The refined voice pierced the stillness of the Guild Hall like a finely honed blade. "Excuse me… Guildmaster? I'm here to collect my items."

Sage and Pax both turned towards the entrance, their movements synchronized. When Sage's gaze fell on the man standing there, he felt a flicker of surprise that caused his pupils to contract, though he quickly masked it with a composed smile.

The man, illuminated by the dying light of day, was middle-aged, draped in a deep emerald robe with intricate golden threads weaving alchemical designs along the sleeves and hem.

His posture was upright yet relaxed, exuding a calm authority. Despite lacking any visible weapons, he carried an air of confidence, underscored by the faint scent of medicinal herbs and refined mana that surrounded him.

This was, of course, Cassian Thaumas.

While Sage managed to contain his surprise, Pax looked as though he had seen a ghost; the color drained from his face in an instant, and he stiffened, anxiety racing through his mind as he envisioned a hundred possible calamities.

Had the rumors spiraled out of control? Was Cassian here to confront them? To seek answers, or worse, revenge?

Sage, however, quickly regained his composure. He rose from his chair and gracefully stepped out from behind the desk, his expression warm and respectful.

"Sir Cassian," he said with a slight bow. "Welcome back to the Adventurer Guild."

Pax, reacting just a heartbeat later, nearly toppled his chair as he scrambled to stand and vacate the space nearest the desk. He moved so quickly it was as if he were trying to disappear, retreating to the side of the hall and bowing his head to make himself as small and unobtrusive as possible.

Cassian's gaze brushed over Pax for a fleeting second, long enough to make the young man's heart race, yet Cassian showed no indication of recognizing or disapproving of him.

Instead, he turned back to Sage with a gentle nod. "Guildmaster Sage," he said mildly. "It appears your establishment is… more animated than the last time I visited."

Sage smiled. "We've been fortunate." He gestured towards the table. "Please, take a seat."

Without hesitation, Cassian accepted the invitation, settling into the chair with a relaxed grace.

Pax lingered awkwardly for a moment before gradually pulling out another chair and positioning himself at a distance, his posture tense and his hands clenched tightly on his knees.

They exchanged a few courteous words, formal greetings, and light pleasantries, before Cassian leaned back slightly and folded his hands on the table.

"Tell me," he said calmly, "have the ingredients been found?"

"Yes," Sage replied promptly.

He walked towards the cabinets lining the wall behind his desk, opening one to retrieve a wooden box reinforced with metal bands and sealed with a simple wax sigil.

As he opened the lid, a soft glow emanated, accompanied by a fresh scent that filled the room. Sage returned to the table and set the box gently in front of Cassian.

Leaning forward, Cassian's eyes sharpened with interest as he inspected the contents. Inside were three flawless ingredients: a Moondew Pear still shimmering with droplets of condensed mana, a Windwhisper Apricot whose pale skin gleamed like air in motion, and a Silverlace Bloom, its delicate petals interwoven with soft, glowing veins. All three were perfectly preserved, radiating vitality.

Cassian examined them closely, even lifting the bloom to inspect its stem, before nodding once in approval.

"These are accurate," he said, then looked up at Sage and inclined his head slightly. "You have my gratitude."

Sage waved it off. "That's what the Adventurer Guild is for. And for what it's worth, the mission was completed on the same day it was posted."

Cassian's brows raised slightly, genuine surprise flickering across his face. "The same day?"

"Yes," Sage confirmed.

Cassian leaned back, his expression turning thoughtful as he narrowed his eyes. "Impressive."

He paused, letting the silence hang for a moment before adding in a casual tone, "You know, I've been hearing a lot of buzz around the city lately. The Adventurer Guild seems to be a hot topic."

As he spoke, Cassian's gaze shifted toward Sage, a subtle, knowing smile playing on his lips.

Pax felt his heart drop.

His complexion paled, and his fists tightened so hard that his nails pressed into his palms. Cold sweat broke out along his back as panic washed over him. Had Cassian figured out the source of the rumors?

On the other hand, Sage appeared unfazed.

