Chapter 501: Ninety Percent

he question of how much an S-Rank Dungeon Pass would cost had barely left the mercenary’s mouth when another argument erupted among the noble representatives gathered outside Greyfen’s entrance.

For most independent Warriors, the price of admission was their greatest concern. However, the nobles standing among them were troubled by something considerably more important.

The Adventurer Guild had claimed an exceptionally valuable dungeon without seeking their permission, and Sage was now preparing to establish his own rules governing its exploration.

"Guildmaster Sage!" a noble representative called, pushing through the crowd with two armed retainers following behind him. "Before discussing prices, I believe there is a more pressing matter that requires clarification."

Sage turned toward the man, maintaining his pleasant expression. "Certainly. Although I must warn you, I’ve been answering questions for quite some time. At this rate, I may need to start charging consultation fees."

Several nearby Warriors chuckled, but the nobleman appeared thoroughly unimpressed.

"This dungeon lies within the Kingdom," the representative declared. "For generations, noble households have maintained order over dangerous territories and managed the resources discovered within them. Yet your Adventurer Guild has suddenly appeared and established an entirely different arrangement. Do you seriously expect the nobility to accept this interference?"

Sage regarded him thoughtfully. "Interference? That’s an interesting choice of words. The Adventurer Guild isn’t attempting to seize any dungeon belonging to your household. We’re simply managing one that we’ve successfully claimed."

"Your organization is establishing a dangerous precedent," the nobleman insisted. "If every powerful dungeon becomes accessible through your so-called Dungeon Passes, the established arrangements governing exploration will be undermined."

Sage’s smile widened slightly.

And there it is.

He had been waiting for someone to raise that particular objection.

"Since you’ve mentioned established arrangements," Sage replied, raising his voice so the surrounding Warriors could hear, "perhaps this would be an excellent opportunity to discuss how dungeon exploration currently operates throughout much of the Kingdom."

The nobleman’s expression changed.

Sage continued before he could interrupt.

"Many valuable dungeons are controlled by noble households or powerful organizations. Independent Warriors who wish to explore them must first obtain permission from their owners. That much is understandable. After all, managing a dangerous location requires resources and manpower."

Several mercenaries nodded reluctantly.

"However," Sage continued, "the conditions imposed upon those Warriors are often considerably less reasonable. In many noble-controlled dungeons, outside explorers are required to surrender ninety percent of whatever they obtain."

A wave of bitter murmuring spread through the gathering.

"That’s right!" a scarred mercenary shouted. "My company explored a dungeon controlled by a noble family last winter. We spent six days fighting monsters, lost two men, and surrendered nearly everything we recovered!"

Another Warrior shook his head angrily. "And they still made us pay an entrance fee!"

The noble representative frowned. "Such arrangements exist because dungeon management requires considerable investment. Maintaining security, organizing expeditions, and protecting surrounding territories are expensive responsibilities."

"Certainly," Sage agreed pleasantly. "But there’s an important distinction between charging for a service and claiming almost everything someone earns through their own blood and sweat."

The remark drew immediate approval from several independent Warriors.

Leon stood quietly beside Sage, watching the crowd’s changing expressions. He could already see where the conversation was heading, and judging by the faint amusement in his eyes, he found the nobleman’s predicament rather entertaining.

Sage raised his hand again.

"Let me ask everyone something. If six Warriors enter a dungeon, spend several days fighting dangerous monsters, and recover treasures worth one thousand gold coins, how much would they retain under a ninety-percent arrangement?"

"One hundred gold!" a mercenary captain answered immediately, his expression darkening.

"Precisely," Sage replied. "One hundred gold divided among six people, assuming they all survive. Meanwhile, the dungeon’s owner receives nine hundred gold without personally participating in the expedition."

The crowd grew increasingly restless.

Sage allowed the implication to settle before continuing.

"Now imagine those same Warriors exploring a dungeon controlled by the Adventurer Guild."

The noble representative narrowed his eyes.

"What exactly are you suggesting, Guildmaster?"

Sage smiled.

"I’m suggesting that the Adventurer Guild has a rather different approach to dungeon management."

He gestured toward the enormous rune formation surrounding Greyfen.

"Warriors who purchase a valid Dungeon Pass and enter one of our claimed dungeons retain one hundred percent of the loot they obtain."

For several seconds, complete silence descended upon the gathering.

Then the crowd erupted.

"WHAT?!"

"One hundred percent?!"

"You’re saying we don’t have to surrender anything?"

A broad-shouldered mercenary pushed toward the front, staring at Sage in disbelief.

"Guildmaster, are you serious? If my company enters Greyfen and recovers magical materials worth ten thousand gold coins, you’re saying the Adventurer Guild won’t demand a share?"

"Not a single coin’s worth," Sage answered calmly. "The materials belong to those who obtained them."

The mercenary stared at him.

Behind him, several members of his company began whispering excitedly.

Another Warrior raised his voice. "What about rare weapons? Magical artifacts? Monster cores?"

"The same principle applies," Sage replied. "Whatever you legitimately obtain during your expedition belongs to you. The Guild doesn’t impose a percentage-based claim upon your dungeon loot."

