Roland woke up to soft sunlight leaking through the curtains.


    The intensity and warmth of the sunlight showed that the sun had already risen.


    (Is it noon already?)


    Roland looked over to see Lillianne sleeping soundly in her sleep, without a stitch of clothing on.


    Lillianne was sleeping soundly, not a stitch on her. Roland-san ...... mnya."


    She slept with the peaceful expression of a newborn baby.


    At this rate, she wasn''t going to wake up yet.


    Roland thought it was understandable.


    Last night she had made love to him passionately.


    Thanks to that, Roland slept as if he had sunk to the bottom of the bed, exhausted.


    And it seemed that she was exhausted as well.


    Now she was in the middle of finally getting a decent sleep after being released from the hard work and tension of the day.


    Her face was wrapped in bliss.


    Roland watched her sleeping face and felt his heart gradually fill with happiness.


    At the headquarters of "The Golden Eagle," Lukius was being squeezed by the investors.


    The investors demanded an explanation from Rukius for the dungeon being taken by the "Guardian of the Magic Tree" once again.


    They then pressed him hard about his mistake.


    What do you mean?　Lucius."


    Why do you have so many Class A adventurers, yet lag behind the ''Guardians of the Magic Tree''?"


    Why are there so many new Class A candidates in the "Guardians of the Magical Tree" but no new ones from the "Golden Eagle"?"


    What exactly is the temporary budget set aside for this special unit?"


    They blamed Lucius for his mistake based on the ledger, but he was as good as an amateur when it came to dungeon exploitation.


    When it came to the details of troop formation, personnel allocation, procurement of items and equipment, and training of adventurers, Rukius'' hand-wringing and mouth-wringing made it impossible for them to pursue the matter in depth.


    However, even with Rukius''s good words, the fact that two dungeons had been captured, and the resulting decline in profits, was too much for him to ignore, so he had no choice but to admit his fault.


    It''s your responsibility," he said. How on earth are you going to make up this loss?


    Lucius promised to take a pay cut and restructure the guild members to protect the interests of his investors.


    While the "Guardians of the Magic Tree" were enjoying the springtime of this world, the atmosphere at the "Golden Eagle" was as gloomy as a wake.


    Rumors of restructuring were already spreading among the members.


    Everyone, from the veterans to the newcomers, was dreading the possibility that they would be decapitated.


    It was as if the ground that had seemed to exist forever had suddenly begun to wobble and crumble.


    In the midst of all this, Jill was complaining to Dorwin.


    I told you," he said. I told you it would be a bad idea to expel Mr. Roland.


    Dorwin looks at her with a dismayed look on his face.


    Now the dominance of the Gilded Eagle is shaken. They had been able to get all three dungeons before, but now they can only get one, and the ''Guardians of the Magic Tree'' have taken two dungeons. And that''s not all. If Mr. Roland continues to strengthen the "Guardians of the Magic Tree," the "Golden Eagle" will not be able to get a single dungeon, and will eventually fall to a small to medium-sized guild.


    Dorwin places the broken sword on the anvil to begin working on it.


    Jill grabbed Dorwin by the shoulders and shook him.


    Hey, hey," Dorwin said. Are you listening to me?　Dorwin. Dorwin.


    Shut up."


    There''s nothing to be picky about!　What the hell does he ...... and Lukius want in the first place? He''s always giving orders to the troops to drag them down. If only he hadn''t given those strange instructions, we wouldn''t still be in the game. What the hell is he thinking?"


    I don''t think Lucius knows what he wants either.


    Huh?　What do you mean you don''t know what you want to do?"


    Dorwin sighed.


    ''The "Golden Eagle" has grown too big,'' he said. We''ve grown so large, with so many people, divisions, units, and budgets, that it''s impossible to keep an eye on everything. On top of that, Lucius has investors, clients, and other external relationships. It''s hard to pay attention to the internal relationships and circumstances. At times like this, it would be nice if the representative could just focus on the outside work and leave the inside to someone else. He wants to do everything himself, you know. I guess he doesn''t trust anyone but himself. ......"


    If that''s the case, we need Mr. Roland even more. I''m sure Mr. Roland will be able to efficiently distribute the right personnel to the right places and use his wisdom to organize the troops.


    But, he said, it is a matter of honor for the organization to bring back a person who has been expelled. In the first place, Lukius doesn''t like Mr. Roland. How many times do I have to tell you?


