Chapter 179: Mage

The second floor of the Adventurer Guild gradually emptied, not with noise or ceremony, but with intention.

One by one, chairs scraped softly against the marble as the warriors stood up, maps were rolled away, notes collected, and the weight of their recent decisions settled heavily on every pair of shoulders present.

Conversations shifted to hushed murmurs not out of secrecy but from a shared respect for the gravity of their plan. This was no longer a theoretical discussion or a gamble driven solely by greed; it was preparation for an endeavor that could alter the balance of power within the Evergreen Region.

Valeria was the first to leave, her mercenary group following her in disciplined formation. Their movements were calm and measured, betraying none of the shock they had felt earlier, only the readiness of seasoned veterans who understood that once a decision was made, hesitation was a luxury they could not afford.

Gregor lingered a moment longer to exchange final words with Vanthrice before stretching his shoulders and flashing Sage a grin that blended confidence with provocation.

“Try not to bankrupt the Guild while we’re gone,” Gregor said casually as he turned toward the stairs.

Sage scoffed. “Just make sure you don’t get yourselves killed. Ten million gold doesn’t mean much if everyone’s dead.”

Gregor waved without looking back. “Relax. I plan to spend it.”

Soon enough, even Mina departed reluctantly under Valeria’s insistence despite her exaggerated protests. The laughter faded, footsteps receded, and at last, silence enveloped the second-floor lounge.

Not an empty silence but one heavy with significance.

Sage stood alone near the central table, staring at the scattered remnants of their planning session.

Maps bore faint impressions from gloved hands; charcoal sketches of the Crimson Abyssal Lion glared back at him from parchment, sharp teeth bared and burning eyes fixed in an overwhelming presence.

The air seemed to hum faintly as if reacting to the magnitude of what had just been decided within these walls.

He exhaled slowly. For the first time since Aldric Goldfeather had uttered “Sixth Order Lord Beast,” Sage allowed himself to feel its full weight not as Guildmaster or administrator but as a man standing at the center of something far greater than he had ever intended to create.

“This is insane,” he murmured to himself.

And yet… it was already set in motion.

Turning away from the lounge, Sage made his way down the corridor toward his office. The hall was quiet now, illuminated by soft mana lamps embedded in the walls whose glow cast elegant shadows across polished stone floors.

This wing of the second floor had been designed differently from others, less public and more symbolic.

Each step reminded Sage that the Adventurer Guild was no longer just a chaotic gathering of mercenaries and hopeful warriors, it was evolving into an institution marked by structure, authority, and ambition.

The Guildmaster’s office sat at the end of the corridor, its door recently replaced with dark, polished wood engraved with the Adventurer Guild’s crest.

Sage paused for a moment before entering, his hand resting against the surface as if seeking to ground himself.

He stepped inside. A wide desk made of dark mana-treated wood dominated the center of the room, its surface smooth and cool to the touch.

Behind it stood a high-backed chair reinforced with subtle runic engravings, nothing ostentatious, but clearly designed for someone who commanded respect. Bookshelves lined the walls, filled with all kinds of volumes, even those about mages.

He circled the desk slowly, absorbing every detail before finally taking a seat. The chair adjusted itself almost instinctively, molding to his posture and providing perfect support as he leaned back and closed his eyes.

For a moment, he simply breathed in. Gold. Power. Lives. Consequences.

The Adventurer Guild had evolved beyond a clever idea supported by a system; it was now a formidable force and such forces inevitably attracted enemies, expectations, and bloodshed.

Opening his eyes, Sage sensed something unusual emanating from the walls of the room.

A faint disturbance brushed against his awareness, subtle enough that most would overlook it entirely. It wasn’t hostile or loud; rather, it felt out of place, a gentle fluctuation in mana flow that lingered like a soft whisper beneath the steady rhythm of the Guild’s heartbeat.

Frowning slightly, Sage stood and followed this sensation toward a bookshelf on the far side of the room.

The shelves were densely packed with volumes, yet one section drew his attention where he felt an unusual concentration of mana flow. He reached out and ran his fingers along the spines until he detected it, a faint pulse beneath the wood marked by the Guild symbol.

Hidden behind this shelf was something barely visible unless one knew what to look for.

His heart began to race as he carefully pressed his palm against the mark. There was brief resistance followed by a low hum as mana surged through the walls. With surprising smoothness, the bookshelf shifted aside to reveal a concealed opening where stone replaced polished wood.

A hidden door lay before him. Sage swallowed hard and stepped forward into an extraordinary stone chamber unlike anything else in the Guild. Thick walls etched with glowing mana-sealing runes greeted him as he entered.

The air inside was cool and dense, heavy with an unmistakable presence of stored power and wealth.

This was the Guild Vault.

Rows upon rows of gold coins were stacked with unnatural precision in geometric formations designed to maximize space while minimizing mana interference. Chests reinforced with enchanted steel lined every wall; Sage understood immediately that they were meant for storing gold or other treasures. Crystals embedded in the ceiling bathed this chamber in soft golden light that reflected endlessly off polished surfaces until it felt like standing at the heart of a treasure hoard worthy of legends.

He stared in silence. The Adventurer Guild had transformed, it was no longer just influential, it was incredibly wealthy. This wasn’t the kind of wealth that could vanish with a bad season or political upheaval. No, this was liquid power capable of buying loyalty, funding wars, and driving growth.

As that realization settled in, a familiar sensation rippled through his mind.

[ Ding!]

[Hidden Mission Completed]

[The Guild First 6-Star Mission Achieved.]

[First Mission With Reward Of 10,000,000 Gold Coins]

[Reward Distribution Initiated]

Light gathered before him, forming two distinct shapes. The first was a crystal vial suspended in midair, filled with a luminous liquid that shimmered between silver and deep blue.

As Sage focused on it, he felt an unusual pressure behind his eyes, as if his very consciousness were being acknowledged.

[High Grade Soul Expansion Potion]

Information flooded into his mind. This wasn’t a potion for immediate power; it wouldn’t boost strength or mana directly. Instead, it expanded the soul itself—the vessel through which mana flowed, thoughts were formed, and will was imposed upon reality.

With this potion came enhanced mana control, greater mental endurance, an increased capacity for complex spellcasting and most importantly, long-term growth potential far beyond normal limits.

It was a foundation not borrowed strength but earned.

The second reward appeared beside it with quiet significance:

A staff.

Crafted from silver-infused wood and engraved with flowing runes that subtly responded to Sage’s presence. The crystal embedded at its head pulsed faintly, resonating with mana frequencies he instinctively recognized.

[Silver-Grade Mage Staff]

Sage reached out and grasped it. The moment his fingers closed around the staff, everything clicked into place. Mana flowed effortlessly through the conduit, smooth and responsive, as if the weapon had been waiting just for him. It wasn’t overwhelming or aggressive; instead, it was shaping him.

Slowly but surely, Sage began to understand what this meant. He had always been in the background, planning, organizing, optimizing but now the path ahead was clear for the first time.

He was no longer just the Guildmaster; he was becoming a Mage, a real one.

Standing alone in the vault surrounded by gold and silent runes, Sage lifted his gaze toward the unseen horizon beyond the Guild’s walls.

“If we survive this…” he murmured as he tightened his grip on the staff.

“The Guild will never be the same and neither will I.”

———–

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