Inside the temporary base Debauchery had rented in Damascus Yunan, Reina and Leol worked on their appraisal training looking through the spoils of war Debauchery had gathered last night, they were not allowed to sleep since it was already morning, they had to continue until bedtime later on.
Meanwhile the guild was having a meltdown sifting through whatever Debauchery left behind, while Debauchery was teaching their student how to count money and store treasures. The amount of protection requests that flooded the guild was beyond what would even wars provoke, even since the announcement made by balin went public all those who even traded looks felt a threat hanging on their necks.
By midday there was a knock on the door of the temporary base, Fae opened the door and respectfully led inside two old men, one had a kindness to him while the other seemed too tired and in need of retirement.
Debauchery assembled with their student in tow in front of the older gentlemen, Fae led everyone into the study where the old men sat on the sofa while Debauchery stood up in a respectful manner, something odd and rare for the bunch, Yunan did not dare to ask any question and kept Reina from talking every time she tried to say something he would pull on her hand.
After the men were comfortable on the sofa Fae excused herself "please excuse me, i would like to present some refreshments. Leader approached the kindly looking man and knelt in the most pious way "your holiness, it is a pleasure having you here, you should have summoned me over" Fae had come almost running with a try that had a bottle of red wine and two glasses on it and set it up in the table before them.
Leader glared at the flustered Fae and proceeded "these are my companions. Fae the elf, Dustan the orc, Balin the dwarf, Lucian the beast and Bai, the kids are our students the blond is Leol, a well mannered aristocra, Reina a royal kitsune and Yunan Friend of fortuna" every one bowed when their name was spoken and even Reina understood that it was not the time to speak or ask question.
"Even if i sent for you we both know you would just run away again, Mary my child, so there is no need for a summon if an old man's request is denied. No need to be this polite when i am here to punish you." he stood up and put his hand on Leader's head "tell me why you did what you did and what kind of punishment you deserve"
"You will not punish me" said Leader in confidence "i followed the only rule you told me to follow, i protected that which i live for, although it got us a very nice surprise, it started with us just protecting the things we live for, and i live to be free and without worry, they tried to get me worried and restrict my freedom, so decided to give them the thing they dread, annihilation"
The old man flicked Leader's forehead and sat back in his place "can you tell us why you did this and how you came by this nice surprise" Leader motioned to Bai to come forward, he did the same as leader and knelt in front of the kindly man and took out a crystal ball that played the confessions they got last week from those spies who were used for the grappling training.
The tired man had an even worse expression when he knew how his guild allowed those with the intent to harm both students and employees into the middle of an academy, he had a guilty look on his face. He looked in apology at Yunan and the other kids. But the expression turned from guilt into rampant rage as he witnessed the confessions gotten from last night, he was positively fuming from rage.
The kindly old man just watched silently, his kind expression turned to grief "did they confess to you Mary?" he asked with a heavy voice. "Yes your holiness, they were under the power of my confession when these were recorded, we have another were they lied and the mark is visible even through the recording" she motioned to Bai and he took out another crystal that showed Balin torturing the female captive from the 7th target. Yunan watched the surprise both old men showed at the mark an it disappearing and reappearing, although the crystal did not show what Balin did, the painful face of the girl was clear enough to be read.
"Can you please show us on the captives, the ones who are related to the cult, i hope you kept some yes?" said the kindly old man and immediately Leader stood up and respectfully led the way to the basement were over 50 captives were huddled together and Debauchery followed. As the older men stepped inside the basement, the captives almost swarmed over them begging and complaining how they have been mistreated and framed by Debauchery. All of them had inverted crosses on their foreheads the tell tale of lying in front of the confessor.
Both older men got out without saying a single word while Bai fixed all the captive with a hostile look and silence ruled the basement. Before leaving the basement, the kindly old man passed by the pile of spoils debauchery had gotten from the plunder he placed his hands on the pile and half of it disappeared "taxes" explained the kindly old man while a single tear Dropped down from Dustan's eye.
Before leaving with all the crystals that Debauchery recorded even those that had torture included in them the old tired man said "they all died in the attack, i would like to take the corpses with me for burial, they all died for disrupting a mission by the guild, you have one month to prepare, you and your students are going on a vermin extermination mission. Anything else will be done through personal visits. That is all for now, have a good day".
As for the kindly old man he asked Yunan before stepping outside "would you recommend the church to send a student to your merry band?". After a moment of thought Yunan answered "Pious men and women should not be exposed to us, the kind that does not care enough about death or killing, if you plan to send someone, either send someone so pure they can never be tainted or send a tainted one who can never be pure, our merry band is a good place for both, but not the best place for those that are very impressionable". The old man nodded his head and left with a wave of his hand.