Redmont, Serisis.

Ten Minutes Earlier...

Laughter and discussions filled Redmont Manor's ballroom as delegates from the Three Kingdoms mingled, drank wine, and forged important connections for the future. Wondrous music provided by the Serian court enhanced the jovial mood, as even the kings loosened up and drank a few jugs of wine.

"Announcing, Master Kashi, Guildmaster of the Hopeful Maggots, accompanied by the Voice of the Heavens, Miss Lunette Falsetto."

The chamberlain's announcement drew the crowd's attention to the door. A resentful Kashi glared at the announcer, while Lunette's graceful smile melted the crowd's hearts. Lunette gently tugged Kashi's arm, who, after one last glare at the chamberlain, led Lunette into the room amidst adoring and awestruck gazes.

Kashi and Lunette paid their respects to the Kings and were then consequently mobbed by the eager politicians and crowds. Kashi's brows twitched in suppressed anger as he was forced to field questions and requests from many thirsty businessmen looking to forge partnerships. He looked around, in hopes of finding Miote, but unfortunately, but he and Leila were occupied by guests of their own.

Moments later, Kashi checked his side, only to find that Lunette was missing. A quick scan of the surroundings revealed her to be surrounded by a group of women. On the surface, the ladies seemed to be discussing Lunette's clothing, her tailors and make-up – the expected stuff. But upon closer inspection, these women were actually securing business deals among themselves and sizing each other up to decide who the top dog was.

All this business talk was far too taxing and tiring for the poor daeben. If it were not for Lunette and Leila, Kashi would have fled the scene long ago. As it were, though, he was fast approaching his limit.

Suddenly, Kashi's salvation came in the form of the Rosen King.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

King Parissius tapped his glass, drawing the room's attention. The handsome King flashed a charming grin and raised his glass. "On behalf of Rosendun and her people, I wish to thank everyone present here tonight. Without your unflinching support, we would not be gathered in this room in peace." The king then glanced at Kashi and said, "However, I must raise this glass to The Hopeful Maggots, a fiercely loyal, brave and upright guild, without whom any of this would have been possible."

"Hear Hear," chanted King Xafier as he raised his mug in agreement. King Chu also raised his glass, the twinkle in his eyes relaying his approval.

King Parissius laughed as he toasted to the Maggots, "Kashi, will you accept my glass?"

Kashi inwardly groaned as even more eyes turned to him. Damn it! How the hell was a man supposed to maintain a low profile with all these attention grabbers around him. Despite his discomfort, the daeben issued a smile as he accepted a glass from a waiter. Raising the glass, he said, "It would be my honor, Your Majesty," and then knocked back the wine in one quick gulp.

"Haha Brilliant!" cheered King Parissius as he too knocked back his drink. Following his charge, the room downed their drinks as the merry mood intensified. However, the young King was not done yet. With a twinkle in his eyes, King Parissius looked at the nearby Lunette, and said, "Ms. Falsetto, I am ashamed to state that most of us have only ever heard your angelic voice from a sound stone. Would you please do us the honor of performing a single song, that we may experience the divine in person?"

Lunette surreptitiously glanced at Kashi, but upon seeing his indifference, curtsied, and then said, "It would be my honor, Your Majesty."

Amidst roaring applause, Lunette walked up to the stage, where the royal orchestra received her with bright smiles. The songstress greeted the orchestra, then turned to King Parissius, "Is there any particular song His Majesty would like?"

King Parissius glanced at the twins Chu Ling and Chu Ming, and then said with a smile, "How about a love song?" With a teasing grin, he added, "I can see you have the beautiful glow of a maiden in love."

Lunette blushed, while Kashi's face darkened as several men around him struck his back and hooted their praises. "As you wish, Your Majesty," accepted Lunette after the whistles died down. She then asked the orchestra, "Do you know 'Carry me'? I heard it in a Rosen tavern and have loved it ever since."

The orchestra confirmed they knew the song. After a moment to adjust her mental state, Lunette's voice stole the crowd's hearts, gently bringing them into the world in her song.

https://youtu.be/vyn8gAYtNu4

Within this world, a young maiden lay in the fields outside her home, left behind after her spouse left for war. Several years had passed since the war began, and the maiden did not know whether her lover was alive or dead. As such, she prayed to the gods to carry her to her love, wherever he may be, whether it be in the seas, the clouds or in the ground.

As Lunette sang, tears pooled in the audience's eyes. Some wept for the maiden in the song, others for people they had lost. The 'daeben wars' was but eleven years past. Most of the audience had lost family members, lovers, friends or teachers to the horrors of war.

