Chapter 119: Well, that’s one way to get into a Guild building

The Chronos Guild was in the middle of downtown, and to show off how big of a Guild that it was, and how important it was, it wasn’t just a tower. It took over a whole city block, a huge expanse of area, and it had been purchased way back when. It was an important area since the labs were below here.

Brent’s birthplace was technically below his feet. The whole reason for his father not being in his life and his brother making his life hell was underneath his very feet, and the security team was coming towards them like he didn’t belong here.

Ridiculous.

The complex had grown in the time that he’d been away from here. The tower had shifted, the materials having probably changed to something even more durable. It felt more like a walkable tiny city inside of the larger city. It was actually a rather interesting place, like his grandfather had designed, and then his brother had twisted.

A tragedy inside of a tragedy.

Where Esper Parker had parked was a spot that was normally reserved for important guests and the Guild Leader. He hadn’t parked anywhere that he shouldn’t have, upon reflection, but Brent didn’t think these idiots would think the same way.

Brent sighed, the sunglasses covering his eyes giving him the ability to roll his eyes without the Espers approaching being able to see. It also hid his powers if his eyes began to turn blue in anger or annoyance. It wouldn’t fully mask the fact that he was a Guide, but he doubted that the idiots here would think that a Guide would march so proudly out in the open.

After all, after Aunt Dina’s partner got killed, the crack down on hiding Guides got worse. That’s what Esper Tracer told him one night when they were drinking together. She said it in hushed, sad tones, and Brent could only sympathize with her.

Now he was using that information to his advantage.

The only James who had power was Brent, all of the others were crazy, but civilians. Even his brother.

“You need to move your car and leave. We are not receiving any visitors at this time. The Guild is on lockdown.” The security team told them harshly. Esper Parker grew rigid next to Brent’s door while Brent stayed in the car for a moment, registering what they were saying, before he laughed.

It wasn’t a pleasant sound, and Brent winced internally. God, he felt like he was really playing up the spoiled rich kid sound, not that he’d ever been one. Yeah, he’d been rich, but he’d been able to experience it.

“Do you honestly think you can stop me from entering the Guild?” Brent asked from where he was sitting in the car. The security team’s face twisted. While they knew he was with Esper Parker, he was still just some guy at the moment. A pompous, probably rich guy.

“Look here, I don’t care who you are, if you don’t belong to the Chronos Guild, you can’t come in.” The same man spoke up and Brent finally put his hand on the side of the car, pulling himself out of it. He adjusted his suit, and Esper Parker finished adjusting him. It was a subtle show of authority to have someone like him take care of Brent.

It was something that they had discussed before and Brent was appreciative that he was going along with him.

“I own this Guild, does that fucking count?” Brent snarled, showing off a smile that was all teeth. God, Kellen would be proud of him. The security team stared at him, stared at his lack of an arm, his hair, the features around the sun glasses and it seemed that his attitude truly scared them.

Then again, there were few families without Espers or Guides in them that were as cocky as the James family. They had truly been a family of the times. Too bad Brent was going to destroy it with his own hands. Sorry Gramps, but you gave it to the wrong guy.

“Parker, lead the way. We don’t have to burden ourselves speaking to these low lifes.” Brent ordered, his voice oozing entitlement. Esper Parker almost did a double take, like he needed to check that it was Brent who got out of the car and not some prick. Brent winced inside. Yeah, he got that he played the role well.

It was in his blood, after all.

The security team was so shocked at his attitude that it took them a few seconds too late to register what was going on. By the time that they did, Esper Parker and Brent had covered a lot of ground.

“W-Wait!” They called, chasing after Brent and Esper Parker. It was an embarrassing display of a lack of control, and Brent almost smiled. Then he went, fuck it? Why shouldn’t he?

That was fucking hilarious.

“Heh. Idiots.” Brent muttered and felt Esper Parker glance at him. He didn’t say anything, but Brent could feel the man’s humour from where he stood.

They made a beeline for the tower. Brent knew that was where most of the ’common’ activities for the Guild happened, because that was where most Guilds did their business. However, unlike Aunt Dina or Rhys, or hell, probably even Sergei, the living quarters for most of the Guild weren’t above ground. They were underground, and if things were as Brent remembered, most people didn’t even know that a research facility was underneath their bedrooms.

That was if everything was as Brent remembered.

As they approached the door, Mr. Caulder, Esper Gardner, Esper Tracer, and Esper Harris emerged from an area that Brent hadn’t even noticed. With the appearance of more people, the security guards were growing more anxious, but Brent didn’t care.