    I don''t have time for this. If we don''t do something, the people in the "Guardians of the Magic Tree" will be brought up by Mr. Roland more and more, and he will forget about us. Dorwin. Don''t you think anything of it?　Hey, Dorwin.


    I don''t know why you would say that. What do you want me to do?


    Let''s appeal directly to Lucius. "Let''s appeal directly to Lukius to pull Mr. Roland back now. If we all bow down and show our sincerity by offering a large sum of money, I am sure that Roland will remember our old friendship. In any case, let''s do whatever it takes to bring Mr. Roland back. That is the only way. If we don''t hurry, we won''t make it in time. It''s too late if the "Guardian of the Magical Tree" becomes bigger and the "Golden Eagle''s" financial advantage is shaken.


    Dorwin sighed for the umpteenth time today.


    I''m telling you," he said, "that''s why Lukius won''t bow down to Roland. If you want to be under Roland''s tutelage so badly, why don''t you just quit the Golden Eagle and go to the Guardian of the Magic Tree? Why are you still stuck in the Golden Eagle?"


    Why should I pay Lukius to leave?"


    Jill said bitingly.


    Senior members like Jill had a contract with the guild for approximately five-year increments, and if they left the guild, they had to pay a penalty of one year''s salary.


    ''Well, that''s how it works,'' he said. No matter how much I cry or scream, I have to keep working for this guild until my contract expires. Even if I don''t get any guidance from my beloved Roland-san, I''ll just have to put up with it."


    Dorwin turns away when he says that much and starts pounding his sword with a hammer.


    Jill stares at Dorwin with jittery eyes for a while, then suddenly starts to depress.


    I see. I see. In other words, Lukius has no intention of bringing Mr. Roland back no matter what happens, no matter how much the guild leans. Is that what you''re saying?


    I guess that''s what I''m saying.


    Jill nodded her head in agreement, then smiled as if she had suddenly blown it.


    In short, the whole problem is Lukius. Because of him, the troops get all sorts of strange orders, and Mr. Roland can''t come back to the guild.


    ...... Well, I guess that''s it."


    In other words, if only Lucius ...... would expel him from the guild, the whole problem would be solved. Is that what you''re saying?"


    What?


    Dorwin involuntarily looked at Jill''s face.


    Then he saw the wicked smile on her face and was surprised.


    I see. I understand very well. Thank you, Dorwin. Thank you for taking the time to talk to me.


    Jill gets up and turns to leave the room.


    Jill stood up and started to walk out of the room. What are you going to do?


    You''ll find out soon enough.


    With that, Jill closed the door and left the room.


    While everyone on the "Golden Eagle" staff was drooping their heads and dreading tomorrow''s uncertainties, there was one person who seemed to be optimistic.


    Sebasta, a Class A adventurer.


    While most people were working in fear of the future (no matter how precarious their status, they had to fulfill quotas set by the guild), he was the only one walking down the corridor of the headquarters, humming a tune.


    Hey. What''s up? You look gloomy."


    Oh, Mr. Sebasta.


    Sebasta tapped one of the nodding members on the shoulder and called out.


    ''You''ll only let your luck slip away if you look so gloomy. Wahahahahaha."


    Sebasta walks away with a hearty laugh.


    The member who was tapped on the shoulder looks at Sebasta''s back.


    Sebasta''s back is looking at the member who is tapping him on the shoulder. You are in a good mood. Even though the guild is in such a state.


    He''s an A-class adventurer. Unlike us, he probably doesn''t have to worry about restructuring.


    With that, they walked down the hallway, their shoulders slumping more and more.


    In fact, Sebasta was optimistic about his own future.


    Although his contract expires next year, he assumed that it would be renewed without any problems, and that he could even get an increase.


    Mr. Sebasta. The legal department would like to see you.


    "Oh, you''re here."


    Sitting in the lobby, Sebasta roused his obese body with great ceremony when the attendant summoned him.


    He entered the legal department with an excited heart.


    (Now, how much is the guild going to increase my salary?　If you want to keep this contract with me, you''re going to have to increase it by at least a million gold a month.)


    Sebasta arrived at the negotiating table with thoughts of the new luxuries he could enjoy with his increased salary.


    But when Sebasta saw the new contract he was presented with, his large face turned red and pale, and he stormed out of the room.


    Lucius!"


