"What the hell do ya think yer doing in my compound?"
The man asked, gripping Boros' wrist-his other hand still tucked in his pocket.
Boros remained where he was, one hand still on Rudeus' shoulder as he knelt, breathing heavily.
'What is he doing here...?' Rudeus thought, his voice unsteady as he stared at the man in the cowboy hat.
"Are ya deaf?" the man said, tightening his grip. "Who the hell are ya... and what are ya doing in my compound?"
My arm won't budge. Boros frowned, trying to pull free-but the man's grip didn't move an inch.
Still, he said nothing. Just stared.
"Someone storms into my compound, attacks one of my kids... and none of ya thought to come get me?" the man said, glancing around.
No one answered. Most avoided his gaze, eyes fixed on the ground.
Then his eyes returned to Boros.
"For the last time."
"Who are ya?"
Silence.
"...Alright then."
"You're dead."
He pulled his hand from his pocket and clenched his fist-
-and swung.
"WAIT!!!"
The punch stopped dead inches from Boros' face. The force alone pushed his hair back.
Kinuko rushed in, panting.
"He's a member of this Guild! He just joined today!"
She held an ID in her hand. It was Boros', the one which started this whole scuffle. He had dropped it when Rudeus first hit him.
The man took it, glancing at the photo. Then, slowly, his grip loosened.
Boros yanked his arm free, stepping back and rubbing his wrist, releasing Rudeus in the process.
The man looked from the card... back to Boros.
"So it's just a friendly spar between kids, eh?" he muttered, scratching his chin.
'Friendly?' Kinuko thought. 'Half the compound is destroyed...'
Still, relief washed over her. At least the situation had deescalated.
The man's gaze shifted again.
"Care to explain why no one thought to stop this?"
"Adam."
A voice answered. From the ruins of a nearby structure, the hooded man leaned out-crescent-shaped eyes curved with a grin.
"My, my... it seems I've been caught."
Stepping out from the corner of the building he'd been hiding behind, Adam spoke.
"Well... if you were here, I don't think you would've wanted to stop such an interesting fight."
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
"He was there the whole time...?"
"No way... I didn't sense him at all..."
"He's been watching this entire fight?!"
"Interesting, ya say?" the man replied, scratching his chin. "That interesting fight of yours nearly cost me half my damn property."
Adam said nothing-just chuckled.
"Come here, Rudeus," the man said, his eyes shifting to him.
"Yes, sir," Rudeus replied, stepping forward.
'He called him 'sir'... just who is this man?' Kinuko wondered.
"Walk with me."
He turned and headed toward the main building-the very place the fight had started.
Somehow, it was still standing. It seemed both Rudeus and Boros had unconsciously avoided it during the fight because there were still people inside.
"You too, pretty boy," the man added, glancing back at Boros.
Boros clenched his teeth, tempted to stay put-but his eyes met Kinuko's.
He rolled his eyes and followed, falling in beside Rudeus as they trailed behind the man.
"I need a damn cig," the man muttered.
"My, my... you know those aren't good for you," Adam said with a grin.
"You've been tellin' me that since I was nineteen. Look at me now."
He pulled a cigarette from the pack and placed it between his lips.
"Light."
Adam flicked a lighter toward him. The man caught it smoothly, lit the cigarette, then flicked it back just as casually.
By the time they reached the building, the tension had spread.
As they walked, people stepped aside, clearing a path-eyes lowered, not daring to meet his gaze.
"Now..."
He sat down on a stool, exhaling slowly.
"Any of ya kids wanna tell me what started this fight?"
No one in the hall spoke.
Some wanted to-but no one was willing to point fingers. After what they'd just witnessed, the last thing anyone wanted was to end up on the wrong side of either Boros or Rudeus.
Then-
Someone stepped forward.
It was the receptionist.
"It was my fault," she said, lowering her head.
"No, it wasn't!" Rudeus snapped.
"Shut the hell up, Rudeus."
The man didn't raise his voice-but the weight behind it was enough.
Rudeus clenched his teeth and fell silent.
"Speak. How's this yer fault... Ruby?"
Ruby straightened.
"Well... this gentleman," she said, gesturing toward Boros, "had complaints about his rank. I know I'm not usually on receptionist duty unless it's recruiting season, but I should've explained things better."
"That so, it se-"
"I understood everything she said," Boros cut in. "More explanation wouldn't have changed anything. I just don't like the rank I got."
"My, my... interrupting him already?" Adam began-
-but stopped as the man raised a hand lazily.
"Oh?" the man said, eyes shifting to Boros. "And what rank was that?"
"D."
Silence.
Then-
He chuckled.
Soft at first.
Then louder.
Soon, the entire hall followed, laughter spreading-nervous, forced.
Boros' fists clenched.
"...Did I say something funny?"
"Nah," the man said, wiping the corner of his eye. "I like you."
He exhaled a stream of smoke.
"What exactly don't ya like about the rank?"
"It's too low," Boros said firmly. "I deserve higher."
"Deserve..." the man repeated, amused.
He studied Boros for a moment.
"The fire in yer eyes... ain't seen that in a recruit for a while."
A faint grin formed on his lips.
"How about I strike a deal with ya?"
"My, my... I have a feeling this won't end well," Adam said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Ya worry too much, Adam."
"What deal?" Boros asked.
"Yer want a higher rank, yeah?"
"Yes."
"Well... there's a mission that's been a pain in the ass for just about every guild out there."
He took a slow drag.
"Eight S-ranks dead."
A pause.
"And the number of lower-rank casualties?" He exhaled. "Too many to count."
"Where are you going with this?" Boros asked.
"We're getting there, champ."
The man stood, walking over to a board nearby.
"As ya can see..." he said, tapping it lightly, "...they're callin' 'em the Chaos Twin-Draken."
The room erupted.
"I knew where he was going, but I didn't actually believe he would say it."
"Yeah, the guy's just a hot blooded recruit. Just have him fight a bunch of higher ranks to humble him."
"Yeah, there's no need to send him on a suicide mission."
"I wonder who his party is gonna be, they're gonna have to be strong as hell."
"Quiet down, ya damn kids."
He struck the board once-hard.
Silence fell instantly.
"Chaos Twin... Draken?" Boros repeated.
"Yer a smart one, ain't ya," the man said dryly.
"And what does that have to do with the deal?"
"Oh... a lot."
He turned, walking back to his stool.
Then sat.
"...'Cause you'll be going to hunt these Draken."
A pause. His eyes locked onto Boros.
"On yer own."