While they were still talking among themselves, the people nearby gradually turned their heads.

One by one, they shifted their positions, instinctively opening a path.

The crowd parted smoothly, as if guided by an unspoken understanding. From the opening that formed, a single figure emerged clearly.

Ethan was walking toward them alone.

Everyone present already knew where Ethan had gone earlier.

They also knew that when he returned, he would come from the direction of the LionArk headquarters.

What they did not know, what none of them could have predicted, was that Ethan was returning after Silver Star had already made the decision to cancel the invasion.

That fact alone made his presence carry a strange weight.

Ethan continued walking forward, moving through the dense gathering of members from the combined guild alliance of Mavelard City.

His pace was steady and unhurried. He did not bother changing his clothes. His HP had not been fully restored. The marks of battle still clung to him.

Dark stains of blood were clearly visible across his outfit.

There were many of them.

No one needed a status window or a combat log to understand what those stains meant.

Anyone who glanced at him could tell that this was not the aftermath of a brief clash or a defensive skirmish.

These were the traces left behind by someone who had slaughtered countless enemies, someone who had walked through destruction and emerged alone.

The blood was not hidden. It was not subtle. It was there for everyone to see.

Ethan's destination was the Western Gate.

Earlier, he had instructed Ashley to head there as soon as the teleportation crystal was fully repaired. That order had been carried out precisely, just as he expected.

As Ethan approached, the crowd widened the path even more. No one dared to block him. No one spoke.

When he emerged fully from the sea of players, Ashley and the others turned their heads toward him almost at the same time.

Hanss, Sherly, and Jill followed Ashley's gaze.

All three of them smiled faintly. They lowered their heads slightly, not out of fear, but out of understanding and respect.

They could see Ethan's condition clearly. They could see the exhaustion beneath his calm expression, the lingering tension in his posture, and the quiet weight that pressed down on his presence.

Today had not been an easy day for him.

"Today must have been a heavy day for you," Ashley said softly. Her voice carried concern rather than authority.

"You should rest, Ethan."

"I just wanted to make sure a few things were settled in the city," Ethan replied. His tone was calm, controlled, and steady.

"It looks like Hanss, Sherly, and Jill carried out my plan properly."

His gaze swept briefly across the area, taking in the condition of the city and the people within it.

Then he added, "A victory celebration will be held after the vital points of the city are repaired. I'm inviting all guilds."

For a brief second, there was silence.

Then the crowd erupted.

Cheers burst out from every direction. People raised their hands, laughed loudly, and exchanged excited glances.

The tension that had been suffocating the city since the invasion began finally began to lift.

They were safe.

Not only had Mavelard survived the invasion, but it had also forced Silver Star to retreat.

A victory celebration hosted by LionArk was not just a party. It was a declaration. A statement that Mavelard still stood strong.

Ethan opened the city management system panel and began issuing commands. His fingers moved with familiarity as he selected several key points and authorized full restoration.

The areas he prioritized were the city walls and the gates.

Those structures were the backbone of Mavelard's defenses. As long as they stood strong, the city would remain secure.

As for the interior of the city, Ethan did not need to micromanage it.

The destroyed buildings, damaged shops, and broken infrastructure could be repaired through collective effort.

Many allied guilds were already prepared to help. Materials, manpower, and time would be shared.

That alone would be more than enough.

Gradually, people began to disperse.

Some returned to their guild headquarters to rest, reorganize, or report the outcome of the battle.

Others had no buildings left to return to and were forced to seek temporary shelter.

A portion of them headed straight to the tavern, eager to drink, celebrate, and release the stress they had bottled up for hours.

The city repair process officially began.

According to the system's estimation, it would take approximately seven days to fully restore all damaged sections of the city walls and gates.

Until then, Mavelard would remain on high alert.

When Ethan arrived back at the LionArk headquarters, he went straight to his office without delay.

His steps echoed quietly in the hallway. Hanss and Sherly followed closely behind him, while Jill split off to accompany Ashley.

Once inside the office, Ethan did not waste time.

"Were there any guilds that didn't help with the city's defense?" he asked.

Hanss turned his head and looked toward Sherly. Sherly responded immediately, summoning a document panel and handing it over to Ethan.

Ethan scanned the information carefully.

Out of a total of seventy-eight Rank A guilds and one hundred twenty-nine Rank B guilds residing in Mavelard City, every single Rank B guild had participated in the defense without exception.

