Chapter 81: Weaponizing A Grudge

Chapter 81: Weaponizing A Grudge

Sage returned to his desk, sinking into his chair with his usual relaxed demeanor. One arm draped casually over the armrest, he appeared as if the weight of responsibility had never touched him.

His gaze wandered around the Guild Hall, moving slowly and thoughtfully. He took in the clusters of adventurers gathered near the Mission Board and the soft murmur of conversation that filled the space like a living heartbeat.

Everything seemed ordinary, almost serene, but Sage knew better. Growth often disguised itself as calm before it became evident.

A faint smile played at the corners of his lips as he raised a hand, summoning a familiar translucent screen before him.

-------

[ Adventurer Guild Interface ]

Guild Master: [ Sage Alistair ]

Guild Rank: [ E ]

Guild Funds: [ 367 Gold Coins ]

Reputation: 598 / 1000 [Unknown]

Active Members: [ 68 ]

Guild Territory: [ None ]

Guild Facilities: [ None ]

[ Guild Objectives ]

Main Quest: [ Establish the First Guild in the World of Eldoria ]

----------

The interface hovered silently in front of him, numbers glowing softly, indifferent to the ambition behind them. Sage’s eyes lingered on the display, pride swelling within him as he reflected on how far they had come.

Just half a month ago, the Guild had been desolate, not even a cockroach in sight, silent like a graveyard.

Now, however, it was bustling with activity. Sixty-eight registered adventurers filled its ranks. Three hundred sixty-seven gold coins sat securely in their coffers.

Reputation steadily climbed toward a threshold that Sage suspected would unlock something much more significant than mere recognition.

Everything was progressing smoothly according to plan.

Most of their funds came from two sources: posting fees collected from commissioners and a five percent cut from completed mission rewards.

Individually, neither source was impressive; together, they formed a stable foundation that would only strengthen as their influence expanded.

Sage understood why this system kept cuts low, just enough to sustain growth without breeding resentment among adventurers who tolerated small losses when they felt protected in return.

The Reputation Points had nearly doubled in just days, from 270 to 598. Such growth didn’t stem from grand gestures but rather from consistency and visible fairness, a structure where chaos once reigned.

Sage leaned back slightly and closed his eyes for a moment. "Good... this is really good," he mused, though he acknowledged that progress still felt slow.

With another thought, the interface dissolved into nothingness, leaving Sage alone with his reflections. His fingers drummed lightly against his desk as his mind shifted into calculation mode, ideas flowing seamlessly from one to another.

While sixty-eight adventurers were respectable for Greyvale, it fell short of what he envisioned. Numbers created momentum; momentum bred inevitability; and inevitability... well, that was power.

"How do I accelerate this?" His eyes narrowed as an unusual glow flickered within them.

The first thought that crossed Sage’s mind was Pax. The intelligence network Pax had established beneath the surface of Greyvale City could be a valuable asset for accelerating the Guild’s growth.

However, it was still quite small, functional enough to keep Sage informed about minor happenings in the city but barely capable of anticipating major disturbances.

It lacked the strength to influence larger-scale behavior. Using it now would likely yield scattered results at best and risk exposure at worst.

Sage opened his eyes and clicked his tongue softly. "No," he murmured, "too early."

The network simply didn’t have the reach or credibility it needed. Most importantly, it lacked narrative force; intelligence alone didn’t move people,stories did, and right now, Sage didn’t have enough compelling stories to share.

His thoughts then turned to Gregor. The deal he had made with him contributed significantly to increasing membership in the Guild. Initially, things were going well after Gregor brought in Brutus and others, who then attracted more Warriors.

But recently, progress had slowed down. Sage wasn’t angry or blaming Gregor; after all, the slowdown stemmed from him putting too much pressure on Gregor. The guy had been busy completing various missions left and right just to maintain his license.

Now that the competition was over, Sage believed it wouldn’t be long before progress picked up again. After all, the reward for fulfilling their deal was substantial enough that no one would want to pass it up.

Sage had a lot of trust in Gregor regarding this matter. He believed this green-haired guy could potentially bring in more than a hundred Warriors.

From what he’d observed about Gregor, he honored deals instinctively; once he got started, results would snowball.

Warriors followed Warriors, strength attracted strength,and one hundred would quickly become more as word spread that the Guild rewarded effort without playing favorites.

Even so, Sage knew better than to rely on a single strategy. His gaze drifted across the Guild Hall and settled on a familiar small figure standing before the Mission Board: Mina.

