Chapter 21: The Wrath of A Grieving Father: Part Three

“What do you mean sir?” Melissa inquired with slight confusion at Chadwick’s previous question.

“I mean, why would they go to an E-Rank Dungeon when they already have clearance to all Dungeons up to B-Rank?” Chadwick clarified.

“Hmm…” Melissa thought it over. “To actually clear it instead of just simple exploration?”

“Maybe.” Said Chadwick. “But what are the odds that the first E-Rank Dungeon they decided to clear just so happened to be the same one that that kid Raid also entered?.”

“Sir, you don’t think-”

“The Zeke Party had existed for what, 3 years or so? That’s more than enough time to incurre some small fame. Said-fame leads to cockiness which then leads to a misguided belief in one’s strength and the desire to showcase that strength. It’s a nasty, dangerous habit that some Warriors tend to develop. Believing themselves to be veterans, they try to bully and oppress newbies. Now think what would happen when an entire party of entitled, spoilt brats who think they’re the real deal just ’cause they possess some considerable skill, cross paths with the weakest Warrior in history. The underdog of all underdogs, the newbie of all newbies.” He finished.

“Then, you think they followed the F-Rank in the Dungeon in order to assert their dominance? It’s true that what happens in a Dungeon stays in a Dungeon. For Warriors, there’s no better place to settle a grudge but sir, you can’t possibly believe that an F-Rank could kill a party like the Zeke Party, can you? That sounds even more outrageous than them being killed by the monsters of the E-Rank Dungeon.” Argued Melissa.

“True, there’s no way an F-Rank could beat a party like that. That’s common knowledge, right?” Said Chadwick as he smirked slyly.

“….ah! Sir, you don’t mean…” Melissa then realised what Chadwick was getting at after she thought it over for a bit.

“Exactly. No Warrior, at least none in their right mind, would ever drop their guard when dealing with a Dungeon, regardless of the Rank. But any Warrior is capable of letting their guard down when dealing with an opponent that’s supposed to be multiple times weaker than them. Worse of all, when they have said-opponent outnumbered. Whether their dropped guards were enough for the kid to take them all down. Whether it was all by sheer luck. Maybe, because the Zeke Party entered a while after he did, they were unfamiliar with the Dungeon’s terrain while he in fact was so he used it to his advantage. Maybe he’s incredibly strong for an F-Rank. Maybe he used wits and outsmarted them. If there’s anything that’s certain, it’s that nothing is certain. But beyond that though, the fact remains, the Zeke Party entered the Dungeon after that kid did, only for the weakest Warrior in the world to come out alone. And after clearing the Dungeon at that. One thing’s for sure, if he’s capable of taking out the Zeke Party, then he’s capable of clearing the Dungeon, no matter the means.” He concluded.

“But if that’s the case, then how will we react to all of this?” Asked Melissa. It was obvious to the both of them how the Warriors Association would react to all that’s happened. She just asked that for the sake of courtesy.

“Heh, The Warriors Association exists to deal with all matters Dungeon and Warrior related. We make sure to solve any and all problems in a just, righteous and fair manner. If that kid really did wipe out the Zeke Party, one thing’s certain, in no way is he in the wrong. The only time the ones who are in defence kill is when they themselves are in life threatening danger. He had a choice between dying at the hands of the Zeke Party and them dying at his. Any sane man who values his life would choose the latter. But we all know it’s highly unlikely Andy’ll see it that way. If I was able to gather this much from all of this, then you better bet he’ll be too, there’s no doubt he’ll go after the boy after that. So here’s what we’re gonna do. I’ll see what I can do about Andy specifically. You assign a silent protector on the boy, someone who’ll keep an eye on the kid and an eye out for any possible assassination attempts. They’ll have to move in the shadows, completely hidden from both the boy and any idiots the Helios Guild, or rather the Reinhardt Family will send after him.” He ordered.

“A Spy Class then…. Wait, you’re not thinking of-”

“I am. She’ll be perfect for the job. Afterall, she’s the only employee here who’s acquainted with the boy, more or less.” He said with a mischievous smile, resembling another certain old man for a second.

“Not funny.”

Sorry.

*******

Anyway.

