Sage and the others turned as the familiar sound of hurried footsteps echoed across the polished marble floor.

Boren came jogging toward them, his cheeks slightly flushed and short breaths escaping his lips as he clutched a stack of freshly stamped guild notices under his arm.

Despite the sweat on his brow, an unmistakable brightness sparkled in his eyes, a genuine enthusiasm that hadn't been there before he entered the Adventurer Guild's world.

"Boss," he called out, slowing to a stop before Sage. "The outside is packed with Adventurers. Some are already arguing about the new facilities that have popped up."

Sage let out a small breath of amusement. "These guys really can't let me take a break."

Boren then noticed the unfamiliar presence beside Gregor. His words faltered, and a faint red crept up his neck as he glanced at Lyana.

For several seconds, he simply stared.

Sage cleared his throat loudly.

Boren jolted, nearly falling down. He quickly straightened up, coughing awkwardly as his gaze darted back to Sage, then to Gregor, and finally to Mina, who waved cheerfully.

"Fatty Boren," she greeted with a grin.

Gregor inclined his head. "Good to see you, Fatty. Looks like you've packed on some weight."

Boren smiled at both of them but briefly let his eyes drift back to Lyana before realizing himself and quickly averting his gaze again, face turning even redder.

Sage gestured between them. "This is Boren," he said casually. "Though everyone here calls him Fatty Boren. He's one of our receptionists. And Fatty, this is Lyana, Gregor's sister."

Boren stiffened and bowed slightly, fumbling over his words. "N-nice to meet you."

Lyana smiled gently and returned the gesture. "It's nice to meet you too."

That simple exchange was enough to make Boren's ears glow with embarrassment.

Sage clapped lightly to draw attention back. "There's now a second floor," he announced. "This place is too noisy for proper conversation. Let's go up."

Gregor nodded in agreement while Mina bounced once on Sage's shoulders.

Boren hurriedly fell into step behind them.

As they moved toward the staircase, Sage glanced at Valeria and her mercenary band seated quietly in their corner, like a silent edge within the hall, and felt an unexpected pressure settle on him.

"Uh… you can follow too if you want," he said awkwardly.

Valeria's cold gaze slid toward him; for one suffocating moment, it felt like the temperature around him dropped dramatically.

"I mean, you don't have to," he added quickly, waving his hand dismissively. "Do whatever you want! Really! It's entirely your choice."

Valeria didn't respond.

Mina, still perched on Sage's shoulders, leaned forward and waved enthusiastically. "Come on, big sister! The second floor might be way more fun!"

Valeria simply closed her eyes, completely ignoring her.

Mina stuck out her tongue and giggled mischievously.

Sage sighed, reached up, and gently patted Mina's leg. "Come down. I'm not climbing stairs with you."

Mina pouted. "You're weak."

Nevertheless, she slid down gracefully, landing lightly on her feet. She crossed her arms and turned her face away in an exaggerated sulk. Sage smiled faintly and ruffled her hair before turning toward the stairway.

The staircase had undergone a remarkable transformation. It was wide and gracefully curved, bordered by polished railings of dark metal threaded with faintly glowing mana lines.

Soft crystal lights were embedded along the walls, casting a gentle silver-blue glow over the ascent. Each step was carved from pale stone veined with shimmering threads that pulsed softly underfoot.

When they finally reached the top, they paused for several seconds in silence, taking in their surroundings. The second floor unfolded before them like a refined mirror of the first.

The hall was expansive but not overwhelming; the ceiling arched high yet felt more intimate than below, creating a sense of exclusivity rather than immensity.

Tall white pillars lined the edges, their surfaces etched with subtle patterns instead of grand designs. The floor gleamed like still water beneath the crystal light.

At the far end loomed another massive mission board covering the wall, crafted from dark polished metal that reflected light like glass.

Here, the star-tier divisions were much more prominent; each section framed in engraved borders glowed faintly to indicate different difficulty levels.

A sleek bar counter stretched elegantly along one side, crafted from black crystal-veined stone rather than wood, a noticeable upgrade from below.

Opposite stood the receptionist area, unlike the bustling front desk downstairs, this one exuded refinement, carved from pale stone adorned with inlaid sigils and smooth compartments for organization.

