Chapter 532: Sabotage

The first warning arrived shortly after sunrise.

A supply caravan bound for Greyfen had failed to reach the temporary outpost the previous evening, despite departing the Royal Capital on schedule.

At first, the delay caused little concern. Wagons frequently encountered damaged roads, troublesome beasts, or unexpected weather along the route.

However, when the caravan’s escort failed to return a message by morning, Tobias Merrow began investigating.

The shipment contained construction timber, iron fittings, preserved food, and medical supplies intended for the expanding Greyfen facilities. Three wagons belonged to merchants contracted through the Guild’s logistics arrangements, while the remaining two carried materials purchased directly for the outpost.

Twelve people accompanied the shipment, including drivers, laborers, and registered Adventurers hired as escorts.

Tobias examined the departure records before turning toward his assistant. "Send riders along the Greyfen road. Have them check the usual stopping points and speak with anyone who traveled that route yesterday. I want confirmation of the caravan’s whereabouts before midday."

The assistant bowed and hurried away.

Tobias remained beside the desk, studying the route.

Something about the delay troubled him.

The caravan had been expected before nightfall, and its escorts were experienced enough to handle ordinary dangers.

By midmorning, his concerns had become considerably more serious.

---

A wounded horse stumbled through the western approach to the Royal Capital, carrying a young Adventurer whose clothing was soaked with blood.

The guards stationed near the road immediately rushed to assist him.

The rider barely managed to remain conscious long enough to identify himself as a member of the missing caravan’s escort.

His account was fragmented, but the essential details were unmistakable.

The caravan had been attacked.

Not by monsters.

By armed men.

The guards arranged for the injured Adventurer to be transported to the Guild’s Medical Center while a messenger hurried toward Headquarters.

Within minutes, Tobias received the report.

He immediately summoned Cassian Rook.

"One of the escorts survived and reached the Capital," Tobias explained, handing over the message. "He claims the caravan was ambushed by armed men near the old western crossing."

Cassian’s expression hardened as he examined the report. "How many attackers?"

"Unknown. The survivor was barely conscious when he arrived."

Cassian folded the parchment. "I’ll organize a security detachment and request assistance from the city authorities. We need to reach the caravan before the attackers return."

Tobias nodded grimly.

"And I’ll inform the Guildmaster."

---

Sage Alistair was reviewing a collection of Adventurer Team inquiries when Boren entered his office without his usual announcement.

The expression on Boren’s face immediately caught Sage’s attention.

"Guildmaster, there’s been an attack on one of our Greyfen supply caravans," Boren reported, placing the message upon the desk. "At least one escort has returned with serious injuries. The remaining passengers haven’t been accounted for."

Sage’s expression changed.

He took the parchment and read it carefully.

"Where?"

"Near the old western crossing," Boren answered. "Cassian is organizing a response."

Sage rose from his chair. "Have Tobias provide the complete shipment records. Send additional medical personnel with the rescue party, and inform Garran that we may need experienced Adventurers to assist."

Boren nodded and immediately departed.

Sage examined the report once more.

An ordinary bandit attack was possible.

But the timing was troubling.

For months, certain individuals had attempted to undermine the Guild through rumors, bribery, intimidation, and interference with its commercial relationships.

Now, one of its caravans had been attacked.

Sage hoped the connection was merely a coincidence.

He did not believe it.

---

The rescue party reached the old western crossing before noon.

The scene awaiting them was devastating.

Two wagons lay overturned beside the road, their contents scattered across the surrounding ground. Another had been partially burned, leaving blackened timber and damaged supplies among the wreckage.

The remaining wagons stood abandoned farther along the route.

Several horses had been killed.

Blood stained the earth near the broken wheels.

Cassian dismounted and immediately ordered his men to search the area.

They discovered the surviving members of the caravan sheltering among the trees beyond the crossing.

Some were injured.

Others were too frightened to speak.

One driver had suffered a broken leg, while another had received a deep wound across his shoulder. Two Guild-contracted laborers were unconscious, and several Adventurers bore injuries sustained while defending the wagons.

The escort leader, a seasoned Warrior named Hadrien Cole, was found sitting against a tree with a bloodied bandage wrapped around his abdomen.

Cassian knelt beside him.

"Can you tell me what happened?" he asked, examining the wounded man’s condition.

Hadrien grimaced before answering. "They were waiting for us. They blocked the road with a fallen tree, then attacked from both sides."

Cassian’s eyes narrowed. "Bandits?"

Hadrien shook his head weakly. "They fought like trained mercenaries. They knew exactly which wagons to strike."

---

The attackers had not behaved like ordinary robbers.

According to the survivors, the armed men had deliberately targeted the caravan’s escorts before setting fire to the wagons carrying construction materials.

Several crates containing valuable supplies had been left untouched.

The attackers appeared more interested in destroying the shipment than stealing it.

One surviving driver described hearing a masked man order his companions to make certain the Guild understood what had happened.

Cassian listened without interrupting.

Then he instructed his men to preserve whatever evidence they could recover.

Broken weapons, discarded equipment, footprints, and the remains of the incendiary materials used against the wagons were carefully examined.

The wounded received immediate treatment before being prepared for transport.

Cassian also ordered a search of the surrounding woodland, although the attackers had already departed.

Whoever had organized the ambush had chosen the location carefully.

The narrow road, wooded slopes, and nearby crossing offered several approaches and escape routes.

This had been planned.

---

By the time the injured reached Headquarters, the Medical Center had prepared additional treatment rooms.

Elowen directed the attending healers and assistants as the wounded were carried inside.

Several patients required urgent attention.

