Chapter 246: Ashford Quarter

Time passed quietly, and before anyone truly noticed, the next day arrived. Morning sunlight spread across Riverdale City in a slow, golden wash, illuminating rooftops, banners, river docks, and bustling streets with equal indifference.

Riverdale was neither smaller nor less significant than Greyvale; in many ways, it felt sharper. The river that gave the city its name cut through it like a silver spine, dividing trade routes and nourishing markets with ships arriving daily from distant regions. Goods flowed in and out constantly, grain, timber, ore, silk, spices and with those goods came people: merchants, sailors, craftsmen, mercenaries, travelers.

Riverdale thrived on commerce.

The city was divided into six districts, each boasting its own character and rhythm. The Riverside Exchange District buzzed from dawn until dusk with traders shouting prices and dock workers hauling cargo.

The Goldring District housed affluent merchants and commmerce houses amid wide streets and guarded estates. In the Ironfield District, smithies roared to life while workshops never slept. The Lantern Ward was known for its taverns, inns, and entertainment venues. The Noble Crescent offered a quieter atmosphere where minor aristocrats and officials resided behind walls and private gardens.

And then there was the Ashford Quarter.

The Ashford Quarter stood in stark contrast to the others; it wasn’t lively like the docks or polished like Goldring. It carried an older scent, dusty wood mingled with neglect. Years ago it had been a burgeoning commercial hub; however, as trade routes shifted and investments dwindled away to more profitable districts, businesses followed suit.

Now many of its buildings were cracked and weather-worn; their wooden signs faded and hanging loosely by rusted chains. Some windows were broken while shutters hung half-closed elsewhere. Though still paved roads remained intact here, grass began creeping between the stones.

It wasn’t abandoned but felt eerily quiet compared to the rest of Riverdale.

Valeria couldn’t help but think of the old Gryphon District in Greyvale before it underwent reconstruction under the Adventurer Guild’s banner, a place filled with potential yet currently forgotten.

Boren and Valeria stood at the edge of a large plot within the Ashford Quarter gazing at what would soon transform into something entirely different.

Before them lay a wide expanse scattered with remnants of old structures. A large central building loomed at one end, two stories high but leaning slightly to one side, with cracked roof tiles and one corner partially collapsed inward.

Surrounding it were smaller storage sheds and shopfronts whose doors hung loose while their paint had long since faded away. Dust settled easily here as wind moved freely without obstruction.

Valeria crossed her arms as she surveyed the area.

“Are you sure,” she asked calmly, “that this place is suitable for a branch?”

Boren scratched his head, squinting as he surveyed the area like a merchant inspecting damaged goods. He shifted the leather-bound book tucked under his arm and opened it carefully, flipping through pages filled with tightly packed handwriting.

“Yes,” he said after glancing at a specific page. “The boss specifically instructed that we shouldn’t start in a high-profile district.”

Valeria glanced at the book briefly before turning her attention back to the land. “He wrote that?”

“Yep,” Boren replied, nodding. “He mentioned that starting in Goldring or Riverside Exchange would attract too much immediate attention, too many eyes and too many political players. Instead, we need somewhere quiet, overlooked, and affordable.”

Valeria narrowed her eyes as she took in the cracked walls and broken windows around them. “Affordable is an understatement.”

Boren chuckled lightly. “Exactly. Affordable means opportunity.”

They stood in silence for a moment, observing their surroundings. A few pedestrians passed by at a distance, casting curious glances before continuing on their way. The Ashford Quarter didn’t draw much attention, which was precisely its advantage.

“Riverdale has six districts,” Boren said after a pause, closing the book but keeping his finger between the pages.

“Greyvale has five. That alone makes Riverdale more competitive, more factions here, more trade groups, more unofficial guilds. If the Adventurer Guild wants to establish itself here, we can’t make a loud entrance; we need to plant our roots quietly.”

Valeria tilted her head slightly. “And you think starting in the most deserted quarter is how we do that?”

“I believe,” Boren replied thoughtfully, “that this quarter once thrived. The roads are still intact; the infrastructure exists. It failed due to lack of investment, not because it was impossible to succeed here. If we bring activity back to this area, it will transform the district.”

Valeria studied him for a few seconds before giving a faint nod of understanding. Adventurers brought traffic; traffic attracted shops; shops generated coin; coin ensured safety.

