Hollow Ascension

Chapter 10: Back to the Den

The cart rattled to a halt just inside the guild's main courtyard, its journey complete. The sun was dipping below the horizon, casting long shadows across the stone pavement. Gregor hopped down from the cart, stretching out the stiffness from hours of travel.

"Get this over to the supply storage," Gregor barked, waving over a pair of bronze-ranked adventurers loitering nearby. They nodded and moved to unload the cart, their faces set with the usual mix of exhaustion and resignation that came with their rank.

Kael took a deep breath, allowing himself to look appropriately weary. It was crucial to maintain his act now, to appear as nothing more than a novice completing a menial task. Stepping back from the cart, he gave Gregor a nod.

"We made it back in one piece," Kael said with a small, relieved smile.

Gregor glanced at him, his expression hard to read. "You did fine, kid. Keep your head down, and you might just survive in this guild." His tone was gruff but not unkind, a faint hint of approval underlying his words.

"I will," Kael replied, dipping his head respectfully. "Thanks for the advice."

As Gregor turned to oversee the unloading, Kael slipped away, moving toward the guildhall's entrance. Inside, the hall was bustling as usual—adventurers clustered around tables, boasting about their missions or complaining about their lack of progress. The noise, the heat, the sense of barely contained chaos—it was familiar now, almost comforting in its predictability.

Kael headed toward the mission board, pretending to examine it as he listened to the conversations around him. He caught snippets of complaints, boasts, and rumors—the usual background noise of guild life. But underneath it all, he sensed an undercurrent of tension, one that had grown since he first set foot in this hall. His actions were beginning to take root.

He spotted Finn leaning against a pillar nearby, his eyes scanning the room. Kael made his way over, his movements slow and measured, slipping into the role of the cautious newcomer.

"Back already?" Finn asked, raising an eyebrow. "I half-expected you to be dragged in by your bootstraps."

Kael let out a nervous chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "It was... interesting, to say the least. We ran into a bandit ambush on the way to the outpost, but Gregor handled it."

Finn's expression grew serious. "Bandits? That's not good. Things must be getting bad out there if they're targeting supply runs now."

"Yeah," Kael agreed, keeping his tone casual. "And the outpost... it's not in great shape. They're low on supplies, and people there seem frustrated. They're saying the guild isn't sending enough support."

Finn narrowed his eyes, glancing around to make sure they weren't being overheard. "You're not the only one saying that," he muttered. "People have been grumbling about it for a while. It's just... most are too scared to say anything openly."

Kael nodded, lowering his voice. "I heard some of the same from the adventurers at the outpost. They're unhappy with how the guild is running things, but no one knows what to do about it."

Finn studied him for a moment, his gaze sharp. "And what about you? What do you think?"

Kael hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "I think... the guild is stretched thin. They're trying to keep everything centralized here in Valens, but it's leaving the outposts vulnerable. I don't know what the answer is, but it feels like something has to change."

Finn watched him, his expression unreadable. Then he nodded slowly. "You're not wrong. But saying that out loud could get you in trouble, especially with the higher ranks and the nobles. They don't like having their authority questioned."

"I know," Kael replied quietly, glancing around the hall. "But maybe... maybe if enough people start speaking up, things could be different. The outposts need more support, and the guild needs to listen."

Finn snorted softly. "You're braver than you look, Kael. Just don't push your luck. This place is full of people who'd rather crush dissent than deal with it."

Kael offered a small, tight smile. "I'll keep that in mind."

[Contract Progress: 95% - Discontent Amplified]

The System's whisper echoed in his mind, nearly sending a thrill down his spine. It was working. The doubts and dissatisfaction he had carefully nurtured were beginning to spread, like cracks in a dam. Soon, all it would take was one final push to break it wide open.

Finn stepped back, glancing toward a nearby table where a group of bronze-ranked adventurers sat, deep in conversation. "Speaking of speaking up," he murmured, "it looks like some of them are already at it. The tension's been building since you left."

Kael followed Finn's gaze, noting the expressions of the adventurers at the table—anger, frustration, and determination. They were talking in hushed but heated tones, occasionally glancing over at the group of silver-ranked adventurers on the other side of the hall.

"They're planning something," Kael said quietly, more to himself than to Finn. He needed to guide this unrest carefully, steering it without revealing his hand.

Finn nodded, his eyes darting back to Kael. "Yeah, but what they do next could make things either better or worse. They could end up just making themselves targets."

"Maybe," Kael agreed, his mind already racing with possibilities. He needed to use this moment, to turn it into a catalyst for the final stage of his plan.

He moved away from Finn, walking slowly toward the bronze-ranked adventurers. As he approached, the group fell silent, their eyes turning toward him warily. Kael gave them a nervous smile, playing his part to perfection.

"Hey," he said, his voice soft. "I couldn't help but overhear... you're talking about the supply shortages, right?"

The scarred woman from earlier, the one who had confronted Edrik, narrowed her eyes. "And what if we are?" she asked sharply. "You got something to say about it?"

Kael raised his hands placatingly. "No, no, I just... I was at the Northgate Outpost earlier, and I saw how bad things are. It's not right, the way the guild is handling things. I just thought... maybe if more people spoke up, they'd have to listen."

The adventurers exchanged glances, uncertainty and anger mingling in their eyes. Kael could see the doubts swirling in their minds, the conflicting desires to take action and avoid retribution. He needed to tip the scales.

"It's risky," he continued cautiously. "But if enough of us stand together, they can't ignore us. Not forever."

The woman studied him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "You're right. But we can't just march up to the guild master and demand changes. We need to be smart about this."

Kael nodded eagerly, his heart pounding. "Exactly. We need to show them that we're serious, that we're not just going to sit back and accept the way things are. If we work together, we can make them listen."

The group murmured in agreement, their determination hardening. Kael suppressed a surge of triumph. He had sown the seeds of rebellion, nudged them toward action without revealing his own hand. Now, it was just a matter of waiting for the right moment to let it all unfold.

[Contract Progress: 98% - Tensions at the Breaking Point]

The System's voice was a cold presence in his mind, urging him forward. He needed one last act to push the situation over the edge, to shatter the fragile balance within the guild.

He glanced back at Finn, who was watching him with an unreadable expression. Kael offered a small nod, then turned back to the group. "I'm with you," he said quietly. "Whatever you decide, I'll support it."

The scarred woman nodded, her eyes glinting with a fierce resolve. "Good. Then let's make them hear us."

As the group began to talk strategy, Kael stepped back, allowing them to take the lead. It was crucial that they felt in control, that they believed this was their fight. He would be the shadow behind them, guiding events to his desired outcome.

[Contract Progress: 99% - Awaiting Final Catalyst]

He had done it. The guild was now teetering on the brink, its members divided and distrustful. All that remained was for the inevitable confrontation to ignite, and the disorder he needed would spill out into the open.

Kael moved away from the group, slipping into the shadows at the edge of the hall. He watched as the adventurers argued and planned, their emotions running high. The stage was set, and the players were ready. Soon, the guild's leadership would be forced to act, and the conflict he had fostered would erupt.

Almost there, he thought, his eyes gleaming with quiet satisfaction. One final push, and the contract will be complete.

As he melted into the background, he felt the cold, detached presence of the System observing him, waiting for the conclusion of his carefully orchestrated scheme. The game was nearly at its climax, and Kael was prepared for whatever came next.

"Let them think they are in control," he whispered to himself, his voice lost in the noise of the hall. "For when they realize they aren't, it will be far too late."

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