They had responded quickly, mobilizing their members despite the risks involved.

However, only sixty-six Rank A guilds had answered the call.

That meant twelve Rank A guilds had chosen not to participate.

Sherly explained their reasons in detail. Some claimed they lacked sufficient manpower. Others said they were short on time or resources.

A few attempted to shift responsibility, implying that defending the city was solely the duty of the city ruler and LionArk.

Ethan's expression grew colder with every word.

Even if those guilds had purchased land plots in Ring One or Ring Two, even if they held Rank A status, their refusal was a direct rejection of the city ruler's authority.

According to Mavelard City's laws, every guild that chose to reside within the city was required to follow the ruler's commands without exception, especially during times of crisis.

The actions of those twelve Rank A guilds were not just irresponsible.

They were illegal.

"They disobeyed the city ruler's command," Ethan said coldly.

"That's an unlawful act."

He handed the document back to Sherly without hesitation.

"Go see Darcy. Tell him and the members of the Legal Authority to arrest all of their officers and guild leaders."

Sherly straightened her posture. "Understood."

She turned and left the office immediately, her expression serious.

Now only Hanss remained.

He stood quietly, waiting for Ethan's next instructions. Ethan did not disappoint him.

"The city is still in a chaotic state," Ethan said.

"Tighten security at every gate. Increase patrol hours for the city security teams."

"I understand," Hanss replied without hesitation.

"As for the internal repairs," Ethan continued, "I'll discuss the budget with Ashley directly."

"Very well, Sir Ethan."

With that, Hanss bowed his head slightly and took his leave.

The office fell silent.

A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door. Jill entered, explaining that Ashley wanted to discuss the city's repair budget.

Ethan let out a slow breath. He stood up, straightened his posture, and nodded.

Together, they left the office and headed toward Ashley's workspace.

When the door opened, Ashley looked up and smiled.

"So, Ethan," she said, "are you ready to hear my proposal?"

Ethan glanced briefly at Jill, then returned his gaze forward. His expression made it clear that he wanted Ashley to speak directly and without unnecessary detours.

The three of them talked for a long time.

From late afternoon until nightfall, they discussed the city's finances, reconstruction priorities, and long-term stability.

Ethan proposed that all repairs to vital points, including the walls, gates, and defensive systems, should be fully covered by the city's budget.

For destroyed private buildings and infrastructure, LionArk would assist under a specific condition.

It would not be free aid.

It would be an interest-free loan.

This approach ensured fairness while preserving LionArk's long-term resource reserves. After all, they still needed massive funding to compete with other top-tier guilds.

There were only a few weeks left before the guild assessment.

Ethan could already predict what would happen.

Silver Star had suffered catastrophic losses. Many of their members were dead. Others were traumatized and could no longer function as active combatants.

A large portion of their remaining forces would be tied down defending their own city.

They would not be able to gather contribution points efficiently.

"Then our discussion is finished," Ashley said eventually.

"I'll prepare a special budget in case you want to send a second Raid Tower expedition," she added.

"I'm not sure," Ethan replied honestly.

"Many of our members are exhausted. I can't guarantee we'll be able to send another team."

Ashley fell silent.

She understood the implications. The final two weeks before the guild assessment were crucial.

Contribution points were often multiplied during that period. Missing that window would be a major loss.

Jill noticed the opening.

She stepped forward toward Ashley's desk, drawing both Ashley's and Ethan's attention.

"Allow me to go during the remaining weeks before the assessment," Jill said firmly.

"I'll help earn contribution points."

"You?" Ashley asked, surprised.

Ethan smiled faintly. He stood and gently placed a hand on Jill's shoulder.

"We can send them," he said calmly.

"Them?" Ashley and Jill asked at the same time.

Ethan nodded. "Jill, Sherly, and Leon. They'll form LionArk's second Raid Tower expedition."

Ashley nodded slowly. She had no objections, but she turned to Jill with a serious expression.

"What do you think about that team?" Ashley asked.

"It's safe," Jill replied. "Our chemistry has already been proven."

"Then it's settled," Ashley said.

"I'll arrange the budget. Your target is Floor 40 before the assessment begins."

She looked at Jill. "Can you do it?"

Jill hesitated briefly, then glanced at Ethan.

He nodded once and smiled.

That was enough.

Jill clenched her fist.

"I'm confident," she said firmly. "We can do it."

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