Chapter 253: Evergreen Expansion [ 1 ]

The Guild Hall had shed its quiet hours. From the moment the doors swung open at sunrise until the last lantern flickered out at night, the Riverdale Branch buzzed with a life that even Boren hadn’t fully envisioned when he first stepped into the empty hall days earlier.

The air was alive with voices, some loud and confident, others sharp and impatient, underpinned by a steady rhythm of diligent work.

The once-bare wooden floor now resonated with the sounds of boots moving in various directions, chairs scraping against the ground, parchment being rolled and unrolled, and coins softly clinking into metal trays.

At the far end of the hall, the Mission Board overflowed with requests, forcing Adventurers to squeeze in close just to read the latest postings.

More than once, small arguments erupted over who had first dibs on a particular contract. Yet amid this lively chaos lay structure, a vital element that distinguished this hall from the usual tavern uproar where mercenaries used to gather.

Five long lines snaked from the counter almost to the entrance doors. The first line was for new registrations, bustling with young warriors and wandering fighters finally ready to commit.

The second line dealt with mission acceptance; teams stood there with determined expressions as they handed over their Adventurer badges for mission details to be recorded under their names.

The third line focused on mission completion, a tense spot due to reports, verification processes, and sometimes heated debates about whether tasks had been executed precisely as required.

Next came payments and reward distribution in the fourth line, while disputes or complaints occupied the fifth, a space where both Adventurers and clients could present their cases under Guild supervision.

It looked complicated but functioned surprisingly well, much to the astonishment of newcomers expecting chaos.

Behind that long counter, things had changed significantly since those early days. Boren no longer stood alone with sweat trickling down his forehead while trying to juggle everything himself; now five receptionists were evenly spaced behind polished wood counters, each clad in a carefully prepared Guild uniform designed for professionalism without being overly flashy.

Their outfits featured fitted dark-green vests adorned with the Guild emblem over their left chests, crisp white shirts rolled neatly at the elbows, and simple black skirts allowing easy movement while maintaining modesty.

Their hair was neatly tied back, each wearing a small silver badge pinned at their collars marking them as official Guild staff, an image that instilled confidence in visitors that this was no longer an experimental branch but a structured institution.

Mira was stationed at registration, the first receptionist you’d encounter and she radiated calmness through her brown eyes and steady voice that rarely rose even when faced with impatient young warriors.

With quiet patience, she guided new members through registration procedures while clearly explaining Guild rules and ensuring every signature was correctly penned in the Adventurer Ledger.

When a hot-headed young Adventurer boasted loudly about his strength and demanded high-rank missions, Mira simply smiled and calmly reminded him that all Adventurers start from the same baseline and must earn their advancement through completed missions.

Her composed demeanor often disarmed those who approached with arrogance, leaving many feeling slightly embarrassed yet strangely motivated as they walked away from her counter.

Next to Mira was Selene, who managed mission acceptance. Unlike Mira’s steady calm, Selene exuded a sharper energy. She was quick with numbers, swift with her pen, and always ready to correct mistakes.

When teams approached her counter, she asked clear questions about their formation, leadership, and preparation for the missions they wished to accept. If a group seemed mismatched or unprepared for a higher-risk task, she politely advised them to reconsider but her smile softened the firmness of her words.

Some Adventurers joked that Selene could see through weak confidence with just one glance; while she never laughed at such comments openly, her eyes often sparkled with quiet amusement.

The third receptionist was Elira, who handled mission completions. With a friendly face that made returning Adventurers feel welcomed rather than interrogated, she maintained strict attention to detail beneath that warmth.

Elira meticulously compared mission reports with the original docket to ensure all objectives had been met. She listened attentively as team leaders described their encounters, noted any complications, and asked follow-up questions when something sounded unclear.

If evidence was needed, like beast horns or written confirmation from a merchant client, she personally checked each item before marking the mission as complete.

