Emperor's Reckoning

The three students were in doubt at first, even Rayus who was playing it cool in the room prior. However, they had no more ideas than what their teacher gave them. The plan was absurd and quite stupid on a certain level, but if it works, then it's a whole other story.

The plan was to soar their intention, so much so, that the Burgeon Swan had to take notice. Of course, the best place to do that was to find the most bustling spots in the city and asked around.

Reinhard was back in the market. He took a deep breath before entering one of the most crowded spots in the city.

( No matter if its a lady or a man, I need to ask them ) thought Reinhard before he approached one of the ladies buying from a merchant.

Meanwhile, Noah was back at the place where the elites mostly hang out. His glance was jumping from one person to another. They were all dressed well and one could spot the quality of the clothing that they wore with a mere glance. He looked down and fixed his clothes a little neater. He was also dressed to blend with the elites. It might be just this one clothes, but it was enough.

Rayus made a low clap before he muttered, "Alright, all I need now is to control my emotion and adjust my demeanor, this should be easy since I was one of them."

Rayus made a deep breath before he wore a calm smile as he took his time walking his steps. He easily approached one of them and started asking questions about the Burgeon Swan.

Then, the last one, Rayus. He was asking every person he met on the busiest street. He deliberately asked them in a tad bit higher voice and that action garnered an unwelcomed gaze from the others that happened to pass him by. He pulled everyone, from an old man to a playing child. He was creating a sensation on his own, especially with the high-quality fabric that he was wearing.

The sun soon set and left the world with a blazing twilight before the starless night began. The moon was alone in her kingdom with nothing but the passing gray of the thick clouds. The almost yellow-like shimmer enlightened the Guh City below and revealed the three students were taking a break.

"A day had gone," said Rayus as he sat on the bench by the fountain. He looked up at the moon with contemplation. "I wonder how are the others."

"May I sit here?"

"Huh?" Rayus raised his brows before finding a man with almost the same level of attire as he wore. ( A noble elite? ) thought Rayus.

"Excuse me?" the man smiled.

"Oh, uhh... yeah sure," said Rayus as he moved to the other side.

"Thank you," the man smiled before sitting down.

Rayus furrowed his brows, "So, what are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same," said the man as his eyes were fixated on the street.

"Huh?"

"What do you think of Guh City, young man?"

Rayus furrowed his brows, "I-It's nice?"

The man smiled before turning his face to Rayus. He looked at Rayus with a smile. "Is nice really the right answer?"

"..." Rayus furrowed his brows, "What do you mean?"

"Nothing," said the man as he faced the street once more. "What is your name?"

( Should I give him my name? ) thought Rayus as he sized up the man.

"Hahaha, don't worry, I won't bite," said the man.

( Now I'm even more worried! ) thought Rayus.

"I will advise you not to lie, though," said the man before he spare a sharp leer at him.

Rayus's eyes sharpened as he suddenly sniffed a murderous intent coming from him, though it only last for a second. His vision returned normally as he heard the trickling water from the fountain behind him.

"Hahaha, don't be so stiff, I'm just asking your name," said the man.

( Don't tell me ) thought Rayus as he gulped. ( This man is from the Burgeon Swan ). Rayus gritted his teeth before he stood up.

"Now, now, where do you think you're going?" asked the man with a chuckle. "Look around, the night is just beginning, let the others savor it first."

Rayus's hands were clenched but they were trembling. Knowing how notorious the Burgeon Swan was, innocent people might get involved in this unnecessarily.

The man smiled as he looked at Rayus. He tapped the empty space on the bench where Rayus was sitting before. "Sit down, it's not like I came with murderous intent."

Rayus furrowed his brows, "Who are you?"

"Sit down first, and then let's talk," said the man with a smile. "You're in no hurry right?"

( I need to tell the teacher, but how?! ) thought Rayus.

"Well?" the man raised his brows, "Of course, I won't force you to sit down it has to come from out of your own goodwill— though you will sit down."

"Huh?" Rayus frowned and was slightly confused by his words, "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about Reinhard and Noah," he shared a sinister glance.

The words frost his heart for a second as his ears received the words. The name of his two friends was mentioned out of a mouth that undoubtedly gave him a flash of murderous intent.

"Wha—"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," the man gestured with his finger before tapping the empty space beside him with the same finger a few times, then he gestured using the same finger again to let it run across his neck.

"Tch!" Rayus sat down with a frown.

"That's more like it," the man chuckled. Some passerby passed and he waved with a smile as if nothing happened.

"If something happened to them, I swear—"

"Stop you swearing, you're still young," said the man with a chuckle. "Now, let's do this again. What is your name?"

"Rayus," Rayus answered.

"Rayus? Okay then Rayus, I have another question for you," the man smiled. "Are you here to join us or are you here to oppose us?"

"Join you..?! I knew it, you're them," said Rayus as his eyes sharpened.

"Don't play dumb now," the man smiled. "But in case you actually are, we are them."

( The Burgeon Swan! ) exclaimed Rayus inwardly. Once again he was face to face with them.

"So what is your answer?" the man smiled. "There is nothing wrong in the choice of the latter, just consequences."

"Joined you? Don't make me laugh," said Rayus.

"Huh? Hahaha, you certainly make me laugh," the man laughed and caught the attention of the ones around the fountain. However, the public didn't think too much of it and resumed their daily lives. "You have some guts."

Rayus kept his daggering eyes but he placed his concentration inside his ears. ( C'mon teacher! You gotta be somewhere on the street! ) thought Rayus. However, his teacher's steps might be to faint against the tens of pairs of feet walking on the street.

"Heh," the man smirked, "Are you in league with the guy inside the bar?"

Rayus's eyes opened wide ( No way... ).

"Heh, your face says it all," the man chuckled before he stood up. "Do you want to meet him? Heh, who am I kidding, of course, you want to."

"W-What about my friends?" asked Rayus.

"Of course, you get to meet them too, follow me," said the man before Rayus hastily walked behind him. "Don't do anything stupid now, or you're friends will be the ones weeping."

Rayus scowled but he didn't lay a finger against him. He couldn't believe that he would be willing to go with the Burgeon Swan without any noticeable resistance but the benign clash of words.

Sure enough, the direction they were heading was the north. The pair of guards at the gate was smiling and greeted the man in front of Rayus with a bright smile and a bow, however, they didn't mention any names.

( Damn it! The guards are theirs?! ) Rayus cursed himself.

"Rayus!"

Rayus raised his brows before noticing Reinhard peeking outside from a wagon. "Reinhard."

"Oi, shut the fuck up!" said one of the lackeys before shoving Reinhard's head inside the wagon with a pole.

"Oi!" Rayus glared.

"Heh," the lackey smirked at him before averting his glance elsewhere.

"Tied him up and get him inside," said the man as he raised his hand.

"Hehehe," the lackeys smiled as they approached him. Rayus was quickly apprehended before being put inside the wagon. There he saw Reinhard and Noah a little bit black and blue on their faces.

"It's good that you're alright!" said Noah.

"You have no idea how glad I am," Rayus sighed.

"Now, all we need to do is wait for him," said Reinhard.

Rayus sighed, "I don—" ( Wait a minute... he said the man inside the bar, and didn't mention anything about the madam... I almost forgot... he was not talking about our teacher, he was talking about Lenu! ). "You're right!"

Reinhard and Noah were slightly confused however, under the starless sky, hiding behind an alley, was a smirk.

"Heh..."