Lunette's voice seemed to reach into the depths of their souls, to the parts they had long since buried. It pulled out those memories; the beautiful ones that brought tears to the eyes—not sad tears, but happy ones.

As the songstress's voice serenaded the room, King Chu glanced at his wife's portrait hanging from a nearby wall, while King Xafier opened a locket and glanced lovingly at the person within. King Parissius, meanwhile, wore a brave smile as he winked at the twin princesses.

The princesses shared a knowing look and then walked up to the King. They each grabbed one hand, and silently, but gently squeezed it, showing their support. They both knew that of everyone in the room, King Parissius had probably lost the most during the daeben wars. Aside from the numerous friends he made and then lost on the battlefield, his entire family and all the friends he left in the capital were slaughtered.

The young King lost his family, people, crown, wealth and power, which forced him to live the life of a commoner for a decade. Most people would have lost their minds after such loss, but Parissius always kept a smile no matter how bad things got. It was a policy he had learned as a child: Royals never let the people see their grief, for they are the cornerstone of the people's belief.

The only people who could truly comfort a royal was another royal, as only they could truly understand what it meant to hide your true feelings at all times.

Feeling the twins' support, King Parissius' smile nearly faltered for a second, but he managed to retain it. Unfortunately, no amount of posturing could stop the tears that began to flow down his eyes. Worse, because the princesses held his hands, he was forced to finally mourn his family's passing as any man should.

No one knew who started it, but at some point, the audience began to sing along. 'Carry Me' was a popular folksong, sung by warriors and civilians the continent over. The song's popularity skyrocketed during the daeben wars, as, due to the lack of specified genders in its lyrics, it could be sung by men and women alike.

Kashi, meanwhile stared at the singing Lunette as an unfamiliar pain stung his chest. Somehow, he could not help but think back to Suzuki as a child, laughing as mother lifted him and spun him around the living room. He recalled mother's beautiful smile as Suzuki lay on her lap and she sang him to sleep.

"You okay?"

Kashi looked to his left to see Shadow gazing at him with concern in his eyes. "Huh?"

"Your eyes," Shadow said as he pointed at the daeben's eyes.

Kashi raised his hand to his eyes and was subsequently shocked to find they were watery. Staring at the liquid, he could not help but mutter, "...Are these tears?"

"Generally, that's what comes from the eyes, yes."

"Ha... Me, crying?" Kashi let out a sardonic chuckled as he examined the moisture on his hand. "I haven't cried since I was twelve."

Shadow raised a brow as he responded sarcastically, "...Weird flex, but okay." The assassin paused for a moment and then asked in a more somber tone. "But you are sure you are okay?"

"Ha. Yeah, I am," replied Kashi as he wiped his eyes. Whatever that weird feeling was, it was gone now. Who knew when next he would recapture that feeling? Glancing at Shadow, he said, "Thanks."

Shadow shrugged and then said, "Don't sweat it."

Kashi was about to say something, but a loud round of applause broke his concentration. Only then did he realize Lunette had finished her performance, resulting in the thunderous ovation. Kashi turned to Shadow, but as expected, the assassin had once again disappeared.

Lunette, meanwhile, thanked the orchestra, who had joined in giving her a standing ovation and then walked off the stage. The young lady made her way to Kashi, who received her with a warm clap and a smile as he praised, "That was beautiful—"

"Indeed, truly beautiful," repeated a sinister voice as it reverberated through the hall.

The hall's occupants immediately adopted battle stances as they felt the unmistakable hostility and ridicule contained in the voice. "Hahahahahaha..." Warriors and mages alike frowned as they scanned their surroundings, searching for the voice's source, but try as they might, they could not pinpoint its origin.

Kashi's eyes, meanwhile, burned red with rage as he glared at the ceiling as if seeing something the others couldn't. Unable to contain his rising anger anymore, he shouted, "Stop hiding and show yourselves, you overgrown chickens."

Craack!

As if in response to Kashi's provocation, the ceiling groaned as massive cracks suddenly snaked along it.

"Everyone out!" King Parissius and Leila reacted quickest as they instantly ordered an evacuation. Terrified noblemen and women fled the hall under the protection of the palace guards as the cracks widened and multiplied, the ceiling threatening to collapse at any moment.

Amidst the confusion and chaos, Kashi grasped Lunette's arm, keeping her close to prevent her from being swept away by the panicky crowd. The daeben's brows furrowed as he called, "Shadow."

As expected, the assassin seemingly appeared next to him, gaze solemn as he replied, "Yes?"

