Chapter 540: An Invitation from Auremont

The discussion concerning Westmark’s fifteen regions had given Sage considerably more to think about than he had anticipated.

By the following afternoon, the enormous map Lucan had brought remained spread across a table in his office.

Several smaller sheets of parchment had been placed beside it, containing preliminary estimates of the expenses involved in establishing additional Adventurer Guild branches throughout the Kingdom.

Unfortunately, the more Sage examined those figures, the more troublesome the undertaking appeared.

Constructing buildings and hiring personnel were relatively straightforward matters. Securing permission from dozens of territorial authorities, however, was an entirely different problem.

And that was assuming those authorities were willing to cooperate.

Sage was studying a particularly troublesome stretch of territory when a knock sounded against his office door.

"Come in," he called without looking up.

The door opened, revealing Lucan, who entered with his usual confident stride

He was holding a cream-colored envelope bearing an elaborate wax seal.

Sage glanced up and immediately recognized the quality of the parchment.

"Another invitation?" he asked, leaning back in his chair. "Don’t tell me the King has decided to celebrate his birthday twice."

Lucan smiled as he approached the desk. "Not quite, Guildmaster. This one is considerably more personal."

He placed the envelope before Sage.

The seal depicted the heraldic insignia of House Auremont, one of Westmark’s five Great Noble Houses.

Sage examined it with interest.

"Your family?"

"Indeed, Guildmaster," Lucan replied, taking the chair opposite him. "It appears the news of your invitation to the Royal Palace has reached them."

Sage raised an eyebrow. "Already? I only received it yesterday."

Lucan gave him an amused look. "Guildmaster, the Royal Household doesn’t send invitations to prominent individuals without attracting attention. Besides, House Auremont has maintained connections within the palace for generations. Something as ordinary as a guest invitation would hardly remain a secret."

"Ordinary?" Sage repeated, glancing toward the royal letter lying beside his reports. "I’ve spent the past two days wondering whether someone intends to drag me into a political dispute, and you’re calling it ordinary?"

Lucan laughed. "For someone who has managed to offend several influential merchants and mercenary commanders in such a short period, Guildmaster, you seem remarkably concerned about attending a birthday celebration."

Sage regarded him dryly. "Mercenaries usually make their intentions obvious. Nobles smile while discussing how much trouble they intend to cause you."

"An excellent observation," Lucan replied with obvious approval. "You’re learning quickly."

Sage shook his head before gesturing toward the envelope. "Well? What does your family want?"

Lucan’s smile diminished slightly. "The letter came from my uncle, Lord Benedict Auremont. He oversees several of the family’s affairs in Kingsford and frequently represents our interests at the Royal Court."

Sage watched him carefully.

Although Lucan had never attempted to conceal his connection to House Auremont, he rarely discussed his relatives unless circumstances required it. The Adventurer was perfectly comfortable explaining the Kingdom’s laws, noble privileges, and political customs, but conversations concerning his own family usually ended with a joke or a change of subject.

It was a distinction Sage had noticed long ago.

"And what does Lord Benedict have to say?" Sage asked.

Lucan unfolded the letter and examined its contents again. "He expects me to attend the King’s birthday celebration as a member of House Auremont. Apparently, my continued absence from certain family gatherings has become a source of considerable irritation."

Sage’s expression brightened. "Oh? So the great Lucan Auremont has been avoiding family dinners?"

Lucan sighed. "I wouldn’t describe them as dinners, Guildmaster. A family gathering involving three dozen relatives, several marriage proposals, and lengthy discussions about territorial administration is closer to an interrogation."

Sage burst into laughter. "Marriage proposals? Now that’s interesting. Should I start preparing a congratulatory gift?"

"I would strongly advise against it," Lucan replied, looking thoroughly unimpressed. "My relatives already have enough terrible ideas without your assistance."

Sage continued chuckling for several moments before allowing him to proceed.

