Emperor's Reckoning

The adventurers were stumped with lips gaping open. Their cold sweat finally trailed down from their temples as they saw Amsel's head buried inside the freshly made crater right in the middle of the known street. Another Five-Star Adventurer had fallen on the street in less than ten minutes.

Abaddon snapped back into reality before he took one step back. ( Huh?! ) he gulped before he looked over his right leg had moved backward. He darted his glance forward and saw a towering figure standing next to the revered adventurers. His flame was engulfed in fear as none could ignite. The mere glance was enough for his body to recognize defeat. Flight, flight, flight, for the one that loved to battle and honed his fists, the word echoed inside his head.

( This guy... what tremendous aura! ) thought Abaddon as his feet faintly shook.

None dare spoke a word, none except for the person at the window.

"Well, well, I hope you don't kill him," said Lyon by the window with a grin.

Graham knelt before grabbing Amsel by the face. The latter's arm was seen twitching a bit.

"En, En, good enough!" Lyon nodded before Graham tossed Amsel to the side. "Alright, you can go back up now, or would you rather step upstairs?"

"I will walk, young master," said Graham before he entered the lounge of the inn under their frightened yet curious gazes.

"Huuuh~" Abaddon exhaled a long breath before he faintly heard his own heartbeat. He looked up before making a wry smile. ( A guy that powerful was bowing against this guy, who the hell are you, Sein ) thought Abaddon before he said, "The White Crow will be looking for you."

"I hope they got beautiful ladies then, gahahaha!"

Luna then closed the window on his behalf before she glared at him, "Lyon!"

"W-What?"

"This is serious! You're blatantly inviting trouble to our door!" said Luna before she sighed. "I know you're strong, but, wouldn't it be better if we live a day with no troubles?"

"Luna, did you forget? He was inviting us," said Lyon. "It's not like we came with pitchforks, we came with sufficient money, but they wanted to bully us, then they are also the ones that escalated the situation."

"I know, but."

"It's too late Luna, listen, I know you see this for the greater good, but if they found the joy of pushing us around, they will push it until their last breath," said Lyon as he gently grabbed her shoulders and gave her a sharp glance. "However, this way, we can set boundaries."

Luna took a deep breath before she said, "I know..."

"Good, besides, I already hold back and told Graham not to kill them, that is already lenient," Lyon nodded.

"Well the White Crow will surely hold us responsible for this," said Lumina before she sighed, "but it's not like this is the first time for you, or rather, for us."

"It's an improvement," Cecile nodded. "At least only the street got destroyed, not some monument or the base structure of the city."

"Hahaha, that's the spirit," said Lyon. "Oh right, where were we?"

"Young master, you accepted the quest to hunt a Cockatrice," said Assid before he readjusted his glasses.

"Oh right, that's it, we accept that quest for the price of a vial of Mana Essence," said Lyon. "Not a big deal right?"

"Oh oh, oh, can I do it?" said Kesya as she made a light skip with her hand raised.

"No," Graham answered before he entered the room with his arms crossed. "The White Crow will soon be alarmed."

"That's unavoidable," said Cecile. "However, I can't say that it was our fault, they were edging for it."

"Hmm, what if you drag those two and knock on White Crow's door," said Lyon.

The room turned silent before they all hovered their glance toward their young leader. They all had confusion adorning their faces.

"That's a crazy idea," said Luna.

"What are you planning to do?" asked Lumina.

"Well, let's hear the mastermind out then, shall we not?" Cecile smirked.

"Alright, young master, surprise us," Kesya grinned.

"I mean, I wouldn't say that it's not a crazy idea, however, instead of being intimidated, we can intimidate them instead," said Lyon.

"...."

The silence caught him shrugging his shoulders, "What? Just take Graham there, show them his aura, and then problem solved."

"I doubt that they would do anything," Assid nodded. "That's a brilliant idea."

"No, it's not," said Cecile. "We don't know the extent of White Crow's strength, it's like testing the deep of a river by plunging both feet."

