Hollow Ascension

Chapter 4: The First Contract

Kael stood in the corner of the guildhall, arms crossed as he quietly observed the room. Adventurers were scattered around, chatting in small groups, discussing their recent missions, and boasting of their successes. Occasionally, the murmur of conversation was punctuated by loud laughter or the clinking of mugs. It was a lively, almost jovial atmosphere, one that reeked of camaraderie on the surface but hid the tensions and egos underneath.

He needed to exploit those tensions. Cause disorder—the contract from the System repeated in his mind. The problem was not if he could do it, but how to do it in a way that wouldn't reveal his hand. He needed to keep his actions subtle, planting the seeds and then stepping back to let chaos bloom on its own.

Kael's gaze drifted toward the long table near the center of the hall. Several mid-ranked adventurers sat there, including Edrik Frost, whose arrogance had been on display earlier in the training grounds. Edrik leaned back in his chair, one arm slung casually over the backrest as he spoke loudly to his companions, his voice carrying over the din.

"—and that's why the bronze ranks are nothing but dead weight," Edrik was saying, his tone dismissive. "They just waste the guild's resources with their incompetence. If I had my way, only those worthy of silver or gold would be allowed in."

His companions nodded and murmured in agreement, some of them clearly trying to stay in Edrik's good graces. Kael's eyes narrowed slightly. There it was—a small crack in the foundation. Edrik's disdain for the lower ranks could be turned into a wedge to split the guild's cohesion.

He pushed off from the wall and moved through the room, adopting a careful, shuffling gait to maintain his persona of a low-ranked, inexperienced member. He approached a nearby table where several bronze-ranked adventurers sat, their shoulders slumped and faces weary from a day of failed missions and hard labor. Finn was with them, leaning on the table with a wary glance toward Kael as he approached.

"Hey, Kael," Finn muttered, raising an eyebrow. "You find out something?"

"Not yet," Kael replied in a low voice, taking a seat. "But I need your help with something."

Finn exchanged a glance with the others, who looked curious but also cautious. "What is it?" he asked.

Kael leaned forward, speaking just loudly enough for the others at the table to hear. "I heard Edrik talking about the bronze ranks earlier," he began, feigning a troubled expression. "He said we're dead weight and that we're just wasting the guild's resources."

A ripple of indignation spread through the group. One of the adventurers, a young woman with a scar across her cheek, scowled. "That arrogant prick," she spat. "We're out there risking our lives just like everyone else. Who is he to say we're worthless?"

Kael nodded sympathetically. "I know. It's not right, but what can we do?" He glanced toward the group of mid-ranked adventurers at the central table, making sure his motion drew their attention.

Finn frowned, catching onto Kael's game but keeping silent for the moment. "You're saying we should just let him walk all over us?" another adventurer grumbled, his fists clenching on the table.

"No," Kael said, choosing his words carefully. "But we can't just confront him directly. The higher-ups will always side with the silvers and golds. What we can do is stick together. If we start helping each other out on missions and show them we're not dead weight, they might have to reconsider how they treat us."

The group exchanged uncertain glances. Finn leaned back, eyeing Kael shrewdly. "You're saying we make ourselves indispensable," he remarked. "But that's easier said than done."

Kael shrugged, keeping his voice level. "True. But if we make even small successes, it'll chip away at their arrogance. They'll have to acknowledge us." He paused, then added in a quieter tone, "And if they refuse, it'll only prove how flawed the guild's leadership really is."

The adventurers nodded slowly, absorbing his words. Kael kept his expression neutral, though inside, he felt a spark of satisfaction. He was planting the seeds of resentment, giving them a direction for their frustrations while framing himself as a fellow underdog. If they acted on this, it would start to undermine the authority of the higher ranks and create the first fractures in the guild's unity.

"Think about it," Kael finished, standing up. "We don't need to cause trouble outright. We just need to show them they're wrong to underestimate us."

He walked away, leaving them to stew over his words. Finn watched him go, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully, before turning back to the others at the table. "He's got a point," Finn said after a moment. "Maybe it's time we started looking out for each other instead of just trying to impress those nobles."

As murmurs of agreement rose from the group, Kael moved to another corner of the guildhall, positioning himself where he had a clear view of both the bronze adventurers and Edrik's group. He settled into his role as a silent observer, blending into the background while he monitored the situation.

From across the room, he watched as the bronze-ranked adventurers began to speak in hushed tones, their glances occasionally darting toward Edrik and his companions. The seeds of discontent were sprouting, just as he had intended.

It didn't take long for Edrik to notice. The blonde noble scowled, catching the furtive glances in his direction. He straightened in his chair, his arrogance fueling his need to confront any perceived slight.

"Hey!" Edrik called out, his voice cutting through the noise of the guildhall. "What are you low-rankers whispering about over there? Planning to beg for scraps again?"

The group of bronze adventurers tensed, their faces a mixture of anger and fear. Kael watched intently, ready to step in if needed. But to his satisfaction, it wasn't necessary.

"We're not begging for anything," the scarred woman from earlier snapped, rising to her feet. "We're just talking about how to survive since it's clear the higher ranks don't care whether we live or die."

Edrik's eyes widened in surprise, his expression quickly turning to one of contempt. "Bold words for a bronze nobody," he sneered. "You want to survive? Try being useful for once instead of whining about your place."

Kael noted the exchange, every word, every shift in body language. Good, he thought. Stoke the fire. Let them think it's about pride. He glanced toward the other adventurers in the room, who were now watching the confrontation with interest. Some appeared entertained, while others seemed wary of where this tension might lead.

The situation was escalating, just as he had hoped. Edrik's provocation was stirring up resentment among the lower ranks, while the silence of the onlookers added to the tension. The first threads of disorder were being woven, and Kael was content to let them fray on their own.

Satisfied, he leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms and keeping his face carefully impassive. This was only the beginning. The conflict he had sown here would ripple outward, creating further divides that he could exploit in the future.

As the confrontation continued to simmer, Kael felt the familiar, cold presence of the System brushing against his consciousness.

[Contract Progress: 20% - Disorder Initialized]

He allowed himself a small, hidden smile. Step one, complete, he thought. The contract was moving forward, and with each step, he would grow closer to gaining the stealth ability promised by the System.

"Patience," he murmured to himself, eyes flicking between Edrik's group and the bronze-ranked adventurers. "Let them believe they control their own fates. I'll merely guide the storm where it needs to go."

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