As Sylvie began to recount the story, she made sure to leave out certain parts, saving them for the inquiry portion. Serena made her retell the events multiple times, carefully watching for inconsistencies. Although Serena could tell Mia was being truthful from the first retelling, she pressed her for details to emphasize the gravity of requesting a formal meeting. This wasn't just a conversation—it was a lesson in the weight of responsibility.
"Okay, you can stop. I've heard enough," Serena finally said, leaning back in her chair, deep in thought. She carefully considered the events Mia had described. Missions didn't upgrade themselves without good reason, and the fact that Mia and her team had survived an A-rank situation with no casualties was nothing short of miraculous. Serena had encountered Slordes before in her younger days as a Warlord and knew their potential for devastation. The trio had been fortunate that the storm had thrown the Slordes off their game; otherwise, things might have gone very differently. But what intrigued her most was the sudden upgrade to an A-rank mission—something typically reserved for Warlords within the top 100 of their guilds.
"For your feats during this mission and due to the increased difficulty, both guilds will receive a Star of Promise. Additionally, the individual rewards will be increased by 3,000 gold coins per member," Serena declared.
Mia nearly fainted from the shock. Even Melody and Jack were taken aback. Stars of Promise were prestigious marks of honor, only awarded for truly exceptional acts. Jack figured that Serena had factored in the unexpected rise in difficulty, the low rank of the Warlords involved, and the absence of casualties—a remarkable achievement for such young Warlords. But, like Serena, he was curious about why Mia had requested an inquiry. Both leaders suspected that Mia had held back certain details until the rewards were secured, indicating that what she was about to reveal could have jeopardized those rewards.
Unbeknownst to them, it was Melody who had suggested Mia use the official inquiry route. Melody had seen too many instances where Warlords got off with a slap on the wrist due to in-house handling by Guildmasters who preferred to keep their guilds' dirty laundry hidden. An official inquiry was different—it would be presided over by Vanguard members, with Serena as the head judge. Only the King himself could override her decision, and he rarely intervened unless a Vanguard member was directly involved.
"Okay, I assume we've addressed what you came here for," Serena said, her tone sharp. Now, go ahead with your inquiry request. If I find it meets the parameters, we will proceed with an official inquiry."
The room fell silent. Mia stood there, trembling slightly as beads of sweat rolled down her face. She knew that once she went ahead, there would be no turning back. Melody, seeing her daughter's internal struggle, was about to console her when two hands gently landed on Mia's shoulders. Bane and Sylvie had moved to her side. "We've got your back. No matter what," Sylvie said with a reassuring smile.
Bane nodded in agreement, his presence solid and dependable. This act of friendship brought tears to Melody's eyes—this was what she had always wanted for her daughter. Mia steeled herself, feeling the support of her friends, and stepped forward.
"I, Mia Lockhart, with the support of my team members, wish to file a formal inquiry against GoldenAge member Gram for acts constituting dereliction of duty and conduct unbefitting a Mordell Warlord. Should these claims be found sufficient, I request that he be stripped of his Warlord title effective immediately."
The room seemed to hold its breath. Even the guards by the door stiffened, almost losing their composure. Serena hadn't expected such an accusation and stood, her expression firm and unyielding. "Do you understand the gravity of what you're claiming? Should these accusations prove false, the punishment will be severe."
"I do!" Mia's voice rang out, strong and unwavering. Jack let out a low whistle, glancing over at his members. "Now, this is worth getting out of bed for."
Serena's gaze shifted to Melody, her tone now purely professional. "Proctor representing the group, do you also back this inquiry?"
Melody stood resolute. "As Guildmaster of Infinite Light, I do."
Serena nodded. "Very well. Where is the accused?"
Mia exchanged a look with Sylvie, who raised her hand. "Hex Release."
A black hole appeared on the floor, and Gram emerged, the tendrils that had restrained him finally unraveling. Jack watched with a mix of awe and concern. 'Sylvie had been holding Gram all this time? Her containment magic is frighteningly powerful. This level of sustained magic is no small feat—her potential is terrifying.'
Serena's brow furrowed as she assessed the situation. She announced that the inquiry would commence in two hours, back in her office. She sent aides to contact two Vanguard members as well as Byron, the Guildmaster of GoldenAge, to ensure all relevant parties were present.
As they left the room, Jack walked over to Mia, who was deep in conversation with Melody. "Girl, I hope you know what you're doing. GoldenAge is a prideful bunch, and Gram has a lot of connections. Not to mention, Kane will have something to say about this. An inquiry doesn't just affect a member—it affects the entire guild. If you're prepared for that, and since my members are backing you, I'll lend my support as well."
Mia nodded, having heard rumors about Jack and how difficult he was to approach. Now she understood—he wasn't unfriendly, just extremely calculating, always considering the long-term effects of any decision.
"It's only natural, since our guilds have always been close allies," Melody stated, leaving Mia surprised. She knew that some guilds preferred to work with others, but she hadn't realized the extent of these alliances. The open admission of an alliance between Infinite Light and OrionsHeart was unexpected.
Jack chuckled at Melody's openness. "This is true, but this situation is different. This doesn't just put your guild on GoldenAge's bad side—it puts mine there as well. I wanted to make sure your young one was prepared for the fallout if this goes through."
"Naturally, we are prepared," Melody replied, her voice laced with authority and confidence. "Let's see if the rabbits dare bare their fangs."
As they waited for the impending inquiry, the tension in the air was palpable. This wasn't just a matter of justice—this was about the power dynamics between guilds, the reputation of the Warlords involved, and the integrity of the system that governed them all.