"That's genius." Eren woke with a start, an epiphany hit him like thunder, an idea that would change his guild forever.
"A competition is just what we need. Winners can join the guild, and I don't need to talk with anyone." He could practically hear the gears turning in his own mind. He thought himself a genius amongst men in that moment.
~
Jun.
Yes master?
How are you with visual design?
It's funny that you say that... I am really talented at it. Before I joined the army-
That's great Jun. I need you to design a recruitment competition for the Silvermane guild.
Sure... What are the rules?
Um...
Three rounds of challenges, each round has a different task. I'll leave those in your capable hands.
Alright. Anything else?
Nope. You can add anything you think we need.
I'll see you later.
~
Eren descended the steps with unusually eager thuds; the morning sun filtered through the blinds. Emi sat quietly, eating her breakfast. Occasional glances to their father, passed out on the couch.
'Dammit.' Eren's gaze fell upon him. His eagerness vanished that instant.
He had been like this for a while now. Taking up residence on the lounge. His work shirt lay in a crumpled mess, beer cans scattered around him. With no one willing to take on a man tethered to criminals; he was forced into early retirement. Now his only job was to find money for his next drink. A shell of the man he once was, his dignity was left in a pool of liquor.
Fermented alcohol wafted through the air, a stench of neglect. He reeked of cheap booze and unwashed clothes; loud snores reverberated in the room. It was a pitiful sight to behold.
*Splash*
Eren poured a cup of water on his head. The man awoke with a jolt, coughing and spluttering as he struggled to grasp the situation.
"Get up you lazy sack of shit." He hissed through gritted teeth. The stench of his father's alcohol-laced breath invaded his nostrils.
"What. Oh, good morning son." He slurred, barely able to string a sentence together.
Eren shook his head in disappointment. "You stink, go take a shower." He ordered; turning to the table, joining his sister. Emi watched the scene unfold with sadness in her eyes. She too was affected by the sight before her. It hurt her, the way their once proud father had fallen. They both knew it was his own fault, his ties to the crimson bandits had cost him everything.
The man began to shuffle off towards the shower room. A trail of discarded beer cans left in his wake. The sound of the door closing was a relief, as the siblings could finally enjoy their breakfast in peace.
"I'm going out today. Did you want a ride to school?" Eren offered, trying to break the sombre mood that had taken hold of the room.
"No thanks." Her response abrupt, her carefully cultivated character she displayed at school; A quite achiever. She didn't need her hot brother to draw any more attention to her.
"Alright then. Enjoy your day. I'll cook some curry tonight, alright?"
"Yeah." Another treat for Emi, anything he cooked tasted like heaven. Amongst many things that she missed in the time he was dead; his cooking was near the top.
*Vroom* *Vroom*
'Alright first stop.' Eren pulled up to a familiar home. He dismounted, and made his way to the door. Knocking thrice.
"Hello... Your daddy's friend. Dad!" The small girl ran to get her father, leaving Eren waiting at the front door.
"What is it honey? Oh, hello Eren. I thought you died again." Haruto appeared; a friendly smile plastered on his face.
"It's good to see you too. How have you been?"
"Same as always. Not a lot goes on in the Nagai household." He chuckled to himself, inviting Eren inside. "Please come in."
"I've got places to be today unfortunately. However, I do have a job for you. If you're interested?"
"What is it?"
"I've joined the Silvermane guild. We are looking to recruit people. I was hoping that you could be one of them. You in?"
"The Silvermane guild? I thought they disbanded years ago?" Haruto questioned.
"Just hiding until they got their HQ back."
"Oh, well um... I've kind of retired from gate clearing." Haruto said sheepishly. "I want more time to spend with this little one." Tickling under his daughter's neck. She squirmed at her father's playful touch.
"We have positions that don't require gate clearing. Admin and staffers that are needed. You still interested?"
"Yeah... Yeah I could make that work. You got a card?"
Eren didn't have one, he never saw the need for business cards. It was very passé.
"Still as organised as ever huh?" Haruto jested, a small laugh at the expense of his friend. Eren returned a glare; even though the man was right.
"You are welcome to sign up directly at the HQ. Say that Eren sent you and they will set you up. You know where it is?"
"Yeah, everyone in Tokyo does. That huge ass building in the middle of poor ward 4. Hard to miss. Alright then, I'll give them a visit."
'Great that's one down...'
"I'll be seeing you. Bye Maya." Eren waved the girl goodbye.
*Vroom*
With a twist of the throttle, the engine roared to life, and the motorcycle took off with a jolt.
