Within the Redwood Adventurer's Guild office sat the guild branch leader. The candlelight flickered.
The guild branch leader sat at his desk motionless. A guild enforcer knocks.
"Enter."
The guild enforcer enters and stood in front of his desk. With a tense voice, he reports.
"The mercenaries are in position. Our enforcers have begun the first sweep.."
With a brief pause, he continued.
"Red refuses to provide any information. We currently left him in the dungeon."
"What is the status of the remaining names on the list?"
The enforcer replies. "There are a few still that haven't been handled yet."
"Anne?"
"Yes, Anne, and a few others on the list."
The guild branch leader leaned forward and a cruel smile spread on his face. "I don't care about the others, focus on eliminating Anne. Make it clean."
"Yes sir."
"As for the thieves who have gained the name list, Triple the bounties. Use every resource at our disposal. I want every hunter, mercenary, and rogue adventurer looking for them. I want the list even if you had to turn this town upside down."
The enforcer nodded stiffly.
"Oh before you go, take this." The guild branch head reached into his cloak and grabbed a mysterious stone. Intricate designs were carved on it.
He placed it on the table and hinted at the enforcer to take it.
"Keep this on your body. This should become warm if the records are nearby. The parchment used has tracking imbued in its parchment."
"Yes sir." The enforcer nodded, took the stone, and left.
The Guild Branch Leader smirked. Redwood Town was his backyard. Tonight, he would clean house. He wasn't worried. This was just a small distraction. The main event has yet to come.
--
Within the guild hall, it was very chaotic. Adventurers murmuring, guild staff running around, enforcers getting deployed and actively moving in and out of the building. There was tension in the air.
Flora kept her expression neutral as she continued working at the reception. She has been alert and aware of the tense atmosphere for quite some time now. Tonight was different.
There seemed to be watchful eyes. She was definitely being monitored. Not just her, but all the receptionists.
Suddenly, one of the guild enforcers approached her. This wasn't a normal, everyday low rank grunt. It was one of the branch leader's personal men. He was the type who only answered to the guild's most ruthless. One that would do anything they can to climb the ladder. Many wouldn't want to cross his path.
He stopped in front of her desk and placed both hands on the counter. With a grin, the man locked eyes with her. A slow, deliberate gaze that made her skin crawl.
"You're looking awfully comfortable, Flora."
She didn't react.
"Same work as always." She replied with a neutral expression,
The enforcer watched her carefully, enjoying the moment. Then, the man laughs.
"Yes. Must be nice to work inside here in the guild. Stable income. Safe and protected." His voice contained a teasing tone.
He paused briefly before continuing. His next words were quiet. Too quiet.
"It would be a shame if that changed."
Flora's grip tightened beneath the counter. But her face remained calm. The enforcer grinned.
"Good girl. Stay that way."
He turned about to leave before pausing and turning back to Flora. His eyes were different. Hungry and primitive.
"It's going to be lively tonight, Flora." His voice was very suggestive.
"You should join me. I know a place where we don't have to worry about work."
A cold smile appeared on the enforcer's face.
"I'm sure you are a smart woman. You know what happens to people who get on the wrong side of the Guild Leader."
A moment of silence elapsed.
Flora clenched her fists under the table. Her expression solidified and remained neutral, but deep down she was shaking with anger. This wasn't just a warning, it was blackmail.
A threat and then an olive branch.
She could accept and join the enemy camp or she could refuse and be in a vulnerable position.
"Well?" The enforcer urged.
Flora exhaled slowly. Her mind was already racing through the angles. If she pushed back too strongly, it would draw attention. If she gave in too easily, she might become trapped.
She would handle this the same way how she had handled numerous lustful, drunk adventurers.
She smiled. "I appreciate the invitation. Maybe next time."
A calculated non-answer. Not a rejection. Not an agreement. Just enough to keep the game going.
"I'll hold you to that." The enforcer mutters and turns around.
Flora exhaled once he noticed the enforcer had stepped out of the building and was out of sight.
This was a reminder that the guild was watching. One wrong step and it might be game over.
--
At this time, the auction was over. Feng Ye was able to gather some information but nothing concrete and super useful yet. Feng Ye walked towards the auction house's exit.
He followed the stream of people toward the exit, blending into the flow of merchants, adventurers, and speculators. Around him were plenty of post auction conversations. A mixture of complaints, negotiations, and victories.
Then, suddenly, everyone in front of him stopped.
Someone at the front of the line stopped abruptly, causing a ripple effect.
A merchant ahead of Feng Ye cursed.
"Why did you stop? Keep moving!" A merchant in front of him exclaimed loudly to those in front of him. Grumbles and murmurs of confusion followed.
The attendees following the stream of people exiting from the back collided with those in front of them due to the unexpected halt.
"What's going on?"
"Why are you all blocking the exit?"
There was some slight confusion. It seems that there was a group of uniformed men blocking the exit. Feng Ye glanced ahead and he could see a few uniformed men standing in formation. Their emblems glinted under the lantern light.
The Guild.
`What were they doing here? The Auction House isn't supposed to be under the Guild's jurisdiction.` Feng Ye thought to himself.
These were definitely guild enforcers. They blocked the exit.
One of the guild enforcers stepped forward. He was taller than the rest, his uniform cleaner, his posture commanding. This must have been the squad leader.
His voice boomed. "We are conducting a routine check on all attendees of the Auction House. No one may enter or exit without going through our checkpoint."
The enforcers shifted and formed a semi-circle to block off the doors. A search was already in progress. The first group of attendees were already lined up and having their items searched and clothes been pat down.
The Guild was stripping them of valuables.
Angered shouts could be heard everywhere.
"What do you mean search? Do you know who I am?" One merchant shouted.
"This is outrageous!" a noble fumed. "You have no right to interfere with the Auction House!"
"This is the auction house, not the guild!" Another shouted.
One of the merchants being searched shoved an enforcer's hand away.
"I paid numerous beast cores for this, get lost!"
Another man, an adventurer tried to step forward but was shoved back by a guild enforcer.
"You will comply." The enforcer sneered. "Or you will be detained."
It was completely noisy. The guild was oppressive. Some adventurers tightened their grips on the hilts of their weapons. Others planned to unsheath.
More figures emerged at the exit.
The auction house's representatives.