156. If Words Don't Work, Use Skill
156. If Words Don't Work, Use Skill
A mere 3 days.
Combined, it was only 72 hours.
In that short time, the standing of the Athena Guild had plummeted—literally to rock bottom.
It started as a simple disturbance.
But before that disturbance could be quelled, a series of events kept erupting one after another.
Inside, there was a whistleblower; outside, the Athena Guild's double-ledgers circulated, causing fractures and breakage regardless of inside or out.
"Chrono is—my lover."
The guild that stood alongside the Athena Guild in the ranks of the major guilds.
The eldest daughter of the Ares Guild declared.
"I fucked that bastard! Took his seed inside me! Did everything there is to do, you sons of bitches!"
....Whether it was a declaration, exposure, or social burial, I wasn't sure.
In any case, just as everyone had been waiting for the moment, the one to take the vanguard appeared.
"But how dare you scumbags treat him like... that kind of bullshit, you, you motherfucking bastards...!!!"
"Mars! Please stop!"
"This is a press conference! It is a press conference right now!"
"Kids, what are you doing, not getting your gear out!"
You motherfucking bastards!
Let go! Let go of me, I said!
I have to, I need to wring the necks of those fuckers right there!
This is why they take me lightly, just because I'm all talk—!
""""...............""""
The next head of the Athena Guild.
A single remark from Mars that reminded everyone of Minerva's actions.
Meanwhile, the quick-witted reporters hurriedly typed up their articles, and at the same time, the guild master standing beside her grabbed the mic and declared.
"I proclaim to all members of the Athena Guild."
It was, quite literally, the prelude to a war.
"Chrono—"
As everyone waited with gleaming eyes,
"—bring before me the bastard who laid a hand on my daughter."
"""".....???""""
Something was a bit different.
"The dirty bastard... scumbag, goddamn motherfucker who laid a hand on my daughter, bring him here!"
""""..............""""
How should I put this.
It felt less like rage towards the Athena Guild...
"Even if it's to kill him, I'll be the one to kill him!"
""""Ah.......""""
....Come to think of it, there were rumors that the Ares Guild Master was a notorious fool of a father when it came to his daughter.
"Dare lay a finger on him! If you kill him before I do, I'll slaughter every last one of you bast—Mmmp...?!"
"Honey."
"....Mmp! Hnng-phmn! Hmph!"
"Hon-ey."
"............"
The one person quietly covering his mouth with both hands from the side.
The guild master's wife naturally sat him down in his seat, took over the mic, and spoke.
"Three days."
"""".....?""""
Did she mean they would give them a deadline of three days?
The reporters hastily wrote their articles.
"And three hours."
""""???""""
The sound of keyboards stopped.
She spoke.
"I endured for three days."
In those three days, you could have turned things back.
"This press conference has lasted 3 hours so far."
Normally, it would have been a short matter, but they had simply waited.
Waited consistently.
However, as no reply came,
"Three."
If the Ares Guild Master was notorious for being a foolish father to his daughter,
"Two."
then could the guild master's wife possibly be an ordinary person?
"One."
No, there was no way.
Because a just ordinarily average person could never have remained by his side.
──Kuuuuuung!!!
""""───!!!""""
From across the Ares Guild,
a thunderous roar echoed from the Athena Guild building.
And simultaneously, clouds of billowing smoke rose up.
"There was a popular saying back in my day."
As all the reporters stared at her with blank eyes, she said.
"If words don't work, prove it with skill."
If you beat some sense into them, they'll come to their senses.
*****************
─Kugugugugung!
─Kwajik, Kwagwagwang!
"No, you crazy bastards...!"
"What the hell did we even do!"
The Athena Guild was being half-demolished in real time.
Though it had only been 3 days, perhaps because they felt the guild turning to shit in that short time, roughly half of the guild members hadn't shown up to the guild hall.
On top of that, due to the Athena Guild's characteristic 'human wisdom,' half the people had loyalty that hit rock bottom, a quarter of that half were only looking out for their own hides, and after excluding various others, they were in a situation with barely any combat strength left.
Even more so,
"You think you can fuck with stocks, you motherfuckers!"
"Stock manipulation crossed the line, you sons of bitches!"
"Return my land! My land! My house! You fucking bastards!"
Just as all the dirty secrets of the Athena Guild had circulated,
people completely unrelated to Chrono had all joined hearts, hoping to see the Athena Guild utterly smashed to pieces.
In the middle of it, attempts to call the police were good in theory, but...
"Excuse me, grandfather, you can't keep doing that."
"Whaat! Those rotten bastards right there swindled my father's land clean—eh?"
"Don't use the wooden plank, use this. Your hand will hurt less that way."
"....Thank ye kindly!"
These police officers are handing out free batons.
In reality, the corruption had blown up to a point where even if they wanted to cover it up, they couldn't.
And because some of the police were among those affected by the fallout, the suppression effort was sluggish, even feeling like they were cheering them on to break things even more vigorously.
"Guild Master! Citizens, including the Ares Guild, are swarming in!"
"....Fuuu."
A situation where even the state had turned its back.
In one word, a guild fallen into the abyss.
