Big Crow, seeing his brothers disperse, sighed lightly. He lowered his cw which was just about to ssh at Radiant Shield.

  “Adventurers, you have wo my bro and I tell you what you wish to know. There is o hunt us down.”

  Liam and his friends looked at the boss in surprise. They expected the real fight to begin now but instead it ended just like that.

  Sihey were still trying to aplish their quests, they could only agree with Big Crow. Liam put his swords away as he addressed the boss:

  “Alright. Speak.”

  The smaller crows wore expression of embarrassment as they returned from the forest, saddened by the fact that their big brother had to lower his head.

  “Me and my brothers never wao be bandits. However, as beastkin of the crow tribe it is impossible to live among humans. Do you know hoeople see us as bad omens?”

  Silent Acacia rolled his eyes. He couldn't help but interrupt:

  “Ok, ok. We are not here for your story.”

  Big Crow gred angrily at the hunter, but he wasn't intimidated.

  “Whatever. If you wish for answers, I will oblige.

  Since a while ago we have done dirty work for someone. I'm not proud of it but we o eat as well, don't we?”

  “Were your ambushes on merts also uhat person's order?”, asked Bloody Edge curiously.

  “Yes... he told us to cause some chaos. But he never revealed his identity, calling himself Dust.”

  “That's it?”

  “I don't know much more. I give you the location we usually met though. Here.”

  Big Crow handed over a small letter. As soon as Liam took it, his quest updated.

  “Are you satisfied now?!”

  “Sure.”

  Big Crow sched his nose. Looking at his brothers he signalled with his eyes and the Seven Crows left into the forest.

  “Do we just let them go?”, asked Silent Acacia.

  Liam pondered for a moment before nodding his head. He wasn't without suspi as the crows didn't make use of the void during the fight. Maybe there was more to e iure.

  Quickstep followed the Seven Crows with her eyes, asking a question:

  “Ok, what now? Do we follow the quest?”

  “Let's postpo for ter. We still have an appoi.”

  “Right, the...”

  “Shh.”

  Quickstep frowned, gng at Liam. He didn't want to cause unnecessary displeasure, messaging her directly.

  [Bleary Mirage: Let's keep the world boss a secret for now.]

  [Quickstep: Why? 't we even trust these few people?]

  [Bleary Mirage: You never know. They just o boast to their friends and the cat as out of the bag.]

  Quickstep g him shrugging her shoulders. Braag drew her attention.

  After the Seven Crows left a treasure chest had appeared in the middle of the clearing. The dwarf had already approached it to collect their reward.

  But he was rather disappointed wheem appearing in his hand was only surrounded by a blue sheen. At least the crows had the decy to leave behind more than one unon equipment.

  The party members distributed the loot, most if it going towards their new additions while unwaems were thrown into the guild treasury.

  Afterwards they returo the city, taking the teleporter back to Duabalis where they met up at the guild headquarters.

  By now the crowd had slightly thinned. People were ing and going. Most of the new guild members visited the headquarter oer joining, before f parties and leaving for quests.

  Only Cye, Balm, and Sun's Knight hadn't left the pce all m. It might look like they weren't doing much but their chat windows were basically glowing with activity.

  When Liam and the others arrived, it took Cye a few seds to notice them.

  “Huh, you are back?”

  “Yeah. How is it going here?”

  “It's horrible!”

  Cye let out a deep sigh, allowing her body to sck, almost falling form the barrel she was sitting on.

  “Is the recruitment not going well?”, asked Silent Acacia with a surprised expression.

  “Of course it is! It's going too well! I'm drowning in work!”

  “It is really exhausting.”, agreed Balm, allowing herself a break.

  Only Sun's Knight tinued uurbed, his eyes moviht and right to left.

  “Haha, you're in your element.”, joked Radiant Shield bumping his friend’s shoulder.

  “Yes. Now is the time when we secure the most talents! Every sed ts!”

  “So serious?”

