[Earlier in the Day – The Start of the Celebration]

“Let’s break down the plan,” Dr. Scale began.

He laid out a piece of paper on a wooden table in the middle of the VIP room. Ned and a few of the invigilators gathered around to view it. A step-by-step approach guide was written on the sheet.

“Follow this to a tea, and you should be alright,” the Guild Master reassured. “Remember, whoever has control of the room has control over the outcome. It’s obvious he wanted to meet you because he has some sort of trick up his sleeve. This won’t let that happen.”

Ned scanned the paper. It was a well-written guideline with all the questions he was supposed to ask, and it even included some tips on how to counter difficult situations that may arise. It was definitely going to be helpful, but by how much remained to be seen.

You see, his father was a tricky man adept at psychological manipulation. He frequently used this tool to blackmail Ned and his siblings into submission. One such instance crept its way into Ned’s psyche, throbbing his head as the painful memories resurfaced.

…

It was eight years ago, during the transition period between autumn and fall. The temperature had just dropped below zero, and the first snowfall was in full force. Tondon was busy preparing for the Association’s national holiday: Foundation Day. It was a day to commemorate the end of a bloody civil war that consumed human society for centuries. But for Ned, it was also his little sister’s birthday… something even more important.

Ava was turning six that year, meaning she would finally begin elementary school next fall. It was a crucial milestone for her, the beginning of her educational journey. Ned wanted the celebration to be perfect, so he and Kai left school early to buy a cake and set up. This was the norm after his mother’s death, as his father's drinking habits meant there was little to no money to spare for special occasions.

After stopping by the local bakery and placing an order, he and Kai were waiting outside, sitting on a curb. Slowly, snowflakes fell onto the paved streets, decorating the area in a cool white blanket. They were young and excited, so naturally, they began to play in the snow. Ned was always smaller than Kai, who knew that and used it to his advantage. He would tackle his brother impishly into the slush, throwing snowballs at his face.

The cold numbed Ned’s sensations, his cheeks freezing over from the prickly frost that touched his rosy cheeks. But despite that, he was still warm on the inside, giddy even. It wasn’t often he was allowed to feel free and relaxed, so whenever that opportunity came, he grasped at it eagerly.

A pair of boots crunching through the snow slowly approached Ned and Kai. Upon its arrival, a shadow was cast over the two boys, abruptly ending their little game. Stood before them was a man Ned refused to recognize… his father.

An almost empty bottle of gin was in his hand. He shook it slowly, swirling what little contents remained around the base of the bottle. Soon, the shaking became excessive and even violent. His hand jerked side to side aggressively until he finally smashed the bottle against the curb. The shards of glass stabbed into the snow as the liquid seeped away.

“Why?” Sven mumbled slowly. “Why are… why are you lot here? Why?”

Kai stood, stretching out a protective arm in front of Ned.

“We’re buying a cake for Ava,” he spoke firmly. “It’s her birthday today.”

“B-buying?” Sven questioned, his expression souring. His face quickly reddened with anger as his teeth clenched. “WHERE DID YOU GET THAT MONEY? GIVE IT TO ME.” He thrust out an arm, squeezing his fist tightly before opening his palm and shoving it into Kai’s face. “GIVE IT TO ME,” he repeated.

“We. Bought. A. cake,” Kai stated again, a hint of anger in his voice. “It’s. For. Ava’s. Birthday.”

“AND I SAID,” Sven huffed, his hand shaking into a fist once more. “GIVE IT TO ME.”

He swung ferociously at Kai, smashing his knuckles against his face. The boy immediately fell over into the snow, so Sven reached down and grabbed him by the collar. He shoved Kai into Ned’s face, shaking him repeatedly as the poor boy choked from the grip.

“CANCEL THE ORDER,” Sven demanded. “AND GIVE ME THE MONEY. IF YOU DON’T, I’LL BEAT HIM UP AGAIN… AND AVA WON’T GO TO SCHOOL…” he stopped for a second, seemingly confirming something in his head. “YEAH. THAT MONEY IS FOR AVA’S SCHOOLING. HURRY UP AND GET IT, OR SHE DOESN’T GO TO NO DAMN SCHOOL. HURRY UP AND GET... MOVE. MAKE IT QUICK GO AND GET THE MONEY. HURRY UP AND GET IT. HURRY UP AND GET IT.”

