Warning

Leo walked alone through the countryside that evening, after a productive training session.

The open fields stretched out before him, peaceful and quiet, with only the distant hum of nature and the rustle of leaves in the breeze. It was a calm contrast to the storm of thoughts racing in his head, the looming threat of the Obsidian Order, the pressure of rebuilding Snowfall, and the responsibility he felt for the guild and its people.

He walked further from the guild hall, past the familiar paths, until he found himself deep in the quiet, almost forgotten part of the land. The sun had set, and the twilight shadows cast eerie figures across the landscape. Leo took a deep breath, letting the cool air fill his lungs, hoping it would settle his mind.

Suddenly, something caught his attention.

At the edge of the field, near the trees, a shadow shifted. It wasn't the movement of an animal or the wind rustling through the branches. Leo stopped in his tracks, his senses instantly alert. His hand subconsciously moved to the hilt of his sword, even though he wasn't sure if he'd need it.

From the darkness, a figure emerged, moving with the quiet grace of someone used to the shadows. The figure was cloaked in a long, dark robe, the hood concealing most of the face. But there was no mistaking the insignia embroidered on the cloak, the unmistakable emblem of the Obsidian Order.

The figure stepped forward, its eyes glinting from beneath the hood.

"Leo Wright…" the figure said, his voice smooth, almost too calm. "The new leader of Snowfall."

The scout's lips curled into a mocking smile. "How does it feels, Leo? carrying out an failed legacy"

Leo already knew the Order was watching them. They always were. But to hear it confirmed so openly felt like the weight of a thousand eyes pressing down on him.

"What do you want?" Leo asked, keeping his voice steady.

The scout tilted his head slightly, studying him. "What do we want? It's simple. Your guild has interfered with our plans that have been years in the making. Snowfall has been in our way for far too long." The scout's eyes darkened. "We don't take kindly to pests like you meddling in things that don't concern you."

Obsidian Order had always been a threat, a shadow lurking behind every corner, always scheming, always waiting for the right moment to strike. But Leo wasn't about to let them intimidate him.

"Snowfall doesn't interfere with anyone unless they threaten the people we protect. If that's a problem for you, then it's your issue, not ours." Leo stood his ground

The scout chuckled, a low, eerie sound. "You don't understand, do you?"

Leo's heart pounded in his chest. His fingers tightened around the grip of his sword, but he held off on drawing it.

The scout was no threat right now; the words were the real weapons.

"You're too naive," the scout continued, his voice cold and harsh now. "The Obsidian Order will come for you soon. For Snowfall. For everything you hold dear. there will be no escape."

Only fear that kept Leo not to pull out sword was putting others in danger

"You all are pathetic! always using cheap tricks to get your shit done"

Leo said, his voice unwavering.

The scout's smile faded, replaced by a look of amusement and something darker. "You'll learn the hard way." He paused, studying Leo for a moment longer. "But for now, I'll leave you with this warning: The Order has its eyes on you, and soon you'll wish you never crossed us."

With those final words, the scout turned and disappeared into the shadows, melting into the darkness like he'd never been there.

Leo's grin didn't falter, even as the scout melted into the shadows. The man's words were clearly meant to unnerve him, but Leo had already turned the situation in his favor.

While the scout had been issuing his threats, Leo had signaled Greenbean, the Goblin King, with a subtle gesture. The hulking, shadowy figure had slipped into the darkness, moving silently to tail their uninvited guest. Through the system, Leo had set up a feed to monitor Greenbean's progress. Updates filtered through the interface:

[Greenbean Report: That clown face is moving south. Minimal resistance expected. Proceeding to gather intel.]

Leo's smirk deepened as he walked back toward the guild. The scout may have thought he had the upper hand, but Leo wasn't playing by the same rules. His system and summons gave him an edge most wouldn't anticipate.

As he approached the guild, the familiar hum of voices grew louder. However, something was off. Instead of the usual chatter, he heard sharp, raised voices echoing from the main hall. Pushing open the doors, Leo stepped inside to find a heated argument unfolding.

Jerry and Mia stood at the center of the hall, almost about to throw hands, their voices rising over each other. Caleb lingered nearby, hands raised in a futile attempt to mediate, his expression pleading and panicked.

"This is ridiculous!"

Mia was angry, her arms crossed tightly, glaring at Jerry. "Why am I stuck with the smallest room while the rest of you are living like kings? It's unfair and a complete waste of resources!"

Jerry leaned back in his chair, rolling his eyes with exaggerated flair. "Oh, I'm sorry, princess. Should we swap rooms? Maybe you'd prefer we all sleep in the barn while you take the master suite?" His voice was laced with mockery.

Mia's scowl deepened, her tone sharp and unyielding. "This isn't about comfort, Jerry. It's about practicality. We're supposed to be a team, and yet I'm crammed into a glorified closet while you're lounging around like some kind of lord. That's not fair"

Jerry let out a bitter laugh, his annoyance starting to boil over. "Team? It got nothing to do with random allocation of rooms, Maybe if you stopped whining about every little thing and learned to relax for five minutes, your luck would have been better"

The tension between them thickened as the two locked eyes, neither willing to back down.

"Stop you two, you both are grown ups" Caleb's voice cracked as he stepped between them, his hands waving frantically. "Can we all just calm down? Please? This isn't helping anyone!"

Neither Jerry nor Mia paid him any attention, their argument continuing unabated. Caleb glanced toward the door, his eyes lighting up with relief when he spotted Leo.

Leo leaned against the doorframe, his expression calm and faintly amused. He let the argument play out for another moment before finally stepping forward, his voice cutting through the tension.

"that's enough!" he said, his tone firm but not unkind.

All three heads turned toward him. Jerry looked slightly sheepish, Caleb visibly relaxed, and Mia raised an eyebrow, her expression a mixture of annoyance and curiosity.

"I've got a solution for this" Leo strode to the center of the hall, hands in his pockets, his usual easygoing demeanor like hero.

"Mia… you can stay in my room, with m—"

Before he could complete it, the arrow was already inside his stomach