"Anyway," Lucan continued, smoothing the parchment, "my uncle also expressed an interest in meeting you. More specifically, he wishes to arrange an introduction between you and several senior members of House Auremont during the royal celebrations."

Sage’s amusement gradually faded.

"Several senior members?"

"Yes, Guildmaster. My uncle didn’t provide a complete list, but I suspect the request comes from considerably higher within the family."

Sage glanced toward the map on his table.

House Auremont was no ordinary noble household. As one of the five Great Noble Houses, its influence extended across numerous territories, with subordinate nobles, commercial interests, and military forces connected to its authority.

Receiving support from such a family could remove many obstacles from the Guild’s expansion.

However, Sage doubted the invitation was being extended purely out of generosity.

"Why now?" he asked.

Lucan understood the question immediately.

"Because the Adventurer Guild has become difficult to ignore, Guildmaster."

He leaned forward slightly. "When you first established the Guild in Evergreen, most nobles outside the surrounding territories considered it an unusual local organization. Some were curious, but few believed it would become particularly influential."

Sage smiled faintly at the memory.

Back then, convincing Warriors to register as Adventurers had required considerable effort. The Guild had possessed neither an established reputation nor the enormous facilities it now enjoyed.

"Things changed when we expanded into Kingsford," Lucan continued. "The Royal Capital attracts attention from every important household in Westmark. Once the Guild began drawing thousands of Warriors, completing valuable missions, and establishing its presence around Greyfen, people started asking questions."

"And your family was among them," Sage observed.

"Naturally," Lucan answered. "House Auremont maintains interests in commerce, regional security, and territorial administration. An organization capable of mobilizing large numbers of independent Warriors would attract its attention regardless of my involvement."

Sage considered that explanation.

The Guild’s growing influence had certainly become apparent during the recent confrontation with the mercenary companies.

Through commercial pressure, coordinated investigations, and the support of its allies, the Guild had contributed to the collapse of Iron Fang without requiring a prolonged military conflict.

Roderick Halbrecht’s decision to confront the Guild directly had ended even more disastrously.

Leon Drakar had killed the Black Banner commander, leaving the company without its leader and its surviving members facing serious consequences.

"Let me guess," Sage said, tapping his desk. "The business with Iron Fang and Black Banner made your family even more interested."

Lucan nodded. "Considerably more interested, Guildmaster. The destruction of a mercenary company’s influence through commercial arrangements and legal pressure is one thing. Having a 6-Star Grandmaster Knight defend your Headquarters against a 5-Star Master Knight is another."

"Leon deserves the credit for that," Sage replied.

"Of course," Lucan agreed. "But the nobles are interested in why someone like Leon Drakar, captain of one of Westmark’s ten strongest Knight Orders, has chosen to register as an Adventurer and maintain such a close relationship with your organization."

Sage fell silent. He hadn’t considered the matter from that particular perspective.

To him, Leon was an accomplished Knight who recognized the opportunities offered by the Guild.

To the aristocracy, however, his association with an independent organization might carry considerably greater political significance.

Lucan watched Sage’s expression before adding, "And then there’s the matter of Greyfen. An S-Rank Dungeon attracting powerful Warriors, merchants, and considerable wealth is not something the Great Houses can afford to overlook."

Sage slowly nodded. "That explains their interest. But there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you."

Lucan raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Sage leaned forward, resting his elbows upon the desk. "Have you been reporting everything we do to your family?"

Lucan stared at him for a moment.

Then he laughed. "Guildmaster, do you genuinely believe I have enough spare time to write detailed reports about every ridiculous thing you do?"

Sage looked offended. "Ridiculous?"

"Would you prefer that I call them extraordinary?" Lucan asked, struggling to suppress his amusement.

"I would prefer that you acknowledge my exceptional leadership."

"Then I shall endeavor to be more generous in my descriptions," Lucan replied with a theatrical inclination of his head.

