Worried conversations and looks spread around the room like wildfire. More of them had decided to leave the building and go God knows where. Some seemed like they were having a breakdown and either curled up on the floor or curled up in a ball leaning against a wall. Others paced around the room, thinking about what to do next.

"I know Eater's Mound isn't known for its adventurers, this is just pathetic," Elizabeth commented as she watched them.

"Come on Elizabeth, you know most of these guys aren't as serious about this as we are." Commented the plain-looking Jake.

"OI, WHERE DO YOU LIMPDICKS THINK YOU'RE GOING!!?!?" Shouted the ever-as-loud Furor looking at those who were making their way to the exit.

They stopped and stood around awkwardly.

Unfazed by what had happened Mr. Bentley continued what he was saying.

"Now, it isn't as if I don't have a plan to prevent any losses."

Those still listening perked their ears.

"While this doesn't guarantee that there won't be any more attacks, it will at the very least protect the lower ranked guilds." He then walked over to the guild reception area and pulled some papers from behind the counter.

"Now, all guilds ranked lower than number four are going to be living in this town."

"How does that help?" one person asked before being hit on the head by the person next to them as if he asked a dumb question.

"Numbers. If we gather all other guilds to live in the town there should be no worry about the cultists deciding to fight the weaker among you."

Another adventurer raised his hand.

"My, it seems someone finally decided to show some manners. Yes, go ahead with your question."

"Um, old man Bentley, are you sure this is going to work? Isn't it more convenient for them to have us all in one place?"

"But you're not all going to be in one place."

"?"

"I said everyone except the top four guilds, remember? They will stay where they usually have been."

Yet again murmurs started.

"Huh? Why?"

"Why else? To draw the attention of the cult to themselves for the time being. While I don't know how long headquarters are going to take to help, the cultist shouldn't be able to take down four of our finest before then."

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The room fell silent. He said exactly what they were thinking. They were going to be sacrificed to protect them.

The three leaders of the four guilds in question didn't seem that bothered by the announcement. In fact, Jake and Elizabeth were having a casual chat while Furor glared at them.

"Now then, I'd like for you to fill out these forms so we can place your guild in a building. I'm asking the guild leaders or members who might be the only ones here to form a line in front of me to fill out the form. Oh, I said form twice."

Various people stepped forward and formed a line in front of him.

"This is boring as hell, when are we going to discuss how to kill those bastards?" Furor said as he looked at the line.

"I think they'll be a lot more willing to fight if they can guarantee they won't be killed in their sleep," Elizabeth responded.

"Huh? Who gives a shit about these small fries? If these bastards would run away just because they're afraid it some bastards might show up to their house, we don't need them."

"And do any of us have any decent trackers to locate them?"

He started scratching his head.

"You have Lily right? Plus don't you have one Jake?"

"Yea-"

Elizabeth cut off the plain-looking man.

"So that's two. Do you not think it'd be better to give them someplace safe and ask for their help locating them?"

"Tch, so that's the point of this. So we're forcing them to fight for safety?"

"No, they'll only help us locate them. They'll take no place in the fighting."

"Huh? Then what about the non-tracker ones?"

"They can stay here for the time being."

"What a load of horseshit." He commented. "So we're gonna be bait, and they're not even gonna have the decency to help us out when the time comes? Did Ezekiel mean nothing to these fucks?"

"That's just the way it's gonna be. Besides, what adventurers would want to force people to risk their lives?"

"Come on, this is some bullshit she's spitting, right!?" He said while looking at Jake.

("Why is he bringing me into this?")

For the next hour or so ¼ of the adventurers present were sitting at the various tables, writing down the information they needed to move to the town.

"Um," Jake spoke up.

Elizabeth and Furor looked at him.

"How did Mr. Bentley get space for them in the first place? I mean, I don't think anything adventuring-related has been doing so hot in the parish recently."

"That's right Elizabeth, can the old man even afford this sort of thing? Why don't we just send those useless bastards out of the parish?"

"Tch," she looked around before lowering her voice and continuing. "It's not like the people in town could refuse."

They looked at her inquisitively.

"How many guards have you seen here since you decided to be an adventurer?"

Furor was the first to respond.

"You don't mean?"

"What you're thinking is correct. The guards here are so understaffed and so little happens here to begin with that we're basically the ones who are responsible for keeping the peace. Think about it, nothing happens here other than farming and the noble who's responsible for Eater's Mound is always on vacation. If we fall, the cultists will have this place for who knows how long."

"Seriously? Aren't we on a border with what's it called again…Hyland?" Jake asked, also keeping his voice low.

"Sure but we've been at peace for a hundred years plus, I've heard the land on the border isn't particularly useful. We're not a southern nation so land grabs aren't too common here, Jake, you should have known that by now."

"Still" Furor interjected as he pointed to the adventurers around "These guys are the only ones stopping this place from being a cultist paradise?"

"Essentially."

"Shit, no wonder those bastards targeted here." He said as put his hand on his forehead.