To the south of Hyra city lay the bustling commercial district, boasting an array of restaurants, malls, theaters, shops, and various forms of entertainment. While the Holder's House wasn't situated in this lively hub, it held significance in the city's political landscape, nestled within the city center.
Alongside Harmony Lane, several two to three-story buildings lined the street, featuring apartments and serving as offices for fledgling businesses. Some small guilds also found their footing in rented spaces, including the Tribunal Guild.
Within a second-floor room of one such building, a man sat before his computer. His figure was clad in an overly large black suit, topped with round, oversized glasses and a sprinkling of freckles across his face.
Intermittent laughter escaped his lips as he enjoyed a sitcom. Reaching out, he grabbed a handful of snacks, poised to open them, when his phone, located within his suit, vibrated.
Focused on the screen, he retrieves the phone and answers without checking the caller.
"Manny," a voice resonates from the phone. Though the tone is hushed, it's unmistakably that of a woman. Just this one word prompts him to pause the video, sit upright, and replace his laughter with a serious expression.
"Sister," he responded, akin to a soldier acknowledging his commander.
"How's the guild?" the voice inquired. Manny detected background noises, suggesting movement and the sound of an engine. She was driving.
Anticipating the question, Manny grinned, "Everything's in order. I've successfully recruited a holder."
"A Holder? So just one?" His sister's voice carried a touch of surprise.
"Y-yes..." Manny replied fearfully, "But don't worry, Sis. It's only a matter of time before more holders join us."
"I've been gone for three months and you've only recruited one holder?!" The woman's voice boomed, causing Manny to pull the phone away from his ear.
"Y-y-yes," Manny confirmed, stuttering three times. In his heart, he pondered the reasons behind their struggles in attracting holders. First, they didn't have much to offer, and second, their capital was meager, evident in their current building.
"What are you doing right now? After recruiting one holder, you're lazing around watching some stupid sitcom?!" The voice exuded frustration.
Manny tensed, quickly scanning the simple room. How did she find out?!
"N-no, I'm catching up on the news," Manny swiftly closed the video and opened a website featuring holder-related updates, all within a matter of seconds.
"Oh, what a convincing lie," the voice remarked, dripping with sarcasm.
Are you a mind reader?! Manny grumbled inwardly.
The woman went silent for a while, leaving Manny to contemplate the worst possible outcome—facing the wrath of the guild master. "So, how's the recruit?"
Manny let out a sigh of relief.
"He calls himself Eka, probably an alias. And he passed the... let's say, crappy examination, securing a 2-star medal with a C rating. He's even shown capability to solo an F-class dungeon," Manny detailed, a hint of pride in his voice as he spoke the last sentence.
"Ah, 'crappy examination', nicely put. But don't get too excited. A strong holder typically wouldn't bother with a lower-tier dungeon," she commented. "What about his character?"
"Kinda stoic and..." Manny hesitated, "a bit challenging to handle, but I think I can manage."
This morning, while browsing the Holder's website, Manny came across a forum post discussing the recent medal examination for one and two-star holders. The post revolved around a holder donning a white mask. It seemed this masked holder had inflicted serious injuries on one of the participants. While such altercations were not uncommon, the fact that the injured party was George Heidil sent shivers down Manny's spine.
Anticipating a potential visit from a Heidil family representative, Manny sat on edge, but as the time inched towards 9 o'clock, no one had arrived. So, to soothe his frayed nerves, he decided to indulge in a sitcom.
"When are you coming home?" he inquired, shifting the topic. His sister had been away for three months, which also marked the time their guild was established.
The only response to his question was the roaring of the engine.
"Found you…"
"Found who?" Manny inquired, hearing his sister's whisper.
"Do you remember why I named the guild Tribunal?" The guild master queried.
"Isn't it because of your dream to bring justice worldwide?" He replied, tilting his head in slight confusion about the direction of the conversation. After all, she had traveled to another country to combat criminals before deciding to establish a guild in Hyra city with the same goal in mind.
Manny shared this rationale with Dante, but the masked holder remained indifferent, valuing his freedom above all. Manny agreed, though he wondered if his sister shared the same perspective.
"That's what I'm doing right now–" she mumbled. Suddenly, all Manny could hear was the deafening roar of the engine followed by a resounding boom.
"Sis!" Manny cried out, leaping to his feet. He recognized the sounds emanating from his phone as those of fire consuming something. His heart raced, a rush of memories with his sister flashing before his eyes. This was their first call in three months.
"It's guild master," a woman's voice emanated from the phone, "Idiot, did you forget I'm a 5 star? A minor car crash like this is nothing. Just make sure to treat the recruit well. And I won't be back for a couple months."
Manny let out an awkward laugh. What a curveball.
"Don't worry, guild master, I'll make sure to recruit more holders!" he declared, sounding resolute.
"If I find out you're slacking off, you know the consequences," the guild master warned, then abruptly hung up.
Manny suddenly felt a shiver down his spine. But he quickly regained his composure, forcing a smile as he sat back down. "I'll just finish this video, then it's back to recruiting."
As he was about to close the website, he noticed an update—an additional article. He read the title, his eyes widening, and immediately clicked on it. Leaning in closer to the monitor, his breath grew heavier. After a while, he let out a sigh of understanding.
"So that's why they haven't sent anyone," Manny mused. His thoughts raced as he absorbed the contents of the article. It was all about the Heidil family. Due to George's failure in the holder examination, he had been rushed to a hospital. The incident wasn't being covered up, as there were many witnesses present during the examination.
As per the report, George's mother and his butler were at his bedside, awaiting his recovery. Suddenly, an explosion rocked the area. When the authorities arrived, they discovered two charred bodies—the remains of Marineth and the butler. Strangely, George's body was nowhere to be found at the scene.