Her balanced approach helped prevent unnecessary conflict; even when rejecting incomplete reports, she did so in a fair manner.

Talia managed payments at the fourth station. Precise in counting coins, she tolerated no mistakes in reward distribution.

Before handing over any payment, Talia confirmed completion status with Elira and double-checked the Guild’s financial ledger. Coins were counted out onto the counter in neat stacks while receipts were written clearly.

Her serious expression only softened when congratulating Adventurers on jobs well done; many appreciated how efficiently their hard work was rewarded without delays or confusion.

Lastly, Rosaline handled disputes and complaints, the most challenging role in the hall since it required patience while listening to both sides of an argument.

With sharp eyes and an unwavering tone that rarely changed despite heated discussions, Rosaline addressed issues ranging from merchants claiming minor damage during escorts to Adventurers arguing over misrepresented mission details.

She listened carefully and referred back to recorded terms before delivering her judgment. More than once, her calm demeanor prevented physical altercations within the hall; even stubborn warriors began to respect her authority.

With these five women at the counter, the Guild Hall felt organized rather than chaotic. The system was evident to everyone who entered: newcomers observed how lines moved steadily despite noise levels and how missions were processed methodically while disputes were resolved without escalating into violence. Structure replaced improvisation—and confidence flourished.

All of these five receptionists were not hired overnight. Infant the five of them are well trained and came over from Greyvale with other staffs to help around the Guild plus other Adventurers who took part in the battle a few days ago.

Because of the battle, some of the were injured and won’t be in their top conditions again even after they were given the Mana Liquid to heal. So the Guild simply hired them as Enforcers.

To help guard the Guild from intruders and also enforce the Guild rules. Although they are not in their top condition anymore but the experience is still there. And this is what Sage can do to help them.

At the far end of the hall, behind the counter and slightly apart from the receptionists, Boren sat at a sturdy desk positioned against the wall.

Next to him lay the leather-bound book given by Sage, but he no longer relied on it for every little instruction. Instead, his workspace was cluttered with stacks of documents: financial summaries, mission completion reports, supply purchase records, and daily registration numbers.

The constant sweating that once plagued him had diminished; now he wiped his forehead occasionally, more due to the warmth of the bustling hall than from anxiety. He had come to realize that true leadership wasn’t about handling everything personally; it was about ensuring that all operations ran smoothly.

From his vantage point, Boren kept an eye on how things flowed. When he noticed the registration line growing too long, he quietly instructed Mira to open a temporary second registration slot with Rosaline’s help until order was restored.

As payments surged following several completed missions, he double-checked the ledger to confirm there were enough coins in reserve.

He reviewed income from posted mission fees against operating costs and noted with satisfaction that the Guild was steadily sustaining itself in Riverdale.

Each evening, he asked for a brief summary from the receptionists regarding any unusual cases or complaints that might need his attention. Rather than reacting to chaos as before, he was now anticipating patterns.

Every so often, Boren glanced over at Valeria, who typically stood near the Mission Board or leaned against a wall with her arms crossed.

She rarely spoke unless absolutely necessary, but her mere presence kept more aggressive Adventurers in check. Once, when a group of rival mercenaries raised their voices during a heated dispute, a single cold glance from Valeria silenced them instantly.

Her role was straightforward yet impactful: she served as an unspoken reminder that order here wasn’t just written down; it was actively enforced.

As afternoon progressed, a courier entered carrying a thick bundle wrapped in twine. He approached Boren’s desk respectfully and bowed before placing the bundle down.

The wax seals on each envelope bore a familiar crest…Greyvale Guild mark. Boren’s eyes sharpened as he examined the stack; its weight indicated these weren’t minor updates but significant reports.

Carefully untieing the twine, he spread out the letters across his desk while Guild noise continued around him like a steady tide.

For a moment, he rested his hand on top of one envelope and exhaled slowly, knowing that what lay inside would shape the next Chapter of the Guild’s growth.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep