Chapter 479: Land Headache

Sage fell silent as he considered those words.

The situation reminded him of Evergreen, where he had already claimed a dungeon without encountering any significant legal opposition.

At the time, he hadn’t bothered investigating the surrounding land rights in such detail, and the

System had sealed the dungeon without interference.

However, the circumstances in Evergreen were considerably different.

Evergreen was the smallest and least influential region in the kingdom, a remote territory whose noble Houses were mostly minor families possessing limited wealth, modest military strength, and little influence beyond their immediate estates.

Much of the region’s wilderness remained under loosely administered Crown authority, with vast stretches of forest and dangerous territory receiving almost no attention from the local nobility.

More importantly, the dungeon Sage had claimed in Evergreen had appeared within one of those neglected wilderness areas rather than on a noble family’s established estate.

The surrounding land had no valuable settlements, cultivated fields, or important trade routes that might have encouraged someone to challenge his actions.

By the time the local nobles realized what had happened, the Adventurer Guild had already secured the entrance, established its operations, and begun attracting Warriors through its Dungeon Pass system.

And since those minor Houses lacked both the military strength and political influence to challenge the Guild without suffering considerable losses, most had simply accepted the arrangement.

In other words, Sage hadn’t encountered serious territorial opposition in Evergreen because there had been very little worth fighting over before the dungeon appeared.

The Royal Capital, however, was an entirely different matter.

Here, even seemingly abandoned stretches of land could belong to powerful noble families whose ancestors had received enormous territorial grants generations earlier.

A forest might appear completely unoccupied while technically forming part of a hereditary hunting estate, and a ruined settlement could still fall under the jurisdiction of a noble House that hadn’t visited it in decades.

"Well, that explains quite a lot," Sage remarked after considering the differences. "Back in Evergreen, nobody cared about a dangerous patch of wilderness until I turned it into something profitable. Here, however, some noble might claim ownership of a forest because his great-grandfather once sneezed beneath a tree."

Lucan couldn’t help smiling at the comparison . "An exaggeration, Guildmaster, but not an entirely inaccurate one."

Marcelline opened another document and placed it beside the map of Greyfen. "I’ve already begun examining the territorial records surrounding the region. Unfortunately, several boundaries are poorly documented, and some older land grants overlap with areas currently administered by the Crown. We’ll need to obtain the original charters before determining whether the buried ruins fall within a private estate."

"Then that’s our first priority," Sage replied, his expression becoming serious. "I want to know exactly who possesses legal authority over that territory. If it’s Crown land, excellent. If it belongs to a noble House, we’ll determine what rightsthey actually possess before deciding how to proceed."

Irene nodded approvingly. "And we should avoid making any substantial investments until that question is settled. Preliminary planning is one thing, but constructing facilities or purchasing large quantities of supplies without securing access would expose the Guild to unnecessary losses."

Sage gave her an appreciative smile. "Irene, sometimes I wonder whether you were born with an abacus in one hand and a contract in the other."

"Considering your spending habits, Guildmaster Sage, I occasionally wish I had been," Irene replied without changing her expression.

Lucan laughed quietly before turning his attention back toward the map. "There’s another possibility worth considering. Thekingdom recognizes certain forms of operational authority granted through royal charters and registered agreements. An organization may receive permission to manage a dangerous location without acquiring ownership of the surrounding territory. Such arrangements are uncommon, but they aren’t unheard of."

Sage’s eyes immediately brightened. "Now that sounds considerably more interesting. Explain."

"If the Guild can establish a legitimate claim to managing the dungeon entrance, particularly by demonstrating that it possesses the means to regulate access safely, the Crown may be willing to recognize those rights," Lucan explained.

"However, that wouldn’t automatically grant us ownership of the land. We’d still need to negotiate access routes and any necessary facilities with whoever holds territorial jurisdiction."

Sage leaned forward, his fingers tapping thoughtfully against the desk. The idea was beginning to take shape in his mind.

Rather than attempting to seize an entire territory and provoke the hostility of powerful noble Houses, the Guild could focus on securing something far more important.

The right to operate the dungeon.

After all, he didn’t particularly care who owned the trees, rocks, or grass surrounding Greyfen. What mattered was ensuring that Warriors could reach the entrance, purchase Dungeon Passes, and enter without interference.

The Guild System would handle the actual sealing and regulation of dungeon access. What Sage needed was a legal arrangement preventing outsiders from obstructing those operations.

"Then that’s what we’ll pursue," Sage finallydeclared. "We’re not going to start a territorial dispute over a forest when all we actually need is the dungeon entrance and a reliable route leading toward it. If the land belongs to the Crown, we’ll seek the necessary authorization. If it belongs to a noble, we’ll negotiate appropriate access rights. Either way, I want our position established before the dungeon manifests."

Marcelline immediately began recording his instructions. "I’ll continue examining the territorial archives and arrange for certified copies of the relevant land grants. Once we’ve identified the responsible authority, we can prepare the necessary documents."

"I’ll review the financial implications of the different arrangements," Irene added, already considering the potential expenses. "However, Guildmaster Sage, I strongly recommend setting a limit on what we’re willing to pay for access. Otherwise, whoever controls the surrounding land may attempt to exploit our interest."

"Agreed," Sage replied before turning toward Lucan. "And I’ll need your assistance navigating the noble side of this delightful mess. You understand their customs and political relationships considerably better than I do."

Lucan inclined his head. "Of course, Guildmaster. Although I should warn you that negotiations involving valuable territory can become rather unpleasant."

Sage smiled pleasantly. "Lucan, my friend, I’ve dealt with monsters, bandits, unreasonable adventurers, and Mina demanding additional rewards. I believe I can survive a few greedy nobles."

Lucan merely shook his head, wisely choosing not to comment on the comparison.

With their immediate responsibilities settled, Marcelline gathered the documents while Irene began organizing the financial records she would need for her assessment. Lucan remained beside the map for a few moments, studying the marked location of the buried ruins before finally excusing himself to continue his recovery.

Sage watched them leave before leaning back in his chair, his gaze settling upon the map spread across his desk.

The situation was more complicated than he had initially anticipated, but it wasn’t necessarily disadvantageous.

If anything, understanding the distinction between dungeon control and territorial ownership had revealed a path that might allow the Guild to secure its interests without making unnecessary enemies.

He didn’t need to become a landowner.

He didn’t need to challenge the kingdom’s noble Houses.

And he certainly didn’t need to spend a fortunepurchasing an entire forest.

All he needed was the right to control access to something everyone else would eventually want.

A slow smile spread across Sage’s face as he reached for his now-cold cup of tea.

"Let the nobles keep their precious land," he murmured with quiet amusement. "I’ll be perfectly satisfied collecting gold from everyone who walks through the door."

After all, there was little point in owning an entire mountain when the real treasure lay beneath it.