She stepped forward onto the land itself, her boots crunching lightly against loose stones as she bent down to inspect part of the broken foundation of one of the smaller buildings.

“The foundation is solid,” she noted after examining it closely. “The damage is mostly superficial.”

Boren brightened at her words. “See?”

Valeria straightened up and faced him again. “But rebuilding this will take time and money.”

Boren tapped on his leather-bound book again with determination in his voice. “We have thirty million reasons not to worry about that.”

A faint smile tugged at Valeria’s lips.

A soft breeze swept across the empty lot, stirring dust into thin swirls as Boren stepped closer beside her and looked toward the large central building directly ahead.

“The boss wrote something else,” he said quietly.

Valeria glanced over at him curiously. “What’s that?”

“He wrote that establishing a branch of the Guild in Riverdale is essential, not optional.” Valeria raised an eyebrow.

“He believes,” Boren continued, “that the attack on Greyvale wasn’t random. He suspects the mastermind won’t limit their focus to just one city. If Riverdale remains untouched, it suggests two possibilities: either Riverdale isn’t a target, or it’s already compromised.”

Valeria’s expression hardened slightly. “And you agree?” she asked.

Boren nodded. “If someone wants to weaken the Adventurer Guild across the region, they wouldn’t stop at just one city. Setting up a branch here serves two purposes: it strengthens us and forces whoever is behind this to respond.”

Valeria fell silent again. In the distance, a loose shutter banged softly against a wall.

“This place won’t stay quiet for long,” Boren said thoughtfully. “Once we start rebuilding, word will spread. Adventurers passing through Riverdale will have somewhere to register, missions will begin appearing, and the Ashford Quarter will transform.”

Valeria looked across the land once more. In her mind’s eye, she envisioned it differently: a central hall rebuilt, a board filled with missions, tables bustling with adventurers, weapons leaning against walls, stalls setting up nearby, and blacksmiths returning.

“That greedy bastard planned this before he went into coma, didn’t he?” she asked quietly.

Boren nodded slowly. “He mentioned Riverdale as a potential expansion point months ago. He believed Greyvale shouldn’t be our only pillar; a structure with just one pillar is destined to fall easily, two pillars stand stronger.”

Valeria let out a soft breath. “He really is ambitious,” she muttered.

Boren grinned. “Ambitious for stability.”

They began walking slowly across the lot, carefully stepping around broken planks and fallen stones. Boren opened his book again and scanned another page.

“He wrote that we must start small,” Boren said. “No grand announcements or large ceremonies at first, secure the land first, then begin renovations quietly and recruit a core team.”

Valeria glanced at him curiously. “Who?”

“Adventurers who survived the attack and are willing to relocate temporarily, lower-ranked members looking for work and a few stable mid-rankers to maintain order. No elites yet.”

Valeria nodded; that made sense since elite adventurers attracted attention.

Boren stopped near the center of the acre and closed his book slowly. He took a deep breath as he surveyed the broken structures and empty space around them.

“Well,” he said softly but with quiet resolve, “this is it.”

Valeria stood beside him.

“From now on,” Boren continued while turning in slow circles as if marking boundaries in his mind, “this will be known as the Riverdale Branch of the Adventurer Guild.” The words felt simple yet carried significant weight.

The words seemed simple, yet they held significant weight. Valeria took one last look at the land.

“It won’t be easy,” she remarked. Boren offered a slight smile. “Nothing worth building ever is.”

A group of young men strolled by the edge of the street, casting curious glances at the two figures standing in the middle of the neglected lot. One of them leaned in to whisper something and pointed.

Valeria noticed their interest. “We’ll need security first,” she said firmly. “Before rumors start spreading.”

“Already on it,” Boren replied confidently. “The boss anticipated that as well.”

She shook her head lightly, a hint of amusement in her eyes. “Of course he did.”

They fell into silence again, no longer just visitors but owners with purpose. Meanwhile, in another part of Riverdale, merchants were already negotiating trade deals, ships were docking, and guards were changing shifts. Life continued on, blissfully unaware of the quiet decision made in the Ashford Quarter.

But choices like this have a way of transforming cities.

Boren glanced back at the central building once more. “Tomorrow,” he said softly, “we start clearing away the debris.”

Valeria nodded in agreement.

As the wind swept across the empty acre, carrying dust and faint echoes from the bustling city nearby, something subtle began to shift in the Ashford Quarter. It remained broken, quiet, and forgotten but not for long.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep