Blackwater Hollow

"You mean I could join Gilderhaven as a member?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.

The woman let out a small, amused chuckle. "Yes and no."

Arthur waited, intrigued.

"Yes," she continued, her voice smooth and professional, "you will be registered under the Gilderhaven Guild, but you won't be a full-fledged member. Think of it as a contracted partnership."

Arthur's fingers tapped lightly against the counter. "Meaning?"

"You will not be bound by guild rules, nor will you receive any benefits or compensation that official guild members do," she explained. "You simply take the job, complete it, and leave after getting paid."

Arthur nodded slowly. That worked perfectly for him.

If he joined as a full member, he'd be tied down by guild obligations—rules, duties, and worse, loyalties.

He needed absolute freedom to operate.

This way, he could reap the benefits of the guild's resources while still remaining independent.