Chapter 258: Handover

The slap that echoed through the Guild Hall didn’t just bounce off the wooden walls of Ashford Quarter; it raced faster than any messenger, carried on the lips of merchants, stable boys, wandering Adventurers, and even the guards who pretended they hadn’t seen a thing.

By sunset that day, half of Riverdale already knew that the City Lord’s son had strutted into the Adventurer Guild with pride only to leave with a red mark on his face.

By morning, the tale had morphed with embellishments: some claimed Valeria had flung four guards out at once, others swore the young lord had begged as he exited, and a few insisted that Boren himself had lectured him in front of everyone.

The truth didn’t need exaggeration; what mattered was the message: The Adventurer Guild wasn’t a stall to be shaken for coin. It wasn’t just a ragtag group playing at organization. It had rules, discipline, and someone willing to enforce those rules without fear of silk or surname.

The impact was immediate. Instead of scaring people away, the incident fortified the Guild. Warriors who had been hesitant to align themselves with a new banner stepped forward with renewed confidence.

Merchants who feared political repercussions realized that if the Guild could stand firm against the City Lord’s household, it could certainly withstand river pirates and bandits.

Even retired veterans lounging in taverns began considering registration. Within days, lines inside the Guild Hall grew longer than ever before, stretching out into the courtyard and sometimes spilling onto the street and the training ground behind never stood empty.

Horses and other types of mounts filled stables; caravans waited outside for escorts; crates of supplies came and went as if Ashford Quarter had transformed into a bustling market hub.

Days turned into weeks without anyone truly noticing how swiftly they passed. Two weeks after Roderick’s incident, Riverdale’s branch underwent a transformation that would have sounded like an exaggeration if described beforehand.

Registered Adventurers surged from hundreds to over a thousand, then several thousand more; by week’s end, records showed over thirty thousand names under Riverdale alone.

Not all were strong or disciplined but they were counted, recorded, ranked, and organized under one roof. The other nine cities across Evergreen Region weren’t lagging either; reports from each branch told similar tales of crowded halls and busy mission boards brimming with growing trust.

The Guild was no longer just an idea or rumor, it was becoming an integral part of regional life.

Roderick didn’t return during those two weeks, whether pride held him back or strategy guided him remained unknown but he stayed away while others less informed tried their luck.

A few small-time troublemakers attempted to stir chaos within the hall to test whether its order was genuine or merely an illusion.

Their outcomes were no better than what Roderick had received. The Enforcement Team dealt with them swiftly, no drama, no cruelty, but also no mercy. Word spread quickly: if anyone wanted to stir up trouble in Ashford Quarter, they should pick a different building.

———-

On a clear morning toward the end of the second week, the Guild Hall buzzed as usual. However, behind the receptionist counter, an important gathering was taking shape.

Mira, Selene, Rosaline, and two other receptionists formed a neat line in their dark green uniforms, their Guild badges gleaming.

Behind them stood five senior staff members clad in sky-blue uniforms; their silver badges glinted in the light. These individuals were more than mere clerks, they were trusted with significant responsibilities.

Among them was Kael Thornhart, a burly man wearing fine armor that bore the marks of real battle. With broad shoulders and a thickly trimmed beard, he commanded attention despite the stiffness in his left arm, a reminder of his recent injury from fighting in Greyvale during a chaotic skirmish weeks ago.

Though he could no longer lead charges as he once did, he had chosen purpose over bitterness and now served as head of the Enforcement Team in Riverdale. The younger Adventurers regarded him with both respect and caution.

Next to Kael stood Edwin Hale, a middle-aged man with steady eyes and an unassuming demeanor. He lacked flashy armor but exuded an air of calm authority; every word he spoke was measured and deliberate.

His hands were clean, his uniform crisp, and his gaze sharp enough to catch mistakes before they escalated into problems. Beside him was Maris Wood, a woman with short brunette hair and a face that radiated quiet confidence.

Her expression was firm yet approachable; when she spoke, her voice carried natural authority. Together with Edwin, Maris had been working under the at the Greyvale main Guild for months, mastering everything from registration to enforcement coordination.

In front of this group stood Boren, taking his time to observe them without rushing or speaking too soon. While the hall continued its lively rhythm behind him, this corner held an intense focus.