The yelling.

The berating.

It continued and continued and continued.

Ned was stuck.

Conflicted.

All the adults around refused to even acknowledge what was happening. They were alone.

And when he looked at Kai, a weak but determined gaze told him not to budge on the cake. But seeing how his father was reacting pushed him in the opposite direction. The pressure was too much to handle, so he folded, heading inside to cancel the order and handing the money over. As promised, Sven released his grip on Kai, eagerly taking the ducats and disappearing down the snowy street.

The brothers returned home empty-handed, disappointing Ava and their other siblings. Despite everything that happened, Kai and Ned stood firm in their loyalty and protectiveness towards Ava, refusing to name her own father as the reason why they couldn’t get a gift. But when Sven returned, he loudly declared that the brothers did not care for Ava or her birthday, which is why they had nothing prepared.

This was devastating for a young and impressionable girl, causing a rift that wouldn’t be repaired for years. It was precisely what Sven wanted. A purposeful divide orchestrated to keep the siblings undermined and under control. And for as long as Ned could remember, it always worked.

…

He shuddered, his body going numb. It wouldn’t be long now until he had to see him again. Would some piece of paper really make the difference? Probably not. But it was the only thing he had.

“Thank you,” Ned smiled, picking up the sheet. He held it tightly against his suit, using it as some sort of warm reassurance.

“No problem. Just as promised, we’re here to help. Get as much information out of him as possible. Then, we’ll strike to arrest. He’s not escaping today.”

Before leaving the room, Dr. Scale handed Ned an earpiece developed in partnership between the Research and Incantation Guilds. It would serve three purposes: recording his conversation with Sven for evidence, acting as a point of communication between him and the Guild Master, and helping record mana levels in the room. The first two benefits were self-explanatory, with the last one being more important.

Sven was a strong man adept at Wind Incantations, possessing a high battle IQ. There was no chance a man as smart as him would enter the beast's belly without a plan. To counter this, Fumie Star set up Anti-Incantation seals around the room earlier in the week. These seals absorb mana almost instantly upon detection, which is a near-perfect deterrent. However, for extra protection, the earpiece was set up to detect any anomalies, allowing Dr. Scale and his invigilators to come to Ned’s aid in case of an abnormal build-up in mana.

Silence.

Now, Ned was the only one in the room. He sat on one of two couches present, with the other directly across, waiting for the person in question. Soon, his earpiece would go off, announcing the beginning of his confrontation.

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“He’s here,” Dr. Scale buzzed in. “My invigilators have confirmed his location. He’s making his way through the plaza as we speak. Over and out.”

Ned’s hand shook as he held a button on his earpiece until a soft ding went off. “C-Copy. I’ll turn on the recording feature once he’s close… O-Over.”

His hand dropped, his fists clenched, his feet curled, and his teeth chattered. Every hair on his body stood as his heart throbbed uncontrollably. He grasped at his chest tightly, his hand failing to get a good grip. This gut-wrenching feeling just wouldn’t disappear.

“He’s outside the door,” Dr. Scale buzzed again.

It was all happening too quickly. The handle turned down slowly as the door creaked open. A pair of boots squeezed against the wooden planks… sounding all too familiar as they approached. Soon, they came to a sudden halt right behind the other chair.

Ned raised his head solemnly.

There he was… Sven Sommer… his father. A warm smile lay directly below a sizeable moustache. His eyes, the same emerald green as Ned’s, glimmered and dilated. He wore a grey suit with a black trench coat. A grey fedora lay atop his head, which he reached for softly. His hand cradled around the crown of the hat, pulling it off slowly and bringing it to his chest. What followed was a slow but methodical bow.

“Sorry,” Sven began, maintaining his prostrated position while raising his head. His face was filled with despair and grief. “I’m so sorry. When was the last time we spoke, Ned? It’s been too long. You know your siblings miss you, right? In the last three years, I’ve learned a lot and reflected. I’ve stopped drinking alcohol and got back into doing my research. I’m also trying to be a better parent…” he finally stopped prostrating himself, standing upright as he circled around the couch, taking a seat with that same expression on his face. “Please. I want you to return home. And I know I shouldn’t have gotten the Assassination Guild to do that. I was desperate. Please understand. I didn’t want you to join the damn Association.”