He turned to the front doors. At this point he knew that the others knew he was here. He was also fairly certain that his brother had been alerted at this point and Brent, brazen and big-balled, placed his hand on the door and tugged.

It didn’t budge and the smile that touched Brent’s lips had Esper Parker letting out a sigh.

“Allow me.” He said quietly and Brent stepped back. Within seconds, the doors were off their hinges and Brent was stepping into the lobby, scanning the area as terrified receptionists, all women, let out terrified screams. Brent smiled at them, dusting himself off as he moved towards them.

“Hello. I need to speak to the ’Guild Leader’. Can you call him for me?” Brent made sure to emphasize that he was demeaning the man who he’d already shot once. The receptionists didn’t know that, they just knew him as a man who had ordered a man to tear the door off of their workplace.

They didn’t speak, but Brent watched a few of them attempt to hide that they were calling for reinforcements. Brent let out a heavy sigh, glancing around. He knew this place better than they did, since he could pick out where the emergency stairs still were. Even if they changed the materials, the base of the tower hadn’t changed.

“Follow me.” Brent told the crew behind him, moving towards the stairs. He tried the door, it wouldn’t open, and then he just stepped to the side to let Esper Parker work his magic.

Soon, they were climbing up the stairwell and Mr. Caulder let out a soft chuckle.

“Do we…have to take all these stairs?” Mr. Caulder asked, and for the first time Brent realised that he was an older man. He blinked.

“Oh, sorry Mr. Caulder. Esper Gardner, would you?” Brent asked, turning to glance over his shoulder. Esper Parker was at his back, protecting him, while Esper Harris was walking in front of him up the stairs. Mr. Caulder sounded like he was going to protest, but Esper Gardner just smiled.

“Trust us, Mr. Caulder. This is for the best.” She told him and the older man gave a heavy sigh, composed himself, and then allowed the Esper to pick him up.

“I just hope no one remembers this.” He muttered and Brent tried not to chuckle. Even at this moment, he was worried about his image. That was rather endearing of him.

Did Brent know where he was going? No, but as he climbed he could feel the energy of the building shift. He was using his senses, his ability as a Guide to find where the highest percentage of power was located, and he was moving towards that.

He had a plan, a mission, and that was just to cause problems, take claim of the Guild, find out how much of the area had changed, and maybe confront his brother if he showed up. So, he just kept climbing up the tower.

No one came to intercept them, which seemed to get all of the others around him on edge. Brent, however, wasn’t exactly surprised that no one was coming to bother them. Getting into a fight in a stairwell wasn’t exactly a smart idea.

That, or they were panicking about Brent even being in the building.

While it would be a bit ridiculous if he climbed all the way to the top and then no one was there to meet him or they had just taken the elevator down to the bottom floor, he didn’t think that they would have that reaction. They were Espers, after all, and they would probably view him coming up the stairs as a challenge.

At least, that was what he was relying on.

As the powers got more intense and he continued to climb up the stairs, Brent came to a stop near the 10th floor. It felt like they were here, and with a nod, Esper Harris opened the door, the door coming off of the hinges and an alarm blaring. However, the alarm was quickly turned off as Esper Harris stepped forward, a smile on his face as he stepped into the hallway.

They didn’t need Brent anymore to lead the way, Esper Harris doing that as they headed for the obvious ’main office’ on this floor. Honestly, the space felt like the office level that Rhys had for his higher ups, so Brent was glad that he got that right.

When Esper Harris opened the door labeled “Director” the man who Brent had shot only last week in Mr. Caulder’s law practise was standing there, his arms crossed, looking incredibly displeased as they entered.

“This is incredibly unprofessional. I have never invaded your Guild, no matter how many times I wanted to. You should let your Captain know that this level of invasion will not be forgotten.” He warned. Brent, however, was looking around the office.

It was nice, spacious, with a thick wooden desk, several bookshelves shoved against the walls while in front of them, behind the chair pushed up against the desk, was a floor to ceiling window that overlooked the city below. It was a spectacular view.

“This has nothing to do with the Phoenix Guild, not really.” Brent commented quietly, glancing around the space. He wasn’t alone. He had a few of his own Lieutenants with him, and Brent couldn’t stop the small smile that touched his lips. “This is all for a serious conversation between me and you. I assume that my brother will probably be flying here in an attempt for us not to speak.” Brent said with a low chuckle. The man grew suspicious.

“What do you mean by that?” He asked carefully and Brent removed his sunglasses.

“Well, he doesn’t want you knowing that I’m the official head of the James family.”

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