Hadrien’s abdominal injury was particularly serious, while one of the laborers had suffered severe burns during the destruction of the wagons.

Sage arrived shortly after the first patients were admitted.

He found Elowen examining the injured escort leader.

"How bad is it?" Sage asked quietly, keeping his voice low enough not to disturb the patient.

Elowen looked toward him with a grave expression. "Several serious injuries, Guildmaster. We’re doing everything we can, but some of them will require prolonged treatment."

Sage nodded. "Whatever supplies you need, request them directly from Finance. Their treatment takes priority."

Elowen acknowledged the instruction before returning to her work.

Sage remained near the entrance for several moments, watching the medical staff move between patients.

These were not distant figures recorded in administrative ledgers.

They were people who had accepted ordinary work transporting supplies to a Guild facility.

Now several lay unconscious because someone had decided that destroying a shipment was worth risking their lives.

---

The emergency meeting began that afternoon.

Sage sat at the head of the table while Tobias, Cassian, Garran, Irene, Boren, and Pax Riven examined the available reports.

Tobias explained the losses.

"Three wagons are beyond repair. Most of the construction materials aboard them were destroyed, and several crates of medical supplies were damaged. The remaining goods can be recovered once the road is secured."

Irene recorded the estimated financial damage, although her attention remained upon the casualty report.

Cassian then described the evidence recovered from the scene.

"The attackers were organized," he stated. "They positioned themselves along both sides of the road, neutralized the escorts first, and deliberately destroyed selected wagons. They didn’t attempt to carry away most of the valuable cargo."

Garran frowned. "Then robbery wasn’t their objective."

"No," Cassian answered. "It appears they wanted the shipment destroyed."

Sage turned toward Pax. "What do you think?"

Pax examined the route map before answering. "The attack resembles a contracted operation. Someone provided information about the caravan’s movements, and the attackers acted upon it."

---

Pax had spent months investigating the individuals attempting to undermine the Guild.

Gideon Marholt of the Iron Fang Mercenary Company, Roderick Halbrecht of the Black Banner Mercenary Company, and Edmund Krail had already demonstrated their willingness to interfere with Guild operations.

Their earlier efforts had involved commercial pressure, bribery, intimidation, and attempts to manipulate suppliers.

This attack represented something far more dangerous.

"Do we have evidence connecting the ambush to any of them?" Sage asked, watching Pax carefully.

"Not enough to make an accusation," Pax replied. "But the methods are consistent with people who possess trained fighters and access to information about Guild shipments."

Cassian folded his arms. "The Black Banner has men capable of carrying out an operation like this."

"Capability isn’t proof," Sage replied firmly. "I want whoever ordered this identified, not merely whoever happens to be the most convenient suspect."

Pax nodded. "I’ll begin tracing the attackers and their sources of information."

Sage looked toward Tobias. "Until we understand how they learned the caravan’s route, review every shipment schedule and restrict access to sensitive arrangements."

---

The Guild’s response was immediate.

Additional security measures were introduced for caravans traveling toward Greyfen, while Cassian coordinated with the appropriate authorities to investigate the ambush.

Tobias reviewed transport procedures and began arranging replacement supplies.

Garran prepared urgent missions for experienced Adventurers willing to assist with patrols and escort duties.

At Greyfen, the temporary outpost received instructions to monitor arriving shipments carefully and report suspicious activity.

Sage also ordered the Guild to cover the immediate medical expenses of the injured workers and escorts.

Irene raised no objection.

"The funds are available, Guildmaster," she confirmed during their discussion. "I’ll arrange the necessary payments."

Sage nodded. "And make certain their families are informed properly. Nobody should have to learn what happened through rumors."

Boren recorded the instructions.

The Guild had suffered financial losses, but Sage considered those secondary.

Wagons could be replaced.

Buildings could be repaired.

Lives were another matter entirely.

---

Elsewhere in the Royal Capital, news of the attack reached the men who had spent months opposing the Guild’s expansion.

Inside a private chamber, Roderick Halbrecht listened as a subordinate described the destruction near the western crossing.

The commander of the Black Banner Mercenary Company remained silent throughout the report.

When the subordinate finished, Roderick leaned back in his chair.

"How many survived?" he asked, his expression unreadable.

The man hesitated. "Most of the caravan, Commander. Several were badly wounded, but Guild security reached them before nightfall."

Roderick’s jaw tightened. "And the shipment?"

"Much of it was destroyed."

Roderick dismissed the subordinate with a curt gesture.

Once alone, he stared toward the shuttered window.

The attack had accomplished considerable damage.

But the Guild was still operating.

And Sage Alistair was unlikely to overlook what had happened.

---

That evening, Sage visited the Medical Center once more.

Several patients had regained consciousness, while others remained under close supervision.

Elowen informed him that Hadrien’s condition had stabilized, although recovery would take time.

Sage thanked her before stepping outside.

The Royal Capital Headquarters remained busy despite the day’s events.

Adventurers continued accepting missions, merchants conducted business, and workers moved between the various facilities.

Yet the atmosphere had changed.

People spoke quietly about the ambush.

Some expressed anger.

Others worried that additional attacks might follow.

Sage understood their concerns.

For months, he had treated the conflict with his opponents as a struggle over influence, money, and the future of the Guild.

He had expected resistance.

He had anticipated schemes, political interference, and attempts to damage the organization’s reputation.

But someone had now deliberately attacked a caravan carrying Guild workers and Adventurers.

Several people had nearly died.

Sage stood beneath the evening sky, his expression unusually cold.

Whoever had ordered the ambush had crossed a line.

And this time, the Guildmaster had no intention of responding with commercial arrangements and clever words alone.