Emperor's Reckoning

Di had just returned from his post and stood at the front door of the entrance before he heard his name being called out from the end of the alley.

"Master Di!" Abaddon called out from the back with his hands raised.

"Hmm?" Di turned around and found his student. "Abaddon, it's not that you don't know I'm in here city, do you have another bottleneck or something?"

"Glad you asked," said Abaddon, "but sadly, this is not about me, but about the cloaked group."

Di's brows furrowed, "You have something to say about them?"

Abaddon nodded.

Di gulped before he nodded, "Alright, let's talk inside."

....

The two sat across one another with a supple ambiance in their surrounding. They were lofty despite the name of the guild they bore on their shoulders. However, all the loftiness only managed to take hold for a time before Abaddon opened his mouth.

"Hmm..." Di pushed his finger to his right cheek as he contemplated with unheard thought whilst his student couldn't rest his back against the backrest of the chair.

"That's what Mona told me," continued Abaddon. "However, after seeing what just transpired, I don't think it's a mere fantasy."

"They soloed a Swarm," said Di. "It would take our guild master level to do that, even if it was in Ahkam City."

"Not only that, it was revealed later on that the boss of the Swarm, is a behemoth," said Abaddon

Di made a shallow breath before he said, "If they are capable of doing that, then it seems more so than not, that a Cockatrice is a child play for them."

"Cockatrice? Oh right, he did mention it before! So it was your old quest master?" asked Abaddon as he sat at the edge of his sit.

"One glance to kill a god, a fearsome wingless bird that can't fly," said Di. "You have met them, what do they look like under their cloaks?"

Abaddon shook his head, "Sorry Master Di, I couldn't even get a glimpse out of one of their faces, they are either pretty careful about it, or they didn't let me see it on purpose."

"Is that so," Di huffed. "However, I noticed something from above at the walls when I was with White Perch."

"White Perch was with you?!" Abaddon proceeded to gulp. "W-What did he say?"

As far as he remembered, Lyon was able to stand his ground despite the tremendous presence that was exuding from the second-in-command of the White Crow Guild. He had trained under Master Di, yet his honed instinct immediately force him to take a step back even before his brain realized it. However, Lyon was nonchalant even with the draw of his curved blade hovering under his chin.

"He said nothing of insignificant," said Di after he shook his head. "I've heard the stories that you have an encounter with him."

"Hehe, not just me," Abaddon smiled wryly, "I was there to help a new friend I just made, I never thought that White Perch would also be there. It's pretty tense for the city if they knew that both of you are in the same city."

"Maybe so, but they are worried about the wrong person," said Di. "I'm not the most dangerous person in the city, nor is White Perch."

"Master," Abaddon gulped. "Please don't tell me it's them?"

"They are an enigma, shrouded in mystery, but they played the rules," said Di. "Tell me that thing doesn't worry you?"

"Ah..." Abaddon raised both brows. "If they have the power, they could do something criminal with their power without anyone noticing."

"Exactly," Di nodded. "The question is, why?"

Abaddon contemplated before he raised his brows, "Oh right! I think I've heard him asking about Zelena."

"Is that so," said Di. "They are very interested in Leviathan's Fang and also Mana Essence."

"Mana Essence, that's pretty general, but Zelena is also pretty general," Abaddon sighed. "It seems like we have no way of finding out what they want."

"Have you tried inviting them to join our guild?" asked Di.

"Mona tried, didn't work," said Abaddon after he shook his head. "However, we can be sure that the White Perch and Harp Guild couldn't get them either."

"They have a beef with the Harp Guild?" asked Di. "How?"

"I don't know, I don't know if they have a beef or not, however, he did mention Avi to me," Abaddon shrugged. "Maybe they've seen through her power, I mean, their power is beyond comprehension."

"They are monsters indeed," Di nodded. "It's a good thing that you didn't compare yourself to them, otherwise, you would be having a hard time improving your skill."

"Hahaha," Abaddon pricked his cheek as he looked away with a wry smile, "I kinda want to test my fist against one of them."

"Heh, you never change," Di smirked before he heard knocks on the door.

"Justdy, I got your cock!"

( That voice! ) Abaddon immediately jumped out of his seat and stood up. His glance hovered at the door. "Speak of the devil."

"They did it, didn't they," muttered Di before he stood up. "I was about to tell you what I've noticed, but it seems that I was wrong, they got a full team on the job."

"Huh?" Abaddon raised his brows as he saw his master going toward the door.

He opened the door before his eyes opened wide. The full team didn't cover their faces at all. He looked down before seeing a sack in Lyon's hand. "Is that?"

"The cock's head," said Lyon with a smile. "Where is my Mana Essence?"

"Let me see first," said Di before Lyon shrugged.

"Have a fill."

Di opened and peeked at the content of the sack before noticing a familiar head. He knotted it back with his eyes closed and nodded. "Well done."

"Where is it?" asked Lyon.

"Abaddon can you take a vial of Mana Essence in my drawer," said Di.

"A-A vial?!" Abaddon exclaimed.

"That's right," said Lyon. "Not a drop less."

"Uh, alright," said Abaddon before he rushed inside. ( Damn, he still acts nonchalant even when encountering master ).

Meanwhile, things were not as what Abaddon thought about his master.

The latter was standing at the door, confronting the entire group of the Cloaked Guys. Their faces were revealed nonchalantly. The women were attractive, one was even a definition of lithe beauty. The men shared their disposition through how they stood as the tallest of them leaned on the walls, with his arms crossed.

Di's eyes might not be jumping from one to another of each individual in the group in front of him, but he was well aware of the subtle presence that they exuded.

"This is not the first time that I've seen your face, but it is for the others," said Di.

"Oh you did?" asked Lyon. "I guess you did, was it yesterday night at the noodle shop?"

"Here you go," said Abaddon as he stood just behind his master.

"Thank you," Di nodded before taking it from Abaddon's hand. He showed it to Lyon.

The vial was small and thin. The liquid inside was sparkling with energy that was almost translucent to the touch. It was the juice for all meridian points. The Mana Essence.

Lyon held it in his hand before he pocketed it inside his cloak.

Abaddonost choked his own breath. He never thought that something as valuable as a vial of Mana Essence would be stored like it was a single AT.

"May I ask you how did you kill a Cockatrice?" asked Di.

"You're not ashamed to ask even if you are the second-in-command of the Flame Guild, I'm surprised," said Lyon as he smirked.

"I'm always open to learning," said Di.

"I will only answer if you can do one favor to me," said Lyon.

"That would depend on the favor," said Di.

"It's easy enough with your power in the Flame Guild."

"Master Di—"

Di raised his hand and stopped Abaddon from any more words. He looked at Lyon before asking, "What is it?"

"Heh," Lyon smirked before crossing his arms. "I want an audience with Zelena, that giant fish's fang or something."

Abaddon and Di immediately opened their eyes wide, however, before the former wanted to say a word, he was stopped by his master once more in the same manner.

"An audience with the Leviathan's Fang, I presume?" asked Di.

"Don't fret now, it's just a Leviathan, it ain't a god of the sea yet," Lyon smirked and caught Di's furrowed brows.

"I can try asking the group tomorrow if I have the luck," said Di.

"Then you will have your answer the day after tomorrow or more," said Lyon. "I will be hanging around here in this city for a while, I'm sure it will not be that hard for you to find me, I'll hang around your guild to waste time too."

Lyon turned before the group turned too.

"However, I can only say that you have a low chance of having an audience with her or her party," said Di.

Lyon paused before he glanced over his shoulder.

"Tell her then, that her brother-in-law wants to visit."

He left both the stupefied master and student duo, with a smirk.