Chapter 11: Finally, Allies? (Part 2)

Alan pulled out the only weapon in his inventory, his rusty sword, and launched himself forward, but Marco got out of his sight.

The next thing Alan saw was Marco’s palm.

“Mayor Dark Conjure…”

“Stop!”

“Slumbermare…”

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A scene unraveled in Alan’s mind. A picture of something he did not want to think through.

Please don’t!

The Santa Maria’s white corridors, stained with blood…

I don’t want to see it!

And small drone units mopping the floor, removing every trace of ruin. But the stench remained…

I refuse to believe it!

Automatons carrying bodies…

Please, just stop!

And throwing them into the dark coldness of space.

Don’t show me this! Did you think I hadn’t thought about it?! Of course, I did, I’m not stupid! But I refuse to believe that things developed in that way!

Another vision of an automaton, engulfed in shadows, with red electronic eyes, entering the cryo-chambers.

No, no, no, no, no!

Standing in front of a sleeping pod, where a blonde teenager rested. Was that Astrid’s pod?

Marco, are you seeing this?!

The automaton stepped into the light, carrying a knife, revealing it wore Ashley’s face.

Because I hope you’re enjoying the show, asshole! That’s what I’ve been dealing with for the last eight real-life months! So while you enjoyed your stay here, acting like a goddamn mafia boss, I was out there, making sure your asses remained glued to your backs, you prick!

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“MARCO, ARE YOU OKAY?!” Amelia cried out to the unconscious Warlock, who had suddenly collapsed.

Marco sat down slowly, still shaken, before locking eyes with the smirking, sweaty guy kneeling in front of him.

Alan sneered, “If what that redhead said is true, and Shooting Stars are at the top of the world, I don’t believe for a second that you made it possible!”

“What?” Marco grunted, standing up.

Amelia watched as he clenched his fists. “Marco…”

“I bet it was all thanks to Astrid’s effort, and you were just along for the ride!” Alan continued. “I bet she whipped you lazy bums daily until she shaped you all into elite warriors!”

Grunts of discontent and promises of making him suffer were heard, but Marco silenced them all with a hand gesture, smirking. “Do you know what we used to call you before meeting your stupid face? We nicknamed you ‘Alan, the Ghost’. We joked you were invisible, or that you had died and your name was just a glitch on the Guild’s member list. So how could you know how we rose to the top if you’ve never been here?”

“To everyone gathered here!” Alan shouted, still too weak to stand. “Your beloved Lord told you I stole his paycheck, right? Do any of you have a ‘pickpocket’ ability? If so, use it and see what you can get from me. Spoilers, I don’t have it! Just think about it. How could I take money from him if I wasn’t even here?! You call it a paycheck, right?! That means there’s someone in charge of the guild’s vault! How could I, a pathetic level 5, steal it then, huh?! Think for yourselves for at least one second, you morons!”

Alan scanned the crowd, desperately looking for someone nodding or whispering, someone who was finally reflecting on his words. But all the guild members’ lips were sealed, and their gaze remained unapologetically cold.

“Even if that’s true,” Amelia spoke up, “that doesn’t justify you snatching away Lord Marco’s position as First Officer!”

“Yeah, even if you’re the guild’s founder, what makes you think you can come here and steal his rank after playing around somewhere else!”

“We don’t like deserters, especially those who weren’t here during the guild’s hard times!”

“Try to defend yourself from that, Ghost,” Marco said, smirking.

They know, Alan thought, glancing at Amelia’s mocking grin. All these people should know Marco is wrong, they just don’t care.

Alan gritted his teeth, glaring at the initiator of it all. “After what you saw inside my mind, do you still want to continue with this charade?”

“What I saw doesn’t concern me.” Marco shrugged. “As I see it, those images were nothing more than the fractured psyche of a shadow of a man.”

“Wow,” Alan said, raising his eyebrows. “I can now see that Astrid didn’t hire you for your wits…”

Marco chuckled, raising a hand and engulfing himself in a black aura. “Greater Dark—”

An explosion shook the building.

Something crashed through the ceiling at high speed, cracking the tiled floor. In front of them stood a black lion, which folded its white wings to let its rider get down. Alan first heard heeled boots stroll towards them. The moonlight entered through the breach in the ceiling and shone on a blonde girl wearing a blue formal military uniform. Her blue eyes looked like two orbs of dry ice.

Wait… is that…?

“A-Astrid…” Alan muttered as soon as he met her gaze. Seeing her familiar face was more than comforting. “Wow…” He chuckled, as he gradually lost his balance.

You look damn good… he thought, before blacking out.

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***** CHANGE OF POV *****

The entire Training Room fell silent as Astrid Bradford strode forward. All whispers ceased with the sound of her heeled boots.

“Lock the doors,” the blonde young woman ordered, her gaze fixed on the thirty guilders in front of her.

A young woman wearing twintails, who had followed Astrid through the crack in the ceiling, stored her winged mount and rushed to access a control panel coming from the only monument in the room. The people closest to the gates watched as the system made it impossible for them to exit without the Guild Master’s permission.

