Emperor's Reckoning

"Are you a hunter?" asked Lyon.

"Oi greenhorn! Pay some respect to the officials of the Harp Guild," said Arf as he and his party stood by Doma.

"I'm not asking you," Lyon snorted a smile. "Looks like your sword is thicker than whatever that thing is between your ears."

"Kh?!" the Frost Party gawked at his words and nonchalant attitude. His sharp words were relentless even when he was in front of one individual with status in Arkham City.

Doma had his eyes pulled back a bit as he heard the words coming out of Lyon's mouth. He had never thought that the one wearing a thick oversized cloak would have such type of weapon. He knew well how Arf was the leading party in the guild and how that insult would stab his pride. The wound was enough for the latter to have retaliated in anger, however, the fact that the man in front of him was ready to challenge Arf made him skeptical about the greenhorn thing they were spouting around.

"You! Friend! Watch your tongue around Doma!" said Arf.

"Mind your cursed lips!" shouted Helena as she frowned. "You might be a friend of our ex-leader but you are nothing but that!" then her tone turned soft, "This here is Sir Doma, he is the official in charge of Harp Guild in Arkham City."

"I know this blockhead is deaf, never thought that the woman would be too," said Lyon.

"Wa-Wait a minute!" Nafail came rushing from the side.

"Sir Doma, this cloaked group has nothing to do with them," said Nafail as he bowed.

Lyon's group sighed. ( What are you talking about? ).

"You know these lot?" asked Doma.

"Yeah, I—"

"He saved us from a hungry beast, however, we haven't paid him yet," said Cecile. "That's all the relationship we have with him."

"I see, then when would you pay him?" asked Doma.

"Why do you care?" asked Lyon as he raised his chin.

Nafail and the rest except Lyon's own group had their eyes wide open. The man was fearless despite being a newcomer to the city and he stood his ground despite being in front of one of the officials.

The other adventurers immediately took notice of the situation. The tension between them rose as they gulped in trepidation. A fight may not be breaking out, however, the attitude that Lyon gave was sure to keep bending that belief that was instilled in the city.

"That's because he is one of my guild members," said Doma with a smile. "You have a frontal character there, err."

"Sein," said Lyon.

"Sein," Doma smiled. ( Hmm, I never heard of that name before ). "I'm not a hunter, but if you are interested in breaking through the next realm, you can apply yourself in the Harp Guild and work your way there, after all, that is what most newcomers here came to do, to gain access beyond True God realm."

"Bah! He would have never survived a three stars quest, might as well just give up," said Arf.

"What does having a three stars quest have anything to do with breaking through?" asked Lyon.

"The item in which you seek lies beyond this city," said Doma with a smile. "It's in another city, in fact, you can buy the thing with Adventurer Token, in that city."

"Woah, really?" asked Lyon.

"Heh, you can't hope to afford it," said Helena. "That thing cost five hundred thousand AT, and they sold fast."

"Helena..." Nafail muttered in disbelief as he saw her attitude.

"Alright, nice meeting you Sein, I hope you enjoy the city," said Doma with a smile as he turned around.

"Wait!" shouted Lyon.

"Huh? Is there something the matter?" asked Doma as he turned around, "If you have questions, then you might want to head over to the guild hall, the receptionist would help you."

"You're sharp, I do have some questions, however, this is regarding someone," said Lyon.

"Someone? Are you trying to request a search?" asked Doma.

"Do you know someone named Selena?" asked Lyon.

"Selena? The Selena?" asked Doma.

"What?"

"Are you talking about Zelena?" asked Doma.

"No, Selena, with an S, S-e-l-e-n-a," said Lyon.

"I'm sorry, but I've never heard of Selena, however, Zelena, she is wildly known across the Dark Continent."

"Zelena," Cecile muttered. ( That must be her twin sister ).

"Yeah, do you know how to find her?" asked Lyon.

"Hahaha! What makes you hope that you could see her?! You're a nobody!" said Arf.

