Chapter 511: Rumors [ 1 ] [ GT Bonus - ]

The first rumor reached the Adventurer Guild’s Royal Capital Headquarters on an otherwise ordinary morning, carried by a newly registered Adventurer who had spent the previous evening drinking at a tavern near the eastern market.

According to the man, Sage Alistair was secretly assembling a private army under the guise of operating an Adventurer Guild.

Every Warrior who registered, accepted missions, or purchased a Dungeon Pass was supposedly contributing to an organization that would eventually possess enough military strength to challenge the Kingdom itself.

By midday, the story had acquired several additional details.

Some claimed Sage intended to recruit ten thousand Warriors.

Others insisted that the Guild’s headquarters contained hidden barracks beneath its enormous buildings.

One particularly imaginative account suggested that Sage had already begun preparing to overthrow the Royal Family.

Boren discovered the last version while purchasing supplies near the Grand Guild Hall.

"A rebellion?" he repeated, staring at the merchant who had mentioned it. "And when exactly is this supposed to happen?"

The merchant, an elderly man selling leather goods, shrugged apologetically. "That’s what people are saying, sir. Apparently, the Guildmaster has been gathering powerful Warriors from across the Kingdom."

Boren folded his arms. "The Guildmaster also employs hundreds of cooks, cleaners, clerks, and craftsmen. Should we assume he’s planning to conquer the Capital with soup ladles and account books?"

The merchant blinked before bursting into laughter. Several customers nearby joined him, and Boren continued toward Headquarters with the uncomfortable realization that someone had begun deliberately spreading stories about the Guild.

Unfortunately, the rumors weren’t confined to one marketplace.

---

By the following morning, several different accusations were circulating throughout the Royal Capital.

The Guild supposedly intended to destroy every established mercenary company. Its Adventurer Ranking System was allegedly meaningless, granting impressive titles to inexperienced Warriors who completed trivial assignments. The Mana Cultivation Tower was rumored to contain dangerous formations capable of permanently damaging a Warrior’s Mana Veins.

Other stories concerned Greyfen.

According to certain individuals, Sage had seized the S-Rank Dungeon without obtaining permission from the Crown. His Dungeon Pass system was supposedly designed to place the Kingdom’s Warriors under his personal control, while the hundred-gold entry fee was described as evidence of an elaborate scheme to monopolize dungeon exploration.

Some accusations contradicted one another.

One rumor claimed Sage was deliberately making Adventurers stronger to create a private army. Another insisted that the Guild’s cultivation facilities were secretly weakening everyone who used them.

Nevertheless, the stories spread.

Inside the Headquarters, Garran Holt arrived at Sage’s office carrying several written complaints received by Mission Administration.

"Guildmaster, we’ve had applicants asking whether joining the Guild prevents them from accepting employment with mercenary companies," Garran explained, placing the documents upon the desk. "Three clients have also requested clarification about whether Adventurers are required to obey your personal orders."

Sage looked up from his paperwork with an expression of mild disbelief. "My personal orders? Garran, I can barely convince certain Adventurers to complete their mission reports properly. Apparently, someone believes I’ve secretly transformed them into obedient soldiers."

Garran didn’t smile. "The accusations are ridiculous, but they’re beginning to affect how some people view us. Several applicants postponed their registrations yesterday."

Sage’s amusement faded slightly as he examined the complaints. "Then we should distinguish between rumors that merely entertain people and rumors capable of damaging the Guild’s operations. The second category deserves considerably more attention."

---

The accusation concerning Adventurer Ranks proved particularly popular among established mercenaries.

At a crowded tavern near the western district, several Warriors were discussing the differences between Guild rankings and traditional cultivation levels.

"What’s the point of calling someone a Gold Adventurer if they’re only a 3-Star Warrior?" one mercenary complained, setting down his drinking cup. "Sounds like the Guild is inventing impressive titles to make weaklings feel important."

His companion nodded. "I heard someone saying a Bronze Adventurer could eventually outrank a stronger Warrior simply by completing enough missions."

An older mercenary sitting nearby shook his head. "You’re confusing Adventurer Rank with Warrior Rank. The Guild never claimed they measure the same thing."

The first mercenary frowned. "Then what exactly do those ranks measure?"

"Experience, completed missions, contribution, and proven reliability," the older man explained. "A powerful Warrior can still be an unreliable fool. I’ve worked with enough of them to know the difference."

Several patrons laughed, and the discussion gradually moved toward other subjects.

Elsewhere, rumors about the Mana Cultivation Tower encountered similar resistance.

Warriors who had personally used the facility openly challenged claims that its formations damaged Mana Veins. Some even displayed the improvements they’d achieved through cultivation, leaving the rumor’s supporters struggling to explain why supposedly injured Warriors appeared perfectly healthy.

But the accusations surrounding Greyfen were more troublesome.

---

Three days after the first rumors appeared, a group of merchants and minor nobles gathered outside the Grand Guild Hall demanding clarification regarding the Guild’s ownership of Greyfen.

Their spokesman, a middle-aged nobleman wearing the insignia of a lesser aristocratic family, presented a written petition to the reception staff.

"We’ve received concerning information suggesting that the Adventurer Guild seized Greyfen without proper authorization," he declared. "Until this matter is clarified, how can anyone be certain that purchasing Dungeon Passes is lawful?"

The gathering attracted considerable attention.

Sage arrived accompanied by Boren and Cassian Rook, the Acting Head of Security, who had already instructed his guards to maintain clear entrances without interfering with peaceful visitors.

Sage accepted the petition and examined its contents.

"An interesting concern," he remarked. "Although I notice this document contains several accusations and remarkably little supporting evidence."

The nobleman’s expression tightened. "Guildmaster, surely you’re not suggesting that citizens have no right to question your authority over an S-Rank Dungeon?"

"Not at all," Sage replied pleasantly. "You’re welcome to ask questions. I’m simply suggesting that questions become considerably more useful when accompanied by facts."

He returned the petition. "Greyfen’s ownership and access arrangements were addressed before the Guild established its claim. The relevant land rights and agreements were examined, and the Guild proceeded through the lawful arrangements available to it. If anyone possesses evidence of an actual violation, they’re welcome to present it through the appropriate legal channels."

The nobleman hesitated.