    Sebasta opens the door to the guild leader''s room with a bang and enters, shoulders heaving.


    Lucius, who had been looking at the account book and holding his head in his hands, was startled.


    He hastily hid the ledger under his desk.


    What is it, Sebasta? What''s the matter with you, Sebasta? Why don''t you at least knock?"


    I don''t care about that!　It''s more than that!　What is this contract?　Let''s hear you explain what the hell is going on."


    What is it?　What the hell is wrong with you?"


    I''m not a "what''s the big deal" kind of guy. What the hell is going on here that you''re cutting my salary by 500,000 gold!"


    Sebasta slammed the contract on Lucius'' desk.


    ''What the hell is that?''


    Lucius sits back in his chair, looking tired.


    ''I assume you''ve heard about the management efficiencies?　Because of your screw-up in the dungeon, I''m now in the money business. I had a steady stream of income coming in every month, and now it''s been cut off."


    All you have to do is cut the salaries of lower-level employees or fire them to pay for the expenses!


    That''s not enough for me, so I''m drawing your salary."


    Lucius said, annoyed.


    ''If that''s all you''ve got to talk about, I suggest you leave now. As I said before, I am busy."


    Sebasta, however, was not convinced and continued to protest to Lucius.


    Finally fed up, Lucius decided to threaten him.


    If you persist in this insubordination, I will consider it treason and I will punish you for it!


    However, Sebasta continued to passionately explain how he had worked so hard and devoted himself to the guild, and so Lucius did indeed apply the penalties.


    Sebasta was ordered to serve house arrest along with the payment of a fine of 200,000 gold.


    Get him out of here."


    Sebasta is forcibly removed from the room by Lucius'' aides.


    He is forced out of the room by Lucius''s aides. If that''s what you intend to do, I have a plan of my own.


    Sebasta stormed the guild leader''s room again and slammed his resignation down on Lukius.


    You again," Sebasta said. What the hell do you think you''re doing?


    As you can see."


    Sebasta grinned wickedly.


    If you do not offer me another contract, I will resign from this guild.


    I see. Then I will accept this letter of resignation."


    Lukius resolutely took the letter of resignation and put it in his desk drawer.


    Nah."


    Sebasta wandered and shivered.


    What''s wrong?　Now you have nothing more to do with the Golden Eagle. You can go wherever you want. However, you will be required to pay the penalty fee.


    Sebasta still had one more year left on his contract, so if he quit now, he would be obligated to pay the penalty.


    Sebasta''s face turned red, but he quickly retracted his anger and grinned wickedly.


    He grinned wickedly. Don''t be barking at me later.


    Sebasta says just that and leaves "The Golden Eagle".


    As a matter of fact, they were thinking exactly the same thing at this time.


    (They would soon get in trouble and bow down from the other side anyway)


    What''s the point of being a class-A adventurer if you don''t know what you''re talking about? Can you get people together without the guild''s help?　Can you organize a unit?　Can you provide items?　Can you provide the equipment?　You can''t even pay the penalty in the first place. Who do you think is raising the money so you can eat as an adventurer?　It is utterly ridiculous. You''ve forgotten how much I owe you for bringing me up, and you''ve gone over the top."


    Lucius said as much to Sebasta''s resignation letter on his desk, and then pulled out his account book again to ponder over how to raise the money.


    Sebasta left the "Golden Eagle" and headed for the "Guardian of the Magic Tree.


    (Lukius. You are so stubborn. But if you want to do it, I''ve got an idea of my own. I''ll join the "Guardians of the Magic Tree" and feed the "Golden Eagle" a full meal. The Keeper of the Magical Tree can pay my penalty.)


    In fact, it was a widely accepted practice among the adventurers'' guilds to pay a penalty on behalf of the recruiter to replace the transfer fee when recruiting personnel from one guild to another.


    (A second-rate guild like the Guardians of the Magical Tree would no doubt be very grateful to accept an A-class adventurer like me. It is unbearable to have to join a second-rate guild, but it is unavoidable. For now, I will endure the disappointment and accept the slander of being a second-rate guild member. And wait until Lucius apologizes and offers better terms.)


    Sebasta then rushed to the "Guardian of the Magic Tree" in high spirits, but the guild leader of the "Guardian of the Magic Tree" was taken aback when he heard Sebasta''s story.


    The guild leader thought Sebasta was a messenger from Lucius.


