CH19 DoomMane Guild
***
"The DoomMane Council has convened as you command, Sir. They are awaiting your arrival in the Council Chamber." Jaras informed Rowland when he returned to his office.
"Good." Rowland nodded.
Rowland quickly changed from his casual attire into his Guild Master uniform. Afterwards, he and Jaras made their way to the DoomMane Guild headquarters where the Council Chamber was located.
The DoomMane Guild was one of the top Guilds in the world. In fact, they were believed to rank in the top five.
The Guild's philosophy was a fusion of a hierarchical, meritocratic and warlord management styles.
It operated a strict chain of Command where rank is determined both by merit and combat strength. It was a militaristic and elite-driven guild that favoured only the strong and capable, while enforcing strict discipline with an iron fist.
This doctrine has done well for the Guild for it is a strong generational power.
S-Rankers were rare in the world, with only a few scores worldwide. However, within the DoomMane Guild only, there were six of them... at least, the ones known to the public.
Below Rowland, the Guild Master of the DoomMane Guild, were the other five S-Rankers of the Guild who formed the DoomMane Council.
Each member of the Council led the different departments within the Guild i.e. Combat, Intelligence, Discipline, Logistics and Recruitment.
The Council primarily advised the Guild Master and couldn't overrule him, but they held a level of influence that made it difficult for the Guild Master to out-rightly ignore them.
Ever since Rowland brought Leo back to the Guild, the Council had been moving in ways that the War King didn't appreciate.
And today, Rowland decided to put an end to the farce now that he didn't have to worry about Leo any longer.
-
The War King's demeanour was the definition of imperious when he enter the room.
The Council members rose to their feet and bowed to him.
Even though they were all S-Rankers, there was a gulf in power between them. It would probably take two or three of the Council members to face Rowland.
After all, Rowland was considered one of the strongest S-Rankers in the world, only below the SS-Rankers who lorded over all of humanity.
Rowland took his seat before motioning for the Council members to retake theirs.
He looked through the faces at the table.
Closest to him on his right was Gavin Fletcher, the head of the Combat Department, a bulky and savage-looking man who seemed all ready for a fight.
Next to him was Melka Baldric, an old man with grey hair and beards. The first impression of him was that he was an inflexible old man set in his ways.
Closest on Rowland's left was Quara Duemin, the only woman in the council. She was a black haired beauty whose long hair covered one of her eyes adding a mysterious allure to her already ravishing beauty. However, if one didn't look past her beauty at the cold eyes of hers, one wouldn't know when they were stabbed with a blade.
Lady Quara Duemin was none other than the head of Intelligence of the DoomMane Guild.
Next to her on Rowland's left were Ander Poorstag and Adam Kastor.
Ander Poorstag was the stereotypical fatty who was the head of Logistics for the Guild while Adam Kastor, who looked the youngest amongst the council members, was the Head of Recruitment for the DoomMane Guild.
"Thank you for handling the day to day management of the Guild. I convened this meeting so that we can clear out the Guild's pending matters and chart the course for the next few years." Rowland said.
"What are the topics to be discussed?"
Jaras answered from behind him, "Re-composition of the 10th Legion, Department and Divisional Resource allocation, the suspicious movements of the Hellscar Guild about our colonies in the Wildlands and the Tier IV Top tier Dungeon the Hunter Association assigned to us."
Rowland nodded, "There we have it. Let's begin."
The Council deliberated for the next three hours. Other matters were easily resolved with the Council members themselves reaching a consensus which Rowland agreed to and approved, but the matter on resource allocation was understandably contentious and an agreement couldn't be reached. Rowland had to wade in and make a decision for them.
Not everybody was happen with his decision but the Guild Master's decision was final.
"I am sure you all know that my nephew Leo has undergone his Gift awakening ceremony." Rowland suddenly said. "As expected, he failed to awaken a gift due to his lack of a Mana Core. He was lucky to have survived the ceremony."