This time Eren was on the highway to the city centre. The only other person who he could think to ask, was his old guild master from his previous life.
He pulled to a stop, out the base of the Kitsuwa Banking Group; the golden tigers guild headquarters.
Last he saw Akira; he was an office drone, working under a cruel man his age.
Eren thought his spot were just, yet a man as powerful as him should not be held in one spot. If it was not a cruel fate to be chained, perhaps a sentence that had already been served.
"Hello sir, Welcome to the golden tigers. How may I be of assistance to you?" A receptionist greeted him. The same man with sharp eyes like black diamonds; black hair neatly combed to the side. Face sculpted with immaculate precision.
"I'm here to see Akira."
"Weren't you the same guy that asked for him a couple months ago?"
"Take me to him please." He spoke with impatience. From memory everyone including the receptionist viewed Akira as a joke amongst the guild. A man that should be feared and respected was reduced to an office mutt, the butt of all jokes.
Like last he saw the old man, he was alone in the break room. Everyone sat in cliques of their own. He was an outsider in the guild. Still alone; a penance that was served well.
"Hello Akira." Eren announced himself.
The older man turned around; a look of empty eyes met him. "Hello. Who are you?"
"Eren Heart."
"Eren Heart? You don't look like him. Besides he died years ago." Akira said, his voice full of doubt. His eyes looked him up and down. The young man was like the Eren he remembered. But that was impossible, the dead do not rise.
"Well, I'm back; And I want you to join the Silvermane."
The break room went deathly silent at the words. If Eren had killed the man, were he sat he would not have gotten that reaction. Eren had crossed some sort of taboo.
The receptionist looked at him with a glare that could kill. "You! Dare try to steal our people in front of us? The audacity."
"What are you talking about?" The white-haired man was confused by what the other meant.
"Go and get Mr. Sato!" He yelled. The nearby office workers, all stood to attention. Quickly making their way to their master's office.
"What on was that about?" Turning back to his former master.
"You really are Eren, you have some balls to enter the Golden Tigers and just ask someone to join your guild."
"That sounds ridiculous." He thought it was the stupidest thing he had ever heard. People used to poach each other all the time back in the day. Why is today any different?
"You in?"
Akira gave pause. An offer like this was too good to pass up, but he had a feeling the situation was going to turn bad.
"HEY!" The door burst open. In strode a young man; black hair slicked back, his face chiselled, giving him a cold, almost snake like appearance. His eyes narrowed on Eren as soon as he entered the room. The other members stood back and watched. Not reverence or respect, a fear of being on the receiving end of the man's anger.
*Slap*
"You dare try and poach one of my team members?" The man who stood smaller than Eren stuck him with an open palm. However, Eren didn't even flinch. Not registering the weak attack.
*Slap* *Punch* *Slap*
Several more blows came, but they were no more painful than a bug bite. It didn't take long for the man to become tired and out of breath, his face turning a shade of beet red. Eren's face was frozen in an impassive stare.
"Akira. Throw this man out of the office. Now!" He commanded.
But Akira refused. A man who was always full of pride, finally found it again. The old man would no longer stand being treated like trash. A look of defiance flashed through his eyes as he stared at the younger man.
His voice filled with resolve. "No. I quit."
"You quit? How are you going to make your way in the world? No one will hire you, not with that attitude and a record like yours." The man's face contorted in anger; his teeth bared like a rabid dog. He was used to getting his way, and the idea that someone had the audacity to defy him infuriated him even more.
"I'll have you blacklisted. You'll never find a job, anywhere in this town."
"Good, because I already have one." With that Eren turned on his heel, walking towards the elevators. Akira following in tow.
"Get out. OUT! GET OUT!" The young man screamed at the retreating figures, spittle flying from his mouth as he raged. It was like watching a tantrum thrown by a toddler, but it was the wailing of a somewhat grown man.
"I'm going for a smoke. NO ONE FOLLOW ME!"
The office was silent once again, no one made eye contact with the screaming child in a man's body. All their heads down; their eyes glued to their lunches.
"Come on. Let's go." Akira whispered. He was eager to get out of there; not wanting to cause any more trouble for his now former guild members.
*Ground floor - Lobby*
Before he left however, Eren couldn't let that man's behaviour go unchecked. Guren waited in the darkened stairwell nearby. Sato entered alone. The door closing behind him, leaving him in darkness.
A slight shove was all it took to send him tumbling down the flight of stairs. A loud hard thud as he landed hard on the concrete below. Not to kill him but maybe he might learn something about karma from the experience.
'That's two down. And a good deed done today.' He thought to himself, pleased with the outcome of his quest.