Sage waved a hand dismissively.

Lucan’s expression became more thoughtful.

"For what it’s worth, Guildmaster, I haven’t been sending my family reports about the Guild’s internal affairs. They have their own sources of information, and much of what we’ve accomplished is already common knowledge throughout Kingsford."

Sage studied him briefly before nodding.

He had never seriously suspected Lucan of betraying the Guild’s confidence. The question had been more an opportunity to tease him than anything else.

Still, Lucan’s answer raised another matter.

"If your family is so influential, why did you decide to become an Adventurer instead of remaining with them?"

Lucan’s smile faded.

For several moments, he looked toward the window overlooking the Guild District.

"Because being born into a Great Noble House doesn’t necessarily mean you get to decide what your life should become," he answered eventually.

Sage remained quiet, allowing him to continue.

Lucan rested one arm against the chair. "House Auremont has existed for generations, Guildmaster. Every member is expected to contribute something to the family’s continued prosperity. Some enter military service, others oversee estates, and those with suitable abilities are prepared for positions within the Royal Court."

"And you were expected to follow one of those paths?" Sage asked.

"Something along those lines," Lucan replied. "I received the education expected of someone from my family. Law, administration, history, diplomacy, and enough swordsmanship to avoid embarrassing myself in front of my instructors."

Sage grinned. "Judging by your swordsmanship, I suspect the instructors suffered considerably."

Lucan returned the smile, although it lacked his usual enthusiasm. "They certainly had their complaints. Unfortunately, my family had rather definite opinions about how I should use the education they provided."

Sage could hear the reluctance beneath those words.

He was curious, but there was little reason to force Lucan into discussing matters he clearly preferred to keep private.

"So you became an Adventurer," Sage said.

Lucan nodded. "I wanted to accomplish something through my own efforts, Guildmaster. Something that wouldn’t be attributed entirely to my surname."

Sage regarded him with renewed interest.

That desire explained considerably more about Lucan than the Adventurer probably realized.

His determination to advance through the Guild’s ranks, his competitive attitude toward Gregor, and his occasional irritation whenever someone underestimated his abilities all seemed rather understandable.

"Well, you’ve certainly chosen an interesting way to accomplish that," Sage remarked.

Lucan chuckled. "I could say the same about you, Guildmaster."

Their conversation might have continued, but Lucan glanced toward the letter resting upon the desk.

"There’s one final matter," he said, his expression turning serious again.

Sage raised an eyebrow. "Another marriage proposal?"

"Unfortunately, something considerably more troublesome," Lucan replied. "My uncle mentioned that House Auremont has been discussing the possibility of supporting the Adventurer Guild’s expansion into other regions."

Sage immediately straightened.

That was unexpected. "Supporting us? In what way?"

"Political introductions, assistance with territorial negotiations, and cooperation from nobles connected to our family," Lucan explained. "House Auremont possesses considerable influence throughout Westmark. With its support, establishing branches in certain territories would become much easier."

Sage’s thoughts immediately returned to the enormous map.

The difficulties he had discussed with Lucan the previous day suddenly appeared a little less intimidating.

However, Lucan hadn’t finished speaking.

"There’s a condition, Guildmaster," he continued. "Before committing themselves to anything, the senior members of House Auremont want to meet you personally."

Sage smiled. "To see whether I’m worth supporting?"

"Precisely," Lucan answered. "And I should warn you that my uncle is not easily impressed."

Sage leaned back in his chair, looking thoroughly entertained. "Well, that’s unfortunate for him."

Lucan blinked.

Sage’s smile widened. "Because I’m exceptionally impressive."

Lucan stared at him for several seconds before bursting into laughter.

Yet even as he laughed, the Adventurer couldn’t help wondering how the coming meeting would unfold.

After all, he knew Sage Alistair well enough to understand that the Guildmaster rarely behaved the way powerful nobles expected.

And House Auremont was about to discover that for itself.