The Athena Guild's disgustingly drawn-out administrative processes, political jockeying, and its gathering of people who hated taking losses led to a cutting of the tail.
Ultimately, someone had to take responsibility and end the matter, but it was a situation where that 'someone' couldn't exist.
'Mr. Chrono...'
The guild master closed his eyes.
The pest who had once tried to approach Minerva—because of that one pest, the situation had deteriorated this far.
'...Alright.'
But what could be done?
The situation was what it was, and reality was reality.
For now, it was best to do his utmost and bring this affair to a close.
Follow-up measures were for later.
What needed to be done right now to quell the immediate crisis was....
"So, have you found out where 'Mr. Chrono' is being held captive?"
".....Everyone denies it, saying they never did such a thing."
In a way, it was only natural.
Because they'd never actually kidnapped anyone.
Even the evidence floating around merely looked 'plausibly convenient,' but they'd never actually 'abducted' him.
Ultimately, no matter how much they pressed and interrogated, no answer came. That was the reality.
—Kuuuung!
"They've breached the 5th floor....Guild Master, you must evacuate now."
"No. I will not flee."
"Pardon....?"
Fleeing would mean they were guilty of the crime.
Turning away would mean they had a guilty conscience about it.
And showing such 'weakness' was, on the contrary, akin to admitting that 'lie' as 'truth.'
"Convey to everyone: Do not resist. Let them break what they will."
"....Understood."
A fire already blazing could not be extinguished with a fistful of water.
If so, then even if he gave things away, it was better to at least protect what was his.
'After that...'
...Now that all the things they had embezzled and kept hidden were exposed, they had to take responsibility.
However, since he couldn't bear all of this on his shoulders alone, it would be right to set up a single person as a scarecrow.
'There are plenty to replace and discard.'
On top of that, the chipped-away fame and status could be restored with time.
If he added a bit of money and performances to it, eventually, as time passed, people would gradually forget.
'Let's abandon the Guild Master position.
Instead, let's delegate this matter to my daughter.
Since she had become the main culprit of the exposure incident, even if she became Guild Master, the backlash wouldn't be too severe.
After that—yes, let's pull Minerva out of the Academy. As she'd have to fulfill the duties of a Guild Master, it would be difficult for her to maintain her student cadet status, making it suitable both in terms of justification and timing.
'And after that, we can slowly...'
Just get up from your seat and set things back one by one. That's all.
He outlined the tasks ahead in his head.
—Thudthudthudthudthud!
—Kung....Kwajijik!
"Found him! He's in heeeere!!!"
"You rotten bastard! You scum, rotting to the core!"
"There you are!!!"
"............Hmm."
Uninvited guests barged into the Guild Master's office just as the picture was roughly forming in his mind.
"Welcome. Would you care for a cup of tea?"
The Guild Master rose from his seat and bowed his head in greeting to everyone.
"Ptooi....Fuck, I don't need tea or anything, just hand over Chrono."
"...Mars-yang, wasn't it? Regrettably, I know nothing about Chrono-gun."
"................."
Grip
A greatsword clearly gripped with intense force.
The Guild Master still hadn't taken up a weapon.
"I will say again, I know nothing about the abduction incident."
"Then what the fuck about that bitch Minerva?"
"I, too, am extremely anxious as my daughter has disappeared."
"Wow....Look at this fucker putting on a whole damn show."
I absolutely understand now why that bitch Minerva's personality is so shitty.
Mars raised her greatsword with both hands and said.
"Enough. Beatings will get you talkin'."
"I have absolutely no connection to this case."
"Stop spouting bullshit and just draw your sword, won't you?"
"I am innocent."
".......You son of a bitch?"
He didn't draw his sword.
He didn't resist.
As if he hadn't committed any sin at all.
Because he offered absolutely no resistance, the situation became one where it was, inversely, harder to point the blade at him.
Literally, he appeared to be a man with 'no sin whatsoever,'
and furthermore, trying to kill someone who wouldn't even resist was an act against human decency.
"He really is...that fucker's father, alright. His actions are just as fucking dirty."
Mars vented her anger on the innocent furniture, sighing deeply.
And looking at that Mars, the Guild Master smiled, just as he had at the start.
"As I said earlier, I know nothing about any of this."
A consistent denial.
And even cautious with his words, preparing for a potential lawsuit.
And then, from beyond the TV, someone spoke towards that very Guild Master.
[Breaking news! It is reported that two people have been found, abducted in the dungeon of Queen Siren!]
[This dungeon was recently subjugated by the Athena Guild, making it undeniable that the Athena Guild is closely related to this!]
"......Even now?"
"I know nothing of it."
[Let's interview an employee of the Athena Guild. Why did you participate in this matter?]
[Through the Guild Master's line, he gave me a direct order....Sob....Heuk! I truly didn't want to do it...!]
"Even after that?"
"It seems he must have misinterpreted my words."
[Minerva, would you care to say a word?]
[....Father...no, Guild Master.]
[I will never...I will never forget this.]
".............."
"As I continue to say, this was something I knew nothing about."
".............."
"Surely, a father of a child wouldn't kidnap and confine his own child."
"Wow."
You really are.
Just...yeah.
That's it. That.
"Don't open your mouth."
Your mouth reeks of shit.