"I'm not looking for her, I'm looking for her sister," said Lyon as he rolled his eyes. "Assid."

"Yes, young master," Assid vanished as soon as his words dropped.

"?!" None of the spectators could catch up with his speed.

Doma felt chilling goosebumps as his small pupils trembled. ( I see him move, but I lost him instantly! ).

"Huh? Ngh?!" Arf was surprised to see Assid standing right in front of him. The short distance only made it impossible for Arf to even notice the slight change of the air before a fist came from the side and the moment of the impact made his long hair flutter.

"That's a warning," said Assid as he pushed his glasses upward. The

The leader of the Frost Party instantly had his eyes rolled back. His body swayed to the side with his jaw dangling to the one side. The weight of his greatsword accelerated his fall before a loud thud gasped everyone at the site.

The cold fall made even the Frost Party freeze in shock. Their heart raced at the fall of their leader. One shot of a fist to the jaw was all it took to take down their mightiest. As their breath was taken away so did Doma.

He quickly realized how far the disparity was between him and that man. One quick glance and his gone, even though the place that Assid moved from and to was still in the same field view. The short burst of speed was controlled and precise, Doma couldn't help but gulp and cold sweat started forming on his temples. ( In that distance, were he to move against me, I wouldn't even be able to see it coming either. That man clearly has far surpassed the True God realm! ).

"Hehhhhhh, why did you call him instead of me, ma— I mean young master," Kesya hunched down her shoulders.

"Because you will kill him instead of knocking him out, I'm much more merciful and controlled," said Assid.

( K-KIll?! ) thought the adventurers in the vicinity. They couldn't believe that someone was daring enough to declare an intention to kill in the middle of the city, furthermore, against Arf, the leader of the Frost Party.

"Y-Y-You...." Helena and the rest of the party took a step back.

( What the fuck..) thought Nafail as he saw the condition Arf had become. This was the man that was about to chop off his limbs a moment ago. The severe blow even knocked out the tendons in his jaw, and the loud popping impact was heard reverberating across the street. He gulped. He knew then that they were in never need of protection, not at all. The caravan was safe even without his presence, nor other adventurers at that matter.

"Hey, Doma," said Lyon.

"H-Huh? Yes?" Doma hardly blinked as he looked at Lyon. The man that knocked Arf out cold was calling this man young master, he could very much tell who held the true power.

"Where is Zelena?" asked Lyon. "I'm looking for her sister."

"Z-Zelena, yes, you're looking for her sister? Y-Young master also believe that rumor?" asked Doma.

The adventurers were stupefied, even Doma had to acknowledge and addressed him with respect to the power Lyon governed. The word greenhorn was immediately erased from their dictionary for the sake of their own lives.

"Rumor?" Lyon nonchalantly dismissed the fact that Doma changed how he addressed him.

"Y-Yes, there was a rumor that someone is living at the other tower," said Doma as he rubbed his hands together like a merchant caught red-handed cheating. However, no matter how many actions he took to pacify his nervousness, all went to naught.

"Other tower?" Lyon raised his brows. "It seems like there is a situation that I should know."

"I-I can tell you about it if you want, young master," said Doma as he made the most ungenuine smile Lyon had ever seen.

"Heh," Lyon smirked. "Alright, why not— you!" he pointed at Nafail.

"Y-Yes!!" Nafail straightened his spine.

"You're coming with us," said Lyon. "I need to pay for your service too."

"AH! Please don't mention it! I don't deserve to be paid," said Nafail as he took a step back and shook his head with his hands waving in denial.

"L-Let's talk it over at the Guild Hall, s-shall we?" said Doma.

"You pick the place?" Lyon raised one of his brows.

"O-Of course if young master wanted elsewhere, we can arrange that immediately," said Doma.

"Heh, just kidding, we let's go to the guild hall," said Lyon as he laughed before he let out yet another cold word Doma couldn't refute.

"After all, it's not like you can do anything funny against us."