Chapter 247: Riverdale City Branch

Three days flew by, and Riverdale showed no signs of slowing down for anyone. The docks bustled from dawn until dusk, wagons rolled through the market streets without a moment’s pause, and traders haggled over coins as if nothing significant had transpired beyond their own narrow interests.

If anyone had taken a closer look at the Ashford Quarter, they would have noticed something changing, a new structure rising where broken wood and dust once reigned. But most citizens were too preoccupied with their own pursuits to recognize the quiet transformation unfolding in this overlooked corner of the city.

In the Ashford Quarter, however, those three days had been anything but quiet. Boren barely slept.

He spent his first morning darting between officials to secure permits, stamping documents, signing temporary agreements, and negotiating labor prices with construction crews who initially regarded him with skepticism.

However, their attitude shifted quickly when he began placing heavy pouches of gold on the table. By midday on that first day, workers started clearing away debris, dragging out broken beams and dismantling collapsed walls.

Dust clouds filled the air as hammers struck stone and wood alike. Boren stood amid it all, sleeves rolled up, shouting instructions while frequently checking the leather-bound book tucked under his arm.

He followed every instruction Sage had meticulously written down without skipping a single line. The hall’s measurements were precise; the entrance needed to face a specific direction; the Guild symbol had to be hung at an exact height.

Even the spacing for the stable and training ground behind the hall came with detailed numbers beside them. Though Boren didn’t fully grasp why some details mattered so much, he didn’t question them either, if Sage wrote it down, there was undoubtedly a reason.

Since this was only a branch office, construction was simpler, no need for multiple floors or complex defensive formations; no elaborate chambers required.

The branch consisted of one large hall serving as the Guild center, a stable at the back for mounts and beasts, and an open training ground surrounded by wooden fencing. It was efficient, directly built for purpose rather than aesthetics.

By day three, the building stood complete.

It wasn’t grand like the main Guild in Greyvale; it lacked tall towers or wide balconies but it was solid. The new wooden beams were sturdy; straight walls were freshly plastered; roof tiles aligned neatly under bright sunlight.

Above the entrance hung the Adventurer Guild emblem carved cleanly into a wooden plaque painted in bold colors, it stood out even from afar.

Boren stood at the entrance that morning with a broad grin on his round face; his cheeks jiggled as he chuckled quietly to himself with hands resting proudly on his hips.

Sweat trickled down his temple but didn’t bother him in the slightest, he looked at that building like a craftsman admires finished work.

“Finally,” he muttered under his breath. “It’s done.”

Valeria stood beside him, arms crossed, her crimson hair swaying gently in the breeze. Her expression was calm, almost icy, as she surveyed the building before them.

“It’s too shabby compared to the main one in Greyvale,” she said bluntly.

Boren’s lips twitched at her words, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he rubbed the bridge of his nose and shook his head lightly.

“This is just a branch,” he replied. “It’s not meant to compete with the main Guild; it’s here to serve a purpose. One floor for the Guild Hall, a stable, and a training ground, that’s all it needs to be. The Boss instructed me to build it this way.”

Valeria nodded slightly, choosing not to question Sage’s decisions even if they puzzled her.

For the past three days, she had been mostly absent during daylight hours. Boren had noticed her absence, sometimes while shouting at workers, he would look up and find she was gone.

Initially, he thought she was scouting the district; by day two, he assumed she was monitoring city movements. By day three, however, he stopped making assumptions because every evening just before sunset, she would return.

And each time she returned, she was covered in blood.

Not injured or limping, just stained. Her clothes bore dark patches of dried blood; her hair looked slightly disheveled. There was an aura about her that felt heavy, a palpable killing intent so intense that even Boren, felt a chill creep down his spine.

He never asked where she went or what she did; he simply minded his own business.

Now as the sun rose high over the Ashford Quarter and bright light bathed the new building in warmth, a small crowd had gathered at a safe distance. What began as mere curiosity quickly morphed into whispers once they spotted the Guild emblem.

“Is that what am thinking …?”

“The Adventurer Guild?”

“Didn’t Greyvale’s Guild get attacked?”