  Notig that Sun's Knight didn't show any ination to answer, Balm spoke to Radiant Shield:

  “It's ok. We are already at 339 members. Although the speed slowed down a bit sihe uilds cleared the dungeon.”

  “Oh, someone was successful?”

  “Yes. After the surprise brought be of Fmes it seems others increased their efforts. A few guilds finished in quick succession.

  Star Gazer was third, maybe overtaken by Wave of Bones. It's hard to tell. Surprisingly a guy called Fat Tiger followed, even faster thahquake. Afterwards a bunch of others also succeeded.”

  “Not bad, but they won't catch up to us.”

  “Who knows. Star Gazer is cm in the global chat, wanting to buy a nd lease for a ton of money. He is already advertising his guild 'Gaxy', promising immense bes for everyone willing to join.”

  Cye fidgeted, clearly showing unease as this topic was brought up.

  “Expert, are there other ways to get a nd lease? How fast Star Gazer be?”

  “Of course there are. But none of them are easy to aplish. Still, let's not uimate the petition.”

  “Right. We o make the best out of our lead. How about that thing you mentioned earlier?”

  “Ready when you are.”

  “Ok. Let's max out the members and then we should go!”

  The friends talked a bit more before dispersing. Liam remihem not to go too far while deg to do some bcksmith work himself.

  He paid a visit to the au house, buying some recipes and equipment for the guild treasury before entering the smithy.

  However, it didn't take long until Cye posted a noti the guild chat, telling everyoo gather.

  Liam id down his work a back to the headquarter. Since he was already prepared, he was naturally early, gathering with his friends towards the rare. A casual versation was going on while the friends waited for more members to arrive:

  “Silver Bde, Fortune. How was your exploration?”

  “Great!”, answered Silver Bde with shining eyes. “aboul is so beautiful! We visited some elven cities, did a short quest for some Aharner and even found a beastkin vilge!”

  Silver Bde wore a bright smile looking like a young girl telling her favourite fairytale, elevating everyone's mood. Fortune was amazed as well, stating that she wao cut a separate video out of their discoveries.

  Thus, the mood was great, not even broken by the occasional nosy member. Gradually the newers stopped trig in, prompting Cye to address the guild.

  The young woman jumped on a barrel, overlooking all the guild members. For a moment she was choked up, knowing that these people were the foundation assisting her in fulfilling her dreams.

  Her friends were ied by the emotions, Balm naturally the most. She also jumped on a barrel, standio Cye.

  Drawing strength from her best friend, Cye began to speak:

  “Thank you all for ing!”

  But she quickly noticed that the excitement was too big. The guild members kept talking amongst each other, only a few notig their leader.

  “Hey! Please look here!”

  Cye waved her hands, which helped somewhat but still wasn't enough.

  Suddenly she waved her wand. With a deafening crackle, lightning struck. Sihe pce was so crowded, she didn't want to hit a random member. Therefore, Silver Bde suddenly felt the hairs on her neck stand up, feeling targeted.

  She reacted incredibly swiftly, raising her shield just in time to block the lightning.

  “CYYYY!”

  “Heh, sorry...”

  Cye apologized with a wry smile. She didn’t dare to look at the seething Silver Bde, letting her eyes wander over the guild members, whose attention had been drawn by the otion.

  “Thank you very much for ing everyone! Wele to Dream Avenue!”

  Joyful appuse erupted spontaneously. From the few versations many guild members could already feel that they were surrounded by talents. They looked forward to the guild's future, fident that it would be extraordinary.

  Cye had to trate not to choke again.

  “All of yreat talents and uild be gd to have you. Now in order to celebrate the guild's founding and the get to know each other we pnned a small outing.”

  Those words steered more excitement, leading to discussion among the pyers. But some found it strahat Cye didn’t tialking.

  “Guild leader, where are we going?”, asked a red-masked thief in curiosity.

  “Haha, that's a surprise.”

  “A surprise? Mysterious.”

  “With so many of us there aren't many possibilities.”

  “Right. What else it be but a world boss?”

  “Maybe we'll attack a territory?”