Mina glanced toward Sage with an amused expression.

"Uncle Sage, they’re looking at you like you’ve just offered everyone free gold."

Sage leaned toward her slightly. "That’s because they’ve become so accustomed to surrendering their earnings that keeping their own property sounds like a miracle."

Mina considered his explanation before grinning. "Then you’re making the nobles very unhappy."

"An unfortunate consequence of conducting business," Sage replied innocently.

The noble representative finally recovered from his astonishment.

"Absurd!" he exclaimed. "Do you expect us to believe the Adventurer Guild intends to manage an S-Rank Dungeon without collecting any resources from the expeditions entering it?"

"Of course we intend to earn money," Sage answered, sounding almost offended. "I’m establishing an organization, not operating a charity."

Several Warriors laughed.

Sage continued, "The difference is how we earn that money. The Adventurer Guild charges for access through Dungeon Passes. We also provide services surrounding dungeon exploration, including registration, information, equipment procurement, and arrangements for trading recovered materials."

He gestured toward the gathering.

"Warriors enter our dungeons, obtain valuable resources, and retain their rewards. If they wish to sell those resources through Guild-associated merchants or purchase additional supplies, those transactions create further opportunities for business."

A merchant standing near the front stroked his beard thoughtfully.

"So instead of taking most of the treasure," the merchant observed, "you earn money from the number of people entering and the business their expeditions generate."

Sage nodded approvingly. "Exactly. A dungeon that attracts hundreds of expeditions over many years can provide a substantial and reliable source of income without requiring us to confiscate their discoveries."

The merchant’s expression became increasingly interested.

Several mercenary captains began quietly calculating the implications.

Under the traditional arrangements imposed by certain noble households, even a successful expedition could yield disappointing profits after surrendering the required share of its loot.

But if the Adventurer Guild genuinely allowed Warriors to retain everything they obtained, the financial possibilities were extraordinary.

A mercenary captain turned toward his companions.

"Think about it," he muttered. "Even if an S-Rank Pass costs considerably more than ordinary dungeon access, we’d still be keeping everything we recover. One successful expedition could earn more than several months of work elsewhere."

His companions exchanged excited glances.

Nearby, another company leader was already discussing how many experienced Warriors they could recruit for a future expedition.

The noble representatives, however, looked increasingly furious.

One of them stepped forward, his voice trembling with restrained anger.

"Guildmaster Sage, do you understand what you’re doing? Such policies could destabilize the established relationships between noble households and the Warriors operating within their territories."

Sage regarded him calmly.

"Relationships built upon taking ninety percent of another person’s earnings?"

The nobleman’s face reddened.

"Those arrangements have existed for generations!"

"And I’m sure they’ve been extremely profitable," Sage replied pleasantly. "But tradition alone doesn’t mean everyone must continue following the same business model."

Leon coughed quietly, concealing a laugh.

Lucan glanced toward Rowan, who was watching the confrontation with considerable amusement.

"He’s enjoying this far too much," Lucan murmured.

Rowan smiled. "The Guildmaster usually does when someone tries explaining why he shouldn’t make money."

Meanwhile, Sage continued addressing the gathering.

"Let me make something clear. The Adventurer Guild isn’t demanding that every dungeon owner adopt our policies. Noble households remain free to manage their own properties according to whatever lawful arrangements they establish."

He paused.

"Likewise, the Adventurer Guild is free to establish the conditions governing dungeons under its ownership."

The statement left the noble representatives with little room to argue without openly admitting that their real concern was competition.

Sage then turned toward the independent Warriors.

"Naturally, this doesn’t mean Greyfen will be inexpensive to explore. It’s an S-Rank Dungeon, and the appropriate Passes will reflect the value and danger of such a location. However, the price of entry will be clearly established before anyone makes a purchase."

A mercenary near the front nodded thoughtfully.

"So we pay once for access, enter the dungeon, and whatever we obtain belongs to us?"

"Precisely," Sage confirmed. "Although I strongly recommend remembering that purchasing a Pass doesn’t guarantee you’ll return alive."

The mercenary grinned.

"Guildmaster, we’ve been risking our lives for years. At least now we’ll have a chance to keep what we earn."

A chorus of agreement rose from the surrounding Warriors.

Sage watched their expressions with quiet satisfaction.

The price of an S-Rank Dungeon Pass had yet to be announced, but something far more important had already changed.

The Warriors gathered outside Greyfen were no longer thinking solely about how much entering the dungeon would cost.

They were beginning to imagine how much they could earn.

For years, many had accepted surrendering most of their treasures as an unavoidable condition of dungeon exploration.

Now, standing before the towering pillars of the Adventurer Guild’s first S-Rank Dungeon, they were discovering another possibility.

One hundred percent of their loot.

No noble household claiming the overwhelming majority of their rewards.

No compulsory surrender of treasures obtained through their own efforts.

For the first time, the Adventurer Guild was offering them something that might prove even more valuable than affordable dungeon access.

The freedom to keep what they earned.