’So this is the power of guildmaster’ she thought, her legs stiff from tension.
While the assistants were nearly gasping for air, the other guildmasters appeared unfazed. One yawned lazily, another nonchalantly trimmed her nails, while someone else casually flipped through a book. It was clear, they were used to this kind of atmosphere.
"Calm down, you two!" a thunderous voice suddenly cut through the pressure.
It came from the man seated at the center of the table. Bald, dark-skinned, and with a body like carved stone, he wore attire styled in traditional villager fashion. His voice was so commanding that the nearby windows rattled from its sheer force.
"If you want to fight, settle it after the meeting," he growled.
Immediately, the auras surrounding Mirinda and Gabriel faded. The thick, choking air lifted, and a collective sigh of relief followed. Ida, still shaken, exhaled sharply, finally able to breathe.
"We apologize, Master Salim," Mirinda and Gabriel said in unison, bowing their heads. They both knew exactly how terrifying Salim could become when angered. It was not just reputation, he was one of the strongest men on the continent.
One by one, the guildmasters straightened in their seats, their playful postures giving way to discipline.
Salim swept his eyes across the room, gauging each guildmaster in turn. Then, he rose to his feet.
"Ahem... Today, we are gathered to discuss the upcoming Guild Tournament," Salim began, his voice steady and commanding. "Every five years, the guilds compete for the top. Therefore, the objective of this meeting is to decide the tournament events we will host. To recall, in the last tournament, we held three main events: Group Battle, Solo Duel, and Last Man Standing."
A woman with elegant poise raised her hand. She had a long, pointy tail and fox-like features like a graceful fusion of human and beast. With a fan lifted gently in her fingers, she spoke with a soft, melodious voice.
"May I suggest we retain the same events as last time?"
Gabriel scoffed. "Of course you’d say that, so your guild can win again. Over my dead body, Katarine!"
Katarine let out a gentle laugh, hiding her mischievous smile behind her fan. "Why? Is your guild scared of mine?"
"Bring it on, Katarine!" a small girl suddenly stood on her chair, planting one foot on it like a pirate preparing to board. She pointed dramatically at Katarine, eyes glinting with defiance. "We’ll make you pay for what you did to our guild last time!"
She wore a delicate blue gown with matching ribbons tied neatly in her perfectly combed hair, a walking contradiction to her wild, fiery behavior.
"Ahem... manners, Guildmaster Chloe," a man in a sharp black butler suit said softly, standing behind her.
"Tch!" Chloe clicked her tongue, then flopped into her seat with arms crossed and a pout, like a spoiled princess.
"I agree with Guildmaster Chloe. I think we should maintain the same events. After all, victory is only glorious when earned against the best," said a man with a long black mustache and a monocle perched over one eye. He wore an absurdly tall hat, nearly a meter in height and carried himself with an air of refined dignity. A name tag reading Bolton was pinned to his chest. He sipped his tea with elegant precision, all while reading a thick leather-bound book in his other hand.
A drawn-out sigh echoed through the room as another man leaned lazily against his chair. He had messy blue hair, sleep-heavy eyes, and a trail of drool clinging to the corner of his mouth.
"I’ll just agree to whatever you all decide. I wanna go back already... I’m so sleepy," he muttered, yawning again without bothering to cover his mouth.
"Why are you always half-dead during meetings? What do you even do at night, Morn?" Chloe asked, clearly annoyed.
"Huh... You really want to know what I do every night?" Morn smirked and leaned closer to Chloe, his sleepy eyes turning playful.
Just as he was inches from her face, a gloved hand shot out in front of him.
The butler stood between them with a dagger-sharp glare.
Morn chuckled and leaned back casually. "Oops... Forgot you were underage."
Chloe clenched her fists, ready to punch him across the table.
Salim cleared his throat, bringing the attention back to the matter at hand.
"So, all of you agree to maintain the same events as before?" he asked, eyes scanning the room. "How about you, Mirinda?"
Mirinda blinked. Her mind had clearly wandered. She barely been present in the entire discussion.
"Huh? Oh...yes, yes... I agree," she stammered, forcing a smile.
"Everyone will send their S-rank adventurers as usual, right? Makes things more exciting and grand," Gabriel said, glancing sideways at Mirinda.
"Ohhh, I am so sorry... I forgot, your guild doesn’t have any S-rankers." His voice dripped with sarcasm. "Everyone, please go easy on Dawnbloom, alright?" he added with a mocking smile.
Chloe and Katarine joined in the grin. Bolton gave a faint, polite chuckle while twirling the end of his mustache. Morn already snoring.
Mirinda clenched her jaw but said nothing. She was used to this kind of jab. Reacting to it only exhausted her more than it was worth.
Katarine slowly raised her hand, her elegant fingers holding a fan half-folded. "May I ask something?"
All eyes turned to her.
"Will that man join the group battle again?" Her voice was calm, but her face twisted in disgust.
Salim nodded. "Yes. Just like before, he’ll be participating."
Katarine clicked her tongue. "I cannot stand that man. How can we still allow someone like him in the tournament?"
"He’s the crowd’s favorite," Bolton replied without looking up from his book. "Letting him join boosts turnout...and coins."
"Just let him join," Gabriel said with a crooked grin. "My guys have something special prepared for him this time."
Salim’s expression turned stern as he looked at Katarine. "And Katarine, please restrain Ursula from entering again. She’s too unpredictable and destructive. We don’t need a repeat of what happened five years ago."