They Called Me Trash? Now I'll Hack Their World-Chapter 176: The Greavers

{Third Person POV}

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The morning sun hung bright in a cloudless sky, its warmth cutting through the lingering chill of early spring.

A light breeze carried the scent of pine and earth from the surrounding forest. Birds called to each other from the treetops.

The tree line broke, giving way to cleared farmland and the distant sight of stone walls.

Five figures emerged from the forest path, their travel-worn appearance and varied equipment marking them clearly as adventurers.

"So... that’s Thornhaven."

The speaker was a woman at the front of the group, her hand resting casually on the bow strapped across her back.

Her dark hair was pulled into a practical braid, and sharp green eyes assessed the town ahead. Leather armor fit her frame like a second skin, allowing freedom of movement while still providing protection. A quiver of arrows hung at her hip alongside a hunting knife.

She pulled a folded paper from her belt pouch and checked it against the view ahead.

"Looks about right." She refolded the paper. "Lord Ceser’s estate should be on the eastern side."

Behind her, a broad-shouldered man grunted and stretched his arms above his head, the movement making his armor creak.

"Finally," he said, his voice gravelly. "Let’s just get this over with and then go kill some beasts. I’m tired of walking."

A massive shield strapped to his back looked like it weighed more than some people. A warhammer hung at his belt.

A woman in flowing robes walking beside him scoffed.

"Men." She said it like a curse. "Always thinking with their hammers instead of their heads."

Her staff, topped with a crystal that caught and reflected the sunlight was planted firmly on the ground with each step.

Auburn hair fell loose around her shoulders, and amber eyes regarded the fighter with barely concealed disdain.

The broad-shouldered man raised an eyebrow and grinned.

"Heh. Just admit you don’t know how to have fun, Yenna."

Yenna’s eyes flashed. She flicked her hair over her shoulder with deliberate elegance.

"I know how to have fun. I simply prefer activities that don’t involve hitting things until they stop moving. Some of us appreciate sophistication."

"Sophistication." Garf rolled the word around like he was tasting something foreign. "That what you call hiding behind everyone else while?"

"I’m a healer, you walking pile of metal scraps."

"Metal scraps that have saved your sparkly ass more times than I can count."

"Only because I keep you alive long enough to be useful!"

The archer chuckled.

"Garf’s got tough skin, Yenna. You’ll have to try harder if you want to actually hurt his feelings." She glanced back at the mage with a knowing grin.

"Though we all know you secretly appreciate having a meat shield. Makes your job much easier when you don’t have to worry about things getting close."

Yenna’s cheeks colored slightly, but she lifted her chin with dignity.

"I appreciate competence. Which Garf occasionally demonstrates."

A younger man... lean, nervous energy in every movement hurried forward from where he’d been trailing slightly behind.

"Mira. Yenna. Come on, guys. Don’t fight." His voice cracked slightly on the last word.

He clutched at the twin daggers hanging from his belt with fidgeting hands, his eyes darting between the women like he expected violence to break out any second.

Mira clicked her tongue and turned her sharp gaze on him.

"You’re such a mood killer, Rolf."

Rolf actually shuddered, shrinking back slightly.

"I just... I mean, we’re supposed to be professional, right? And fighting among ourselves isn’t very—"

"Professional?" Mira interrupted, her tone dry. "We’re adventurers, not palace guards. A little banter keeps things interesting." She waved a hand dismissively. "Besides, if you don’t like it, just keep quiet like our guy back there."

She jerked her thumb toward the fifth member of their party.

A man wrapped in a dark cloak walked several paces behind them, his hood pulled up to shadow his face. He hadn’t said a word since they’d left the forest, hadn’t participated in the conversation, had simply walked with the quiet presence of someone comfortable being ignored.

Garf chuckled.

"Edric rarely talks." He raised his voice slightly, clearly intending to be heard. "Isn’t that right, Edric? All that silence makes you look deep and thoughtful?"

The cloaked figure finally spoke, his voice low and carrying an edge of irritation.

"I don’t indulge with morons."

Mira barked a laugh.

Rolf looked like he wanted to disappear.

Garf just grinned wider.

"See? He loves us really."

They’d reached the outskirts of Thornhaven now, to the main road leading to the town gates.

