Chapter 153: The Unshielded King [ Bonus Chapter ]

The Guild Hall buzzed with chaotic excitement as Adventurers lined up in front of Sage, eagerly handing over two gold coins to receive their Guide Books.

Before long, nearly every Adventurer in the hall was engrossed in their books, absorbing the information like a sponge soaking up water. Sage’s smile never wavered; it grew so wide that it almost reached his ears.

He couldn’t help but feel exhilarated at the sight of a small mountain of gold coins accumulating before him. No matter how much he earned, the sight of gold always felt like witnessing something truly beautiful.

What thrilled him even more was knowing that many Adventurers were still out on missions and hadn’t yet returned. When they heard about the Guide Books and came back to buy them, he would have another pile of gold coins to admire.

“Forget about women; money is simply the most loyal and beautiful thing in the world,” Sage muttered under his breath as he grasped a handful of coins, relishing their weight in his palm.

His grin widened further as he observed the Adventurers diligently studying their Guide Books.

The reason none of them rushed to buy a Dungeon Pass for those dungeons is pretty straightforward: they want to get a better grasp of what’s happening inside the Dungeons first.

Unlike before, when they ventured into dungeons blind and relied solely on luck, this time they had guidance, something that would warn them about potential dangers and prevent careless deaths.

Sage’s gaze sharpened as he surveyed the crowd, a cold glint flickering in his eyes. “Step four of my plan is nearly halfway complete. Once they enter those dungeons and see for themselves that what I said is true, step four will be finalized.”

These Adventurers were his army, the barrier standing between the Nobles and the Guild. If everything he promised them turned out to be real, especially regarding keeping any loot found in dungeons, then step four would be set in stone.

He glanced over at Valeria, who sat surrounded by her mercenary group at a distant corner of the Guild Hall, all absorbed in their own Guide Book.

“Step one is basically complete,” he thought with satisfaction. “As for step two…”

A smile crept onto his face as he patted Mina’s leg affectionately. “As long as this little devil is here, step three isn’t going anywhere.”

With arms crossed and a smug grin on his lips, Sage reflected inwardly: “All my plans are falling into place perfectly; however, step three might prove challenging and take quite some time.”

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully while considering his long-term strategy for step four, a plan requiring substantial resources and time to bring to fruition. But for now, other plans were sufficient; all he needed was to survive against the top dogs.

Sage’s expression turned serious at the thought of the Nobles. These were individuals not to be trifled with or underestimated; doing so would be the gravest mistake of his life.

While his current plans offered him some degree of protection for himself and the Guild, he knew that complacency or arrogance could lead to his downfall.

The Nobles were not fools; no one rises to power without bloodshed or standing atop a pile of their enemies’ corpses. Throughout history, every powerful figure achieved their status through the sacrifices of others, and the Nobles were no exception.

His strategies might shield him in plain sight, but what about in the shadows? He had no defenses against what lurked there.

If the Nobles couldn’t act openly, they would surely strike from the darkness, and Sage was vulnerable. The protective aura of the Guild had faded; any assassin could slip inside and end him without anyone noticing.

Sometimes, it’s easier to deflect an attack in broad daylight than to spot a threat lurking in the shadows. Right now, Sage has the ability to block direct assaults coming his way, but he remains vulnerable if someone decides to strike from the shadows.

Moreover, there were countless ways to eliminate him without confronting him directly in daylight. So while his plans appeared sound on the surface, they only worked if his enemies chose to confront him openly.

Sage sighed softly, frustration etched across his face. He was up against people capable of leveling cities without breaking a sweat, while he felt powerless before them.

“I really need protection, real protection,” he muttered under his breath. “I want a powerful ally, someone so formidable that those Nobles would think twice before coming after me.”

Bitterness filled his heart as he reflected on greed, the original sin. History books weren’t wrong; empires often fell not due to weakness but because of insatiable greed.

Take the Roman Empire: once one of Earth’s mightiest empires, it crumbled under elite avarice. Many other empires and notable figures throughout history met similar fates due to their greed, like Marcus Licinius Crassus in 53 BCE and Hendrick Lucifer in 1627.

Even in modern times, numerous companies have collapsed because of greed, a reality Sage had witnessed firsthand countless times. He himself nearly faced jail time because of it.

Just recalling his past life made his teeth ache. “Even in another existence, I can’t escape what almost cost me my life,” he chuckled bitterly. “It’s sad how emotions can shape our lives.”

And here he was again, facing similar challenges but with time on his side this time around.

There were various ways to avoid confrontation with the Nobles, but they would come at a steep price, and that brought him back to greed again: he didn’t want to share what little resources he had; instead, he’d rather hoard them all for himself.

“No way am I sharing my cake with anyone… Just thinking about it makes me uneasy.” His eyes narrowed as determination sparked within him.

He realized making deals that could put him at a disadvantage wasn’t necessary; as long as he survived this ordeal unscathed, nothing else mattered.

With that thought in mind, he stood up from the desk, gently lifting Mina by her short legs as he made his way to the lounge area.

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