The adventurer party's faces fell at Adam's confirmation. The one called Hans, the dagger-wielder, kicked a loose stone in frustration. "Just our luck!"
The dwarf, Drokh, rumbled, his voice like grinding stones. "This was our mark. We accepted the quest from the Guild. By rights, it's ours. Interlopers who steal a contracted quest face penalties." He said the last part while eyeing the cloth bundle in Elise's hands, clearly coveting the core fragments.
The mage, Fia, leaned closer to Hill and whispered, her voice low but carrying in the now-quiet air. "Hill, caution. They just pacified an S-Rank threat. Their composition is... unusual. High risk."
Elise, ever the diplomat, stepped forward slightly, her posture regal despite her worn clothes. "A quest from the Guild, you say? May I inquire about the details? We were operating under a direct mandate from Duke Arkwright himself to resolve this issue."
