Dawn Guild, Headquarter

The office of the Dawn Mercenary Guild wasn't luxurious, but it was wide, clean, and stacked with the quiet weight of responsibility.

Piles of documents, each bound with dull red strings, leaned precariously across the desk like towers ready to collapse. Contracts, tax reports, dungeon permits were all the invisible foundations that held up the guild more securely than swords or spells ever could.

Behind the desk sat Denzo, the chairman of Dawn Guild. He was a man in his late forties, hair silvering at the sides, his face lined by years of battle and paperwork alike.

In front of him, a laptop glowed faintly, its screen filled with clauses and subclauses from the Hunter Association.

He leaned back with a heavy sigh, his chair creaking under the weight. His eyes scanned the words again, making sure there was no trick hidden in the legalese.

Across from him, on a dark leather couch, sat a young man in a crisp navy suit.

His glasses caught the sunlight pouring through the blinds, giving him an academic air that didn't quite match the strength rolling beneath his skin.

This was Wassilie Colson, the guild's newly hired professional hunter lawyer, fresh to the mercenary circuit. He was sharp, ambitious, and despite his polished appearance, he held the strength of a D-rank hunter.

Denzo broke the silence with his gravelly voice.

"Will the Hunter Association accept this offer?"

Colson's lips curled into a confident smile.

"They will have no choice, Chairman. Right now, the top guilds are locked in a race to conquer A to S-rank dungeons. The Association has its hands full managing that chaos."

"That leaves the lower dungeons as C, D, and even the occasional stubborn B-rank are ignored."

He adjusted his glasses.

"For the Association, these low-level dungeons are a headache. Not enough profit to interest the top guilds, too many to manage with their limited manpower. If we step in with cash and authority, they'll practically beg us to take them."

Denzo rubbed his chin, staring at the screen. "So much money is needed to gain full rights to this Dungeon from Eastern Valley Sites "

"The amount for one Dungeon is really High"

Colson chuckled lightly. "You sound like you don't trust your own instincts, Chairman. But this is a rare opportunity for me and Dawn Guild.

He continues " This guild isn't big enough to compete in the A-rank scene, but locking down a C-rank dungeon permanently? That's stability. That's independence."

Denzo's gaze hardened. "Full control. So no one can interfere. That's what I want."

Colson tilted his head, curiosity shining in his eyes. "May I ask, sir—why the obsession with controlling a low-level dungeon? Forgive me, but the mana stones from such dungeons aren't… profitable."

Denzo shook his head, lips quivering. "It's not an obsession, Colson. It's insurance. If the guild stumbles again, if finances run dry, that dungeon can be auctioned. Even at half-price, it'd buy us survival. In this world, survival is worth more than glory."

Colson nodded slowly. "Practical as ever. But, Chairman… to secure the full rights to the Eastern Valley Dungeon, we'll need at least 2.3 billion ℜ."

Denzo's brows furrowed. "2.3 billion…"

The number was heavy enough to crush a lesser man.

Denzo let the silence stretch, then reached for the black phone on his desk. His voice was steady, deliberate.

"Bring me the finance statements. Now."

He set the receiver down and leaned back once more and looked at Colson and asked.

" How much time do we have?"

Colson sensing the weight of the question, he rose from the couch and bowed politely.

"We have one week before the Association's management board meets."

Denzo inclined his head. "Thank you, Colson."

"It's my job, Chairman. I'll finalize the draft and prepare for negotiations. I will be in your care."

The lawyer left with quiet, purposeful steps, the door closing softly behind him.

Almost immediately, the door swung open again. Suzi, Denzo's longtime assistant, entered with a tray balanced in her hands. Three cups of steaming coffee rested on it, the aroma filling the office.

She smiled as she approached. "Did Mr. Colson leave already? Shame. I made extra."

Denzo gave her a tired grin. "He's a busy man. No time for coffee these days."

Suzi rolled her eyes lightly and set a cup in front of him. "Unlike someone I know, who never forgets his coffee no matter how busy he gets."

Denzo chuckled and took a sip. The bitterness grounded him, but it couldn't erase the looming number in his head. 2.3 billion ℜ.

Knock ~

Knock~

A sharp knock rattled the door.

"Come in," Denzo called.

The one who entered was a broad-shouldered man with neatly trimmed hair, a stack of files tucked under his arm. This was Mike, the guild's finance officer and one of Denzo's most trusted men.

