Free Web NovelChapter 202: _A Fresh Start
Phoenix Flight HQ
"Sir?" Han Jae-won strode into the Guild master’s office after the latter signalled he could come in. "Good morning. You called for me?"
Magnus set aside the files he was looking through. "Yes, Guide Han." He adjusted his sitting position, taking a good look at the A-Rank. "Please, sit. Although I hope to make this quick."
Alarm bells instantly set off in Jae-won’s head. ’Has someone caught that damn Matthew already?’
He’d managed to pull Matthew to be a member of the Guild—the same Esper who blew up Devon’s car. And that was only so he could investigate the assault on his teammates.
Jae-won was still livid that someone out there was targeting him. He wanted to believe Ambrose was behind it somehow... but then no matter how much he tried picturing it it just didn’t make sense.
"Guide Han?" Magnus’ baritone ripped him out of his thoughts. "I said you can sit."
With a practiced smile, Jae-won moved to the desk and sat on a spinning chair in front of it. It was supposed to be comfortable—but with the Guild master’s piercing golden-red eyes on him, it was nigh impossible to feel at ease.
Magnus cleared his throat before going straight to business. "It’s about a colleague of yours. Guide Ambrose." He paused to see Han’s reaction to that, unaware of his paranoia.
Seeing that he barely had a reaction, he continued. "I’ve gotten word of your... strife with him. At first, I thought it was merely petty arguments over a relationship you refused to let go of."
Han Jae-won’s fists curled slowly on his legs. He sucked in a breath in an effort to calm himself.
What an insult to his dignity!
"... But I’ve come to find out that you and your friends have been bullying him. Outrightly harassing him." The older man’s tone was judgmental. "I believe you’re aware of the rules in this Guild, Guide Han. There is no room for making this space uncomfortable for others."
The Guide’s shoulders dropped. "Oh," he huffed, lowering his head. "I honestly don’t know what to say, sir. I never meant to let the teasing go far. Nor did I think Guide Ambrose would be so riled up over them."
His dark orbs flicked up to meet Magnus’ gaze. "I’m sincerely sorry."
Magnus arched his brow. "Teasing?" He echoed. "If all you and your friends did was merely teasing then why didn’t you stop whenever Guide Ambrose said so?"
"I got carried away, sir. It was never my intention to make him uncomfortable."
Ambrose would probably be stunned beyond words if he were in the room right now. Han’s expression expressed what appeared to be genuine innocence.
An outsider who didn’t know any better would think he won’t hurt a fly—unaware that even now he was mentally plotting a retaliation.
’So Ambrose reported to the Guild master?’ he thought. ’Being around Devon and Hunter Viktor really has given him balls of steel.’
Magnus rested his back against his seat, drumming his fingers on the armrests. He scrutinised Jae-won like he was trying to catch a trace of dishonesty.
Something felt off here.
Han Jae-won has always been a model member of the Guild. Ranked as one of the most capable A-Rank Guides in the country—not to mention his popularity amongst other Hunters— there really wasn’t anything to dislike about him.
If anything, Magnus was cautious not to upset him with this. He was related to another SS-Rank after all.
"Well," the Guild master nodded. "I’ll let you off with a warning. If I get any more reports about you treating others poorly, I’ll—"
A notification dinged from his laptop just then.
He frowned, contemplating for a beat on whether he should check it out.
Then, "A second," he swerved his head to the screen. It appeared to be an email. "Now what do we have here?"
Once he opened it the first thing he noticed was the name of the sender. His frown deepened as he went on to the email’s heading. And then it’s content.
Jae-won leaned in curiously when he saw the complicated emotions on the man’s face. "Is something wrong, sir?"
Magnus didn’t answer.
All he could do was stare blankly at the email, wondering why in God’s name the sender would make such a decision.
★★★★★
"You’re quitting Phoenix Flight?!" Viktor and Devon questioned in unison, gawking at Ambrose like he’d grown two heads.
The latter stood behind their new kitchen island, stirring a cup of coffee leisurely. "Already tendered my resignation via email." He slid his phone back into his pocket. "That honestly felt so... freeing."
Devon was the most bamboozled among the S-Ranks. "Rose, how could you do something like that AFTER we moved out? How are you going to—"
"Be a functioning adult instead of a deadbeat couch potato?" Ambrose shrugged. "I’ll just find a new job at a smaller Guild."
"A smaller Guild means smaller salaries," Viktor dragged a foot forward. "Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
Viktor looked seconds away from protesting further when Ambrose finally sighed, setting down his cup.
"I’m serious, you guys." His silver eyes lowered briefly. "I don’t want anything to do with Phoenix Flight anymore. Or Han Jae-won." A bitter laugh escaped him. "I’m honestly tired of constantly looking over my shoulder wondering who’s plotting what against me next."
The kitchen fell quieter after that.
"For once," Ambrose continued, "I’d rather take control of my own life again instead of waiting for the next disaster to happen."
Devon’s expression softened almost immediately. He and Viktor exchanged a look. "... Honestly?" He exhaled, folding his arms. "Good. That Guild never deserved you anyway."
"Agreed," Viktor nodded, sliding beside Ambrose. "Plus smaller Guilds tend to be less insufferable politically."
If only they knew the real reason behind his decision.
Ambrose hid his smile behind the coffee cup.
A smaller Guild meant less surveillance. Less powerful Hunters hovering over him every second. More freedom to enter dungeons quietly and hoard resources for himself without attracting the Federation’s attention.
And honestly?
He couldn’t wait.
