement in the disturbances."

At the mention of a 5th Order Commander Beast, the expressions around the table changed considerably. Garran Holt, who had spent enough years evaluating dangerous missions to understand the implications, narrowed his eyes.

"A 5th Order Commander Beast?" Garran repeated, his rough voice carrying a hint of disbelief. "And you lot actually confronted that thing? Guildmaster, with all due respect, that sounds less like an expedition and more like an elaborate attempt to get yourselves killed."

Sage gave him an innocent smile. "Now, Garran, there’s no need to exaggerate. As you can clearly see, we’re all perfectly alive."

"That doesn’t make it a good idea," Garran muttered, earning a quiet chuckle from Lucan.

Rowan continued explaining the areas that remained relatively safe, the routes that should be avoided, and the sections of Greyfen where the destruction was particularly severe. He then shifted his attention toward a location marked near the center of the map.

"However, the Commander Beast wasn’t our only discovery. Beneath this section of Greyfen, we found the remains of an ancient structure buried deep underground. Much of it has collapsed, and the surrounding terrain has become unstable, but the ruins themselves are unmistakable. More importantly, the unusual activity appears to be concentrated around this location."

Tobias studied the map carefully before pointing toward one of the marked roads. "If we eventually need to transport supplies into this region, the eastern approach would be our best option.

The southern route passes through damaged territory, and the western road would require considerable repairs before heavy wagons could travel safely. However, even the eastern route would need regular patrols if the beast migration continues."

"Which is precisely why I wanted you here, Tobias," Sage replied approvingly. "Keep those observations in mind. We may be needing them sooner than you think."

Sage then turned toward Iris, who had been quietly reviewing her research. "Now then, Iris, I believe this is where your findings become particularly interesting."

Iris rose from her seat somewhat slowly, prompting Lucan to glance toward her with concern. She gave him a reassuring nod before approaching the map, carrying a separate collection of notes filled with observations concerning the mana fluctuations they had encountered.

"Initially, I believed the disturbances were caused by an underground mana vein," Iris began, placing her notes beside Rowan’s report.

"However, the deeper we investigated, the more unusual the readings became. Natural mana currents generally follow recognizable patterns, even when they’re unstable. What we discovered beneath Greyfen was different. The mana wasn’t simply accumulating in one location. It was being drawn inward from several directions, almost as though something beneath the ruins was gathering it."

Marcelline frowned thoughtfully. "Could an ancient magical formation be responsible?"

"That was one of my initial suspicions," Iris admitted, pointing toward several measurements recorded on her parchment.

"But the fluctuations were too extensive, and the amount of mana involved exceeded what I would expect from an ordinary formation. Furthermore, the currents appeared to be growing stronger over time. Whatever is happening beneath Greyfen hasn’t reached its conclusion yet."

The room fell silent as everyone considered her words. Sage allowed that silence to linger for several moments before finally rising from his chair.

"Now then, ladies and gentlemen, I believe it’s time I explained what all these discoveries mean."

He approached the map, placed one finger upon the location of the buried ruins, and smiled.

"A dungeon is forming beneath Greyfen."