Chapter 517: The Capital Doesn’t Belong to You

The Royal Capital had belonged to powerful families, wealthy merchants, and influential organizations long before Sage Alistair arrived.

Its streets were filled with establishments that had survived generations of changing rulers, shifting alliances, and commercial rivalries.

For those who had prospered within that arrangement, the arrival of an outsider determined to establish an entirely new organization was not particularly welcome.

Gideon Marholt had tolerated Sage’s presence for months, believing that the Adventurer Guild would eventually discover the difficulties of operating within the Kingdom’s most competitive city.

Instead, the Guild had flourished.

Its enormous Headquarters attracted Warriors from distant territories, its facilities offered services that established organizations struggled to match, and its control of Greyfen had begun transforming the surrounding region into a flourishing center of commerce.

Worse, Sage had recently begun interfering with arrangements that Gideon considered essential to his company’s prosperity.

That was why the commander of the Iron Fang Mercenary Company arrived at the Adventurer Guild’s Headquarters shortly after noon, accompanied by four armed retainers and an expression that discouraged casual conversation.

He had decided that enough was enough.

---

The Grand Guild Hall was exceptionally busy when Gideon entered.

Adventurers crowded the mission boards, clerks assisted visitors with registrations, and merchants discussed assignments beneath the hall’s towering interior. The constant movement irritated Gideon, particularly when he recognized several Warriors who had previously sought employment through his own company.

A young receptionist approached him with a courteous smile. "Welcome to the Adventurer Guild, sir. May I ask what business brings you here?"

Gideon barely glanced at her. "Tell Sage Alistair that Gideon Marholt wishes to speak with him."

The receptionist maintained her composure. "The Guildmaster receives visitors by appointment, Commander Marholt. If you’ll allow me to inform his office, we can determine whether he’s available."

One of Gideon’s retainers stepped forward impatiently, but Gideon raised a hand to stop him.

"Then inform him," Gideon replied coldly. "I’ll wait."

Several nearby Adventurers recognized the Iron Fang commander, and curious glances followed him as he moved toward the waiting area. His arrival was hardly insignificant.

Iron Fang was among the Capital’s established mercenary companies, and its commander possessed enough influence that ordinary merchants generally considered his displeasure an expensive inconvenience.

Yet inside the Guild Hall, Gideon discovered that nobody appeared particularly intimidated.

That irritated him more than he cared to admit.

---

Sage received the message while examining construction estimates with Boren.

"Gideon Marholt?" Sage repeated, looking up from the parchment. "How unexpected. I was beginning to think our distinguished mercenary commanders had forgotten where the Headquarters was located."

Boren gave him a skeptical look. "Considering the number of complaints we’ve received recently, I doubt they’ve forgotten anything."

Sage smiled and set down his quill. "Perhaps he’s here to register as an Adventurer. We should prepare a particularly welcoming reception."

Boren snorted. "And perhaps the King intends to abandon his throne and become a traveling vegetable merchant."

Sage considered that possibility with exaggerated seriousness before rising from his chair. "An interesting career change, although I suspect the Royal Treasury would suffer considerably."

Boren shook his head and followed him toward the adjoining reception chamber.

Sage had no intention of refusing the meeting. Gideon’s arrival was an opportunity to discover how much the mercenary commander understood about the Guild’s recent commercial decisions.

More importantly, it would reveal whether Gideon intended to negotiate or threaten.

---

Gideon was shown into a spacious chamber overlooking the Headquarters courtyard. Sage stood beside a table containing refreshments, appearing considerably more relaxed than his visitor.

"Commander Marholt, welcome," Sage greeted him pleasantly. "I trust your journey was comfortable. Would you care for some tea?"

Gideon ignored the invitation. "We need to talk, Sage."

"Naturally," Sage replied, indicating an empty chair. "Although I generally find conversations more enjoyable when both participants are seated."

Gideon remained standing.

Sage shrugged and took his own seat.

Boren positioned himself near the window, while Gideon’s retainers remained outside at the request of the Guild’s security personnel.

For several moments, the mercenary commander studied Sage in silence.

Then he spoke.

"You’ve become remarkably arrogant since your success in Evergreen," Gideon declared. "When you first arrived in the Royal Capital, I assumed you understood how things worked here. Apparently, a few successful ventures have convinced you that you can do whatever you please."

Sage raised an eyebrow. "That’s a rather serious accusation, Commander. Particularly considering that I’ve spent most of today discussing warehouse construction and the price of timber."

Gideon’s expression hardened. "Don’t pretend you don’t understand what I’m talking about."

---

The commander stepped closer to the table.

"Your Guild has been approaching merchants with existing agreements, encouraging employers to abandon established mercenary contracts, and interfering with arrangements that have existed for years," Gideon continued. "You’ve been here for a handful of months, yet you behave as though every organization in the Capital should rearrange its affairs to accommodate you."

Sage listened without interrupting.

When Gideon finished, he folded his hands.

"Tell me something, Commander. Have I forced any merchant to trade with the Guild?"

Gideon frowned. "That’s not the point."

"Have I ordered anyone to abandon your company?" Sage continued. "Have I prevented Iron Fang from offering contracts, recruiting Warriors, or conducting legitimate business?"

Gideon’s jaw tightened. "You’ve deliberately created arrangements that undermine ours."