“W-What!?” Ned griped, his fists still squeezing. “H-How can you just apologize!? A-And how can you expect me to just accept it!? No… no.”

Sven’s expression faltered even more. He shook his head slightly, running his fingers through his thinning black hair. “That’s okay,” he grimaced. “I don’t expect you to forgive me. I just wanted to say sorry. But I’ll stand firm on wanting you to return home. You need to inherit the family name and continue with my research after I’m gone. It’s important.”

“NO!” Ned screamed. “FUCK THAT.”

He was about to stand, but he stopped himself. There was a chance he was playing right into his father’s hands, giving him the reactions he wanted. He was better than that, smarter than that, and most importantly, he wasn’t alone. The strength of the Warrior Association was on his side. The strength of his friends was on his side. The strength of his siblings was on his side. And finally, his own resolve, forged through blistering fire throughout the past week, could not possibly crumble at this early stage.

“No,” he repeated again, this time calmly. “I left because I wanted nothing to do with you, and that’s still the case. Nothing you say will change my mind… it’s already been made.”

Ned took in a deep breath before exhaling slowly. He remembered Dr. Scale’s words about the importance of control. He wasn’t going to hand that over.

“I’m asking the questions,” he spoke firmly. “Why didn’t you want me to join the Association? Technically, I could still inherit the family name regardless. Plus, Kai is older than me. Shouldn’t the oldest inherit your mission?”

Sven’s face softened, a small smile appearing on his lips. “The Association is evil. What kind of sick organization forces adolescent youth into death matches? For entertainment, no less. You shouldn’t have to put your life on the line for a chance to succeed in society. It’s unfair. Think about the majority of people. They aren’t blessed with the ability to use Incantations or Divine Arts. Already, a ceiling has been present in their lives since birth. It’s unfair and unjust. I don’t want my children anywhere near that kind of institution.”

“You’re a hypocrite,” Ned hissed. “Weren’t you part of the Research Guild?”

“I was,” Sven confirmed. “But I left after learning of its true nature. Ned. Believe me. They turned me to addiction. They are the cause of all this. Trust me, don’t get involved with that organization.”

Ned was lost. He didn’t know what to say. Wasn’t Mom's death the reason why he turned to alcohol? Was Sven lying to him? Or was he telling the truth? He couldn’t understand.

“I know how you feel, Ned. You probably feel lost with no place in this world. Maybe you even feel as if you’ve abandoned your responsibilities as a brother… and a son. Whatever the case may be, just remember it's never too late. Don’t let the Association’s words corrupt you. Let's fix our family together.”

Fix the family… together?

Was there a chance that he was telling the truth?

Despite his efforts, a part of Ned wanted that to be the case.

Imagination is a powerful thing. What you desire lays dormant for the most part until something probes at you. Already, Ned was envisioning an ideal world where his brothers and sister ran free in a garden of tulips. Watching from afar, with a jolly expression, was his father… Dad.

“Ned,” the earpiece rang in his ear. “Ned… Don’t listen to him. He’s lying to you. I’ll explain after everything is over. You need to refer to the sheet. You have to ask him about his relationship with Mollox Vargas. We need to know if they’ve been in contact recently.”

Ned shook his head repeatedly.

“M-Mollox,” he stuttered. “Have you spoken to him recently? W-Why do you have relations with the Association if you hate them?”

Sven's face was puzzled. He removed the fedora from his chest and placed it back on his head. “What are you talking about?” he asked, disgusted. “I would never reach out to the Assassination Guild, let alone that old crook Mollox.”

“What!? You just said you hired them!?”

“I never said that,” Sven frowned. “It was Isaac Lawt who hired them for me. I never would've agreed if I knew he was gonna ask them to do it.”

“What?” Ned shook in disbelief. “The Warden of Lawt Law Enforcement!?”

“Yes,” Sven confirmed. “He told me he was willing to help me get you disqualified. He hired the Assassination Guild to do that. But again, I was desperate. If I knew he’d reach out to them, I never would’ve said yes.” Sven stood from his seat, letting out a little sigh. “It was nice seeing you, Ned. I’ll have to take my leave now because it seems we are not alone. If that’s Dr. Scale beyond that earpiece, be careful; don’t trust him. He’s a dangerous man.”