Behind it rose another Guild Archive Wall, but this one was unique. Instead of fixed shelves, it featured a massive rotating archival structure composed of concentric circular frames layered inward like a living mechanism.

Each ring contained numerous slim compartments that glowed softly when activated. With just a touch, entire sections could rotate to bring books, records, and crystal slates into retrieval position.

Thin mana filaments traced along its structure, forming a web of light that pulsed gently as if alive. Ledgers could be organized not only by rank but also by identity, record history, mission completion rates, incident reports, financial logs, and dungeon encounters.

Beyond the reception zone lay a quieter lounge furnished with deep-toned materials, circular couches arranged around low crystal tables and near the far side were three closed doors resembling offices.

"This is…" Mina murmured in surprise.

"It's exactly like the first floor," Gregor finished quietly.

"But it looks much better than downstairs," Boren added enthusiastically.

Lyana's eyes shimmered faintly. "And it feels… calm."

Just then, faint footsteps echoed behind them. They turned to see Valeria and her mercenaries standing at the entrance, their expressions restrained yet clearly marked by surprise.

After a brief pause, they moved confidently toward the lounge, settling into the seats as if they belonged there.

Sage's lips twitched with amusement. He gestured for the others to join him, and they took their places across from Valeria's group.

Gregor leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on his knees. "So," he asked, "what's this floor for?"

All eyes shifted to Sage. Leaning back into the couch and crossing one leg over the other, he glanced around the second floor before returning his gaze to them. "This," he said calmly, "is designated for Bronze Rank adventurers and above."

"From now on," he continued, "only Bronze Rank adventurers will have access to this floor, and only 3-Star missions or higher will be available here. The first floor will still cater to Iron and Copper ranks with 1-Star and 2-Star missions."

A moment of silence followed as understanding began to dawn.

Lyana was the first to articulate it. "You're… separating strength tiers."

Sage smiled at her in acknowledgment. "Exactly."

Gregor narrowed his eyes slightly. "You're isolating power."

"I'm structuring it," Sage corrected him firmly. He leaned forward now, his voice steady and clear.

"Previously, the Guild Hall mixed everyone together, tens of thousands of Iron and Copper ranks alongside just a few thousand Bronze ranks. The difference between these groups isn't minor; it's astronomical. Even the weakest Bronze adventurer is a 3-Star Expert knight and many of them are 4-Star Master Knights. So when missions were posted, what happened?"

Gregor answered without hesitation. "They were taken instantly."

"By Bronze ranks," Sage confirmed. "Even missions meant for beginners were snatched up quickly because they required fewer people, less time, and posed less risk, maximizing efficiency at the expense of others waiting in line."

He paused briefly to let that sink in before continuing. "That left Iron and Copper adventurers competing against one another or even taking on missions far beyond their capabilities just to earn some coin."

"That creates three problems," he explained further. "First: growth stagnation, less experienced adventurers don't get appropriate missions tailored for them. Second: mortality spikes, they either idle away or gamble with their lives on difficult tasks. Third: resentment, the Guild becomes a battleground long before any dungeon is involved."

"By separating floors," Sage elaborated, "I eliminate mission poaching altogether. Bronze adventurers won't flood beginner missions anymore; instead, Iron and Copper adventurers will have consistent access to scaled work that suits their level of experience. Their survival rates will rise, their learning curves will stabilize, they'll grow rather than break under pressure."

Gregor leaned back slowly in thought"And what about Bronze ranks?"

"They stop wasting their time," Sage replied. "They gain immediate access to higher-quality work, better rewards, and faster progression. There's less crowd noise and interference."

Lyana nodded slowly. "It also removes the feeling of intimidation."

"Exactly," Sage affirmed. "An Iron adventurer entering a hall full of masters doesn't feel inspired; they feel irrelevant. Here, the floors define where you belong, making growth visible."

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully and added, "In the future, there will be distinct floors for each rank of Adventurer."

"Hierarchy," Valeria interjected from the side, her cold voice cutting through the conversation.

Sage met her gaze steadily. "Motivation."

"For the same reason," she countered.

Sage offered a faint smile. "Hierarchy provides structure while motivation drives action. Both are essential."

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