With a soft sigh, his voice steady and almost resigned, he said, "Yes, I'm responsible for that."

Cassian tilted his head just a bit, encouraging him to elaborate.

"The Guild was in dire straits," Sage explained calmly. "Very few people knew about it. Missions were rare, and Adventurers were essentially absent. So I decided to leverage what I had."

He met Cassian's gaze directly. "Including your reputation. If that has caused you any inconvenience, I am prepared to take the blame."

The atmosphere in the room grew denser.

Cassian's smile remained intact. "Alchemists put a lot of stock in their reputation," he said in a measured tone. "If anything were to happen,if my name were tarnished,what would you do about that?"

Sage hesitated and said."I judged the risk of lasting damage to a man of your stature to be low, compared to the existential risk to my Guild. But I am prepared to offer any compensation."

Cassian raised an eyebrow. "Compensation?"

"If it's money," Cassian went on lightly, "I could purchase this Guild over and over again."

Sage smiled. "It's not about money."

He leaned in slightly. "Any three missions you post here in the future, whatever they may be, I'll ensure they're completed at no cost to you. Furthermore, when Adventurers from this Guild gather rare herbs or valuable blood essence, I'll direct them to your shop. You'll become their go-to point of sale."

Cassian's interest was piqued.

Sage continued, his voice steady and convincing. He spoke about consistent supply, access to rare items without endangering his own people, the goodwill he'd foster with Adventurers, and the influence that outweighed mere coin.

By the time he finished, Cassian was chuckling softly.

"You're quite daring," Cassian said, waving a hand dismissively. "But it's unnecessary. I don't mind my reputation being used for something worthwhile."

Sage felt a sense of relief. "I had a feeling you'd respond that way."

"Oh really?" Cassian replied, intrigued. "What makes you say that?"

"If you were the type to take offense," Sage explained, "you would have confronted me the moment those rumors started. The fact that you didn't told me everything I needed to know."

Cassian burst into genuine laughter, the sound warm and carefree. "Kid," he said fondly, "I like you. You're sharp."

They continued chatting for a few more minutes,light-hearted exchanges and mutual curiosity,until Cassian finally stood up, carefully lifting a wooden box into his arms.

"Thanks again," he said. "Until next time."

Sage offered a slight bow. "Safe travels."

With that, Cassian turned and left the Guild Hall, his figure fading into the orange glow of the sunset.

As soon as he was gone, Pax slumped into a chair, feeling like a ragdoll.

A long, shaky breath escaped him, his back drenched in sweat. "By the gods…" he murmured. "I thought I was going to pass out."

Sage rolled his eyes. "He's not going to hurt you."

"Easy for you to say!" Pax retorted weakly. "A man like Cassian Thaumas could squash someone like me without even noticing."

Sage shook his head. "He holds no grudge. We're in the clear."

Pax took a slow breath, nodding. "Good… really good."

After a moment, he straightened up. "I'll start working on the intelligence network. It's going to take some time."

"Take your time; start small rather than going big right away,just enough to lay the groundwork," Sage advised.

"And remember, don't draw too much attention to yourself. Staying under the radar is key to building the intelligence operation."

Pax gave a determined nod. "Alright, I get it. I'll follow your instructions."

Sage let out a light chuckle and added, "And remember, if you need anything else or run into a problem you can't handle, come see me, okay?"

Pax nodded quickly, his face serious and focused. Sage relaxed in his chair, rhythmically tapping his fingers on the desk, a look of contentment on his face.

"Good."

They continued their conversation for a while, outlining different plans and strategies.

"Well, it's getting late. You should head out and start getting things ready," Sage said with a gentle sigh.

Pax nodded in agreement, stood up, and waved goodbye to Sage as he left the Guild Hall. The noise that had once filled the hall faded away, restoring its quiet atmosphere.

By now, the sun was setting, casting long shadows on the marble floor.

As the light dimmed, Sage reclined in his chair, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

"Finally," he murmured. "Time to relax. I don't have to work anymore"

[ Ding! ]

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