The sound of galloping horses, the shouts of merchants, and the rhythmic clanging of hammers from blacksmith workshops harmonized into a symphony of big-city life that they had never encountered in Noive Village.
Merchant wagons, carrying recovered loot and the bodies of bandits piled under tarpaulins, moved slowly toward the city center, where the magnificent building of the Adventurers' Guild stood firm.
The group came to a halt in front of the guild's gates, which were crafted from white marble. Keyzier hopped down from the wagon with light movements, followed by Donovan, who kept a vigilant watch on their surroundings, and Novalia, who appeared visibly nervous.
The leader of TheSky party approached them, his face still clouded with doubt. He glanced repeatedly toward the wagon containing the evidence of last night's slaughter.
"Are you truly certain that the achievement and the reward for these bandits should belong to our party?" the leader of TheSky asked. His voice was low, as if fearing others might overhear this sensitive conversation. "This is an exploit that could rank up any party instantly. Giving it to us... it's a heavy burden."
Keyzier looked at him with a flat yet confident gaze. "Of course! Just as we planned, report it to the guild exactly like that. Ask all these merchants and civilians to testify that you were the ones who saved them. We are merely unknown wanderers who happened to be passing by."
"Alright, we will accept it. But..." The party leader paused, looking at Keyzier with a newfound respect. "I never imagined you would know the GoldWings party!"
At the mention of their heroes' name, Keyzier's expression softened for a moment. "Yes! They are great people. They were the ones who saved our lives when we were children, and that debt of gratitude can never truly be repaid. We want to follow in their footsteps, but in our own way!"
Donovan nodded in agreement, patting the shoulder of TheSky's leader. "Just use the reward to fix your damaged gear. Think of it as compensation from Keyzier for what happened to you."
Shortly after, they all entered the guild. They decided to leave the bodies of the bandits in the wagon outside, at least until an official officer arrived to perform an inspection.
As they stepped into the guild building, an aura of grandeur immediately greeted them. The hall's ceiling was incredibly high, adorned with magic crystal lamps that emitted a soft glow. On the walls hung large quest boards filled with hundreds of mission papers of various ranks.
The arrival of this large group, consisting of adventurers, merchants, and grimy-looking civilians, instantly became the center of attention for many inside the guild.
The civilians accompanying them grew anxious. Those who had never set foot in an adventurers' guild before were now at the heart of the city's power, making them too afraid to look left or right. They lowered their heads, huddling close as if afraid of offending the heavily armored adventurers sitting in the guild's tavern.
Novalia felt the same. As a noble daughter accustomed to living within refined protocols, she was still unused to the wild, rowdy atmosphere and the raw energy inside the guild. Moreover, many eyes were scrutinizing their group with searching gazes. She clutched the edge of Keyzier's cloak tightly, seeking protection.
However, this was not the case for Keyzier and Donovan. The two youths appeared incredibly enthusiastic. Their eyes sparkled as they took in every corner of the building. To them, the smell of sweat, steel, and quest papers was the scent of freedom. Soon, they would become official adventurers and possess the guild licenses they had yearned for since childhood.
Ignoring the many cynical or curious stares, they continued toward a long reception desk manned by professional staff. They chose a desk in the middle, managed by a woman with neatly tied hair.
The woman looked up, offering a professional yet warm smile. "Good afternoon, I am Hana, the receptionist for the Antrows City branch guild. How may I help you?"
TheSky party immediately stepped forward. Their leader cleared his throat, trying to calm his racing heart. He introduced them while presenting their guild licenses as proof of identity.
"We are from TheSky party, and we wish to report the completion of an emergency mission and the extermination of the bandit group that has been troubling the Antrows trade routes." the party leader declared loudly. He then began to recount the chronology (which had been slightly altered) of the subjugation, including the mention that the bandits' bodies were still in the wagons at the front courtyard.
Hana, the guild receptionist, went silent instantly. Her professional smile vanished, replaced by an expression of immense shock. Her eyes widened upon hearing that the entire bandit crew, which had been so difficult to capture for so long, had been killed.
"You... you mean you managed to wipe out that bandit group? All of them?" Hana asked, confirming.
"Correct! There are forty-seven bodies outside, including their leader," the leader of TheSky replied firmly.
Hana did not waste any time. She realized this report was not something a regular receptionist could handle. "Please wait here for a moment!"
She hurried away from her desk toward a large door on the upper floor, intending to summon the Guild Master to personally inspect the notorious bandits.
It didn't take long for the atmosphere in the guild to grow tense. The Guild Master, a burly and tall man with a scar over his left eye who radiated a powerful aura of mana pressure arrived at the reception desk with Hana. He didn't say much, only giving a brief nod to TheSky party, before heading toward the mentioned wagons.
Everyone inside the guild grew curious. Activity at the tavern and the quest boards stopped instantly. It was rare for the Guild Master to personally handle an outside inspection, so the crowd began to follow the group, creating a large procession toward the front courtyard.
Beside the wagons, Hana, the Guild Master, and the crowd of adventurers were met with a shocking sight. As the tarpaulin was pulled back, the sharp scent of blood filled the air. They saw the bodies of the bandits piled inside the wagon in a gruesome state.
One by one, the bodies were removed from the wagon by guild officials, immediately becoming the focus of the city's residents and adventurers. Whispers turned into gasps of shock.
The Guild Master stepped forward calmly. He put on leather gloves and examined the face of the bandit leader, Adolf, once all the bodies were laid out. He matched the stiff face with the bounty posters brought by Hana.
After spending a few moments inspecting the wounds, the Guild Master stood tall. He took a long breath and shouted to the watching crowd.
"By my authority, I confirm that this is indeed Adolf, the leader of the northern route bandits. This bandit crew has officially been completely exterminated!"
A brief silence blanketed the courtyard before it exploded into cheers. People felt immense joy and happiness upon hearing the news of the end of the bandits who had long terrorized and plundered the wealth of Antrows' residents.