Some of the present exchanged nervous glances as Marco stepped forward, giving a short bow. “Welcome home, Guild Master,” he said, his voice betraying no hint of guilt.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Astrid Bradford asked immediately, her eyes scanning every guild member present as if memorizing them.

“About what?” Marco replied, feigning a pondering expression.

Astrid’s face hardened as she spoke. “I’m referring to this.” She pointed at the unconscious Alan Warden. “Why have you lifted a hand against one of your own? Do you know who this is?” Her voice suddenly cracked with anger. “This is the man who named and founded this guild!”

“Pressing your thumb against a virtual form doesn’t make you a leader!” Amelia interjected, snickering. “Or is that enough to earn the First Officer title nowadays?” She turned to the crowd to rally them. “What about all the hard work Lord Marco has done for this guild, huh?!”

This time, only a few showed their support by raising their fists or shouting in unison, causing Amelia to glare at the rest. “Damn pussies,” she muttered, turning back to face Astrid, who was now listening to a girl with black, medium-length hair and a black skintight suit. “Helen… Don’t tell me she was here the whole time?” she asked quietly to Marco, who seemed to be steeling himself.

Helen finished her report and swiftly returned to Tamara’s and the unconscious Alan’s side.

“I see,” Astrid said softly but loud enough for everyone in the Training Room to hear. “Given the circumstances, I’ll be blunt and straightforward.” Astrid then glared at the large group in front of her with glowing blue eyes that sent chills down their spines. Even Amelia trembled despite her brave facade.

It was as if an invisible torrent of Mana had hit us all in the face and was trying to push us down to our knees… Amelia bit her lower lip. But don’t overestimate us, you bitch!

Astrid continued, “Listen all, and listen well! Whoever is against Alan Warden being the second in command of this very guild he founded can come at me with everything you have!”

The entire room erupted in expressions and comments of surprise.

“What is she saying?”

“She can’t be serious.”

“So the whole thing about this Alan guy being our new First Officer wasn’t a joke?”

“Quiet.” Marco spoke up, silencing the others. “Astrid…” he called, but his tone sounded personal, as if speaking to a friend rather than a leader. Amelia noticed it and even saw his fists shaking. “Don’t be stupid.”

Was that a plea? Amelia could only wonder while holding her breath for the scene to unfold.

“Tamara,” Astrid called out, her gaze fixed on Marco. “Configure the arena’s settings: Leave ‘Quick Spawning’ as it is, but turn ‘Own Equipment’ Off, and ‘Gold Penalty’ to ON!”

Everyone felt as though an invisible lifeline had been ripped away. They looked at each other, nervous of what was coming, but all felt the same way: exposed, vulnerable, and aware of the imminent danger.

“That bitch. I can’t get my gear,” Amelia heard William the Stoic mutter behind her. She instinctively checked for her choker, fearing it might be gone, and sighed in relief once she held the gem on it tight.

When she turned to Marco, he looked back at her with something akin to dread in his eyes.

“Helen!” Astrid called. “Give me the list of those responsible for this!”

Amelia watched Helen smirk, not uttering a single name. That’s because they’re now communicating through private Party Chat!

“Don’t do this, Ms. Bradford!” a guilder cried out, pushing others aside. “Please open the gates! Some of us didn’t even lay a finger on him!”

The Guild Master stared at him with cold blue eyes. “So what? Should I let the rest of you go? Is that what you’re suggesting?” A blazing red aura surrounded her body. Even the tiled floor beneath her boots cracked, as if she had gained mass. “You didn’t hurt him. You only watched, am I right?” Astrid tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “And yet, you all did nothing to stop this…”

“She’s nuts!” Amelia’s best friend, Karen Svensson hissed in Marco’s ear. “She’s not planning to take us all on at once, is she?! All because of THAT guy?!”

“That’s exactly what she’s planning,” Marco replied softly, turning to address the crowd, raising his voice. “Do you still have doubts about the new direction this guild is taking?! She’s chosen a complete stranger to lead us—an inexperienced fool who will be the ruin of us! And worst of all, she’s decided to squander your hard-earned gold! Are you going to let her do this, just like that?!”

Marco’s words had their effect. The entire group shifted their weight and assumed a battle stance. He had been right all along, and they had seen it with their own eyes. Besides, what was Astrid Bradford thinking? Although she was a Top Tier Ranker, it was impossible for her to fight every single guilder in that room.

Simply put, there was no way she could do that.

If she was also risking her wallet—the fortune of a renowned Guild Master, no less—so be it!

“Do you see that, Astrid?” Marco said, pointing at the 32 guild members behind him. “We won’t apologize.”

“Not that it matters,” the blonde said in a low voice before vanishing from sight.

All of Amelia’s senses were on high alert in an instant.

“WATCH OUT!”

The redhead dashed to get in front of Marco without thinking. The next thing she knew, Astrid’s forearm was piercing her stomach, and her HP bar was depleting at an alarming rate.

“So you’re first, huh?” Astrid whispered in her ear. “Fine by me. You were the next on my list anyway… Au revoir, Laflamme.”

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