After leaving the team, the adventurer ladies regretted it deeply

The rewards from the Guild were substantial: a Level 15 Murderous Crab fetched 100 gold coins, while a Black Shell Crab General fetched 20,000 gold coins.

Every team present had defeated at least a thousand Murderous Crabs, and one Black Shell Crab General each.

A few teams, like Snow Goose, Ice Flower, and Phoenix Tail Flower, had defeated more than one Black Shell Crab General.

Especially the Phoenix Tail Flower Team, who defeated two by themselves and collaborated with Snow Goose to defeat three.

That's three and a half Black Shell Crab Generals.

Lin Da suddenly felt his purse was significantly heavier.

Distributing gold coins was a joyful affair, considerably lightening the somber mood in the hall.

Adventurers must always look forward.

"There's one more matter to discuss,"

President Velen coughed, his expression turning much more serious, "regarding the punishment of Guild managers Klay and JieLi."

"Klay, JieLi?"

The adventurers were puzzled upon hearing these names.

Could this Monster Tide be related to them?

President Velen recounted the whole story.

"Preventing Lin Da from reporting the Monster Tide to the president?"

"Out of fear of demotion, hiding the truth time and again?"

"Had it been organized earlier, perhaps half as many adventurers would have died..."

Anger appeared on most faces. The remaining few, taking delight in others' misfortune, stared at Klay and JieLi, cornered.

This time, not to mention keeping their managerial positions, it was uncertain if they could even walk out of the iron prison for the rest of their lives!

After listening to Velen's account, some sighed, others were furious.

And some blinked in confusion: Was Lin Da really that clever?

The gloom on Lia's little face became more pronounced.

And Aiko was no exception.

Though no one around looked at them, they both felt uneasy inside.

Thoughts like 'what if we had kept Lin Da,' kept emerging.

But this time, Lia didn't cause a scene; she quietly watched Lin Da's retreating figure.

If she wanted to restore their past relationship, relying on foolish antics was indeed impossible. Lia thought to herself that she'd first be a mature adventurer, then become a captain worthy of Lin Da's recognition.

Maybe one day, they could share a toast at the same round table. Lia patted her face, raised her glass, and murmured to Aiko, "Let's drink!"

Aiko's mouth tasted bitter, to think she had fallen so low as to drink desperation wine with this dwarf.

At Lin Da's wedding in the end, would it also be her and Lia eating the wedding candy?

This toast belonged to the group of those bitterly defeated.

On the stage, President Velen announced the judgment for the Kreivs, holding a document from the Imperial Supervision Bureau and declared:

"According to the law section 172, an official's significant error resulting in adventurer's rights damage is punishable with a minimum of 30 years in iron prison! If they fail to compensate for the adventurers' losses, they will spend the remainder of their lives in prison without the possibility of parole or bail!"

As if the grim reaper himself had swung his cold scythe, the color drained from the faces of Klay and JieLi as they were being escourted by the empire's guards.

JieLi even fainted on the spot.

"No—please let me explain. I didn't intend to harm the many adventurers; it was just a minor error, this shouldn't be happening!"

Klay hysterically rushed forward to Lin Da, frenziedly kowtowing with a series of crisp sounds that grated on the nerves, his forehead quickly bloodied.

However, even the most compassionate adventurer present couldn't forgive Klay.

Had Klay not been arrogantly shortsighted, completely dismissing the possibility of a Monster Tide and instead taken Lin Da to see President Velen... perhaps a thousand lives could have been spared.

"Lin Da, please forgive us. We are willing to start from the bottom, earnestly serve the adventurers, and never look down on them with bureaucratic arrogance again!"

Klay screamed in terror, only realizing his mistake under the weight of the law.

Many officials looked down on adventurers, a common occurrence across the continent.

Even a rock level captain could sometimes be treated with disdain by Guild managers.

The reason was simple: the Adventurer's Guild is a direct institution of the Imperial Federation, the largest official force.

Working here comes with a high salary and social status.

Some people would become arrogant, looking down on the adventurers who fought at the frontlines.

The regret in Klay's words was not only his; other Guild managers who narrowly skirted disaster were quietly reflecting on their behavior over the years.

Under Klay's desperate gaze, Lin Da shook his head: "Go and accept your punishment; it's the price you deserve to pay."

President Velen grabbed Klay and handed him over to the imperial guards, "When you reform, at your death, perhaps your spirit can return to the World Tree and be successfully reborn!"

Klay, hollow and defeated, was half-dragged away by the guards. He suddenly burst into crazed laughter, followed by woeful crying, in such a dramatic breakdown that he ultimately lost his sanity.

"The parasite of the Adventurer's Guild really needs to be cleaned out," President Velen said meaningfully, scaring the many staff members who collectively shuddered.

Then turning to Lin Da, President Velen bowed deeply, "For this error, I, on behalf of the Guild, offer you an apology."

Lin Da helped President Velen to his feet.

The celebration thereafter proceeded in a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere.

Only then did many realize the existence of the Red Armored Crab King and the Thousand-Change Demon.

Listening to Gale recount that intense battle, how Lin Da hurriedly sent the message to the frontline, then how Abner, like a Sword God, killed the Thousand-Change Demon... Gale, an eloquent speaker, vividly retold the story, as if he was bringing everyone onto that tense battlefield to experience the fight firsthand.

