Chapter 151: The Puppeteer

The Guild Hall was eerily silent, every eye fixed on the man sitting at the desk, mouths agape in disbelief. The Adventurers could hardly fathom how many times Sage had left them stunned.

First came the astonishing news that the Adventurer Guild had conquered not just one dungeon, but three, an achievement that even some nobles struggled to accomplish.

Then there was the shockingly low price to access these dungeons; it felt almost as if he were giving away entry for free. When compared to what they usually paid those greedy nobles, this was a steal.

And now, Sage announced that they could keep all their loot from the dungeons,no need to hand over ninety percent of it as they had been forced to do before. If this wasn’t shocking enough for them, perhaps they hadn’t truly suffered under noble rule.

From their perspective, Sage was practically offering them free reign over three dungeons. A few gold coins would grant them access, and whatever treasures they found inside were theirs to keep. a feast laid out before them.

However, Gregor, Pax, and Valeria viewed things differently than the rest of the Adventurers. They were contemplating more than just a free meal; they were considering the deeper implications of Sage’s actions. When he declared that Adventurers could retain their loot from the dungeons, Valeria began to grasp his strategy.

With her arms crossed and a cold gaze fixed on Sage, Valeria’s mind raced with thoughts. Since becoming an Adventurer herself, she recognized that apart from Sage, who was a warrior, the Guild lacked significant protection. To her eyes, it appeared as nothing more than a glittering pile of gold coins in the heart of the city, beckoning people to come and take it.

If she claimed ignorance about the value of the Adventurer Guild, she would be lying. Over her months as an Adventurer, her once-cold heart had softened; being part of this community was far better than mercenary work where she constantly fought and watched her sisters perish.

There was no benevolent leader who wished for their subordinates’ suffering; even some of her own followers shared similar sentiments.

Understanding the Guild’s worth left Valeria puzzled about why it lacked protectors beyond Sage himself. No small army stood ready to intimidate potential threats, but after spending time here, she realized that perhaps the Guild didn’t need an army because it was an army in its own right.

Now, hearing Sage speak about granting access to three dungeons while allowing everyone to keep their loot made everything seem clearer: Sage is a king without an army but ruled over a kingdom filled with loyal subjects.

“Big sis! What is the Guildmaster thinking?” A soft voice broke through Valeria’s deep thoughts, it was Vanthrice, her vice commander. Confusion etched across Vanthrice’s face as she looked at Sage grinning like he’d won a grand lottery.

“What don’t you understand?” Valeria asked, her gaze steady and calm, her expression as cold as ever.

“I just don’t get it. The Guildmaster has the chance to use those dungeons to get rich,” Vanthrice replied, looking intently at Valeria. “I see he made the Dungeon Pass affordable so all Adventurers can enter, setting himself apart from the Nobles. But allowing them to keep all their loot. doesn’t that seem like a huge loss?”

Valeria remained silent, her icy stare still fixed on Sage.

After a brief pause, Vanthrice continued, “I mean, how much can he really earn by selling the Dungeon Pass at such a low price? It’s practically nothing! I bet if he charged more than three hundred gold coins for each pass, no Adventurer would complain. And to make matters worse, he won’t even take a percentage of their loot to cover his losses. Isn’t that… foolish?”

Listening to Vanthrice’s analysis, Valeria shook her head and turned back to face her. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips, momentarily breaking through her cold demeanor.

“Vanthrice… I know you’re not exactly known for your bright ideas. You’ve always had ’fight’ on your mind, which is why you think he’s incurring losses instead of making profits,” Valeria said with a hint of teasing in her tone.

Before Vanthrice could respond, Valeria pointed toward the crowd in the hall and asked, “What do you see in the eyes of the Adventurers here?”

Taken aback for a moment, Vanthrice shifted her gaze across the packed Guild Hall. Adventurers filled every corner, hundreds upon thousands stood silently together.

As she observed them closely, she followed their gazes toward Sage and then back at the crowd. What she saw was something she hadn’t witnessed in ages: hope and excitement mingled with relief and determination, and something else that unsettled her: worship.

Yes, worship; she could see it flickering in many of their eyes, the way they looked at Sage was almost reverent, as if he had saved them from some dire fate.

“Do you see it?” Valeria’s voice sliced through Vanthrice’s thoughts.

Nodding absently, Vanthrice replied, “Yes… I see it now. It’s like how my sisters looked when you rescued them from suffering or how I felt when you saved me from that brothel. In those moments, there was only one thought in my mind: I would do anything for you, even walk through mountains of knives or seas of fire.”

