Demonic Po*nstar System Chapter 715: Brewing Problems

Seven days following the massacre...

The guild hall was illuminated by the pale blue glow emanating from the holographic display.

Magnus positioned himself at the head of the long table, arms crossed, observing three ghostly faces hovering above the communication artifact—unwelcome apparitions. Director Hale from the northern logistics subsidiary managed supply lines across half the eastern seaboard and resembled someone who hadn't cracked a smile since the millennium began. Vice Director Osei of the financial division, his dark eyes fixating on figures like a hunter eyeing injured quarry. And Councilwoman Fenn, responsible for New Dawn’s institutional alliances, possessed the irksome trait of voicing her thoughts bluntly.

Not one of them appeared pleased.

"The testimony has been viewed forty-one million times," Councilwoman Fenn stated, as if Magnus could have overlooked it. "Those two girls named New Dawn explicitly. They detailed a joint effort between our guild and Ashbound to hinder a novice team's progress. The term ’institutional collusion’ is now trending across three key platforms."

"I’m aware," Magnus replied.

"The sponsors are raising inquiries," Director Hale chimed in. His voice remained even and deferential, bearing the subtle heft of someone who knew the addressee could end him effortlessly yet recognized money's formidable influence. "Aegis Defense has advanced their quarterly review by a fortnight. Vanguard Athletics ignores our calls. These represent major accounts, Guild Leader."

Magnus’s stare remained steady. "Sponsors grow uneasy under spotlight scrutiny. They’ll calm down once the uproar fades."

"Will it fade?" Osei inquired.

The query lingered in the air. Osei’s face stayed impassive, his tone precisely tuned to avoid outright defiance. He wasn’t challenging Magnus outright. He posed it to the group, which included Magnus.

"The testimony is a PR stunt," Magnus declared, his voice resonating with the deep, steady command that elevated New Dawn to the third-largest guild in the United States. "Two unhappy fighters violated their contracts, appeared on camera with a tearful tale, and leveled charges lacking proof. The Association will investigate, uncover no viable issues on our side, and the public will shift to the next scandal. They invariably do."

Fenn’s lips pressed into a thin line. She refrained from disputing, yet offered no agreement.

"If I may, Guild Leader," Hale ventured. "The competition rankings pose another issue."

Magnus paused expectantly.

With a gesture, Hale summoned a secondary hologram, numbers appearing next to his projected image. Crisp blue text against blue backdrop, stark and exact.

Rookie Track Competition Standings, Day 25.

1st — Iron Halo: 128,040

2nd — Runewoven: 125,990

3rd — Silver Talon: 97,000

4th — Ashbound: 72,360

5th — New Dawn: 68,180

Magnus examined the figures. His face betrayed no emotion.

"We held first place for 18 consecutive days," Osei noted. The statement dropped like an unsigned contract onto the table. "Now we sit fifth, trailing the top by sixty thousand points, with the gap widening each day."

"Runewoven didn’t exist in the top ranks a week back," Fenn pointed out. "Their points have almost doubled post-incident. Analysts suspect Kaiden Grey’s squad has mastered the powers shown in the massacre—which they insisted were too novel to control back then, causing the unintended slaughter—and their resource gathering in the basin has surged now that our novices no longer vie for identical areas."

Magnus’s fingers clenched subtly against his folded arms. A minor gesture, invisible to those on the hologram.

"Thirteen fighters compete in our rookie track," he stated. "Ten remain operational. Chinedu’s rehab clearance came through; he’s heading back into action. Production will rebound."

"Chinedu got cleared this morning," Osei verified. "However, medical evaluations indicate he won’t hit peak fighting form before the contest concludes. He functions at roughly seventy percent. Plus, the seven losses are irreversible. Those represented sunk costs, Guild Leader. Years of nurturing. Funds we’ll never recover."

The term ’investments’ lingered heavily among them. Osei chose ’investments,’ not ’people.’

"The veteran track meets expectations," Magnus noted.

"The veteran track was never problematic," Fenn countered. "Sponsors view totals holistically, along with the storyline, and currently, the tale paints New Dawn defeated by a guildless newbie flying Runewoven’s colors." She hesitated. "A newbie sitting just two thousand points shy of seizing the lead today."

Magnus remained silent.

Hale cleared his throat delicately—a practiced, tactful prelude to a well-rehearsed line.

"Guild Leader, certain board members wonder if Lady Ashborn could step in for the institutional handling. Her standing in the Association and with partners carries weight, and her participation might convince sponsors that—"

"Where is Vespera?" Fenn demanded, her tone the direct probe of someone tired of others’ hesitation.

The ensuing quiet differed sharply from prior pauses. It bristled with edge.

"The Co-Guild Leader manages her schedule independently," Magnus responded. His words emerged steady and restrained, the restraint itself revealing. "Her whereabouts concern only her."

"We’ve tried contacting her," Osei said softly. "Via five distinct methods across seven days. Zero replies."

"Initially, the board restrained itself," Hale added cautiously. "We figured Lady Ashborn would quash the mess as usual. She possesses a knack for... dousing flames. Jittery sponsors relax post her gaze. Issues resolve prior to escalation."

"She never showed," Fenn stated bluntly. "Thus, our present mess."

Magnus eyed Osei, then Fenn, then Hale.

They met his look with guarded visages, spotting an anomaly but opting temporarily for silence.

"You direct New Dawn’s operations," Magnus intoned, his vocal chill deepening noticeably. "Logistics, funds, alliances fall under you. You don’t direct me, nor my spouse. Vespera’s inaccessibility is my affair. Focus on your sectors’ functionality, account security, and enacting my directives."

He permitted the hush to exert its influence in spaces where his dominance reigned supreme.

"I built this guild from obscurity to national top three," he pressed on. "Through choices doubters like yourselves contested endlessly, yet validated repeatedly. One poor week in rookie contests alters nothing. A viral clip from contract-breakers changes zilch. Boardroom fretting from battle-unversed members alters even less."

His mana throbbed subtly once—faint yet potent enough to alert three distant office-dwellers that their connection linked to an awakened warrior who’d slain nameless horrors.

"Are we clear?"