An Unexpected Offer

Dr. Kade settled into a chair at Thompson's invitation, her posture relaxed but deliberate. "I handle logistics," she began, her voice steady as a metronome. "Political buffers. Media liaison. Crisis containment. I make sure you, Ethan and the rest of the team, have the space to focus on his class development without institutional friction."

Ethan leaned forward slightly. "And in our current situation?"

Kade didn't hesitate. "From moment one Marcus Hale showed up, I would have escalated." She tapped her temple lightly. "I know what qualifies as an escalation and who to call when it happens. You wouldn't need to worry about any of that."

Penny frowned. "You mean you'd handle the paperwork?"

A dry chuckle escaped Kade's lips. "Among other things. The Guild demands a lot from S-ranks. Assisting with your affairs is part of the bargain." She turned back to Ethan. "You're aware of the Aurora Accords, yes?"

Alice blinked. "The international treaty?"

Kade nodded. "Exactly. Most nations cooperate on S-rank dungeon response as one body rather than piecemeal. Typical teams have one or two S-ranks with the rest being A-ranked. Part of my responsibilities is helping you transition into the system."

Grace leaned forward. "But… we don't exactly fit the mold of a standard S-ranked team. We're… unusual?"

"Unprecedented," Kade corrected gently. "But effective. My understanding is that I am to treat your team as if you will grow into a more standardized S-rank team, as much as any S-ranked team can be called normal," She continued, "The Accords require certain concessions. You live where assigned. Your residences are provided. Luxury compounds near transport hubs for rapid deployment. Northern Canadian arctic gets the same coverage as Miami."

Mei crossed her arms. "So we're basically government property?"

Kade's smile didn't reach her eyes. "More like strategic assets with certain privileges." She looked at Ethan. "The tradeoff is understanding you might live somewhere less than ideal as a duty station, but knowing you'll have everything needed to respond effectively while living comfortably. The world understands we're asking a lot of S-ranks. We also understand you're our only solution to S-ranked dungeons."

Ethan absorbed this quietly. The others exchanged glances before Penny spoke up again. "And Marcus? What is going to happen is nice and all, but we have a problem now."

Kade's expression hardened slightly. "Wouldn't have gotten this far, had I been here earlier." She pulled out her tablet, fingers moving across the screen. "I'd have flagged his initial interference immediately and had Guild enforcers watching him from day one."

Alice whistled low. Mei looked at Ethan, who gave a small nod.

Kade looked around the table. "Questions?"

Grace raised her hand slightly. "How do we know we can trust you?"

Kade didn't blink. "You don't. Not yet." She leaned back. "But time will prove my value to your team. Trust is built over time. Now is when I ask you to give me the benefit of the doubt and give me the chance to earn that trust."

Ethan looked down at his phone as it vibrated with a new message. He saw the sender in the notification: Tony Hale. He tapped Penny on the arm, showing her the message. Her eyes went wide for a moment before nodding towards Dr. Kade.

The room had noticed the interaction, waiting for Ethan to explain. "Tony Hale just messaged me. He wants to talk."

"Then I'd say it's time for you to get to work, Dr. Kade," Guildmaster Thompson said, standing and looking at the team. "Dr. Kade has been on my radar for years. When I reviewed the shortlist for this role, her qualifications left me with no real alternative. Situations like this are exactly her purview, and I'm asking that you hear her out on how you should respond."

Thompson thanked everyone and left the room. As the door clicked shut, the team all turned to look at Dr. Kade. Penny was the first to speak. "So, what do we do?"

Dr. Maren Kade positioned herself at the head of the conference table, her back straight with perfect posture. The group gathered around the table, their faces reflecting a blend of anticipation and nervous unease.

"Based on how he has handled past accusations against Marcus, if continues in that pattern, Tony Hale is going to try and reframe everything," she began, her voice calm and measured. "He'll spin Marcus's actions as misunderstandings, benign oversights. He might even apologize, but don't let that fool you. His words will be carefully chosen to avoid any real accountability."