Suddenly realizing something profound about what she had witnessed among the Adventurers and glancing back at Sage, who seemed to be suppressing laughter, she turned again to find Valeria smiling knowingly at her.

“Yes, what you’re thinking is exactly what’s happening right now,” Valeria said, shaking her head and letting her crimson hair flutter in the air. “Do you really think he’s at a loss?”

“Nope, not at all. In fact, he might be the richest person in the entire region, aside from the nobles and those big merchant caravans,” Vanthrice replied confidently.

Valeria turned to Sage, observing him closely. “He’s a very clever man. When I first arrived here and wanted to take Mina back, I thought he was just foolish. But he made me reconsider.”

“Big sis, I never thought I’d hear you praise a man so highly, especially one of his kind that you despise so much,” Vanthrice said, surprise flickering in her eyes.

Valeria shook her head again. “It’s true; it’s not about my deep-seated hatred for his kind. It’s more about respect. I respect anyone who earns it, even though part of me wants to cut off his head and wipe that smug grin off his face.”

Vanthrice frowned as she listened and muttered, “But that guy is always so lazy! He just sprawls on his desk with those fish-like eyes, looking around and sometimes giggling to himself like an old creep, it kind of scares me when I see him.”

After a brief silence, Valeria responded thoughtfully, “Sometimes intelligence doesn’t have to be obvious for someone to be smart. A madman or beggar can possess more wisdom than both of us combined. So never underestimate anyone; everyone has their own strengths.”

Her gaze drifted toward the lounge as she continued, “Take that gloomy drunkard sitting there.”

Vanthrice’s eyes darted to Pax lounging on the couch as if he wished to meld into it. She narrowed her eyes at him for a moment before looking away.

Let me ask you something: why do you think that despite all the waves the Guild has been making in the city, its reputation spreading even to other towns and villages, no one has come here to cause trouble? Those greedy nobles and merchants with their insatiable appetites haven’t shown up even though the Guild’s value is laid bare before them like an exposed beauty.” Valeria’s eyes were cold yet tinged with respect.

“Why? I don’t understand,” Vanthrice scratched her head in confusion.

“Because he knows how to manipulate people,” Valeria explained calmly, though her gaze sharpened with intensity. “He understands human psychology better than most; he makes people work for him without lifting a finger. He uses their traumas for his own gain.”

Vanthrice glanced at Sage as he smiled warmly like a saint while answering questions from adventurers nearby. She muttered under her breath, “I don’t know…he seems like such a chill guy, a selfless person.”

“That’s exactly the kind of thoughts he wants you to have, which is why I said he knows how to manipulate people. He has a deep understanding of human psychology. Do you really think he’s selfless? In reality, he’s one of the most selfish individuals I’ve ever encountered. I’ve never seen anyone so consumed by their own interests and disdain for others. I’m convinced he’s willing to sacrifice all these Adventurers for his own gain, and that’s precisely what he’s doing right now.”

“Him?” Vanthrice was taken aback by Valeria’s words; even she was surprised because the Guildmaster seemed like such a laid-back guy.

“You don’t believe me?” Valeria chuckled softly before continuing, “Of course you wouldn’t. But let me ask you this: why do you think the Guild hasn’t been attacked yet?”

She glanced at Vanthrice and then at Mina, who was climbing on the desk and clinging to Sage’s neck like an octopus, her face beaming with joy.

“Why do you think we’re here in the first place?” Valeria pressed.

“It’s because we want to take Mina out of here,” Vanthrice replied after a moment’s thought.

“And who brought us here initially?” Valeria countered.

Vanthrice paused again before answering, “Mina!”

Valeria locked eyes with her and said, “He used Mina to lure me here and manipulated her into making me an Adventurer.”

Vanthrice’s eyes widened slightly as she asked in a shaky voice, “I don’t understand, why would he do that? He can’t gain anything from it.”

“Oh, he stands to gain a lot, more than I can even comprehend,” Valeria replied. She uncrossed her arms and pointed at Sage. “He used Mina to bring me here and then turned me into a shield for the Guild.”

For a moment, Vanthrice felt confused. She looked over at Sage, then at the Adventurers around them, eyes filled with gratitude and admiration as they were ready to lay down their lives for him. Then she turned back to Valeria, whose anger was palpable as she ground her teeth. Suddenly, it clicked for Vanthrice.

Her eyes went wide as she pointed a trembling finger at Sage before looking back at Valeria, who had turned to meet her gaze with a knowing smile.

“You get it now, don’t you?”

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A/N: Everyone sorry for the delay. Two bonus Chapters will be uploaded later.

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