The Adventurer Guild of Greyvale was buzzing with energy that day. Not chaotic, just alive. Voices mingled near the Mission Board as a group of adventurers debated a newly posted Beast Subjugation Mission.

At one table, two warriors compared their bruises like trophies, while another leaned back in his chair, laughing loudly enough to draw a few annoyed glances.

Near the entrance, a merchant waited patiently, clutching a sealed scroll and scanning the room as if still trying to convince himself that this place truly operated as advertised.

Behind the receptionist desk, Sage lounged comfortably in his chair, one elbow propped up as he rested his cheek against his palm, observing the lively scene with lazy satisfaction.

"This really did turn into something," he muttered, his eyes half-lidded.

Just days ago, this hall had often felt empty, quiet and almost forgotten. Now it hummed with movement and purpose.

Missions poured in steadily; adventurers came and went. The Guild had transformed from an experiment into an institution.

Sage stretched and yawned softly. Just as he was about to lean back further and savor the moment, something on his desk caught his eye, a thin stack of papers.

Neatly arranged with clean edges, they were weighted just enough not to be disturbed by passing air.

Sage blinked in surprise. "…Huh?" He was fairly certain those hadn't been there moments ago.

Leaning forward, he narrowed his eyes slightly as he picked up the papers. There was no flashy cover or dramatic seal, just a simple header written in clear, confident handwriting: Pax.

He stared at the name for a moment before chuckling softly. "That guy really took this job seriously, didn't he?"

He flipped open the first page, only for his smile to freeze mid-guffaw.

Slowly but surely, his brows lifted in surprise. "…Wait."

He sat up straighter and scanned the page,not hurriedly but not leisurely either, taking note of lines detailing how information flowed through the city: which districts responded fastest to rumors, where mission discussions naturally gathered, and how long it took for word about the Guild to reach both the docks and artisan quarter.

Sage's fingers tightened around the paper as confusion set in. "What?"

He flipped to the next page. It wasn't boasting or exaggeration; it was written plainly,almost modestly, as if these insights were obvious truths anyone could uncover with enough patience. Except they weren't.

As Sage read on, a vivid picture began forming in his mind, not of numbers or reports but of movement: rumors sliding through alleyways; dockworkers trading gossip at dawn; beggars listening quietly while life passed them by unnoticed and underestimated.

Sage inhaled sharply. "Damn."

Leaning back in his chair with papers still in hand, he stared at the ceiling in disbelief.

"I told him to build something small," he muttered incredulously. "Just… gather information. Keep an ear to the ground."

He glanced back at the report in front of him. This wasn't just a minor find; it was a whole system at play.

Pax hadn't merely discovered people who listened,he had pinpointed where information naturally flowed.

He understood which rumors ignited quickly and which ones simmered quietly, spreading gradually.

He had recognized patterns that Sage himself hadn't had time to contemplate, all while remaining completely off the radar.

As Sage flipped through another page, a crooked grin began to form on his lips.

"Fast mission completions spread better than official promotions… personal success stories outperform announcements…"

He chuckled softly. "Of course they do."

But as he continued reading, his amusement shifted into something deeper: respect. The report indicated that certain districts were starting to keep an eye on the Guild,not openly, but with careful observation.

Merchants who hadn't yet posted missions were clearly paying attention, while taverns buzzed with discussions about the Guild, especially after a few drinks loosened tongues.

Then came the part that silenced him once more. Pax hadn't just gathered information; he had filtered it meticulously.

The structure of the report made it clear, no single person within the Grey Veil possessed all the knowledge.

Information was compartmentalized and organized in such a way that it remained useful without becoming dangerous.

Sage let out a low whistle. "This guy."

Just days ago, Pax had stood before him, barely able to mask his nerves,shoulders tense and eyes filled with uncertainty, as if he expected to be cast aside at any moment for making a mistake.

Now? Now he was delivering reports like this, clear, insightful, and well-considered.

Sage rubbed his face slowly and chuckled softly to himself. "I really found myself a treasure, didn't I?"

He looked around the Guild Hall again: Gregor was laughing heartily near the Mission Board, drawing others toward him like a magnet; Mina stood nearby with her arms crossed and sharp eyes focused on strategizing how she could outpace him in rank; adventurers moved purposefully about their tasks while commissioners came and went.

And beneath all of this,unseen and unacknowledged,Pax had created a network that reached every corner of the city.

Sage shook his head in disbelief, still half-amused and half-stunned by what he'd discovered.

"This isn't luck anymore," he murmured thoughtfully. "Not even close."

He carefully gathered the papers and slid them into a secure compartment beneath his desk, tapping it twice as if sealing away those thoughts along with them.

Leaning back in his chair with arms stretched behind his head, a broad grin spread across his face.

"Guess I'd better be careful," he said lightly. "If I keep picking people like this, someone might start thinking I actually know what I'm doing."

Sage leaned back in his chair, his gaze drifting to the wooden beams of the ceiling as the gentle hum of the Guild Hall enveloped him like a familiar background melody.

His fingers tapped idly against the armrest. "Character growth," he murmured, a smile tugging at his lips. "In just a few days."

He couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief. When he first handed Pax those ten gold coins, he had expected a bit of hesitation and slow progress.

Maybe even a request for guidance every other day. That would have been normal; that would have made sense.

Instead, Pax had taken the concept, stripped it down to it to the bones, and rebuilt it into something efficient, quiet, and surprisingly practical.

Sage exhaled softly. "This guy didn't just grow," he thought. "He adapted."

A grin spread across Sage's face, amusement and satisfaction dancing in his eyes. "Good thing you work for me," he mused lightly.

"If you were on someone else's team, I'd probably lose sleep over this."

He straightened slightly in his chair, rolling his shoulders as if shaking off the lingering surprise.

"Nope, this is definitely not luck," Sage concluded.

"At this rate…" He chuckled under his breath. "…I might actually end up building something ridiculous."

And for the first time in ages, that thought didn't feel daunting at all,it felt exciting.

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