The Dreamer's POV

[01 Months: 10 Days: 05 Hours]

"Pfft! How did you know?" I chuckled, finally removed my hood, revealing my face to the smiling Guildmaster.

"Hahaha! I only guessed." Bernard made to rise to his feet, chuckling as he approached me.

"To think that it's really you…"

I nodded, a faint smile playing on my lips. "It's been a long time, Benard."

He rose from his chair and crossed the room to shake my hand vigorously. "By the gods, I never thought I'd be seeing you anytime soon! What brings you to Terance?"

I returned his handshake, the warmth of his greeting washing away some of the tension that had settled in my shoulders.

"I'm here on a matter of utmost importance, Benard. It's about the Lyma Family."

Benard's eyes lit up with genuine pleasure. I knew he'd brighten up once I mentioned that.

"The Lyma Family, huh? That's noble work you're doing, Luke. Always knew you had a kind heart beneath that enigmatic exterior."

After the death of Duke Damien and the fall of the Capital, I had taken it upon myself to support Theo and defend all that was left.

The news had spread to all the Adventurers thanks to the troops I had with me at the time. Pretty much everyone considered me a hero who fought for the Lyma Family till the end.

That sort of reputation had its fair share of hassle, but for the most part it was incredibly useful when it came to getting on the good side of people like Bernard.

I chuckled softly, the memory of our first encounter resurfacing.

"Should you even be saying that, Benard? Didn't you fight me without even hearing me out the first time we met?" I laughed, much to his embarrassment.

"Ahem… mmmh!" Clearing his throat and pretending to cough, he covered his lips and looked away for a moment.

"You haven't forgotten, have you?"

Benard cleared his throat once more, a faint blush coloring his weathered cheeks. "Ah, yes, about that... I suppose I acted a bit rashly back then."

'Haha! This guy…' I laughed internally.

Bernard was one of the few people I could rely on in this world. I didn't mean that he was powerful, like Lucy, and I definitely didn't trust him to a far extent.

However, he had his uses.

'He was the one who introduced me to the Lyma Family, and he's influential enough to maintain a relationship with.'

That was more than enough for me to invest in my time with him.

I waved away his embarrassment. "Well, all of that is in the past. I'm here now because the situation with the Lyma Family has become quite serious."

Benard leaned against his cluttered desk, his expression growing serious. "Serious, you say? I'm guessing the vultures have begun to gather."

I sighed, the weight of our predicament settling over me once more.

"Precisely." Bernard was an experienced man, so he understood how things went.

Which was why I was hoping he would help me.

I leaned forward, my expression earnest as I addressed my dear useful Guildmaster.

"Benard, I need more hands on deck. I've come to Terance in search of skilled workers. The situation back in the Lyma Capital is quite urgent. We need all the help we can get."

Benard's eyes almost instantly clouded with sadness as he replied, "Luke, the recovery of the capital has already taken up a significant portion of our manpower here in Terance. We can't afford to spare any more adventurers at the moment."

I nodded in understanding, my frustration held in check.

Of course, I already suspected something like this might be the case.

"I appreciate your honesty, Benard. Then, as an alternative, do you have quests that involve subjugating persons who have committed heinous crimes, perhaps bandits or worse."

Benard's curiosity was piqued, and he leaned closer. "What do you have in mind, Mikey?"

I took a deep breath, shrugging casually as I responded.

"I'm going to hire them, of course."

I know it sounded insane, but I had a plan for that. As long as it qualified as manpower, even bandits and criminals could be considered for labor

… As long as they were dead first.

Benard's eyes widened as he considered my request. I knew he was curious about what I meant, but it seemed he wasn't going to question me any further.

'Sensible, as always.'

"Funny you should mention that. There is a particularly troublesome quest that has been circulating recently. It involves eliminating a rogue force of imperialists who are hell-bent on wreaking havoc on the land. They used to work for the Royalty, so they're a formidable group. And since they've taken base on the outskirts of the Lyma Region, it's essentially our problem, Mikey."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the prospect. "Tell me more about this quest, Benard."

Benard scratched his beard thoughtfully. "Well, it's not a simple task. These imperialists are well-armed and well-organized. Taking them down won't be easy. But it's the kind of mission that could use a very skilled group of the best Adventurers."

I nodded, considering the implications. "Why can't you just ask for backup from other cities or regions?"

Benard sighed, his shoulders slumping. "It's not that simple, Luke. Right now, most of the neighboring areas are short-staffed. Terance and the Dungeon City have the largest adventurer bases in the Lyma Region. The Dungeon City, in particular, has been facing its own set of complications due to interference from neighboring nobles.

Adventurers generally stay politically neutral, but the situation is getting more complex. They might be forced to take a side soon…"

I furrowed my brow, understanding the delicate balance at play.

"I see. So, the shortage of adventurers is causing a ripple effect throughout the region."

Benard nodded grimly. "Exactly. It's a challenging time, Luke."

As the conversation with Benard continued, my thoughts were consumed by the growing complexities of our situation.

I couldn't shake the feeling that things were spiraling out of control, and even the other nobles of the Kingdom had started to exert pressure on the weakened Lyma Family.

The timing of Theo's grandmother arriving, coinciding with the turmoil in the Dungeon City, gnawed at the edges of my thoughts.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Benard," I began cautiously, "I can't help but wonder if it's merely a coincidence that the Lyma Family members are arriving at this particular moment when the Dungeon City is embroiled in such turmoil."

Benard's brow furrowed in contemplation. "You think there might be a connection between the two?"

I couldn't be sure, but my instincts were telling me that there was more to the situation than met the eye.

"It's hard to say, but I've learned to trust my instincts. The timing feels too convenient."

Benard leaned back in his chair, his gaze thoughtful. "We'll, you are a brilliant individual and an amazing warrior. If that is what you feel then you might be spot-on."

But the question remained… why would the Luna Family allow other nobles to exert such pressure on them?

'Unless… ah, so that could be it.'

"But what's your interest in this particular quest? Why are you asking about it?" Benard interrupted my thoughts with his question.

I met his eyes squarely, my lips curling to form a smile

"I may be assisting the Lyma Family, but I'm still an adventurer at heart, Benard. I can't stand idly by when there's a chance to make a difference. I'll take on that quest, and I won't even ask for compensation."

Benard's eyes widened in surprise, and then a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"You haven't changed a bit, Luke. Always willing to jump into the thick of things, even for a cause that doesn't directly benefit you."

I shrugged, a faint smile playing on my lips.

'I have to maintain my persona, don't I?'

"Sometimes, you have to do what's right, regardless of the personal cost. And who knows, Benard? Perhaps this quest holds a piece of the puzzle we're trying to solve."

Benard extended his hand across the cluttered desk, and I shook it firmly. "You're a noble-hearted adventurer, Mikey. I'll make the necessary arrangements for you to take on the quest. Just be careful out there. Those imperialists are a formidable bunch."

I nodded, ensuring I looked as noble as he saw me.

"Thank you, Benard. I'll do what I can to put an end to this threat. For the Dungeon City, for the Lyma Family, and for the sake of unraveling the mysteries that shroud us."

It felt like I was reading a script at this point, but I didn't care.

'Even this situation with the imperialists seems very ad hoc. Too many things are going on at the same time for them to be just coincidences.'

I didn't know who it was, but there had to be someone in the Lyma Family who was behind this.

'Well, what do you know? They're actually pretty smart.'