"Then what do you suggest?" asked Lyon.

"We can join the opposite guild, the one with the same amount if not more power than the White Crow, with that, I highly doubt that they would lay a finger on any of us since guild war is apparently a thing," said Lumina.

"Woah, that's a good one," Lyon nodded, "As expected of Lumina."

"Hmm..." Lumina looked away with a tint of red on her cheeks.

"But which guild are we supposed to join?" asked Luna. "The Flame Guild sounds alright."

"For now it is," said Cecile. "However, we still don't who the five guilds are in Guild Links."

"I recalled that White Crow is one of them," said Lyon.

"Is it?" Cecile raised one brow.

"The Flame Guild is one, and the Harp Guild is another," said Assid, "I haven't heard of the White Crow being in the Guild Link."

"Perhaps they are the runner-up?" asked Lyon. "I mean if you look at it this way, then their action is not far off."

"far off from what?" asked Luna.

"From a cocky sovereign that needs their ass kicked," Lyon laughed.

"So Flame Guild or Harp Guild, we better not make a hasty decision," said Lumina. "It's better to wait for the other three identities, first."

"Sadly, we don't have that much time. So far only two of them stretched their arms to us but we rejected them both."

"Kesya, how about you?" asked Lyon. "Didn't you run a guild?"

"Errr," Kesya sighed. "Yes, yes I did, but I'm no longer the guild's leader so..."

"So she is too embarrassed to come back," said Cecile before she shook her head. "You need to be more thick-skinned, like your young master."

"Hey!" Lyon raised both of his brows.

Lumina shook her head, "That is the only idea I can think of."

"So, are we going with my idea then?" Lyon raised his brows twice and smiled.

Lumina sighed, "It's not that it's impossible, but that would escalate this situation beyond the scope of what it should have."

"We can also use Abaddon's help, I'm sure the presence of the Burning Fist can help us in this situation," said Luna.

"The Burning Fist? Wasn't it the Flaming Fist? or was it the Flame Fist? Because he is from the Flame Guild?" asked Lyon.

"I don't think that man is bothered by that name," said Kesya. "He looked pretty chill."

Lyon sighed, "Is it really?? Oh, how about this!"

...

"So... why am I here again?" asked Abaddon who was accompanying Lyon. He darted before his lips twitched. The two Five-Star Adventurer was being dragged by their ankle through a rope.

"I have the same question, it was my idea but I never said that I would be the one that does it," said Lyon frowning. "This is a stupid idea."

Abaddon smiled wryly before he spoke quietly, "You know that everyone is looking at us, right?"

"I don't really care, to be honest, I just want to get this over with, I got a Cockatrice to hunt tomorrow," ( Well, it's not me that's going to hunt it though, but it's all the same ) thought Lyon.

"A Cockatrice?!" Abaddon exclaimed. "A-Are you serious?!"

"Why are you so surprised, it's just an animal of a lizard fucking a chicken or the other way around jeez," Lyon rolled his eyes.

Abaddon had his smiles twitching as he heard how Lyon explained the beast. ( I-I mean, he's not wrong but... it feels like one ).

"Oh right, I want to ask you something, is White Crow a member of the Guild Link?"

"What? You didn't know?"

"What?! They are?" Lyon raised his brows before they stopped right in front of the building. A large sign with the engraving of a crow made out of pure white marble was presented right before his sight while under it was an opened double-door with adventurers going in and out. However, they all stopped. They paused before their eyes hovered over and found not one, but two revered adventurers being dragged across the street like lifeless cattle.

Their eyes soon turned to glare before Lyon nudged Abaddon's elbow.

"Alright, do your magic and calm these people, they seem like they can eat us alive," said Lyon without any hint of sin. "Depending on how you handle this, I may or may not, destroy the building and it would undoubtedly lead to a guild war between White Crow and Flame Guild."

"Y-You?!" Abaddon had his eyes opened wide as he heard what Lyon said. He was set up.