When Gale finished, a chorus of applause erupted, with Lin Da also receiving praise, the looks he received filled with a new respect.

Being able to devise strategies, smart and willing to risk his life to aid the White Dove Adventure Group at Breeze River Beach, he was commendable for his bravery.

Suddenly, Lin Da caught the fancy of many female adventurers.

However, when those people came to offer him a toast, Lulu, with a stern face, stood in front of Lin Da, her nose wrinkled, growling like a defensive snow wolf warning off enemies.

Lin Da thought Lulu was blocking the drinks for him and felt grateful.

Actually, that wasn't the case; the male adventurer getting closer didn't receive any warning from Lulu.

Isa nearby, as well as Aiko in the distance, saw this scene, all understanding clearly and nervously sweating.

Luckily, the Werewolf Clan is quite proud and doesn't initiate attacks.

For a short time, they were still on the same starting line.

"Eye of True Knowledge, truly deserves the praise of being proficient in both arts and arms. Lin Da, here's a toast to you."

The valiant team leader, Robert, with his brown explosive hairstyle, raised a large wheat beer mug and drained it in one go.

Lin Da chuckled, "Captain Robert is also magnificent, truly admirable."

"Captain Lin Da, I'll toast to you too!"

"Me too."

"Drink!"

The crowd gathered enthusiastically, Lin Da was overwhelmed and simply raised his glass together with them. Read new chapters at empire

"Miss here, to you too," Lia, accompanied by the members of Phoenix Tail Flower Team, came up close.

The girl's cheeks were flushed with the glow of drunkenness, her eyes bright as she looked at Lin Da, her mug filled to the brim with wheat beer.

Lin Da nodded: "Cheers."

"Cheers," Lia said seriously, as if it were some kind of ritual.

As the leader of the Snow Goose, she acknowledged Lin Da's status as the captain of the Phoenix Tail Flower Team.

They were now equals.

She no longer saw Lin Da as the incompetent old team member who dragged down the Snow Goose.

Amidst laughter and cheers, the celebration banquet came to a close late into the night.

The adventurers gradually left.

On the main street.

"Ugh~ um..."

Aiko, who couldn't handle her liquor, threw up directly on Lia's back.

"Why hasn't your tolerance improved at all in three years!"

Lia didn't angrily throw Aiko off, but pinched her nose and frowned, "You're messed up after just one wheat beer, that's pathetic!"

"You... haven't grown in three years either, right?"

"Ha!? Believe it or not, I'll throw you out!"

Lia flew into a rage out of humiliation.

She also wondered why Aiko had grown up so fast while she seemed frozen in time, not even matching a wheat beer mug.

Aiko rested her cheek on Lia's shoulder. The noisy voices of the girl and the cluttered conversation of adventurers on the street intertwined, forming a not-so-pleasant lullaby. Aiko's thoughts began to drift away.

She remembered at the celebration banquet Lin Da was surrounded by Isa and many other adventurer teams' girls, like a bunch of eager sows.

Such a bunch of shameless temptresses!

"Zhuo Ai, I really miss Zhuo Ai...Why haven't I 'zhued ai' in my twenties..."

Drunk Aiko, tears emerging, uttered such scandalous words that shocked her team members into stunned silence.

Lia shuddered almost dropping Aiko on the ground.

"What what what are you talking about!"

"That's just shameless!"

"Wait a minute—don't tell me you're fantasizing about Lin Da?"

Lia's face went through several changes, both embarrassed and shocked. Aiko had said before that she didn't feel that way about Lin Da, so why would she think about...with Lin Da?

As a swordsman focused entirely on getting stronger, Lia had always prioritized her practice and had never considered such things,

Hearing Aiko's vulgar words made her face turn red as a monkey's butt, her toes curling inside her boots in embarrassment.

Klyne, the only girl in the team with experience, shyly approached Lia under Oru's embarrassed gaze, leaned in close to her ear, and whispered something with a giggle.

Lia's head seemed to turn into a whistling kettle, suddenly boiling over, her eyes spinning as she stammered:

"Very, very comfy…? Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

Klyne mysteriously smiled, "You'll know once you experience it."

...

Most adventurers returned to their homes to rest and recuperate.

The Imperial Knights organized lower-level adventurers to go outside the city to gather materials as well as to tally each adventure team's achievements.

Mayor Adel had ordered: everything must be tallied by tomorrow afternoon. We can't let the adventurers feel that after a hard fight, they received nothing.

Those who went to the battlefield were adventurers above level 10, while below level 10, the numbers were notably more.

All were deployed, and sensor ladybugs in the night sky ensured that no adventurer pocketed materials for themselves.

Adel believed he had an unavoidable responsibility in this Monster Tide. When Lin Da sought his help, he had not paid enough attention.

The upcoming achievement commendation ceremony must be conducted flawlessly.

Adel even used his personal connections to apply for a subsidy of three hundred thousand gold coins for the Phoenix Tail Flower Team!

Riding a high-headed steed, Adel surveyed the battlefield.

"Everyone work hard. Tonight, all adventurers who come to collect materials will be paid triple rewards!"

"Oh oh!"

The adventurers let out excited shouts.