“Why would they build here?”

Some of the Warriors in the crowd had excited looks on their faces as they looked at the Adventurer Guildas if they were looking at a naked beauty. They stared at the building with hungry eyes, not for food but for opportunity. The Adventurer Guild meant missions; missions meant coin; coin meant survival.

Boren noticed their interest and turned slightly toward Valeria, lowering his voice. “They’re already gathering.”

Valeria shifted her gaze to the crowd and replied simply, “Good.”

Boren let out a satisfied breath and looked back at the hall. “The Riverdale Adventurer Guild Branch,” he murmured softly as if savoring each word. “Officially ready.”

Valeria glanced at him quizzically. “You sound proud.”

“I am,” he admitted with a hint of pride.

She studied him for a moment before speaking again. “What about the important things?” she asked. “Badges, ID cards, ledgers, mission dockets, records. If I remember correctly, we came here empty-handed.”

Boren smiled slowly and tapped the leather-bound book again. “The boss said we just need to build the branch,” he replied. “The rest will come.”

Valeria narrowed her eyes slightly. “How?”

Boren shrugged lightly. “He didn’t provide details, just that we shouldn’t worry about those things.”

Valeria muttered under her breath, “Quite mysterious.”

Boren chuckled softly. The crowd in the distance had grown a bit larger now; a few of the braver souls had stepped closer, trying to peek through the open doorway into the hall.

Boren straightened his robes and took a deep breath. “Why don’t we go in?” he suggested. “We need to get this place operational.”

Valeria hesitated before responding, studying the crowd again. Some faces were eager; others skeptical or calculating.

“You’re not worried?” she asked.

“About what?” Boren replied.

“That opening this place will attract attention.”

Boren smiled faintly. “It’s meant to.”

Valeria turned fully toward him. “From whom?”

“From everyone,” he said calmly, adventurers, merchants, officials and maybe from someone else.”

Her eyes sharpened slightly. “You think the mastermind will notice?”

“He will,” Boren replied confidently. “If Riverdale was part of his plan, he’ll react; if it wasn’t, this will force him to consider it.”

Valeria fell silent for a moment. “And if we’re not ready?” she asked quietly.

Boren looked at her; for the first time that morning, his smile faded slightly. “Then we adapt,” he said simply.

Just then, a young warrior stepped forward from the crowd, a broad-shouldered figure wearing mismatched armor with a spear resting against his back.

“Is it true?” he called out eagerly. “Is this really an Adventurer Guild branch?”

Boren turned toward him and nodded with a cheerful grin. “Yes! This is the Riverdale Adventurer Guild Branch, registration opens today!”

A murmur of excitement rippled through the small crowd.

“When do missions start?” someone shouted from behind.

“Soon,” Boren replied smoothly.

Valeria leaned closer and whispered to him, “You don’t even have mission dockets.”

Boren grinned back at her playfully. “Trust the process.”

She rolled her eyes faintly as the young warrior stepped closer again. “How do we register?”

Boren gestured toward the open doors. “Come inside.”

The warrior hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, with a few others following cautiously behind him. As Boren entered the hall for the first time, an unfamiliar feeling stirred in his chest, not quite pride, not exactly relief, but something that hinted at the start of something much bigger.

The interior was simple yet clean. Sunlight poured through the windows, illuminating the wooden floor. The empty mission board stood ready and waiting.

Valeria stepped in behind him, her presence quiet but resolute.

Boren moved to the counter and carefully placed a leather-bound book on top of it. He opened it slowly, flipping to a page near the end as his eyes scanned the writing.

“Boss…” he murmured under his breath.

Valeria caught his words. “Still following orders?” she asked.

“Yes,” he replied.

The young warrior stood before the counter, curiosity evident in his gaze. “So,” he said, “what do we do now?”

Boren looked up and smiled broadly. “First,” he said, “we begin.”

Valeria watched him intently as outside more people began to gather.

Meanwhile, somewhere in Riverdale, someone else might already be observing the emergence of the Guild branch in Ashford Quarter. After all, when something new appears in a quiet place, it doesn’t go unnoticed for long.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep