It took a little more than two hours but eventually, Ethan and Lia reached the guild's main hall. The city had calmed down a bit by now but the guild hall was still busy.

Ethan pushed the heavy doors open, the interior of the hall buzzing with activity. Adventurers of all ranks filled the space—rookies clutching crumpled maps, seasoned veterans chatting in groups, and guild staff darting about, juggling tasks with practiced efficiency.

From the snippets of conversation, Ethan could pick up, it was clear that much of the guild's focus was on organizing search parties to root out any remaining insectoids in the surrounding area. The topic came up repeatedly in tense murmurs.

"...if even one of those creatures lays eggs…"

"They'll swarm again before we know it. We can't risk that."

"The guild's prioritizing experienced teams, but we still need more hands…"

Ethan raised an eyebrow at the urgency but felt a twinge of amusement. "Good to know," he muttered under his breath, wondering if the ones he summoned could possibly breed. Then, turning slightly toward Lia, he added, "Alright, your turn to do the talking."

Lia glanced at him, her hazel eyes widening slightly. "Me, Master?"

"You're the local," Ethan replied smoothly, gesturing toward the front desk where a harried clerk was juggling multiple inquiries. "You'll know what questions won't sound suspicious. Go ahead—I'll keep an eye on things from here."

Lia gulped nervously but she couldn't bring herself to refuse Ethan. So she walked slowly toward the front desk, her movements steady but hesitant. She adjusted her stance as she approached, summoning her courage.

The clerk barely glanced up, his quill scratching furiously against the parchment in front of him. He looked like a man juggling far too many tasks at once, his face lined with fatigue.

"What can I help you with?" he asked curtly, not bothering to pause in his writing.

Lia cleared her throat softly, her voice polite yet firm. "We're looking for information on beast nests. Specifically, any reports of activity in the nearby regions."

The clerk sighed heavily, finally setting his quill down and rubbing his temple. "Beast nests? What are you talking about? You should go and join one of the insectoid hunting teams!" She barked back in annoyance.

Lia flinched slightly at the sharp tone, her composure wavering. Before she could stammer out a response, Ethan stepped forward, his calm yet commanding presence drawing the clerk's attention like a magnet.

"We appreciate the advice," Ethan said smoothly, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "But my focus isn't on insectoids right now. Beast nests are what I need information on, and you're the best person to help with that."

The clerk squinted at Ethan, her irritation giving way to cautious curiosity. "Beast nests aren't exactly priority concerns right now," she said, her tone still brusque but less biting. "The city's on high alert. Unless you've got specific clearance or a guild-verified need, I can't justify pulling resources to dig up reports for you."

Ethan tilted his head slightly, his smirk faintly mischievous. "We're not asking you to pull resources. Just point us in the right direction. Surely there's an area that hasn't been swarmed with adventurers yet?"

The clerk hesitated, her eyes darting between Ethan and Lia. Something about Ethan's steady gaze seemed to disarm her hostility. With a huff, she reached for a separate ledger and flipped through its pages.

"There's a report of unusual activity in the western ridge, just beyond a few villages," she muttered. "Some adventurers mentioned heightened aggression among the creatures there. Might be a nest forming, but no one's confirmed it yet. It's a risky venture. Could also be a time waste."

Ethan's smirk deepened. "Perfect. That's exactly what I'm looking for."

The clerk's eyebrows shot up. "Perfect? You do realize this isn't a training exercise, right? Beast nests aren't playgrounds."

"Noted. Thanks for the tip." Ethan nodded with sincerity. He never planned to underestimate a beast nest but at the same time, he was also excited as hell to take the next step.

The clerk muttered something under her breath but didn't argue further. She scribbled a rough set of coordinates on a scrap of parchment and handed it to Lia, her expression still skeptical.

"Don't say I didn't warn you," she added, her tone carrying a mix of annoyance and begrudging respect. "If you get yourself killed, it's on you."

"Duly noted," Ethan replied smoothly, already turning to leave. Lia followed quickly, clutching the parchment like it was a treasure map.

"Lia, this is good. Let's go here and check things out." Just as the two of them were about to walk out, a tall burly man blocked their path, his imposing frame casting a shadow over Ethan and Lia.

His armor was scratched and dented, the scars of countless battles evident on both the steel and the man beneath it. A massive axe rested across his back, its edge glinting ominously even in the dim light of the guild hall.

"Where do you think you are going? Are you registered with the Fairfield Mines company yet?"