Salvager’s Haven – The First Recruits

Pasar Gelap – The Calm Before the Storm

Rei sat at a dimly lit wooden table in an underground tavern, staring at his guild interface.

[Guild Name: Salvager's Haven]

[Guild Level: 1]

[Members: 2]

Just him and Nadia.

Outside, the streets of Pasar Gelap were in chaos.

Bounty hunters searched for him. Iron Order's influence was everywhere.

And yet—Rei wasn't running.

Instead, he was about to do the most dangerous thing possible.

He was about to recruit more people.

Nadia leaned back in her chair, arms crossed.

"Let me get this straight. You want to invite players… while every guild in this city is hunting you?"

Rei smirked.

"Exactly."

She sighed.

"You're insane."

Rei placed a small, reforged dagger on the table.

It shimmered with blue and gold engravings.

"I'm going to make an offer that no solo player or outcast can refuse."

The moment he said that, the tavern door creaked open.

Three figures walked in.

His first potential recruits.

A burly, tanned man with a blacksmith's apron sat down first. His arms were covered in burn scars.

"Name's Faris. Used to be a top craftsman for the Crescent Blade Guild… before they stole my blueprints and kicked me out."

His eyes narrowed.

"You want a smith who knows every dirty trick in the crafting world? I'm in. But I have one condition."

Rei raised an eyebrow.

Faris smirked.

"I want revenge."

The second recruit was a thin, sharp-eyed guy in a hacker's jacket.

"Call me Syafiq. I deal in info, exploits, and system loopholes."

He grinned.

"I've been watching you, bro. You broke the reforging mechanic? That's next-level."

Syafiq tapped his holo-tablet.

"I can feed you all the hidden crafting exploits in the game. But in return—I want protection."

Rei smirked.

"Stick with me, and you won't need to hide anymore."

Syafiq grinned back.

"Deal."

The last recruit sat down without a word.

A hooded girl, dual daggers on her belt.

Her username: [Ayu].

Rei noticed something strange.

> [Warning! Player has Hidden Title: Ghostwalker.]

That was a legendary rogue-class title.

Who the hell was she?

Before he could ask, Ayu spoke.

"I kill who you need dead. That's all you need to know."

Rei's smirk widened.

"Welcome to Salvager's Haven."

> [Guild Members: 5]

[Guild Status: Unofficial Renegade Faction]

Nadia whistled.

"You really went and recruited a blacksmith traitor, a data thief, and a rogue assassin."

Rei grinned.

"Now we're ready to change the game."

Outside, the bounty hunters were closing in.

And soon, Salvager's Haven would make its first move against Iron Order.