She stood on her tiptoes with her shield resting against her back, one small hand pressed against her chin as she studied the board with exaggerated seriousness.

Her large eyes moved slowly from docket to docket, brows furrowing as if she were weighing decisions that could alter nations rather than simply choosing her next mission.

The sight was unintentionally amusing, a child mimicking seasoned veterans while lost in thought far beyond her years.

Sage watched her longer than intended; she was... effective.

"It seems like this little flatboard princess is still useful," he mused thoughtfully as a grin spread across his face while observing Mina.

This realization wasn’t cruel or exploitative,it was simply accurate. Mina was a catalyst waiting to be shaped.

Her sister’s return loomed like an ominous shadow over Greyvale; a mercenary leader hardened by war would inevitably draw attention, fearful, cautious, opportunistic attention.

The resolution of that attention hinged entirely on the narrative established beforehand, and Mina was at the heart of it.

Sage leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on his knuckles, his eyes gleaming with quiet intent.

"All that girl needs to do now is show her elder sister the numbers and tell her about this place," he mused simply.

Whether he feared Mina’s elder sister or cared about her disdain for men was irrelevant to him. His sole focus was on leveraging that elder sister to help the Guild grow exponentially, with Mina as the crucial key to that plan.

As far as Sage was concerned, the elder sister posed no threat to him. This thought made him feel smug; within the Guild’s walls, no one could touch him. That gave him confidence in facing Mina’s elder sibling.

All that remained was for Mina to present her achievements, her earnings, completed missions, and rank, and inform her sister she was working for a man.

"Use what she hates to make her work for who she hates," Sage chuckled darkly, a cold glint in his eyes.

Numbers didn’t provoke instinctive hostility; they transcended ideology. They transformed authority into tangible evidence.

If Mina laid out her accomplishments clearly, the conversation would shift dramatically. Her sister wouldn’t be confronting a manipulative Guildmaster; she’d be forced to reevaluate her own assumptions.

Sage exhaled slowly. "As long as that elder sister isn’t as unreasonable as Gregor and Mina suggested, everything should go smoothly."

"Of course, if she was the type to swing first and ask questions never, the plan would end with a lot of screaming and broken furniture. A risk, but a calculated one." He mused with a frown on his face.

"But it’s still worth the risk."

That was the key: not confrontation but reframing. People often harbored resentment toward authority because it had let them down in some way.

But when presented with a functioning system, even an imperfect one, they began questioning their beliefs.

They hesitated. And hesitation was enough.

Sage’s gaze sharpened as he envisioned the meeting between Mine and her sister — the initial fury from the sister, followed by suspicion and an instinctive urge to dismantle this place and eliminate those she loathed.

Then came the pause the moment when Mina calmly shared what she had earned, what choices she had made, and who she worked alongside.

A man, Sage thought with a smirk tugging at his lips.

"Oh...Mina, make sure you emphasize that part! Your sister’s anger toward men will fuel my Guild’s growth," he cackled softly to himself.

The sister wouldn’t see submission; instead, she’d witness agency, a realization that would unsettle her far more than any act of defiance ever could.

Leaning back again in satisfaction, Sage let out a satisfied sound.

Outside, Greyvale City continued its daily rhythm, unaware of the subtle forces shifting beneath its surface.

Merchants haggled over prices while children laughed joyfully nearby. Guards stood watch over gates yet untested. The city felt insulated and secure in its perceived insignificance.

Sage’s gaze darted back to Mina as she finally straightened up, nodding decisively at the mission she had chosen.

With a determined look she tore off the docket, turned around, adjusting her shield, and began striding purposefully toward the registration desk, completely unaware of the heavy responsibility Sage had just placed on her tiny shoulders.

A broad grin spread across his face as he watched the little girl; she seemed even cuter the longer he looked at her. His feelings weren’t cruel, he felt a swell of pride.

After all, chaos doesn’t always come in the form of fire and screams. Sometimes it arrives quietly, wrapped in kindness, bolstered by community support, and carried forth by a child who doesn’t yet realize she’s reshaping the world around her.

And Sage Alistair, Guildmaster of Eldoria’s first Adventurer Guild, was more than happy to let this transformation unfold.

----------

A/N: Sorry for the delay, everyone. I’m currently dealing with an emergency. The remaining three Chapters will be uploaded in a while.

Thanks for the understanding and continued support.