    However, when he actually heard what Sebasta had to say, he found out that Sebasta had already left the Golden Eagle and was trying to get Lukius to eat his fill.


    (No kidding. I can''t let things with the Golden Eagle get any more complicated than they already are.)


    This month, the "Guardians of the Magical Tree" had gained ground on the "Golden Eagle''s" rapid advance, but the guild leader was still afraid of the "Golden Eagle" and Lukius, so he refused Sebasta''s offer and sent him back as politely as he had come.


    He sent him back as politely as he had come.　What''s with that attitude of theirs!　You are a second-rate guild, and you treat my offer with such disdain!"


    But being angry does not help.


    If we don''t do something, Lucius will charge us a penalty fee, and we will be stuck with him.


    Sebasta, fed up with the situation, decides to turn the tables on Lucius.


    He sent a proclamation to those who were related to Sebasta''s corps, cursing Lukius'' oppressive rule and urging them to rise up.


    They all went on strike, demanding that Lucius improve their treatment and reinstate Sebasta.


    However, not a single person took Sebasta''s invitation.


    Sebasta''s former subordinates only replied as follows


    As long as we belong to the Golden Eagle, we must follow the guild''s orders. Sebasta is neither a member of the Golden Eagle nor our boss. Therefore, we cannot follow your orders, and moreover, we cannot give priority to your instructions over those of the guild. I ask for your kind understanding."


    No, no, no, no.


    Sebasta was both outraged and appalled that none of his former subordinates were following him.


    Sebasta''s subordinates were ostensibly beholden to him because of the hierarchical nature of the organization, but secretly they were fed up with appeasing his selfishness on every assignment.


    Even the occasional time he took them out for a drink, they felt that even this was power harassment.


    Sebasta''s bloated ego was no longer anything but a nuisance to his subordinates.


    (d*mn these guys. I had taken such good care of them. I never thought they were such ungrateful people.)


    Sebasta, in a state of deep regret, finally came up with an ingenious idea after much worrying.


    （Yes, that''s right. Roland. He owed me a favor. He might be able to do something for me.)


    In reality, Roland was the one who gave Sebasta, who was sluggish at the time, a chance to make a breakthrough, but in Sebasta''s mind, he was the one who took care of Roland.


    Sebasta went to Roland''s home.


    ''Roland!　Roland!　It''s me. It''s Sebasta. I took care of you when you were with the Golden Eagle. We need to talk. Roland. Come on out.


    However, no matter how hard I knocked on the door of the house, Roland did not answer.


    At that time, Roland was in the middle of enjoying the continuation of the sweet time between lovers at Lilianne''s house.


    It was not until noon that Lilianne finally started to wake up and began to spoil Loran again.


    Lily. I have to go to work soon."


    It''s okay, at least for today. While everyone else is in a hurry, just the two of us can take our time and enjoy ourselves.


    Let''s go."


    I''m a woman who can''t help herself at all. It''s just for today.


    Yes.


    Lillianne puts her arms around Roland''s neck and kisses him.


    Loran wraps his arms around Lilianne''s white porcelain back and embraces her.


    The luster and softness of her skin was a pleasant stimulant for Loran.


    Lillianne''s skin is soft and smooth, and her eyes are bright and beautiful. They''re all mocking me.


    Sebasta?　If I may ask, are you Sebasta, a Class A adventurer?"


    Who is it? Who''s calling my name?


    Sebasta turned around and saw a strange man.


    He said, "Thank God. I knew it was you, Sebasta. I have been sent by the court.


    A court of law?　What the hell do the courts want with me?"


    We have received a complaint for breach of contract from Mr. Golden Eagle. You have violated the contract between the guild and the adventurers, yet you have not responded to the guild and have not been compensated. Therefore, we request that you appear in court to arbitrate the matter, and that a fair judgment be rendered. Therefore, the court requests that if a settlement is not reached between the two parties, Mr. Sebasta also appear in court with his own attorney. ......"


    I have no right to sue you!


    Wait, Mr. Sebasta, what?　Guhah."


    Sebasta escaped the situation by punching a court dispatcher.


    This resulted in Sebasta being wanted for obstruction of justice.


    Unable to pay the penalty to the guild and hunted by the police, Sebasta left the adventurer''s town that day with nothing but his clothes on.


    This scandal, in which an A-class adventurer committed a crime against the guild and then fled, sent shockwaves through "The Golden Eagle.


    <>