Chapter 574 Orders and Jurisdiction

The objection from Baron Oswald Fenwick’s administration reached the royal administrative offices in Kingsford before the Adventurer Guild had received its own copy.

By the following morning, the complaint had already passed through several departments, acquiring additional annotations and requests for clarification along the way.

The document challenged the authority granted to the Ironwood Party, questioned the reliability of its investigation, and demanded the immediate suspension of the Marrowford commission until the matter could be reviewed.

For an assignment intended to identify dangerous monsters threatening a major trade route, it was an extraordinary amount of controversy.

Inside Adventurer Guild Headquarters, Sage examined the objection while Boren and Lucan sat across from him.

"Apparently, investigating why monsters have been attacking merchants is now considered interference in territorial administration," Sage remarked, setting the letter upon his desk.

Boren adjusted his glasses and examined the attached correspondence. "Their argument is more specific than that, Guildmaster. They’re claiming the Adventurers exceeded the commission’s scope when they requested maintenance records and examined abandoned patrol stations."

Lucan frowned. "Those records are directly relevant to the investigation. If neglected patrols allowed the monsters to approach the road, how could the Adventurers prepare an accurate assessment without examining them?"

"That’s precisely the issue," Boren replied. "The commission authorizes reconnaissance and threat assessment, but it doesn’t explicitly define how much information the Guild may request from territorial offices."

Sage leaned back in his chair.

He had anticipated resistance from local authorities, especially after learning how long the dispute between Lord Bernard Wycliffe and Baron Fenwick had continued. Nevertheless, the objection highlighted a genuine weakness in the arrangement.

The Guild possessed a lawful commission, but the boundaries of that authorization weren’t sufficiently detailed to prevent disagreements over interpretation.

"Has Garran reviewed the Ironwood Party’s conduct?" Sage asked.

Boren nodded. "He has. According to their report, they entered no restricted facilities without permission, requested records through the local magistrate, and avoided issuing orders to territorial personnel. They also notified the relevant offices before entering the disputed area."

Lucan folded his arms. "Then the objection seems more concerned with the findings than the investigation itself."

"Possibly," Sage replied. "But we shouldn’t dismiss every procedural question simply because the complaint comes from someone who dislikes our conclusions."

He picked up the commission and examined its wording again.

"Our Adventurers are responsible for completing assignments within the law. They aren’t government inspectors, tax collectors, or military commanders. If the authorities want clarification, we’ll provide it. What we won’t do is accept responsibility for a dispute that existed long before we arrived."

Boren nodded approvingly. "I’ll have Garran prepare a complete account of the party’s activities, including the permissions they received and the documents supplied voluntarily by local officials."

"Good," Sage answered. "And inform the Ironwood Party that their reconnaissance report remains under review. They shouldn’t undertake any additional operation until the commission’s status is clarified."

Meanwhile, the objection had reached the Royal Administrative Council.

The council chamber occupied an imposing section of the royal government complex, where senior officials regularly reviewed matters involving taxation, regional administration, trade, and security.

Crown Prince Richard attended the meeting accompanied by two advisers and the secretary responsible for the Marrowford commission.

Seated around the long table were representatives from several administrative departments, including officials responsible for territorial affairs and royal expenditure.

Lord Geoffrey Lancaster was not present, but one of the officials associated with his political circle, Lord Percival Harcourt, occupied a seat near the head of the table.

A senior administrator named Lord Thomas Ellery opened the proceedings by reading the complaint.

"Baron Fenwick’s representative alleges that the Adventurer Guild conducted an unauthorized examination of territorial records and issued conclusions concerning matters outside its assigned responsibilities," Ellery explained. "The Baron requests suspension of the commission pending further review."

Richard listened without interruption.

Another official, Minister Aldous Pembroke, examined the original authorization before speaking.

"The difficulty, Your Royal Highness, is that the commission was issued through the Crown Prince’s office rather than through a permanent administrative framework governing independent organizations."

Richard regarded him calmly. "The authorization was certified through the appropriate royal department and funded from an approved regional security allocation. Are you questioning its legality?"

"Not directly, Your Royal Highness," Pembroke answered. "However, the commission authorizes an independent body to investigate matters affecting two territorial jurisdictions. We lack sufficiently detailed regulations concerning how such an organization should operate when local authorities object."

Several officials nodded.

Richard understood the concern.

The Kingdom had long employed mercenary companies, independent Knights, and private specialists for particular assignments. Yet those arrangements were generally temporary and frequently depended upon the authority of a noble sponsor.

The Adventurer Guild was different.

It possessed its own administration, internal regulations, registered members, and an expanding network of facilities. Its independence was precisely what made it useful, but that same independence complicated the Kingdom’s traditional administrative practices.

Lord Harcourt leaned forward.

"That distinction is important," Harcourt remarked. "A noble household can be held responsible for the conduct of its retainers. A military commander answers through the established chain of command. But who bears responsibility when an independent Guild conducts an operation across territorial boundaries?"

Richard rested his hands upon the table. "The Guild remains responsible for its members’ conduct, and any violations of the law remain subject to the appropriate authorities. Independence doesn’t mean exemption from accountability."

Harcourt inclined his head. "Certainly, Your Royal Highness. But responsibility after a violation occurs is not necessarily sufficient. The question is whether proper supervision exists before an independent organization exercises authority within a noble’s territory."