Ethan leaned forward, his elbows on the table. "So what do we do?"

"Don't rise to the bait," Kade instructed. "Let him give his inaccurate framing. But continue the conversation as if he had admitted Marcus did wrong. Do not give into his framing, but don't make the entire conversation about it, either."

Penny frowned. "That sounds complicated."

Kade nodded. "It is. But remember, your goal is to get information, not to argue. Let him talk. Listen for what he's not saying as much as what he is. Hale has been doing this for years, he's going to throw a couple of curve balls at you in order to get you off balance. When he does, don't be afraid to take a few moments to think, nothing says you need to respond right away. Let someone else speak if you need time to think."

Grace crossed her arms. "And if he tries to blame us?"

"Stay calm," Kade advised. "Redirect the conversation. Keep it focused on solutions, not accusations. Marcus has done wrong, and the conversation is about rectifying that, not about giving Hale time to quibble over the blame."

Alice sighed. "I think I hate politics. This is going to be a nightmare."

The video conference call began with Tony Hale's face appearing on the screen. His expression was somber as he greeted them, his tone measured.

"Firstly, I want to apologize," he started. "Tony Hale's expression grew more somber as he continued, his voice carrying the weight of regret. "Marcus crossed lines that should never have been crossed. As a father, I saw his struggles and attempted to guide him, but I now recognize that my approach was flawed. I failed to intervene when I should have."

The team exchanged surprised glances. Grace raised an eyebrow. "That's... not what we expected."

Hale nodded. "I know. And for that, I am truly sorry. Marcus's actions were inexcusable, and I take full responsibility for my part in enabling him. Had I known what he was doing I would have stepped in far earlier."

Dr. Kade remained silent, her expression unreadable as she allowed the team to lead the conversation.

Grace leaned forward in her chair, her eyes narrowing as she fixed her gaze on the screen. "What is going to happen to Marcus?" The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken implications.

"He'll be returning to California immediately, you have my word on that." Hale responded. "He should never have followed you in the first place. I'm sorry for the stress and trauma his presence has caused you."

Grace sat back as she listened, an odd expression on her face. Ethan wasn't sure how she was feeling, hearing a validation of her issues from a man who had helped enable them to occur in the first place. This was completely different from what they had all expected. He looked back to Hale on the screen, seeing a look of contrition on his face.

"Being sorry doesn't change what happened." Alice sat up straight as she spoke up, her tone challenging. "Stalking Grace, following her and watching her apartment. The interference with our raiding and practice. Sorry doesn't fix things."

"I understand," Hale sighed. "That's what we need to discuss. I have an idea to help make things right. Ethan, I have a proposal for you. I'm aware of your class."

Ethan's shoulders tightened as Hale spoke. He hadn't expected Hale to outright admit he was aware of his class, and he hadn't missed Hale refusing to acknowledge Alice by changing the subject.

Hale continued, "California can offer you resources and support that Minnesota simply can't match. We have top-tier trainers, state-of-the-art facilities, and a network of connections that can help you reach your full potential."

Ethan looked at the team before responding. "We're happy with our current arrangement." The offer had caught him off guard even more than Hale apologizing.

Hale smiled. "I understand that. But consider this: as an S-rank, you deserve the best support available. Here in California, we have the expertise to help you grow and develop your abilities in ways that Minnesota cannot. I'm offering you and your team every bit of support I can provide, I owe that much to you for what Marcus has done."

Grace frowned. "What exactly are you offering?"

"I can understand the hesitancy in light of my son's actions," Hale leaned back in his chair. "But we have experience supporting S-ranked Marked. A dedicated team of advisors, access to exclusive training programs, and a platform to showcase your talents on a national stage. You would be a valuable asset to our guild, and we would ensure that you have everything you need to succeed."

Mei crossed her arms. "And what's the catch?"