S-Rank Great Knight Class Andrew Reinhardt, Head of the great and powerful Reinhardt Family, Guildmaster of the Helios Guild, and Zeke’s father, was, as one would say, not your very ’typical’ father. He spoiled his four children to no end. After losing his wife to an S-Rank Dungeon. He vowed to himself, he would strive to be the greatest father he could ever be, to the best of his abilities. He would provide his children with all that they needed and wanted. He vowed he’d give them everything, status, money, power, authority, everything. Driven by that ambition alone, he went from being a normal S-Rank with a considerable amount of fame and fortune to being a Family Head and a Guildmaster to boot. Thus he was able to bring his goals to fruition. He had managed to give his children everything, everything except the one thing they all wanted from him the most, unbeknownst to him of course. His attention. This caused a conflict of sorts to develop between the children. The all started to compete with one another for their father’s affection, who, unbeknownst to them, loved them more than anything in the entire world but just didn’t know how to show that anymore after losing the person he deemed the other half of his soul, their mother. One can only imagine how such an incredibly complicated man would react after hearing that one of his children, that he loved so much, had died.

“Outrageous! How could my son! My son! Die in a measly E-Rank Dungeon!!? While some F-Rank newbie managed to come out after clearing it! Didn’t he have all those lackies of his from the Vassal Families!?” He questioned angrily.

“He did Sire, b-but they all died along with the Young Master.” Answered his underling who also happened to be the one who gave him the news after receiving it himself from the messenger from the Warriors Association.

“And what of the those Vassal Families’ Leaders? What do they have to say about all of this?”

“They’re keeping quiet. They say they’ll await your orders and respect you decision wholeheartedly my Lord.”

“Is that right? Good, as they should. Leave now. I need to be alone.” He ordered.

“You will be done my Lord.” Said the underling as he exited Andrew’s office and closed the door on his way out.

~Sigh~

A deep and long sigh filled the silent room afterwards. It was the sigh of a man whose sadness knew no depths. What followed afterwards…

~Bam!~

The sound of an enraged fist crashing through a wall. There, he stood as tears began to drip down his saddened face.

“Zeke, my precious son. Why have you left me? Why have you left us. Was I not the good father I thought I was, the good father I strived to be day in and day out? Who is it my son? Who is the bastard that took your life? Is it that F-Rank? It is, isn’t it? There’s no way my son could ever fall in some E-Rank Dungeon. That F-Rank, he’s hiding something for sure. He must have used some trick that allowed him to tip the scales, and you must not have seen it coming, my dear boy. Afterall…”

~Chuckle~

“You were never really the brightest one among your siblings. That was apart of your charm however.” He added as he held a picture of Zeke in his hands. “If I could see you face to face just one more time then….”

“That F-Rank brat, I’ll make him pay. I swear to you, on my very soul. So that you may pass on peacefully my son, I’ll kill that brat with my own hands!. Come out…Shadows.”

As he said that, twelve individuals emerged from the ground as a dark coloured circle in each of their spots had formed on the floor. These were the Twelve Guardian Shadows of the Reinhardt Family, each of them was an A-Rank Assassin Class Warrior. Only Andrew and people that were directly related to him by blood knew of their existence. Which meant only him and his children knew and no one else. As their name suggests, they’re guardian shadows that serve the Reinhardt Family wholeheartedly. As they had emerged, they all bowed and uttered in unison…

“We await your command Great Lord.”

There was no leader among them, as such would entail that someone outside of the Reinhardt Family’s direct members could give them orders.

“My son Zeke has been murdered by an F-Rank named Raid. Don’t ask any questions. I just need one of you to go and capture the bastard for me, alive. I’ll make sure to kill him with my own hands.” He declared.

“Your will be done Great Lord.” Said The Shadows in unison, one of them then stood up and came forth as he then uttered:…

“I’ll make sure to carry out your orders without fail, my Lord.”

“Good, the rest of you, dismiss!” All the other 11 Shadows disappeared into the ground leaving only the one who had volunteered.

“Now you, you know what to do. Go.” He ordered.

“As you wish my Lord.” Said the Shadow as he disappeared.

There in the empty and silent space of his office, Andrew Reinhardt sat on his chair with but one final declaration.

“I’ll show that bastardous brat. I’ll show him what happens when you incurre the wrath…of a grieving father.”

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