Yellow finally broke over the horizon. Sunlight began to shine on the ruins of the pound. Pilrs had fallen, walls crumbled, and fire still burned low, starved of any fuel. A ing smell of bur also wafted through.

  Police had begun to scour for anything. Any evidence or items of i. A long, arduous task ahead of them, yet they did so with diligence; eager to show the public a job well done.

  'A job for the press,' Captain Matsuo thought as he was on his phoh the chief.

  "Anything from Mr. Kikuchi, Sir?" Luca walked over to Shimada. A cup of coffee in hand, for his captain. Referring to the brief, delirious questioning officers had managed before Reiji was whisked away to the hospital.

  "No. Ramblings about 'He let me live'." A sip of the coffee.

  "Will he make it?"

  "The doctors said it's toud go. But a man like that won't die so easily."

  "Where are the others?"

  "Captain Matsuo had them put on body colle duty." A grim task that Matsuo found fitting for a unit he had e to resent. Shimada could only feel sympathy for his team; A nasty reputation came with the title of RCU.

  Captain Matsuo stood to the side, once more chatting with his subordinates. Cig in mouth; bloated bellow boung with bellowed blitheness. A disgust in the captain's mouth.

  "People like him shouldn't be allowed to wear that uniform." A scowl followed.

  "Captain." Akiko jogged to her superior. Wounds bandaged and treated.

  "What did Reiji say? Anything about the Reaper?"

  "No, Akiko. He is just happy to be alive... How is body duty going?"

  A grimace. As if the words were a sour taste oongue.

  "Not good sir. We've seen at least 100 bodies so far...

  "That's..." Words caught on Shimada's tongue. In all his years in the force he had seen bloodshed and graphic crime ses but nothing like this.

  'He did that much damage in one night?' It was astounding how much bloodshed had been done. Even now, as the bodies were collected, the scale was still unknown. A long and arduous task id before them all.

  "Ah, captain so gd you could join us. e pick up a shovel; the pigs got us on grave duty." Takashi joked, eyeing Matsuo with a smirk. Even in the face of death aru, he found a reason to be witty, a way to keep himself calm.

  Eventually as the m progressed a voy of hummers arrived. White, pristine, and expensive. One by ohey came to a stop in the tre of the courtyard. Men and women dressed in suits, and ties exited the vehicles.

  F a permitter around the voy. Eventually, from the middle car came a tall, well-built man. Spiky brown hair and thin eye brows. By his side a younger man, a simir yet more slender build. Blonde hair the bounced off the m sun, a bright smile for a dull se.

  "Who are the suits?" Takeshi asked.

  "Trouble." The captain responded.

  The taller man stood well above six feet tall. A thick frame, that could rival a body builder. Walking towards Captain Shimada.

  "I am Masa Tashima. Vice-president of the golden tigers. We have e to cim Mr. Kikuchi's belongings, as well as the base. Please leave the premises."

  The ave pause to all. Matsuo stepped forward; arms crossed. A scowl on his face.

  "Just who do you think you are ing in here and making orders. You some big balls to try to order me and my men around."

  Masa scoffed at the crude pig before him.

  "Under se 15.9 of the Japanese guild roperty, and items, of a fallen guild will belong to their parent pany. So please, get out of our way." The smug smirk only made Matsuo's anger grow.

  A vein bulged from his forehead, fist ched, a snarl in his voice. "Listen here..."

  "Aki!" the young man behind Masa spoke over him.

  "Kim Shi-Woo, long time no see. How have you been." Aki rao the blonde. Giving a rge hug to the man.

  "Shi-woo; who is this?" Captain asked his junior.

  "My apologies this is Kim Shi-woo. We were in a guild together; the knights of Akihabara. He is one of the 13."

  Kenji shook the Korean man's hand firmly. "I've heard a lot about you and all the trouble you two caused ba the day. That must have been fun."

  "Yeah. They were great." Akiko spoke, nostalgic for the days as just an adventurer, not a cop.

  "And what exactly are the 13?" Takeshi's knowledge showing his age.

  "The 13 heroes of the siege of Tokyo." Luca added with a proud smile.

  The 13 were a group of high ranked rankers; from all different guilds that rose during the chaos. Fighting back against the darkness. A band of brave heroes that brought hope and stability to a brokeen nation. Still the Japanese's and many all over the world revered them.

  "Excuse me. Mr. Shi-woo, we are here on business please refrain from personal matters." Masa with face locked into a frown. Arms crossed and a foot tapping in impatience.

  "Yes, Mr. Tashima. I am so sorry. Please, tinue." A bow of the head.

  "As I said, we will be taking the base. If you have taken anything, please give it to us, and leave." An outstretched palm, direg them towards the exit.

  "Oi, you dare try and steal evidence from a crime se." Matsuo tried to match the iy of Masa; he could only dream of ever being as intimidating as the vice-president.

  "I'll ask once more. Leave." Each word was forceful and harsh. In the hierarchy of the nd; The stronger yuild rank, the more power you had. A small police squad like Matsuo's was no threat to the mighty golden tigers. Who sat amongst many uilds on the peak of the mountain of powers.

  His men began to shift their hands to holstered sidearms. In turn the golden tiger members too shifted. The situation was getting to a head, anht was brewing.