Hale chuckled. "No catch. Just an opportunity for Ethan to reach his full potential. Think about it. Minnesota is a great place, but it lacks the resources and infrastructure to properly support an S-rank like Ethan. In California, we can give him the tools he needs to make a real difference."

Alice looked at Ethan, who remained silent, considering Hale's offer.

Dr. Kade finally spoke up. "Mr. Hale, while your offer is generous, I must advise Ethan to consider the implications carefully. Moving to California would mean uprooting his entire team and support network. That's not a decision to be made lightly."

Hale waved a hand. "Nonsense. Ethan is the priority here. His team can come with him, of course. His family, too, if they wish. We have accommodations for that. But the political fighting around Ethan should never have been allowed to happen. Minnesota, a state without much claim to fame nor power, can hardly be expected to know how best to advocate for Ethan. California has been host to several successful S-ranked Marked and we have the experience to help you excel."

Ethan's brow furrowed, his fingers tightening imperceptibly around the edge of the table. "What exactly do you mean by 'political fighting'?" Ethan asked, his voice steady despite the unease coiling in his stomach. The term felt loaded, like there was more beneath the surface than Hale was letting on, as if he had other motivations for bringing it up.

Alice shifted in her seat, her knee bouncing slightly, a telltale sign that she was as on edge as Ethan felt. Mei's expression remained neutral, but her fingers tapped a slow, deliberate rhythm against the table, a habit when she was processing information. Penny, usually quick with a quip or a reassuring smile, stayed silent, her usual energy subdued.

Ethan held Hale's gaze, waiting for an answer that would clarify the vague threat lurking in

Hale's expression turned serious. "Let's just say that not everyone in the Guild is happy with the way things are being handled. There are those who believe that Ethan should be under the care of a more experienced guild, one that knows how to properly manage an S-rank."

Penny's eyes narrowed. "Are you threatening us?"

Hale held up his hands. "Not at all. I'm simply stating the facts. Ethan deserves the best, and California can provide that. Think about it. Talk it over with your team. But remember, time is of the essence. Opportunities like this don't come around often."

The call ended, leaving the team in stunned silence.

Ethan looked at Dr. Kade. "What do we do now?"

Kade's expression was thoughtful. "We need to look into why Hale chose the tactics that he did," she turned to look at Grace. "When you initially had issues with Marcus in California, Mr. Hale covered for him, correct? This behavior of him apologizing for Marcus is unexpected?"

Grace nodded. "He completely dismissed any accusations that Marcus was doing wrong. What he did today, it was out of character."

Dr. Kade nodded. "Hale is a politician. He was vague in his acknowledgment of fault, he didn't give any specifics. That was intentional."

"You think he was buttering us up because he found out about Ethan being S-rank, right?" Penny asked, leaning forward slightly. "Hale didn't just roll over and admit fault, however vague it was, without a reason. He wants something from us, or more specifically, from Ethan."

"There's a strong possibility that was his intention," Dr. Kade said. "Hale isn't known for making moves without calculated reasoning. If he's suddenly acknowledging fault, however vaguely, that suggests he has something to gain." Her gaze flicked to Ethan, then back to the team. "That something is claiming another S-rank Marked for himself. "

Alice crossed her arms, her expression hardening. "So what? He thinks he can sweet-talk us now after everything?"

Dr. Kade shook her head slightly. "It's more than sweet talk. It's a strategic pivot. Hale is trying to re-establish control—control he feels he's losing." She turned to Grace, her expression softening slightly. "And given your history with Marcus, this could be an attempt to undermine the support system you've built here."

Penny let out a slow breath, her fingers drumming against the table. "So what do we do? Just ignore him?"

"The unsatisfying answer is that you let the investigation play out." Kade said, continuing despite seeing Alice wanting to speak. "I know that isn't what you want to hear. I understand wanting to take action, to do something. But you already have, and now is the time to be patient and trust that those in positions of authority have your back."

Alice leaned back as Dr. Kade addressed her objections before she could raise them. "This sucks."