"Then perhaps your arrangements were more dependent upon the absence of competition than you realized," Sage replied calmly.

The mercenary commander struck the table with his palm.

"You think this is a game?"

Boren straightened near the window, but Sage merely glanced at the trembling teacups.

"I’d appreciate it if you didn’t damage the furniture, Commander. We purchased it recently, and Irene would be terribly disappointed if I had to explain another unnecessary expense."

Gideon stared at him, visibly struggling to contain his anger.

---

"Listen carefully, Sage," Gideon said, lowering his voice. "Evergreen might have welcomed your Guild with open arms, but this is the Royal Capital. Powerful families, merchant associations, and mercenary companies have maintained their positions here for generations. You cannot simply arrive and expect everyone to surrender their interests because you’ve invented a new way of conducting business."

Sage’s expression gradually became serious.

"I’ve never asked anyone to surrender their interests, Commander. I’ve offered people alternatives. If those alternatives are more attractive, they’re free to choose them."

"And what happens to the organizations that lose everything because of your interference?" Gideon demanded.

Sage regarded him steadily. "They can improve their services, offer better terms, or find new opportunities. That’s generally what merchants and mercenaries do when circumstances change."

Gideon laughed without amusement.

"You really don’t understand, do you? The Royal Capital doesn’t belong to you, Sage Alistair."

The words settled heavily over the chamber.

Boren watched Sage carefully, expecting another sarcastic remark.

Instead, the Guildmaster nodded.

"You’re absolutely right, Commander. The Royal Capital doesn’t belong to me."

Gideon appeared momentarily satisfied, but Sage continued before he could respond.

"However, there’s something you seem to have forgotten."

Sage leaned forward slightly.

"The Royal Capital doesn’t belong to you either."

---

Gideon’s expression froze.

Sage continued in the same measured tone. "It doesn’t belong to Iron Fang, Black Banner, or the merchant associations that have grown accustomed to deciding who receives opportunities and who doesn’t. The Capital belongs to the Kingdom, and its citizens have every right to conduct lawful business without seeking permission from whichever organization happens to be influential in their district."

Gideon’s fingers curled into fists.

"You’d do well to remember who you’re speaking to."

"I know exactly who I’m speaking to," Sage replied. "A respected mercenary commander who has apparently mistaken commercial influence for ownership of an entire city."

Boren lowered his head to conceal a smile.

Gideon took a slow breath.

"You’ve made powerful enemies, Sage."

"So I’ve been told," Sage answered. "Although I find it interesting that so many people become offended when ordinary Warriors are allowed to keep the treasures they recover through their own efforts."

"Your Dungeon Passes are disrupting agreements that support entire organizations," Gideon argued.

"And those organizations are welcome to establish more attractive agreements," Sage replied. "I’m not preventing anyone from operating a dungeon. I’m simply refusing to adopt arrangements that I consider unfavorable to Adventurers."

Gideon stared at him.

For the first time, the commander seemed to understand that Sage wasn’t negotiating.

---

The conversation continued for several minutes, but neither man’s position changed.

Gideon insisted that the Guild’s expansion threatened established interests and warned that continued interference would provoke consequences.

Sage maintained that the Guild would conduct its affairs lawfully, compete openly, and provide services according to its own rules.

Eventually, Gideon stepped away from the table.

"You’ve enjoyed considerable success because people have been willing to tolerate your ambitions," he declared. "Don’t mistake that tolerance for weakness."

Sage rose from his chair.

"And don’t mistake my willingness to remain courteous for a willingness to surrender what I’ve built," he replied.

Their gazes met.

Gideon was an experienced mercenary commander, accustomed to confronting dangerous Warriors and negotiating with influential nobles. He recognized determination when he encountered it.

Sage Alistair had no intention of retreating.

"Then I suppose we’ll see how long your Guild continues prospering," Gideon said coldly.

Sage inclined his head. "I certainly hope so, Commander. I’ve invested a rather unreasonable amount of money into the buildings."

Gideon turned and departed without another word.

---

Boren waited until the mercenary commander had left before releasing a long sigh.

"Well, that went about as pleasantly as expected," he remarked. "At least he didn’t break anything."

Sage returned to his chair. "A remarkable display of restraint. Perhaps I should send him a letter of appreciation."

Boren shook his head, although his expression remained concerned.

"He’s not going to forget what you said."

"I don’t expect him to," Sage answered. "But someone needed to remind him that the Capital isn’t his personal estate."

Boren considered the exchange.

"You realize this probably means they’ll become more aggressive."

"Possibly," Sage admitted. "Which is why Pax should continue investigating, and our departments should remain prepared. But we can’t abandon legitimate business simply because powerful men dislike competition."

He picked up the construction estimates again.

The Guild had grown from a modest beginning in Evergreen into an organization capable of influencing the Royal Capital’s economy. That growth had created opportunities for thousands of people, but it had also challenged those who believed their positions entitled them to permanent control.

Sage understood that the confrontation with Gideon was only the beginning.

The struggle ahead would determine whether the Adventurer Guild could continue expanding freely or whether established powers would succeed in forcing it into submission.

And Sage had already made his decision.

He hadn’t crossed half the Kingdom, built an enormous Headquarters, and claimed an S-Rank Dungeon merely to ask permission from men who believed the Royal Capital belonged to them.