  "Stop!"

  The anding but smooth voice of a blonde-haired man; dressed in fine white and Azure robes came forth. Apanied behind him. Homeless men and women. Some of which had not seen the light of days for years, evident by the state of their being.

  "Baelor... No." Masa was stunned. A great deal of shock washed over his face.

  "Y-you died." A stumble on his words. Eyes wide, a quiver of disbelief. Now the golden tigers were on edge for another reason. This new band ed individuals. Who was the man who led them?

  An elf in all his grad elegance, yet he hid his ears. Human ears on his sides, a fake to hide his identity. An elf in a nd of humans was a dangerous pce.

  "Oi. This is an active crime se-"

  "You need not speak whilst in my preseake your men and leave." With little more than faintly forceful words; Matsuo and all his men began to vacate. As though by an invisible hand, they were all pelled to leave. Puppets to the master puppeteer. Baelor.

  "T-this is property of the Kitsuwa Banking Group. This is no longer-"

  "Mr. Yori. you e forth." Through the crowd ed men came A tall, thin, man. Dark and handsome features. , slicked bck hair, eyes framed with thin rimmed gsses. Carrying a rge book. 'The rules aions of guild w.' As stated on the cover.

  "Iion 17.14 of guild roperty or belongings will remain with the owner until death. If no legal death certificate is presented, all belongings will remain uhe trol of the ag guild master." A no nonsense answer from a sharply dressed man.

  A member of the regutors of the guilds of Japan. Notorious for their long and b expnations. However, mao uand the meics of guild ws, lest you draw the wraith of endless litigation.

  "Yes... they may be the case but Reiji Kikuchi worked uhe umbrel of the Kitsuwa bank. Thusly we cim all-"

  "No." Yori spoke once more. "Iion 21.15. If a transfer of guild ownership is made where guild ownership is falsely given. Said ownership will return to its inal owners. Reiji Kikuever truly owhe crimson bandits. He merely ged its name from Silvermane."

  Masa's teeth began to grind.

  'That damn snake. He phis. That bastard. I will kill him for this.' A snarl and so his face. "The man before me was decred dead-

  "The Japanese gover and its' people have no evidehat the man before me had died." Yori was quick to add. "Also. As a Regutor, I am obliged to inform you that any more trespassing on guild property. Will lead to severe sans." Yori was clearly getting under Masa's skie his matter-of-fact tone.

  The ohing that rankers fear the most is scrutiny from the guild w regutors. A group of men and women who took their jobs to extremes. One wrong step could leave you in a bck hole of litigation and paperwork. Not a strong suite of a guild filled with warriors.

  "Tch. Tigers. We're done here. Let's go." Masa stormed back to his hummers. Shi-woo bowed before the elf with hidden ears.

  "I'm gd you are alive Mr. Baelor."

  The hummers drove away as quickly as they entered. Speeding away dowreet and out of sight.

  "The members of the RCU." Turning his attention back to the six members who remained.

  "I have no quarrel with you. Please, enjoy your day." Baelor turned and with a cp of his hands; rugged men and women began to move about the pound.

  "Excuse me. This is still very mu active crime se." Shimada was stere not knowing who Baelor really was.

  "Oh, a crime se what crime was itted on theses grounds?"

  "What crime!? How about the mass murder of over 100 people." Akiko was shocked. Who was this man to act so ung.

  "Ah I see. Very well my guild will begin -up operations. Good day." Turning away from the squad.

  Shimada was left fused. This was all his case, but this man was ag like he owhe pce.

  "This is my crime se. Until I say so.”

  "Captain Shimada. Under se 39.7 of guild w. Guilds have the power to override police authority. If it is deemed by the guild master that the guild handle all internal matters." Yori spoke with his dry delivery, again.

  "But-"

  "Se 39.12; states that a guild has the right to iigate any and all murders within their jurisdi. A murder itted against a guild member is the sole responsibility of the guild master." Again, Yori cut him off.

  "Just like that. This man es in, cims ownership over a massacre and we 't do anything?" Aki was incredulous. This was not how police work should fun nor any guild. The justice system and guild system were not two different things. Her frustrations reag near breaking point.

  "I'll only ask once more, please leave the premises." Without looking back, Baelan to walk away.

  Aki made a dash for the man. Fists raised to pummel the man. All her exhaustion, the man's apathy towards the dead, and the reaper esg once more. It broke her.

  "Detective Akiko don't-"

  The blonde man caught her fist mid-way. Effortlessly.

  "Detective Akiko Be. You have just assaulted a guild master. Under se-"

  Baelor raised his palm. "Thank you, Mr. Yori. That will be all today." His toill calm and collected. Despite holding the detective's fist.

  "I see in your eyes that you are tired, weary. For the goodwill of our future endeavours, I ask of you. Rest." Too fio her ned a soft tap were all it took. She went limb in his arms, unscious but alive.

  "Captain Shimada. Please, leave. I promise we will this matter up in a timely manner." Handing the young woman ba. The captai. No fight in him tue with the guild master.

  The squad had seen many game the system. Crooks, corrupt cops, politis, and even rankers. Yet they had yet to see someone py the system as well as Baelor. An answer for every question and a w to undermiheir power. All the while keeping that calm, collected demeanour.