North Gate. Early morning.

  A covered supply carriage rolled gently toward the northern gate, its wheels creaking softly under the weight of packed goods.

  Waiting just outside the gate were four adventurers Mei, Karr, Eric, and Vivian preparing for what was meant to be a routine escort mission. And two young figures—a boy and a girl, their clothes simple, faces marked with worry. Mei's younger brother and sister.

  The little girl clung to Mei's cloak, looking up with wide eyes. "Do you really have to go for four days?"

  Mei knelt beside her, brushing a strand of hair from her face with a smile. "Just for four days. We'll be back before you know it."

  Her brother, older than the girl but still a few years short of adulthood, crossed his arms. "Still… the roads aren't safe."

  Mei's expression softened. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Take care of her for me, alright? I'm counting on you."

  He gave a reluctant nod, his jaw set with silent resolve.

  Karr stretched, slinging his sword over his back with a grin. "Don't worry, kids! Bandits run from me, not the other way around."

  Vivian smiled warmly. "We'll look out for each other. I promise."

  Eric, quiet as always, gave a small nod as he climbed onto the carriage. "We'll be back soon. Safe and sound."

  They waved them through the gate, and with a creak and a jolt, the caravan began to roll forward, disappearing into the distance under the pale light of morning.

  Scene shift: Adventurer Guild.

  The smell of sizzling meat and freshly baked bread filled the air the moment Vel stepped into the Guild's cafeteria. His eyes lit up like a child in a candy store.

  "Ahhh, it smells amazing today!" Vel beamed, practically skipping toward the counter.

  Behind the large serving table stood a broad-shouldered man with a thick brown beard and a warm smile. He wore a simple apron over sturdy clothes and waved as Vel approached.

  "Guild Master Vel! Good to see you," the man said. "Name's Bram, in case you forgot."

  Vel grinned. "Bram, right! Say, before anything else... Could I get a plate? Maybe two? I can't resist after smelling those meat skewers and roasted veggies!"

  Before Bram could answer, Shin cleared his throat sharply. He adjusted his glasses with a familiar, stern expression.

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  "We're not here for lunch, Vel-sama. It's not time yet. Let's first hear about the issue."

  Vel sighed dramatically, slumping a little. "You never let me have any fun..."

  Bram chuckled good-naturedly. "It's about the northern trade route," he began, setting down a steaming tray. "The merchants we've been relying on have been running into trouble. Bandits have been getting bolder, attacking supply caravans headed into Algora."

  Shin frowned slightly. "You could have just posted a request on the Guild board. Why the special meeting?"

  Bram scratched the back of his head. "Normally, yeah... but this isn't a normal bandit problem. There's more than thirty of them, and they're organized. Took over a small abandoned village off the main route. They're not just hitting caravans; they're taking prisoners, stealing supplies, weapons… It's gotten ugly."

  Vel's playful expression faded into a serious one, though he quickly masked it with a casual nod.

  Shin pressed on, "Couldn't we source supplies locally? Buy from the merchants in the city for now?"

  Bram shook his head grimly. "Tried that. Prices have shot up because of the supply problems. Some of the merchants are even hoarding food, waiting for prices to climb higher."

  Vel clicked his tongue. "Tch. Greedy bastards." He placed a hand on his hip, looking around the bustling cafeteria.

  "Alright, Bram. I'll take care of it. You don't have to worry."

  Shin gave Vel a sharp look, but before he could say anything else, Vel raised his hand, inhaling deeply.

  "But first—lunch! I'm not walking out of here after smelling all that delicious food! Those skewers are calling to me!"

  Shin opened his mouth to argue but immediately closed it when he saw Vel already making his way toward the counter like an unstoppable force of nature.

  Bram laughed and waved them over. "I'll get you the special set. On the house!"

  Shin sighed in resignation. "Fine... but after this, we're sticking to the schedule."

  Vel flashed a victorious grin. "Deal!"

  As they sat down with plates piled high with juicy skewers, roasted vegetables, and thick slices of bread, the sounds of cheerful chatter and clinking plates filled the air around them.

  Scene Shift: guild Hall.

  The Adventurer's Guild hall was in chaos.

  Dozens of agitated merchants and caravan runners crowded the front desk, their voices overlapping in a storm of complaints, demands, and desperate pleas. Several receptionists — including Maya — scrambled to manage the flood of quest requests, hands flying as they scribbled reports, stamped forms, and tried to calm the rising frustration.

  "…our entire supply cart was taken! We need compensation—"

  "…those bandits hit us three days ago—nothing's getting through the northern route!"

  "…someone has to do something about this! My guards barely made it back alive!"

  Maya tried to keep her voice steady. "Please—one at a time—if you could just—"

  The doors to the inner corridor opened with a distinct click, and Vel and Shin stepped into the main hall. Shin's eyes immediately scanned the crowd, then he sighed and pushed forward with calm authority.

  "Everyone, please!" Shin called, his voice sharp but measured. "Stay calm. We understand the situation is serious. We're working on it — but we need your cooperation."

  The crowd's volume dipped just enough for his words to land.

  "Please submit your quest reports to the reception desks. Our staff will process them as fast as possible," he continued, motioning for the receptionists to continue working. "Panicking helps no one."

  Vel, hands in his coat pockets, moved past the counter and tapped Maya gently on the shoulder. "Maya. Give me a full report of what's going on. Come to the office as soon as possible."

  Maya nodded quickly, clearly flustered. "Y-Yes, Vel-sama."

  Vel and Shin turned and disappeared down the hallway to the Guild office,