THE DIMENSIONAL MERCHANT-Chapter 87 - 86: The Vanishing of the Guildmaster

It took nearly twenty minutes to reach the inn.

Kaelmart stood near the South Gate, but the inn lay beyond the central square—past the steaming stables, the trader’s alley, and the bronze fountain depicting a nameless hero who, local legend claimed, once held back the beasts of the Wasteland. The townsfolk often tossed coins there for luck.

Kael pushed open the heavy door.

Inside, it was warm—but strangely quiet.

Only a handful of patrons sat scattered in corners, their mugs untouched, their eyes lowered. At this hour, the place should have been alive with laughter, clinking cups, and the scent of roasted meat. But tonight, it was hollow.

They looked around and saw the innkeeper talking with Alenia.

Without saying a word, they headed over to them.

"Ah, Kael," the innkeeper greeted with a tired smile. "I thought you’d forgotten us after becoming a big merchant."

Kael smiled faintly. "Of course not. This inn was my first home when I came to Ginip. How could I forget?"

He glanced around again. "But the crowd tonight seems... thin."

Alenia exchanged a look with the innkeeper before leaning forward and lowering her voice. "Haven’t you heard the news?"

Kael raised an eyebrow. "What news?"

The innkeeper set his mug aside. "The Guildmaster of the Adventurer’s Guild has disappeared. Run off."

Kael stiffened. "Fled? Are you certain?"

Alenia nodded. "Yes. It happened earlier today. A group of adventurers came to collect their rewards after finishing a few missions, but the Guild was shut tight. The staff inside tried to keep things calm, said the Guildmaster was out on official business. But something felt off. It didn’t take long for things to unravel. By mid-afternoon, word was out. The Guild had no funds to pay. No rewards. And when they tried to delay or dodge answers, everyone knew. The bastard’s gone. Took the treasury with him, most likely."

The innkeeper added, "I wouldn’t be surprised if he slipped away last night—or even before dawn this morning. They probably tried to contain the news, hoping to keep things under control. But there were already too many complaints against him. The dam finally burst."

Kael gave a slight nod. "Indeed, I’ve heard many grievances from the adventurers as well. Tch.... that’s so bad."

"Worse than you think," the innkeeper said. "Adventurers are the lifeblood of Ginip. They handle the monster hunts, escort the caravans, keep the roads safe, and manage the dangerous deliveries no one else dares to take. Without them, the city is naked. And more than half of them already left. Packed up their gear and marched out by sunset. The rest will likely follow by morning."

"That would collapse Ginip’s economy"

The innkeeper nodded. "Exactly. That’s why the place is so empty tonight. No one’s in the mood for drinking. Everyone’s scared, planning exits, or waiting to see what comes next."

Kael felt unease knot in his chest. This would affect him directly . A lot of his products were bought by adventurers. If people stopped earning money, they’d stop spending, and his sales would drop. When wallets grew lighter, even the best goods stopped selling.

He could move to another city if he wanted. But starting over wasn’t easy. In Ginip, he already had influence, connections, and a strong foothold—things that would take time and effort to rebuild somewhere else.

Ah, today is a bad day. I came for a meal, and ended up with more bad news instead.

Alenia’s face turned grim. "It’s not just trade. Without the Adventurers, the monsters in the forest and Wasteland will grow bold. The city’s patrols are too few. The outer villages could be wiped out. And if things worsen, even Ginip might be at risk."

Kael drummed his fingers on the counter, mind racing.

Hmm, how about doing this, hmm, this might work.

Then he asked, almost absently, "Let me pose something strange. If I had the coin... could I buy the Guild branch here?"

They all looked at him.

"I don’t mean the entire guild," Kael clarified. "Just this branch. I have the funds. I could pay the debts, hire staff, bring it back." frёeweɓηovel_coɱ

The innkeeper gave a tired chuckle, more sad than amused. "You can’t. It doesn’t work that way."

"Why not?" Kael asked, genuinely curious. " The Guild master ran away, they have no money now—but I have the money—what’s stopping me?"

The innkeeper leaned in slightly. "Because the Adventurer Guild isn’t a private business. It’s a crown-sanctioned institution. You can’t ’buy’ it like a shop or a mine. It answers to its own central authority—an internal hierarchy with ranks, rules, and appointments."

Alenia added, "Even with the Guildmaster gone, the branch is still considered active. Only a regional commander or someone from the capital can shut it down or hand it over."

Kael frowned. "So I can’t step in and help, even if I have the money to clean up the mess?"

"You could renovate the building," the innkeeper said. "You could pay off debts. You could even feed the adventurers and keep the place running. But officially? You’d be nothing."

Kael let out a low breath. "But the guild’s absence could collapse Ginip."

"Exactly," the innkeeper said. "That’s why the Marquis’s family is stepping in. I heard the rumor’s going around—someone from the Matgorat family is coming."

Seris straightened. "The Matgorat family? Directly?"

Kael glanced up. "Wait. If the Guild answers to its own central authority, what does the Marquis’s family have to do with it?"

Seris answered quietly, her words edged with care. "Because this land bears their crest. If the roads fall into chaos and the villages are lost, people won’t curse the Guild. They’ll curse the lords who let it happen."

The innkeeper nodded. "She’s right. The Matgorats rule this whole region, under the Blue Kingdom. And the royal court expects order. Even if the Guild manages itself, it still operates with royal sanction. The nobles and the royal family hold influence. They fund branches, approve expansions, and—when things go wrong—they step in."

Kael rubbed his chin. "Who are they sending?"

"No one’s sure yet," the innkeeper replied. "Could be one of the Marquis’s children, a knight, or someone trusted. But if they’re coming tomorrow, they’ll want to act fast—before the panic spreads any further."

Then Kael exhaled, forced a smile, and tried to lighten the weight pressing down on them all.

"I hope they’ll get everything sorted out soon.... Anyway... we came here hungry. Please, bring out whatever’s hot."

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