CHAPTER 269: GUILD EXPANSION [1]

It took only a couple of hours of travel for them to arrive. When Gabriel saw that the base was exactly the way he had left it, he sighed inwardly.

Sniperbowlegend, who was stationed on the walls, narrowed his eyes as he noticed the moving truck.

"The leader is back!" Sniperbowlegend announced as soon as he spotted the truck in the distance.

The gates opened, and the truck rolled inside. Curious refugees peeked out from their houses to take a look—some even waved their hands at them.

In front of the mansion, a few familiar faces were already waiting. It was Bunny and Anna.

"Welcome back, Sir Broken!" Bunny greeted warmly.

"Welcome back, Master. How was your trip?" Anna asked.

Gabriel simply gave a nod.

"My trip went well, and I brought guests," he said, gesturing to Damian and Logan behind him.

Logan’s mouth hung half-open, his eyes fixed on Bunny. He rubbed his eyes as if to confirm what he was seeing.

"Bunny?" he called out.

"Yes, that’s me. How can I help you?" Bunny smiled.

"I–It’s really you... oh my god." Logan’s eyes widened even further. "I’m a huge fan! I’ve been watching all your streams for years!"

Although she was already used to such reactions from players, Bunny chuckled. "Oh, that’s nice to know. You’d better get used to it though, because from now on we’ll be seeing each other a lot more often."

After their short exchange, Gabriel shifted his attention back to Anna. "Where are the others?"

"The otherworlders, Ragnarok99 and BrawlerX, are currently out hunting monsters near the outskirts of the base. Lady Sophie and Cassie are overseeing repairs on some of the residents’ buildings. As for Lady Amelia, she’s busy keeping the mansion neat and tidy while awaiting your return," Anna reported.

A brief gleam of admiration and satisfaction flashed in Gabriel’s eyes. He was pleased that even without his presence, the camp was running smoothly and everyone was playing their part—just as he had planned.

"Send a message to everyone," Gabriel ordered. "We have an important meeting."

---

Later that day, inside the old surveillance room, the core members of the Broken Dawn Guild gathered one after another. The atmosphere was tense.

Gabriel had yet to arrive. Currently present were Logan, Damian, Amelia, and Bunny.

Merely sitting there, Logan felt goosebumps prickle across his skin—it was the first time in his life he’d been part of something that felt this serious.

A moment later, Ragnarok99 and BrawlerX entered the room. Even though he had already anticipated their arrival, Logan’s heart couldn’t help but race when he saw their faces.

In the past, he could only see them through streams. Who would have thought that one day he’d be sitting in the same room as them?

Damian, on the other hand, remained seated with no visible expression. If anything, he looked slightly bored. Naturally, because of his missing arm, he attracted quite a bit of attention from the players.

Right then, a faint lavender scent drifted into the room.

The pleasant aroma caused everyone to turn their heads. The door opened quietly, and in stepped two women—one wearing a slightly transparent green veil, and the other a beautiful blonde with a cold, composed exterior.

It was Sophie and Cassie.

Damian’s eyes widened slightly before he could hide it. His expression, which had remained calm and unreadable so far, cracked for a split second. He didn’t expect to see her here.

’Sophie...?’ he thought, his gaze flickering with a mix of surprise and nostalgia. ’She joined his guild too?’

Logan, meanwhile, blinked several times, curiosity instantly piqued. "Who is she?" he whispered to Bunny, unable to hold back the question. "And why is her face covered?"

Bunny smiled faintly but didn’t answer. "That’s something even we don’t know. But we’ll probably find out soon," she said teasingly, crossing her legs and leaning back in her chair.

Logan sighed, scratching his head awkwardly. ’What’s with all the mystery? She even smells expensive...’

Sophie’s graceful steps drew quiet attention. Even veiled, her presence was commanding—the faint outline of her green hair was visible beneath the cloth. Cassie gave a polite nod to the others before both women took their seats.

When everyone had finally gathered, the door opened once again.

Gabriel walked in, accompanied by Anna.

The moment he entered, silence fell across the room. His calm aura carried a quiet authority that made even the rowdy Ragnarok99 and BrawlerX fall silent.

He didn’t waste time on pleasantries. "Good. Everyone’s here."

He stood before them and gestured toward the two men beside him.

"This is our new mechanic, LegendaryLogan. He’ll be in charge of maintaining weapons, vehicles, and defensive equipment."

When introduced, Logan’s face burned as he shrank back into his seat, feeling everyone’s gaze on him.

A few murmurs spread through the group. The mechanic profession was rare, so he drew plenty of attention.

"And this," Gabriel continued, gesturing to Damian, "is Damian—merchant and official business partner of Broken Dawn."

Another murmur rippled through the room. Everyone had noticed Damian’s missing arm, but the confidence in Gabriel’s tone made it clear that this man’s worth went far beyond appearances.

Damian inclined his head slightly, his expression calm as always.

"A pleasure," he said simply.

Logan’s face reddened even further. Maybe he should have said something too, but he just sat there stiffly like a log. Well, he couldn’t really be blamed—Damian was used to such gatherings, so it was natural he knew how to act.

Gabriel’s gaze lingered on Sophie next. "Sophie, I’ll need your assistance later. You and BrawlerX will take some men to gather more wood and materials to build new houses around the camp, as you proposed before I left."

"Yes," Sophie replied softly, her tone gentle but steady. A faint smile adorned her face.

Gabriel had selected her for this task because of her special class—Nature’s Beloved. She was the best person for the job, and BrawlerX was just an assistant.

"Understood. We’ll begin preparations immediately," BrawlerX said from the other side.

Afterward, Gabriel turned to Ragnarok and Bunny, his tone firm. "You two—I need you to spread the word among the otherworlders. We’ll be officially starting player recruitment."