Omega Summoner

(Adrian’s POV)

“You have arrived, Branch Leader Piggy Bank.” The man that is the Vice Leader of the Merchant Guild stated.

The Vice Leader of the Merchant Guild is currently seated beside a large empty chair. The large empty chair could be the seat of the Grand Merchant Leader which is the head of the guild. The Vice Leader of the Merchant Guild looked like a stern old uncle that wants perfection. He also radiates an aura that is at odds as he seems to not be sure if Piggy Bank is guilty.

If the Vice Leader of the Merchant Guild is not sure, then I guess Piggy Bank might have a chance to prove without using that method. Still, I can feel the piercing gazes of all the other branch leaders that came to this hearing. I can see their eyes filled with greed as those eyes are not a stranger to me.

Whenever I accompany my father to some of his events and trips, I often faced those stares. It is also the reason why I rarely have friends in that circle because they would even use their own children for their own interests. Thankfully, my father is an understanding person and saw my discomfort which is why he did not let me come to those events as often.

“I have arrived, Vice Leader.” Piggy Bank replied.

“Do you know why you were summoned here?” The Vice Leader of the Merchant Guild asked in a tone that hid his concern.

“Yes. I am being falsely accused of a crime that I did not even do.” Piggy Bank stated.

“You dare mock us!” One of the branch leaders suddenly shouted while the others started to talk badly towards Piggy Bank. Some of the branch leaders were quiet as they seem to the ones with good heads and solid hearts.

“I am not mocking any of you. I suddenly received word that I was accused of embezzling when I delivered all the proper ledgers related to the Avalon branch. This happened two days ago but then I was suddenly accused of hiring assassins to kill a high official which also shocked me. I did not even know who accused me of embezzling, but a hit charge is suddenly added to the list of things that I did not do.” Piggy Bank stated with full confidence.

This is a side that I have not fully seen of Piggy Bank as he is usually the friendly merchant player that I often talked to for things that I need. It seems that this is what really set him apart from other merchant players. He is one of few merchant players that have become branch leaders after all.

“I would like to raise all the evidence that point to his embezzling.” Lady Goldenclaw suddenly stated as she raised her hand.

“Lady Goldenclaw, I did not ask for your opinion on the matter as of now.” The Vice Leader of the Merchant Guild stated.

I looked at Lady Goldenclaw again and I really feel that this bi… I mean this woman is not a real human being. I heard her details from Piggy Bank and the High Wizard Dore earlier when we were in the adjacent room. She seems to be one of the children of a high official that married to a prominent family in the eastern continent. Her father basically runs the Merchant Guild Eastern Continent branch which is why she is very much influential.

“Please do not dismiss my claim, Vice Leader. I have happened to assign someone in the Avalon Branch and found out that Branch Leader Piggy Bank has a secret ledger. I do not have the secret ledger, but I do have the list of items that he procured using that. I had one of the clerks there monitor him just in case he did something like that, and I was surprised that he did.” Lady Goldenclaw stated.

Piggy Bank did tell me that the clerks in each branch are regularly shifted to another branch to make sure that no biases or soldi connections form. It is easier to do laundering and such if they are not rotated to different places. This rotation occurs every three months for the lowest level clerk and five months for the highest-level clerk. I admit that this system is very much good to prevent corruption, and I heard that they are even awarded if they report true corruptions.

“This is a list of very rare materials, Branch Leader Piggy Bank. What do you have to say for yourself?” Vice Leader of the Merchant Guild stated as he used some device to project the list that he was given.

I immediately knew the things listed on that because I was the one that told him to procure it. I did not think that he kept those transactions a secret. I did tell him to be secretive about it but not this level of secretive. I only told him to keep it a secret from my sister since she basically handles the guild’s finances.

“This is a signed document from the Lord of Avalon himself as these items were not transacted as my name as the branch leader but as the individual merchant Piggy Bank. The Lord of Avalon himself has tasked me in procuring these rare items in secret since he needed it to be discreet.” Piggy Bank replied.

“And why would the Lord of Avalon want it to be discreet? Is he also part of you embezzling the funds? Did you turn to his side when the merchant guild happily accepted you despite being a cursed one?” Lady Goldenclaw stated which suddenly made the room erupt in heated discussions.

“Quiet! Lady Goldenclaw, no more unnecessary words that could lead to rumors.” The Vice Leader of the Merchant Guild shouted.

“I am merely telling what I think happened.” Lady Goldenclaw retorted but she soon shut her mouth when the Vice Leader of the Merchant Guild glared at her.