Episode 19: Hannibal

"You're gonna leave?"

"Yes, I have something to attend to"

"I see, its tomorrow"

"Uhmm, I also have something to tell to the Director"

Saying his leave of absence to Herlinn, the elf whose responsible in Tower of Cacophony while Grunt is absent. Luginas went directly straight to her office, facing his back. Herlinn at the same time seemed dejected seeing Luginas who has determined eye. "Truth is, the Director want you to stay here for the time being but to think he'll be this late *sigh"*, so she stated with a deep breath.

Because the Guild Master meeting the last time was postponed due to Joy and the Etiopiean Hero's duel. The elders decided to make it this month instead.

It also thanks to this and finding Grunt for an important matter, why Luginas don't want to miss this gatherings. Although he still don't understand why such thing needs the cooperation of all masters and elders.

With that, he hastily departed and arrived in the City he resides and as its Guild Master. "Eh? You're here master?", arriving in his office, Mirma is taken aback. No one is here just a few moments ago as she skimming the batch of papers from quests to adventurer's reports and passed it to the Guild Master's desk.

"Where is the vice-master? I thought she's here instead of you?" Returning in his lazy attitude, he seated after the question.

"She's busy for orienting new hatchlings(Adventurers)" Mirma answers

"I see, she didn't change huh. Even before she demoted(guild master before me), she always doing it and at the same time the Guild Master thingy, she's a hardworker" From his description, Mirma happens to become jolly and is waiting for another word from Luginas as she gulped. "What?" But it looks like he doesn't get it.

Mirma pouted, "Mou~ master, I'm a hardworker too you know? Look I'm doing Master's work, then become a bread shuttle, then a right hand of vice-sama. Why I didn't get a praise?" with her face forward and is not even an inch away from Luginas, as if wanting his positive comment and attention.

"O-oh I see, I-I'm sorry..." He then remembers the word from his student. 'your comprehension is beyond the norm, Sir', and realize he should have to pay a bit more of attention in his surroundings from there on. After then, he looked to the other side and patted Mirma's head "I-I'll try to be more attentive next time" as he whistled as if forcing himself to pleased Mirma. But the latter is too happy to notice it. As if she has a tail, it wiggles in happiness.

●○●○●○

"Tsk, stupid bird!" Luginas is above the roof trying to contact the Hyppogryph, Greed but no matter what he did, the bird didn't enter in his field of view. "Seriously, I become more and more irritated this past few days, I hate this feeling"

But no matter how many times he whistle nor how big a Dragon Meat he pulled out. Greed didn't respond. "What happen? is it serious enough not to get your attention?" Luginas mutters.

Second day finally arrived and Luginas enters the magic circle from the teleportation located at the City's central square.

Although he can use teleportation by himself, he couldn't use it senselessly as there's a certain ironclad rule what, when or where one can use teleportation magic. Well, to be precise Luginas is banned by Grunt for using his own Karma to teleport.

"Hmm, its too quiet...what happen?" Luginas frowned. His intuition really kicks off. Something is not right after all. So he thought.

This city is the central square of this City, Mereum. The City although not grand nor big or even a capital, it has its own story, so the Guild Elders decided that a meeting place should be in this city. Thinks to this city why and only a handful of person can use teleportation in every specific city---planted all over the world. Even then, this place should be bustling but right now, he see nothing but an empty stall, spaces and lingering cold breeze.

BOOM---! BOOM---!

He saw fireworks of magic flying from here to there but because this place is guarded with barriers, none of this magics flew where this place was.

BOOM---! BOOM---!

Luginas slowly walked forward... There's a barrier that blocked his path but with a flick of his hand, it destroyed like a broken glass..."Ahh, such a drag!" sighing.

Screee----!

As he complained, he saw a familiar silhouette flying above with an piercing cry, Greed is diving forward, flying higher to where Luginas is going into. "Oy Greed, what happen?" But the bird didn't hear his call until its gone out of his sight.

BOOM---!

Magic bombardment didn't stop but Luginas only did is to walk forward. To an area where magic bombardment and Karma manipulation are concentrated.

Arriving at last---

"Third flank, now!" Before one magic barriers with full cracks finally destroyed, another batch of barrier overlapped. shining in pink luminescent light as the barrier finally invoke in that area.

The said place are filled with people...adventurer and even magicians wearing hats and cape. Guild Masters are spreading everywhere as they're clashing with other unknown people. There's also adventurers who supports normal people while magicians created layers of magic to defend this helpless people from being slaughtered.

"Ahh fuck, should I leave?" Luginas muttered. Realizing this place is a total mess.

Although being pushed back. People who are defending keep the attackers at bay. The attackers who has the same set of grey poncho with golden color engraved like a skeletal structure---from their front, back and side; partnered with grey pants with the same color and design. Noticing this attackers clothing, he remembers the past.

"Gin! Help us, now!"

As if echoing in his thought, Grunt shouted whilst surprise the lazy man. "Why would I?" so he answers, not caring at all. He saw Grunt after, commanding the remnants of adventurers, Guild Masters and even Guild Elders who supports normal people who gathers in one area.

"This fella, they're prepared and neutralize us already! They attacked us the moment we, one by one enters the portal as if they knew we've come! We're too late as people in this city are almost annihilated!"

"Neutralize? It seems to me you're in the advantage" But Luginas doesn't care about the lifelong others.

"We did! Because we're Guild Masters and Elders! But if one were to fall here, it has big butterfly effect in the future! Also, this people here is from the Hannibal! Look! Some of masters and even elders are being pushed back!"

Luginas paused before replying, "Then" as if this is his ooportunity, "return my [Balmung] and my other gears, I'll help you"

"Eh? [Balmung]? You're ready to re-expose your identity?" Grunt was taking aback but because she's too busy dealing in and out attacks, magic and physical, she don't have any luxury to talk longer

"No, just my old Identity. I don't have a reason to blow my past and present identity...I'm sure you're aware...its not a coincident that this group has the same name, Hannibal and even has the same set of clothes...I'm sure they're after me this time...Gin Galmung!" With hands in his waist he mutters. "This is the same place too...to think I've met them for the first time like the very first and last time"

As he busy dealing with his own thought, one of the Hannibal members sliced Luginas but he only snapped his middle finger, destroying the attacker's sword as it flew after...