“All of you were sent by Lyana,” Boren said steadily. “You understand how the Guild operates and what it stands for and perhaps even more importantly, what it does not stand for.”

Edwin nodded affirmatively. “We do.”

Boren reached into a small wooden case on the counter and retrieved a metallic purple badge engraved with the Guild symbol, it caught the light beautifully as he stepped toward Edwin and held it out.

“From now on,” Boren declared clearly, “you are the Guildmaster of Riverdale City Branch.”

The receptionists exchanged quick glances; even Kael raised an eyebrow slightly.

Edwin hesitated before taking the badge. He looked at Boren first and asked calmly, “Are you certain?”

Boren smiled faintly. “Riverdale doesn’t need me running around here forever,” he said. “What it needs is stability, and you bring that.”

Edwin accepted the badge with both hands, bowing his head slightly. “I won’t disappoint you,” he promised.

Turning to Maris, Boren produced a second badge, slightly smaller but still a symbol of authority.

“You are now the Vice Guildmaster,” he declared. “Riverdale is too big for just one pair of hands.”

Maris took the badge without hesitation. “Understood,” she replied confidently. “We’ll keep things steady.”

Kael chuckled loudly, breaking some of the formality in the room. “Look at this! I step off the battlefield and walk into a hall only to find myself serving under a new Guildmaster again.”

Boren laughed softly in response. “The Guild is honored to have a Bronze Rank Adventurer leading its enforcement,” he said.

Kael waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t flatter me,” he boomed with a grin. “I’m past my prime! If I tried to swing like I used to, my arm would remind me just how old I am. This beats drinking myself into oblivion any day! And besides,” he added with a wink, “the shameless Guildmaster of convinced us previously that this was a good idea.”

A few chuckles rippled through the group.

Boren nodded knowingly. “Sage has his ways.”

Kael snorted in agreement.

Then Boren turned toward Mira and the other receptionists gathered nearby. “Work hard,” he instructed firmly.

“No slacking off! This branch is strong now, but as the Guild expands, those who prove themselves will be prioritized for Guildmaster positions when new branches open up.”

The five girls’ eyes lit up instantly at this prospect.

Mira straightened her posture eagerly and said, “We won’t disappoint!”

Selene nodded enthusiastically beside her. “We’ll make Riverdale proud!”

Rosaline chimed in calmly, adding, “We’ll ensure everything runs efficiently.”

Boren smiled at their enthusiasm before looking back at Edwin once more. “Riverdale is in your hands now,” he said seriously. “If you encounter trouble you can’t handle, don’t hesitate to send word to the main Guild, pride shouldn’t get in your way.”

Edwin nodded earnestly in response. “Understood.”

Maris added reassuringly, “We won’t escalate anything without good reason.”

Kael crossed his arms with a playful grin and remarked, “And if reason fails,” he said with mock seriousness, “we’ll enforce!”

With that lighthearted banter wrapping up their meeting naturally, Boren exchanged a few final words and offered brief instructions before stepping away from the counter. As he walked through the hall, several Adventurers greeted him warmly.

“Leaving already?” one called out.

“For now,” Boren replied with a hint of a smile.

“Don’t forget Riverdale!” someone shouted from the crowd.

Boren chuckled. “It’s hard to forget when you’ve got thirty thousand voices echoing in your ears.”

Stepping outside into the warm sunlight, he noticed the courtyard was bustling as usual. At the far end of the road, near the quieter edge of Ashford Quarter, Valeria stood waiting beside two mounts, her demeanor calm as she lightly rested one hand on the reins.

“You took your time,” she remarked without looking up.

“I had to make sure the chaos was handed over properly,” Boren responded.

Valeria cast him a brief glance. “Riverdale can manage on its own now.”

He nodded in agreement. “It can.”

They mounted their horses and began riding toward the city gates, leaving behind the fading sounds of the Guild. Just as they approached the entrance, a loud and cheerful voice called out from behind them.

“Brother Boren! Leaving without saying goodbye? How heartless!”

Boren’s shoulders tensed at once, his expression shifting between annoyance and reluctant acceptance.

Valeria shook her head slightly, amusement dancing in her eyes.

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