Jian narrowed his eyes, the air in the room thickening, but he chose to remain silent, watching as Yuuto calmly dialed a number. After a few moments, the phone BEEPED, and a voice came through.
“Sir Yuuto,” Director Aethel’s voice sounded crisp over the speaker. “What is the occasion?”
Yuuto, smiling slightly, placed the phone on speaker. “Director, I’m simply calling to confirm the existence and authenticity of Clause 89 of the Union Law. I am correct in believing it’s real, yes?”
Aethel, seated at his office desk, narrowed his eyes slightly. It was clear to him that Yuuto, a seasoned and sharp man, wouldn’t forget such a crucial detail.
The fact that he was asking now made it obvious someone else was listening in-someone who needed to understand the consequences of their actions.
‘For this to happen just the next morning after the meeting…’
‘Must be the Li family… Did they find something? Why the White Comets though?’ Aethel was right, yet wrong. He was assuming that the Li family were the ones involved due to the footage they must have obtained from the Union.
It had to be them. After all, which family or organization would want to sever ties with a major guild? It made no sense, not unless was some act of revenge, and the Reapers Guild had no agreement with the White Comets, so it had to be the Li family.
‘Could it be that they know something that we don’t?’ Aethel thought further. It couldn’t be a coincidence, but why would they blame the White Comets? Deciding to not keep Yuuto waiting, he responded.
“Yes, Clause 89 is authentic,” Aethel replied.
“Its contents are accurate.”
“Thank you for your time, Director Aethel,” Yuuto replied.
“Anytime, Sir Yuuto,” Aethel responded before the call ended with a BEEP.
Aethel narrowed his gaze as he then mumbled, “The White Comets… the Li family would not make a bold move like this one without reason, so they must know the White Comets are responsible.”
“But if they acquired the footage and they know the White Comets are responsible and confront them with it… why is Sir Yuuto calling to confirm the existence of Clause 89? It wouldn’t work in such a scenario…”
“Do they somehow know, yet not know?”
“Without the footage?”
The situation seemed complex, but Aethel’s sharp mind was pulling it apart, piece by piece. ‘Then they must have known. Signals were jammed, so it couldn’t have been communicated.’
‘So they knew beforehand, then they must have planned it…’
He placed his hand under his chin as he thought out loud further, “Only the ones who were in the Wastelands could have been responsible…”
“Someone on the White Comet team must have been responsible… But… how would they evoke such a creature to act against them?”
Suddenly it clicked. He remembered the boy who summoned a drake, as well as joining a top guild on his terms—it was all on the internet.
Aethel then narrowed his gaze as he mumbled, “Alister…”
…
Back with Yuuto and Jian…
Jian paled slightly, his confident fa?ade cracking as the gravity of the situation set in. Yuuto, sensing his discomfort, leaned forward, eyes gleaming with the look of a predator.
“So, you see, young Jian,” Yuuto continued, his voice dripping with condescension. “Not only did you come in here making baseless accusations without any proof, but you also failed to bring any form of compensation for breaching the contract.” He paused for a moment, his words hanging in the air.
“Which, as you now understand, puts your family in a rather precarious position.”
Yuuto’s eyes gleamed as he then spoke in a cold tone, his fingers tapping on the desk. “You know…”
“With the authority granted by Clause 89, I have the right to adjust the contents of the contract as I see fit. I could make things very… ‘unpleasant’ for the Li family.”
Jian’s heart sank at the implication. He could already feel the walls closing in. His family’s influence had shielded them for so long, but this was a different kind of danger-one that could ruin them entirely.
Adjusting the contents of the agreement meant that he could do anything to them, and he would have the complete support of the Union. Nothing was off the table.
They could practically lose everything.
He swallowed his pride, his voice coming out hoarse as he gritted his teeth. “Please, Guild Master Yuuto,” he said, lowering his gaze.
“I-my family—we didn’t mean to offend you. Please, forgive our actions.”
Yuuto, however, remained silent, his expression indifferent as if he hadn’t heard a word Jian said. The silence remained uncomfortably.
Jian’s face grew paler, realizing that his plea hadn’t reached Yuuto. His voice grew more desperate. “We were wrong. I was wrong. Please, reconsider. I’m asking for forgiveness.”
Yuuto still said nothing, his sharp silver eyes watching Jian with a look of detachment, as if waiting for something more.
Jian clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the situation crush him. Finally, in a last-ditch effort, he dropped to his knees.
“Please!” Jian begged, his voice breaking. “My family and I are truly sorry for our actions. We were foolish. Please don’t punish us. We…we apologize for everything.”
Yuuto raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a slight smile of satisfaction. He waited for a moment, letting the tension build, before finally speaking.
“Good.”
“Now, remember this, Jian,” Yuuto said, standing up from his seat, making his way around his desk.
Finally standing before the kneeling Jian, he leaned forward slightly. “I do not take disrespect lightly. Make sure your family knows their place from now on.”
“Now run back, and always remember, I can decide to ruin that family of yours at any time if you decide to act out again. Even if you do have evidence then, the fact remains you acted out now, and I still reserve my rights to do so.”
Jian, still on his knees, nodded, relief filling him despite the humiliation. “We understand. It won’t happen again.”
Yuuto waved his hand dismissively. “You may go.”
Jian scrambled to his feet, his face flushed with a touch of shame and fear. Without wasting another second, he turned and hurried out of Yuuto’s office, his movements frantic as if
fleeing a predator. freewёbnoνel.com
The door closed softly behind him, but the tension he left in his wake lingered in the air.
Yuuto walked back to his seat and sat in silence for a moment, watching the door before shifting his gaze toward the large window behind his desk.
His silver eyes stared out at the sprawling view of the city below. He sighed softly, a weary exhale, and leaned back in his chair.
“Fang Li…” Yuuto muttered under his breath, almost as if addressing an old friend. “Your descendants are becoming a real hassle.”
“Imagine… trying to kill my lady’s son. Even the friendship we’ve shared might not be enough
to save them if they keep this up.”
For a long moment, Yuuto remained lost in thought, the weight of both duty and past alliances heavy on his shoulders. The Li family had crossed a line today, and if they weren’t careful, the consequences would be severe.