"I am torn on what to do with him. On the one hand, he is my nephew and I care about him. I am thinking of making him an official member of the Guild. On the other hand, our Guild is one that values merit and capability over everything else. As much as I love him, I can't deny that he doesn't have the qualifications to join our Guild. What do you think I should do?"
His eyes serenely scanned the people in the room.
No one wanted to be the first to speak on the matter.
"Baldric, you are the Head of the Disciplinary Department. I expected you to be the first to speak." Rowland said.
"I was considering the matter, Guild Master." Melka Baldric said. He coughed before continuing, "The Guild's rules are pretty clear on the matter, Guild Master. Your nephew cannot join the guild. He is weak, and he has also not done anything for the Guild to consider him for a membership."
"That isn't necessarily right, Mister Baldric." Adam Kastor said. "People from my Recruitment Hall watched over Leo for a while. According to their report, Leo was able to hold his own even when compared to our prospective recruits. I point this out because he was able to achieve this without an ounce of Mana. If he had mana-"
"But that's the thing. He doesn't have mana. His future his limited. He will only become a waste onto the DoomMane Guild." Baldric retorted.
"Who is to say that? I am sure no one believed he would be able to rival our prospective recruits, but he did. Who is to say he can't continue to surprise us?"
"What if you are wrong?"
"And what if I am wrong..." Kastor shrugged. "An ordinary member of the Guild only earns an insignificant monthly stipend and a guarantee of protection as a member of the Guild. Are you saying our DoomMane Guild will collapse just because Leo enjoys that?"
He turned to Ander Poorstag and asked, "Are we that poor?"
The fat man's meaty face rippled. He didn't want to nor did he expect to be dragged into this debate.
He looked towards Rowland, then shook his head, "The stipend can easily be covered."
"You are missing the point. The problem Elder Baldric is looking at isn't the material cost, instead it is the morale and reputation of the Guild. What would our recruits think if we brought in a Manaless waste from nowhere and make him a member of the Guild like them? Morale and motivation to improve within the Guild will drop significantly. We will also become a laughing stock amongst other Guilds!" The head of the Combat department, Gavin Fletcher spoke.
"Since when has the morale of the DoomMane Guild depended on the presence of one person? Also since when have we care for the opinions of other Guilds who are beneath us? Please, watch your words, Mister Fletcher, lest you make us sound like a third-rate Guild." Kastor retorted.
"You!!"
"Your words are out of line, Council member Kastor!" Baldric slammed his palm on the table. "This is not a small matter of recruiting a hardworking individual with a low Class Gift. He neither has Mana nor does he have a Gift. It doesn't make sense to bring him into the Guild!"
"If you are talking about morale, which do you think will harm morale the most? Bringing in a hardworking youth, despite his innate failures which are no fault of his or turning away the son of the Swordsman of Swords and the Chain Queen who in their lifetime brought immense glory to the Guild?
"The fact is, none of us in this room aside the Guild Master has brought more glory to the Guild than they did in the period they were alive. If even their achievement isn't enough to merit the Guild taking in and protecting their child after their deaths, what will that say about us who lead the Guild?" The head of the Intelligence Department and the only female, Lady Quara Duemin, in the room spoke.
She then turned to the Head of the Combat Department, Gavin Fletcher and said with a teasing smile, "Is it really because Leo Xander doesn't have Mana or a Gift that you want to bar him entry? Are you sure it is not because you want to get back at his parents? I seem to recall the Chain Queen ruthlessly turned down your romantic gesture in your youth while the Swordsman of Swords was a peer you could never beat."
A ruthless glint flashed in Gavin Fletcher's eyes. His mana flared up dangerously.
Lady Duemin didn't respond in kind and merely smiled.
However, Adam Kastor and Anderson Poorstag beside her shuddered at the sight of it.
"Alright, that's enough." Rowland finally spoke. "I have taken your words under advisement and come to a decision."
(To be continued...)