WildHorizon Guild — Outside the Wall, 11:10 AM
Derek caught the lingering look Melissa gave Dylan as he walked away. He couldn't quite fathom what kind of fixation Melissa had suddenly developed for him. Although she had always been kind to her assigned adventurers, Melissa had never acted quite like this before—not even toward Lydia, her childhood friend and arguably the undisputed beauty of the entire guild hall.
Right at that moment, a massive figure crossed the threshold of the guild without making much noise. It was Robert, the Guild Master.
From the entrance, Robert glanced over toward the reception area and signaled Derek with a pointed finger, before gesturing toward the hallway leading to his private office. Derek understood the signal instantly, knowing the Guild Master required his presence.
"I have to go," Derek said, turning to Melissa and giving her side a sharp pinch.
"OUCH! What was that for?!" Melissa complained, clutching her side.
"Just in case this turns out to be another headache caused by one of your adventurers," Derek replied before taking his leave.
(What a bastard!) Melissa thought, grumbling to herself.
Derek stepped out from behind the reception desk and walked toward one of the small side doors flanked beside the entrance to the grand dining hall. Stepping through, he found himself in a spacious hallway. One side was lined with doors, each marking a private office belonging to an individual receptionist. Every single one was strictly private—only the Guild Master, the Vice-Master, and Derek possessed the authority to enter them. The opposite wall was adorned with official portraits of legendary adventurers who had elevated the name of the WildHorizon Guild to glory.
Prominently featured along the hall, one woman stood out vastly beyond all the rest; easily a third of all the portraits belonged exclusively to her. That woman was Vanessa Kingsbane—vanquisher of the Tenth Queen of Chaos and the one who brought an end to the Cycle of the Chaos Kings. She was WildHorizon's absolute proudest legacy.
(A real shame she doesn't visit the guild hall anymore... or Salusbreath, for that matter,) Derek thought, gazing at the portrait of a youthful Vanessa standing atop the severed head of a fifty-meter troll, bearing an unmatched smirk while her sword radiated a blinding brilliance despite being drenched in gore.
At the far end of the hallway stood a winding spiral staircase leading up to the second floor, where the offices of Derek, the Vice-Master, and the Guild Master were located.
Reaching the Guild Master's door, Derek knocked politely, immediately receiving a booming "Enter" from inside.
"You summoned me, Master?" Derek greeted respectfully.
Standing in one of the corners of his office, Robert was meticulously inspecting a framed painting hanging on the wall. It was a portrait from his youth, depicting him alongside his former party, all posing triumphantly over a slain wyvern's nest.
"They did it again!" Robert vented in deep frustration. "Why don't they understand?! Am I not being clear enough?! Do I whisper when I speak?! If not, then why in the world do my adventurers keep picking fights with adventurers from other guilds?!" he roared in anger.
Robert genuinely could not comprehend where this senseless inter-guild rivalry even stemmed from. All the local Guild Masters were close personal friends who had never had the slightest friction between them, yet the adventurers... Visit novelping . com for the full chapter.
The adventurers couldn't even catch sight of each other without drawing weapons, screaming, and bragging that their respective guilds were superior.
"First it was my own granddaughter, Lydia. She and Valka got into a brawl right in the noble sector simply because one gave the other a dirty look! Can you believe that, Derek?!" Robert exclaimed furiously. "And now..."
(Please don't let it be my party...) Derek prayed silently.
"Just two hours before the official Guild Masters' council meeting..." Robert continued, his voice steadily rising.
(Please don't let it be mine!...) Derek prayed even harder.
"A group of our adventurers got into a massive brawl with a party from Blackwater!" Robert roared, unleashing a wave of his magic pressure that rattled the entire room, slamming a stack of magic-photographs down onto his desk.
Derek picked up the photos, recognizing various adventurers assigned to different receptionists—along with a couple belonging to his own roster.
(Thank Merlín!) Derek offered a silent prayer of gratitude. "Don't worry, Guild Master. We will address this matter as quickly as possible. A full month of noble escort duty will certainly make them rethink their choices, I guarantee it," he assured, gathering the photos into his hands.
"I certainly hope so, Derek. One more thing: make sure not a single adventurer leaves any of our guild halls for the next two hours while I'm at the meeting. If there's going to be chaos out on the streets, ensure our members aren't the ones causing it," Robert ordered firmly.
"What about Lady Damaris?" Derek asked. Damaris was currently roaming around the city freely.
"Let her wander. She knows the consequences of making me angry," Robert stated plainly.
"It wouldn't be a problem if I requested her assistance for just a few minutes, would it?" Derek inquired.
The Guild Master studied him for a brief moment before nodding in approval, then motioned with his head for Derek to be dismissed.
Derek closed the office door softly behind him, walking down toward the second-floor exit. He let out a heavy sigh before looking down at the photos of his assigned adventurers. A wave of sheer, unadulterated embarrassment washed over him.
Derek tucked the photos into his coat before looking over the second-floor railing down toward the main desk. He signaled the receptionists below to lock up the guild hall behind his departure. But before leaving, his eyes flicked over toward the table where Dylan, Connor, and Rose were sitting—the only adventurers he had present in the hall.
(They'll be fine,) Derek told himself, taking note of Dylan's haggard expression. (Dylan's current situation will keep them occupied for a while.) He then leaped over the railing to the ground floor and exited the building.
WildHorizon Guild — Inside the Wall, 12:00 PM
*BAM*
The front door to one of the guild's residential quarters slammed open from a heavy kick. Derek stepped inside with a thoroughly displeased scowl, spotting a group of adventurers lounging around the common room.
"Taking a break, huh? I suppose you think you deserve one after the absolute stupidity you pulled today!" Derek roared in anger. "Do you have any idea how embarrassing it was seeing your faces plastered across the Master's desk?!"
"Relax, old man. We were just... showing them which guild reigns supreme. You know, keeping their minds sharp," one adventurer laughed, joined by his companions.
"Relax?... Oh, we're all going to be relaxing real soon," Derek assured them, stepping aside from the doorway.
*SWISH*
An overwhelming wave of intense heat instantly flooded the room, causing everyone present to break into a sudden sweat.
Standing imposingly at the threshold was a towering woman standing 2.10 meters tall. She possessed blazing-red hair and piercing, luminous blue eyes.
The woman stepped into the quarters, revealing her striking physique. She went completely barefoot, displaying long, powerful legs, wearing a dark pelvic curtain and a tight chest wrap tied crosswise behind her neck. The outfit left her sculpted abdominal muscles and defined arms fully exposed to the air.
"They're all yours, Lady Damaris," Derek said softly.
"Well, well, well... let's hope these sweet little treats don't melt too quickly in the fire," Damaris purred before a flash of crimson light illuminated the entire room, immediately followed by desperate screams.