Guards watched them approach with the bored attention of people who saw adventuring parties regularly. A brief check of their guild credentials, a note in the logbook, and they were waved through without issue.

The town was busy with midday activity, market stalls open, people moving with purpose, the general energy of commerce and daily life.

Mira led them through the streets, the paper back in her hand, her eyes checking street signs and landmarks.

"Lord Ceser’s place should be nearby here," she muttered, mostly to herself. "East side, near the merchant district. Big estate, can’t miss it..."

They turned down a side street, then another.

Then Mira stopped, looking up at an imposing gate set into a high stone wall. A well-maintained estate visible beyond it, guards posted at the entrance.

"Aha! Found it."

She folded the paper with satisfaction and started forward.

The others followed, except for Edric.

The cloaked man had stopped several paces back.

His eyes—barely visible beneath the hood—scanned the street behind them. And lingered on the estate walls for just a moment too long before he turned away.

Then he looked at Mira.

"I have something to do."

Mira turned, raising an eyebrow.

"What? Now? We’re literally about to walk into the client meeting—"

"It won’t take long. I’ll catch up."

He turned and started walking back the way they’d come before she could protest further.

Yenna narrowed her eyes, watching him go with obvious suspicion.

"What’s that about?"

Mira waved a hand dismissively, though her expression showed some irritation.

"Who knows? Edric does his own thing. Always has."

She called after him, raising her voice. "Come back quickly! I’m not making excuses for you if Lord Ceser gets annoyed!"

Edric didn’t respond, just kept walking until he disappeared around a corner.

Garf shrugged and approached the guards, pulled out credentials and the contract paperwork, and started the process of announcing their arrival.

Behind him, Yenna was still frowning in the direction Edric had gone.

"I don’t like when he does that," she muttered to herself.

Mira gave the direction Edric had disappeared one last glance, then turned back to the estate gates with a shrug.

"Right. Let’s not keep the man waiting."

Garf finished his exchange with the guards, and the gate swung open to admit them. They filed through, and a guard gestured toward the main entrance of the estate where a figure was already waiting.

A servant in formal attire, crisp clothes that spoke of proper household management.

Who then led them through the estate’s main entrance.

The interior matched the exterior’s promise of wealth, polished marble floors, tapestries on the walls, furniture that looked expensive.

They were guided up a curved staircase to the second floor, then down a hallway to a set of double doors.

The servant knocked twice, waited for acknowledgment, then pushed the doors open.

"The Greavers have arrived, my lord."

The room beyond was clearly Lord Ceser’s private office, large desk positioned near tall windows, bookshelves lining the walls, a meeting area with comfortable chairs arranged around a low table.

Lord Ceser himself stood from behind his desk as they entered.

He was maybe fifty, with grey hair pulled back in a neat tail. His clothes were formal but practical.

"Welcome, Greavers." His voice was smooth. "I’ve heard quite a bit about you."

Mira waved her hand dismissively, though her expression showed satisfaction at the recognition.

"Yeah, yeah, you should have. We’re Platinum rank adventurers, after all."

Ceser’s lips twitched at her complete lack of false modesty.

Garf chuckled from behind her, clearly enjoying his leader’s shamelessness.

Rolf shifted nervously, his hands fidgeting with his belt, looking like he wanted to apologize for Mira’s bluntness.

Yenna just shook her head with a long-suffering sigh and moved to sit in one of the offered chairs, her robes settling around her with practiced elegance.

"Lord Ceser," she said, her tone more diplomatic than Mira’s had been, "we received your urgent posting at the guild hall. The details were... sparse, but the reward suggested the situation was serious."

Ceser gestured for them all to sit, then settled into his own chair across from them.

His expression grew more somber.

"It is. And I appreciate you responding so quickly." He paused, choosing his words carefully.

"I specifically requested a Platinum-ranked team.

Mira’s chin lifted slightly at that.

Platinum rank wasn’t something handed out lightly. The guild’s ranking system had seven tiers, each one a significant step above the last.

Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Crown, Mythril.

Ceser continued. "Because the Gold-ranked parties I initially hired..." He trailed off.

"Failed?" Mira prompted, leaning forward with interest.

"Worse." Ceser’s jaw tightened.

"They were wiped out. All four parties. Only three survivors made it back, and one of them died from his injuries two days later."