He placed the files carefully on the desk. "As ordered, Chairman. The finance statements."

Suzi, already pouring coffee, silently handed a cup to Mike as he settled beside her.

Denzo flipped the first folder open. "How much do we have on hand?"

Mike adjusted his tie, his expression grave. "Not much. Around 700 million ℜ in liquid assets. With the mana stones we just harvested from the B-rank dungeon… after taxes, the sale should net us another 600 million ℜ."

He paused, then added, "That brings us to roughly 1.3 billion ℜ."

Denzo nodded slowly. "So… one billion short."

Both Mike and Suzi stiffened. Their eyes widened in unison.

"One… billion?" Suzi's voice rose, sharp with disbelief. "What in the hells are you planning, Chairman?!"

Denzo just smiled and said

"To purchase a Dungeon under the Dawn Guild name."

She slammed her palm against the desk, rattling the coffee cups. In the next heartbeat, her hands seized Denzo by the collar, dragging him half across the desk.

"You want to gamble our guild's entire future again? Have you lost your mind? One month ago we are in blink of bankruptcy and now you want to purchase Dungeon Right are you going insane?— Chairman ."

Denzo didn't resist. He just looked at her with calm, almost amused eyes.

Mike hurried to intervene, gripping Suzi's arm. "Suzi, wait! Calm down. The Chairman must have a reason. Let him explain."

Her chest heaved, her eyes flashing with anger, but after a moment she released Denzo with a frustrated growl and dropped into her chair again. "Fine. But if you don't have a damn good reason, I'll call for a shareholder vote to strip you of your seat. Don't test me, Denzo."

Denzo straightened his collar with a sigh, but there was no anger in his voice. Only patience.

"Listen carefully. If we purchase the dungeon rights outright, we gain more than just mana stones. We gain a training ground. A controlled environment for our new recruits to hone themselves. We can sell beast cores, generate a steady income flow. This isn't just a gamble, it's for the foundation of the guild 's future."

Mike frowned. "Chairman, I understand your vision. But isn't it too early? We just crawled out of a financial crisis last month. Our footing is fragile. If we stretch too far—"

Denzo cut him off with a raised hand.

"You see the same trend I do. The top guilds are obsessed with A and S-rank dungeons. "

"They've abandoned the lower-tier ones and which created intense man power to maintain this low level dungeon; they also searching for guild who can handle this dungeon."

" The Association can't handle it alone. Which means now, while no one's looking, we seize the chance. Once the balance returns, prices will triple."

Suzi folded her arms, her voice ice-cold. "And to seize that chance, you'll risk everything. Again."

Mike leaned forward. "Chairman, even if we accept the plan, where do we find the missing billion

Denzo looks at them and said

" So think of an idea to gain about 1 billion ℜ."

Suzi and Mike think for some time and then Suzi thought of something and said.

" How about taking a loan from the bank?"

Denzo looks at Mike for an answer.

Mike was confused by Suzi's idea.

"? A loan? The Union Bank won't lend to us. Not after our near-collapse."

" They will say we don't have future in running guild"

Denzo rubbed his temples, frustration clear. "So there's no way…"

Both Suzi and Mike shook their heads grimly.

The room grew heavy, silence pressing down on all three of them. The weight of one billion ℜ was suffocating.

Then—

Beep—Beep.

The shrill ring of Denzo's phone cut through the tension. He glanced at the screen with tired eyes, expecting another creditor or a minor guild issue.

But when he saw the caller ID, his entire demeanor shifted.

His frown melted into a wide, almost boyish grin. Then he laughed—deep, unrestrained laughter that startled both Suzi and Mike.

"Hahaha! How could I have forgotten about our savior?"

Suzi blinked. "Chairman?"

Mike leaned closer, suspicious. "Who's calling?"

Denzo turned the phone around, showing them the glowing letters:

[Michael Brat]

Suzi's eyes widened. "Ahh… him!"

Mike's lips curved into a relieved grin. "Of course. If anyone can pull us out of this hole, it's that brat."

"Answer it, quickly," Suzi urged. "Before he hangs up."

Denzo chuckled, pressing the speaker button. "Michael, my boy. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

The voice that came through was steady, serious.

"I need a favor, Chairman."

And just like that, the wheels of fate began to turn.

(To Be Continue)

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