Chapter 484: Three Suspicious Men [ 1 ]

In a private chamber on the upper floor of an expensive establishment in the Royal Capital, three men sat around a polished wooden table, each wearing an expression that suggested he would rather be somewhere else.

The room had been reserved under an ordinary merchant’s name, and the servants had been instructed not to disturb its occupants until they were summoned. A bottle of expensive wine rested between several untouched cups, while a collection of reports lay scattered across the table. Outside, the streets remained as lively as ever, but inside the chamber, the atmosphere was considerably less welcoming.

Gideon Marholt was the first to break the silence.

"Are we going to spend the entire afternoon staring at one another, or does someone intend to explain why this meeting was necessary?" Gideon asked, leaning back in his chair with his arms folded. "I have better things to do than sit around listening to rumors about monsters wandering through some forgotten stretch of wilderness."

Roderick Halbrecht, seated opposite him, gave an irritated snort. "Then perhaps you should have declined the invitation, Gideon. Nobody dragged you here. Although considering how quickly you arrived, I suspect you’re just as interested in Greyfen as the rest of us."

Gideon’s expression darkened slightly, but before he could respond, Edmund Krail calmly placed his cup upon the table.

"Gentlemen, if you’ve finished measuring each other’s importance, perhaps we can discuss something that might actually be worth our time," Edmund remarked, his tone carrying the practiced patience of someone accustomed to negotiating with difficult individuals. "I didn’t arrange this meeting because I enjoy watching two mercenary leaders argue. I arranged it because I believe the Adventurer Guild has discovered something valuable, and I would prefer to learn what it is before Sage Alistair finds a way to profit from it."

That statement immediately captured their attention.

Gideon straightened slightly, while Roderick reached for one of the reports.

"You’re still convinced there’s something hidden in Greyfen?" Roderick asked, scanning the document. "From what I’ve heard, the region has been experiencing unusual beast migrations. That hardly proves the existence of some extraordinary treasure."

"On its own, no," Edmund acknowledged. "But the beast migrations aren’t the only unusual occurrence. Several hunters have reported that territories previously occupied by dangerous monsters are now almost completely deserted. Meanwhile, travelers passing through the surrounding settlements have mentioned disturbances in the local mana environment."

Gideon frowned. "A powerful monster could explain both. If something sufficiently dangerous established itself in the region, weaker beasts would naturally flee. We’ve seen similar incidents before."

"Indeed," Edmund replied, nodding. "Which is why I initially dismissed the reports. However, something else happened that made me reconsider."

He reached toward another parchment and slid it across the table.

"The Guildmaster personally traveled to Greyfen."

Roderick’s expression sharpened.

Gideon glanced at the document before scoffing. "And? The Adventurer Guild investigates dangerous regions. Isn’t that supposed to be the entire purpose of the organization?"

"Ordinarily, yes," Edmund answered. "But Sage has an established Headquarters in the Royal Capital, numerous employees, and more than enough responsibilities to occupy his time. Yet he personally accompanied a small expedition into Greyfen instead of assigning the investigation to ordinary adventurers."

Roderick slowly lowered the parchment.

"That is rather unusual," he admitted. "Especially considering how much attention he’s been giving the Guild’s expansion recently."

Gideon remained unconvinced. "Perhaps he simply wanted to investigate the disturbances himself. You’re making an extraordinary number of assumptions based on a single expedition."

Edmund smiled faintly. "Then explain why the Guild has been so quiet about its findings."

Neither mercenary leader answered immediately.

Edmund continued, "A dangerous monster threatening nearby settlements would ordinarily provide the Guild with an opportunity to issue missions, attract capable Warriors, and strengthen its reputation. Yet we haven’t heard any significant announcement concerning Greyfen. No public request for reinforcements, no major extermination mission, and no explanation of what the expedition discovered."

Roderick rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "You’re suggesting that Sage found something he doesn’t want anyone else knowing about."

"I’m suggesting it’s a possibility worth investigating," Edmund corrected. "Perhaps the expedition discovered a valuable mineral deposit, an ancient ruin containing magical artifacts, or some unusual natural resource. Whatever the explanation, I find it difficult to believe that Sage returned empty-handed."

Gideon considered the argument before reaching for his wine.

"That fellow certainly has a talent for discovering profitable opportunities," he muttered. "Every time I hear about the Adventurer Guild, it seems to have acquired another advantage that nobody else thought to pursue."

Roderick gave a humorless chuckle. "And then he finds some way to make everyone pay for using it. I’ll admit, the man’s methods are irritatingly effective."

Edmund watched their reactions with quiet satisfaction. He hadn’t expected either mercenary leader to accept his suspicions immediately, but both understood the value of obtaining information before their competitors.

More importantly, neither particularly enjoyed the Adventurer Guild’s growing influence.

"There’s another detail," Edmund continued, retrieving a smaller parchment from beneath the others. "One of my people has been examining records concerning ancient ruins in the Greyfen region. Several old accounts mention abandoned structures in areas where unusual mana disturbances were occasionally reported."

Roderick looked up. "And you believe those ruins might be connected to the recent beast migrations?"

"Possibly," Edmund answered. "I sent someone to make discreet inquiries, although we haven’t obtained anything conclusive. The difficulty is that most of the surviving records are incomplete, and the locations described in them are imprecise."

Gideon narrowed his eyes. "So you’ve already begun investigating without telling us."

Edmund met his gaze calmly. "Naturally. Did you expect me to sit around waiting for two mercenary leaders to agree on whether the matter deserved attention?"

Roderick laughed at Gideon’s irritated expression, although his amusement quickly disappeared when he considered the implications.

"If those ruins contain something valuable, then we need to find them before the Guild secures whatever it discovered," Roderick said, placing his cup down. "But I’m not sending an entire company into Greyfen based on incomplete records and tavern gossip."

"Neither am I," Gideon replied immediately. "My men aren’t cheap, and the region has already demonstrated that it can be dangerous. If there’s a powerful beast responsible for those migrations, I have no intention of sacrificing experienced Warriors merely to satisfy Edmund’s curiosity."

Edmund spread his hands. "Which is precisely why I’m proposing a limited investigation. A handful of experienced men, traveling separately and avoiding unnecessary attention. We don’t need an army to determine whether something unusual is happening."

Gideon considered the suggestion.

A small reconnaissance group wouldn’t require substantial resources, and if the investigation proved fruitless, the losses would be manageable. On the other hand, if Sage had genuinely discovered something valuable, obtaining that information before the rest of the capital could prove extremely profitable.

"What exactly are you proposing?" Gideon finally asked.