The Guildmaster entered shortly after, his heavy footsteps reverberating through the room as he made his way to the front desk.
He was a burly man in his mid-forties, wearing an outfit that resembled a suit but made from finer fabrics — more practical than formal, yet still exuding an air of authority.
Alan couldn't help but notice the slight tension in the man's posture as he approached, his eyes scanning Alan for just a moment before narrowing slightly.
But Alan quickly realized that it wasn't his appearance that caught the Guildmaster's attention.
The man's gaze lingered on him longer than expected, studying him in a way that made Alan feel slightly uncomfortable.
It wasn't judgment, though — it was more like curiosity, and maybe even a touch of recognition.
'The amount of mana exuding from him... it's not normal,' the Guildmaster thought, though he didn't voice it.
His brow furrowed, but he kept his thoughts to himself, choosing to maintain a professional air. He sat down behind the desk, the weight of his presence heavy as he glanced down at the pouch Alan had placed in front of him.
Alan kept his composure, but he couldn't help feeling a bit uneasy. He was no stranger to being scrutinized, but there was something about this man that made Alan's instincts prickle.
The Guildmaster's eyes moved from the pouch of glowing crystals to Alan's uniform — his one-star insignia — and that's when Alan felt the tension rise.
"These crystals..." The Guildmaster's voice was low and controlled, yet there was an undeniable edge of recognition in it. "These are from a B-rank dungeon."
Alan said nothing, watching the man as his eyes darted over the green Goblin cores, each of them radiating with powerful energy.
The Guildmaster knew exactly what these were and where they came from. It was clear that he wasn't just an ordinary merchant — he had a deep understanding of the magical forces at play. Alan didn't need to be told that much; the Guildmaster's reputation was well-known.
The Guildmaster's gaze then flicked back to Alan's one-star insignia, and his expression shifted to one of concern. His brows furrowed more deeply, and he leaned forward slightly. "Could I ask where you got all of these from?"
Alan raised an eyebrow, his expression hardening. He wasn't one to easily reveal personal information to anyone, especially not to someone he'd just met.
"And do I have a reason to explain that to you?" Alan's voice was calm, but it held an edge of warning. He brought his palms down onto the desk, leaning forward slightly in a subtle challenge.
The storm outside had grown more intense now, the rain pouring down in sheets as the wind howled against the building. The storm outside mirrored the slight storm brewing inside Alan's chest, but he kept his cool.
"I went on a dungeon raid with some classmates of mine from the Academy," Alan said after a moment, his tone almost indifferent. "They were killed off during the raid."
The Guildmaster gave a brief nod, acknowledging the response, though it was clear that the mention of Alan's classmates had struck a nerve.
He didn't press the matter further — there was no need to. The focus now shifted to what truly mattered, and that was the crystals.
"Understood." The Guildmaster leaned back in his chair, his expression softening as he prepared to get to the matter at hand. "Since these are items from a B-rank dungeon, I can offer you 10 silvers per core."
For the first time since entering the Guild, Alan's expression twitched. His eyes narrowed slightly, but he kept his face mostly neutral.
He hadn't expected this. Ten silvers per core was a decent price, far more than he would have gotten if he'd tried selling them elsewhere. Alan's heart skipped a beat as the Guildmaster continued, "You've got ten cores here, so I'll offer you 100 silvers in total."
The words hit Alan like a physical blow. He hadn't been prepared for that. His breath hitched slightly as the weight of what he'd just heard settled in. One hundred silvers.
The sum was almost too much to comprehend. In one fell swoop, Alan's financial troubles seemed like they could be solved.
He had been so focused on surviving, on just making enough to cover his debts, that he hadn't allowed himself to imagine the possibility of actual wealth.
Now, it was staring him in the face, and he found himself briefly paralyzed by the enormity of the opportunity.
He'd spent years struggling — working for pennies, counting every coin. And now, with just a handful of crystals, he was on the verge of making enough money to not only clear a portion of his debt but to live comfortably for a time.
Alan wasn't naïve. He knew 100 silvers wouldn't solve all of his problems, but it was a start—a big one.
His hand, which had been resting on the desk, twitched. He fought the urge to reach for the pouch of crystals. It felt surreal.
"I... I can't believe it," Alan said under his breath, more to himself than to the Guildmaster. His voice was steady, but there was a quiet disbelief in it.
For the first time in a long while, Alan felt the grip of his financial worries loosen just a little.
The Guildmaster smiled slightly, a knowing glint in his eyes. "You look surprised. You don't have to thank me. The value of a B-rank dungeon item like this is well-known to us. You came to the right place."
Alan nodded slowly, still processing the information. He had been expecting far less, maybe a handful of silvers for the cores, but this? This was a windfall. He had made the right choice coming here.
"But," Alan said, his tone cautious now as he gathered his thoughts. "How do I know you're giving me a fair price? I've heard rumors about Guilds trying to reduce the profits of Tamers."
The Guildmaster's eyes didn't falter. "Rumors and reality are different things, lad. We're fair here. You won't find a better offer anywhere else. But if you're not happy with it, you're free to walk away."
Alan thought for a moment, then nodded. It wasn't as if he had much of a choice.
A hundred silvers was too good to pass up, and he couldn't afford to let mistrust stand in the way of this opportunity.
"Deal," Alan said, his voice firm. The Guildmaster's smile widened, and with a swift motion, he pushed a pouch of hundred silver coins toward Alan.
"Pleasure doing business with you," the Guildmaster said. "If you're looking for more opportunities, you know where to find us."
Alan took the coins, his fingers grazing over the cool pouch. For the first time in what felt like forever, he allowed himself to breathe easier, the weight of the world not quite as heavy on his shoulders.