The door to the room barged open, with five Invigilators pouring in alongside Dr. Scale.

“You’re under arrest for attempting to manipulate exam results,” the Guild Master spoke.

“That’s nice,” Sven chuckled. “Unfortunately for you, however, you’re not the only one who's developed some nice new tech.”

Starting from his boots, Sven slowly started to disappear, his body dissipating into light blue particles.

“I call this ‘Holo-Projection.’ It uses the same incantation mechanics behind screens to create a 3D rendering. After some tinkering, you can get it to look just like a person.” He turned to face Ned. “I hope you’re seeing this and making your own opinions. I came in peace today, yet these Association members are already ready to resort to violence. That’s the true nature of this place. Be careful.”

With that last word, his body completely disappeared, leaving only the fedora behind, which fell to the ground. The invigilators quickly moved in to examine it while Dr. Scale approached Ned. The guild Master placed an arm on the boy’s shoulder.

“You did well enough. Thank you. I’m not sure how much of his words we can trust, but we will add Isaac Lawt to our list of suspects, just in case. There are other things that occurred during the exam surrounding the Warden that I found suspicious. Maybe there’s a link.”

“You also need to explain yourself,” Ned spoke. “Please, tell me that everything he said was a lie. I don’t even know what to think right now.”

“I’ll explain everything later… I promise. Right now, I think it's best that you get some rest.”

…

Dr. Scale clenched his teeth and tightened his fists.

The mission to capture Sven Sommers failed

But there is always a way to recover.

He told a single Invigilator to escort Ned out of the room and into a safe place. After that, he whipped his head around to face the remaining invigilators. They were still carefully examining the fedora Sven had left behind.

“See to it that the hat is properly investigated,” he spoke. “A 3D hologram shouldn’t be able to open doors or wear a physical fedora. We’re dealing with high-level technology that has made this possible. We have to find out how he did this.”

Another pressing issue was Isaac Lawt. If the Warden is involved, things will get much more complicated. He is a powerful man--second only to Ozo himself. Throughout the Association, his corporation, Lawt Law Enforcement, plays a crucial role in maintaining order and stability. If that force is used for nefarious goals, the Association could collapse. The whole legal makeup of society is on the line.

…

Wracking his brain, Dr. Scale excused himself from the room, his thoughts swirling with a mix of frustration and unease. At times like these, booze was his go-to remedy for stress relief. The thought of a stiff drink tugged at him, urging him to distance himself from the weight of the situation. He moved briskly through the winding halls, his footsteps echoing in the vast, ornate corridors until he reached the open foyer. The familiar space, with its high ceilings and polished floors, did little to calm his nerves. His mind, still locked on the Warden, refused to quiet down.

As his eyes scanned the crowd, it didn’t take long to spot him. There, near the food tables, the Warden stood out like a towering beacon, his lean figure impossible to miss. He loomed above the others, his height giving him an almost unnatural presence in the room. And that grin—a broad, unnerving smile that seemed more sinister the longer Dr. Scale looked at it—only added to his unease. What’s he so damn pleased about?

Without fully realizing it, Dr. Scale found his legs carrying him straight toward the Warden. His mind raced, but his body acted on instinct. In no time, he was weaving through the gathering of people, his path clear. The closer he got, the more his pulse quickened. Standing next to the Warden was Hitto, this year’s most talented examinee, possessing a Divine Art capable of insane regeneration. The sight of them together set off alarm bells in Dr. Scale’s head. Why was Isaac interested in him, of all people?

His pace quickened as he tried to piece it together. The Warden didn’t engage with just anyone. He was notorious for never accepting any Warrior Examinee Candidates into his organization. But if Hitto has caught his attention, it means that boy is the real deal.

“What’s going on here?” Dr. Scale asked, butting in between them. He noticed that the Warden’s hand was stretched out in front of Hitto.

“Oh,” Isaac smiled, facing the Guild Master. “I was just asking Hitto if he’d like to join Lawt Law Enforcement.”

“Really?” Dr. Scale spoke, his eyes widening sarcastically before setting his sights on the crimson-eyed boy. “Is that true, Hitto? I was hoping you’d join the Research Guild.”

Hitto let out a sigh before shaking his head. “I’m not interested in the Research Guild or Lala Enforcement. I’m joining the Adventurers Guild.”