Kashi released Lunette, and then said, "No matter what, do not leave her side."

"You don't have to tell me that," confirmed Shadow with a grave nod as he pulled out a pair of daggers from within his sleeves. Only the heavens knew how he managed to smuggle them past security.

Kashi nodded, and then signaled the remaining Maggots to gather around Shadow. To his surprise, the Kings, the Princesses, and a few brave noblemen chose not to evacuate with the rest.

The daeben gave King Parissius an apologetic look as he said, "Sorry, I think my mess followed me here. I'll deal with them quickly."

King Parissius, however, shook his head as he looked at the ceiling. "Your mess is Rosendun's mess now. Even if it isn't, it's my mess too. Whatever this is, we will fight it together."

Kashi gazed at King Parissius, and could not help but reveal a warm smile, "Thanks, but for all our sakes, I hope there is no fighting involved."

King Xafier's eyes narrowed as he felt the immense pressure emitted by the figures beyond the ceiling. "You know who this is?"

"Not who," corrected Kashi. "They." The daeben's eyes narrowed as the ceiling exploded into several fine, dust particles. After a few moments, the dust cleared, revealing a host of winged men and women gazing upon the hall with disdain. "They are the adjudicators."

"...Now, what the hell do they want?"

Kashi looked to the entrance and was relieved to see both Syèl and Shokō enter the hall. These two cheat codes could be vital if whatever this was devolved into a fight. "Don't know," replied Kashi, and then said as he looked at the Lead Adjudicator, Vanzuela. "Why don't we ask the head chicken?"

Vanzuela, or as he was known in the real world, Justin Tan, revealed a tight grin as he glared at the daeben. "Your insolence truly knows no bounds." Glancing at Lunette, he teased, "I wonder how smug you'll be after you learn the truth."

To his surprise, however, Lunette stepped forward and said with a hard glare, "You are too late, Vanzuela. I already told him the truth. All of it. You hold no power over me."

"Oh? You finally did?" remarked Syèl as he flashed a thumbs-up. "Good for you."

"Yes, yes." Vanzuela praised with a sarcastic clap, "Good fo—"

"Shut it bird-brain," Syèl spat with a disdainful snort. "Come up with your own material."

Vanzuela's eyes twitched, but he chose to ignore the halben. He did not come here to engage in a war of words. Instead, he looked at Kashi and said, "I see she told you the truth, but did she tell you the WHOLE truth?"

Kashi's eyes narrowed as he spat, "She did not lie to me."

"No. Of course, she didn't," mocked Vanzuela with a snide grin. "She's not the type to. But, she did not tell you the whole truth either... because she herself is not aware of how much she truly knows."

This time, it was Lunette who questioned, "What do you mean? What do I know?"

"First, we have to speak in a candid manner." Vanzuela laughed, thoroughly enjoying himself as he spread out his arms and said, "Adjudicator Code: RD001, Requesting [Judgment Zone]. Area: This Building."

Kashi winced as a translucent shield suddenly burst out of the Adjudicator and spread around the building. Every Resident within the enveloped shield suddenly fell into a deep slumber, even while retaining their previous position. The daeben recognized this skill all too well. It was utilized when matters which Residents should not be privy to had to be discussed. It was also used to weaken players who might have allied with several Residents to protect themselves.

Following its release, the daeben's interest was officially stoked.

Vanzuela confirmed [Judgment Zone] had been set, and then looked at Kashi and Leila. "Alright then... I had this whole speech prepared, but I'll settle for this instead." The adjudicator snapped his fingers and a massive picture appeared next to him.

Within the picture was a young, handsome man in his late twenties. The man's long dark hair was tied up in a bun, as a pair of cold, but seductive eyes examined a piece of code on a monitor in front of him. The man's scruffy hair, eyes bags, and wrinkled lab coat told a tale of a man who'd lacked quality sleep for a long time. However, a small smile at the corner of his lips revealed he enjoyed the grind.

Jade could not help but whisper, "He's hot," as she stared at the picture. Although the other Maggots did not say anything, they too appreciated the handsome scientist.

Unfortunately, unlike their counterparts, Kashi, Lunette, and Shadow turned pale, like a bolt of lightning had struck their souls. Simultaneously, they called out,

"Father!" "Rai-Sensei!"

"WHAT!?"

A/N: I am so excited for this chapter and the next! Finally, a few questions raised as far back as the first few chapters of Volume 1 will be answered... But, as is common with these novels, a few questions have taken their place... Not least of which is, What the hell is Shoko?