"The Guild hasn’t exercised governmental authority," Richard replied. "Its Adventurers investigated monster attacks, interviewed witnesses, and examined records supplied by a local magistrate. They haven’t collected taxes, commanded soldiers, or assumed control of territorial administration."

Minister Pembroke studied the reports.

"That appears consistent with the evidence currently available," Pembroke acknowledged. "Nevertheless, I recommend obtaining formal statements from both territorial offices before determining whether the commission exceeded its scope."

Richard nodded. "Then we’ll obtain them. I have no objection to a lawful review."

His response surprised several officials who had expected him to dismiss the complaint immediately.

Instead, Richard instructed the council secretary to record a formal inquiry into the disputed procedures. The inquiry would request statements from the relevant local authorities, examine the commission’s original wording, and review the Guild’s documented actions.

He also requested that the Department of Territorial Affairs provide an opinion concerning the Crown’s authority to commission independent specialists for regional security investigations.

By proceeding through the established administrative process, Richard ensured that the decision wouldn’t rest solely upon his personal authority.

Later that afternoon, Sage received an invitation to provide clarification before a smaller administrative panel.

He arrived accompanied by Lucan and Boren, carrying copies of the Guild’s mission regulations and the Ironwood Party’s report.

Minister Pembroke chaired the proceedings, with two administrative secretaries recording the discussion.

"Guildmaster Sage, thank you for attending," Pembroke began courteously. "We would like to clarify the extent of your organization’s involvement in Marrowford."

Sage inclined his head. "Of course, Minister. The Guild has no objection to explaining its procedures."

Pembroke consulted the commission.

"Did your Adventurers investigate the condition of patrol stations and public roads?"

"They did," Sage replied. "Those conditions directly affected the monster attacks. Abandoned patrol routes and overgrown roadsides provided the creatures with opportunities to approach travelers undetected."

"Did they determine which territorial authority was responsible for those conditions?" Pembroke asked.

Sage shook his head. "They recorded what the available documents showed. They didn’t issue a legal judgment or assign penalties. Determining administrative responsibility belongs to the Kingdom’s authorities, not the Adventurer Guild."

One of the secretaries recorded the distinction.

Pembroke continued, "And if the Crown requests that your organization eliminate the monsters, would you consider that an extension of the existing commission?"

"No, Minister," Sage answered. "The current commission covers reconnaissance and assessment. A suppression operation would require a separate assignment with its own objectives, compensation, and authorization."

Boren placed the relevant Guild regulations upon the table.

"Our mission procedures distinguish between investigation, extermination, escort, and other categories of work," Boren explained. "A client cannot automatically expand an accepted mission beyond its agreed scope."

Pembroke examined the documents with interest.

Lucan then addressed the territorial concerns.

"The Guild’s Adventurers have complied with the notification requirements stated in their commission," Lucan explained. "They haven’t attempted to command local guards or interfere with the Baron’s administration. Their findings were submitted to the Guild and forwarded through the proper channels."

The discussion continued for nearly an hour.

By its conclusion, Pembroke appeared satisfied that the Ironwood Party had remained within the reasonable scope of its assignment.

However, he also acknowledged that the Kingdom lacked sufficiently precise regulations for independent organizations operating under royal commissions.

"Your procedures are considerably more developed than I expected, Guildmaster," Pembroke admitted as he closed the documents. "But the law doesn’t yet provide a consistent framework for situations like this."

Sage nodded. "Then perhaps that’s something worth addressing, Minister. The Guild intends to operate throughout Westmark eventually. We can’t resolve the same jurisdictional argument every time an assignment crosses a territorial boundary."

Pembroke regarded him thoughtfully. "I suspect that question will occupy the council for some time."

When Sage returned to Headquarters, he found Garran waiting with an update from Marrowford.

The Ironwood Party had remained available for further instructions, and no additional unauthorized operations had been undertaken.

Sage instructed Garran to preserve the mission records and continue monitoring developments while the administrative review proceeded.

That evening, the Royal Administrative Council reconvened to consider its preliminary findings.

The evidence provided little support for suspending the existing reconnaissance commission. Nevertheless, the broader question of independent organizations remained unresolved.

Lord Percival Harcourt listened as the council secretary summarized the findings.

Then he rose from his seat.

"Your Royal Highness, gentlemen, perhaps this dispute presents an opportunity to establish a more reliable system," Harcourt suggested, addressing the assembled officials. "Rather than repeatedly debating the authority of independent organizations, we should introduce a consistent requirement for all future Crown-sponsored commissions."

Richard regarded him cautiously. "What requirement do you propose, Lord Harcourt?"

Harcourt placed a prepared document upon the table.

"That any independent organization accepting a royal commission must operate under the direct supervision of a Crown-appointed noble representative," Harcourt declared. "Such a representative would possess authority to oversee personnel assignments, operational decisions, and the execution of the commission."

A murmur spread through the council chamber.

Richard’s expression became noticeably colder.

The proposal went considerably further than clarifying jurisdiction.

If adopted, it would place the Adventurer Guild’s royal assignments under the direct authority of noble supervisors, undermining the very independence Richard had agreed to respect.

And judging by the prepared document in Harcourt’s hand, the suggestion was anything but spontaneous.