Location: Guild Finance Office – Morning
The pale morning light of Solencia filtered through tall arched windows into the Guild Finance Office, where ledgers and accounting tablets were stacked in precarious towers. Itsuki Hiroto entered behind Sera and Virelya, rubbing his temples. Yesterday's audit victory still reverberated in his bones, but today's summons promised no respite—only more numbers.
Guild Treasurer Maldrick, a hawk‑nosed man in ink‑stained robes, bowed low. "Commander Hiroto, thank you for coming so promptly. We have… irregularities."
Hiroto nodded, folding his cloak over a nearby chair. "Show me."
Maldrick pointed to a massive spreadsheet‑tablet embedded in the wall—its columns scrolled endlessly. "These are the district's fund allocations for Quarter 4 of Era 76. Notice the Transportation Fund: 1,200 gold was drawn, but only 200 recorded in deliveries."
Sera peered at the numbers. "So 1,000 gold vanished?"
Virelya folded her arms. "Likely funneling rebel groups."
Hiroto exhaled. "Let's trace it."
He approached the tablet, tapping his palm against its surface. Faint runes glowed around his fingers as the ledger rearranged itself. Rows of transport vouchers aligned with invoice receipts. Under his gaze, a hidden column of "Special Disbursements" slid into view—entries coded in a crimson ink only visible under his command seal.
"There," he tapped the suspicious line: Rebellion Subsidy, 1,000 gold, coded 4E76-Q4-TF. "This disbursement was never authorized by the Commander's office."
Maldrick's eyes went wide. "That code is reserved for covert operations."
Sera's lip curled. "Rebel financing, plain as day."
Virelya drew her sword hilt. "We need to announce this. Quickly."
Hiroto nodded. "Gather the Council. We move to intercept the funds before they leave the vault."
Location: North Treasury Vault – Early Afternoon
They descended into the North Treasury Vault, a cavernous chamber of polished stone and enchanted locks. Two gold‑topped pillars bore lanterns that glimmered against sealed chests. Vault Guards held long pikes, eyes wary.
Hiroto approached Guard Captain Renwick, who saluted nervously. "Commander, the vault's open at your command."
He strode to the nearest chest, scanning the runic lock. "Open it," he instructed.
Renwick turned the key; the heavy lid creaked open to reveal crates of coin pouches inscribed with faction emblems—wolves, crows, and dragons. Each pouch bore an identical "4E76-Q4-TF" tag.
"They've been packing here," Renwick said. "Thousands of gold, ready for transport."
Hiroto frowned. "Seal the vault. No one enters or leaves without my order." He tapped his seal‑ring to activate the ward. The doors clicked shut.
Sera peered at the crates. "This is the core of their rebellion funding."
Virelya nodded, voice low. "We'll cut off their resources—and their will."
Hiroto exhaled, turning to the vault's wide corridor. "Escort me to the Grand Finance Council Chamber. We announce the seizure there—then dismantle their network."
Location: Grand Finance Council Chamber – Late Afternoon
The Grand Finance Council Chamber was a domed hall ringed with carved reliefs of scales and quills. At its center, a semicircle of high‑backed chairs awaited the district's finance ministers and guild faction leaders. Word of the seized funds had spread; the benches were filled by nobles in finery, dwarven merchants in leather aprons, and representatives of every entrenched interest.
Hiroto entered with measured steps. He donned his commander's sash and nodded to Chancellor Beltram, who watched from the dais. Sera and Virelya took positions at the flanks.
Hiroto cleared his throat. "Esteemed council—this afternoon, we intercepted one thousand gold in illicit disbursements coded to Quarter 4, Era 76, under "Transportation Fund." Funds earmarked for our guild were diverted to rebel factions."
A murmur rippled across the chamber. Guild Director Arlena pounded her gavel. "Commander, evidence?"
Hiroto tapped his tablet. The spreadsheet scrolled automatically to reveal the crimson‑ink entries. "Here are the original vouchers and matching invoices. Under my seal, the system flagged the discrepancy. We've secured the vault and interrogated the guards on duty—none authorized this movement but the faction known as the Crimson Quill."
Madame Elowen of the Merchant Circle frowned. "The Crimson Quill claimed to represent 'disenfranchised clerks.'"
Hiroto's expression was grim. "A false front. Their real objective: destabilize the guild to force my removal and seize control of the logistics network."
Warlord Thrakun's envoy spat coal‑dust. "They fund mercenary bands on the King's Road—attacks increase nightly."
Beastfolk Envoy Horin growled, "Supply caravans have been ambushed. Grain reaches our herds only half full."
Merfolk Herald Selvra added, "Our salt shipments vanished entirely."
Sera stepped forward, voice firm. "Without this stolen gold, their mercenaries fall silent within hours."
A tense silence followed as the council absorbed the scope.
Location: Grand Finance Council Chamber – Dusk
Hiroto raised a hand. "I propose an Accounting War: each faction sets its funds on the dais; I will verify the entirety of our district's holdings against master logs. Any unaccounted disbursement is seized to restore operations. Those with clean ledgers maintain their allocations."
Groans and protests filled the hall, but the chamber's magical ledger hovered overhead, ready to process.
Hiroto tapped the ledger with his palm; runes flared. He initiated the Consolidated Audit Spell, and the ledger spiraled through each faction's records in seconds—elves' tithes, dwarves' minerals, beastfolk trade, merfolk pearls, sky riders' feathers—flashing green for accurate, flashing red for missing entries.
Crimson Quill's ledger glowed red through every column. Their pouches were incinerated in a wave of pale light; the rebels' financial backbone collapsed instantly. Outside, guards reported that rebel bands disbanded at the gates, gold‑hungry mercenaries left in disarray.
Council members stared in stunned silence as the ledger finished. Every legitimate faction remained green. The chamber erupted in cheers for Hiroto's swift efficiency.
Chancellor Beltram wiped sweat from his brow. "By the Crown… balance restored." He bowed. "Commander Hiroto, the Accounting War is over. The Crimson Quill is no more."
Hiroto's shoulders sagged. "I… did what I could."
Location: Guild Introduction Foyer – Night
As the council adjourned, Hiroto slipped out to the foyer, muscles aching from the day's exertions. Sera caught up with him, holding a flask labeled "Recovery Tea."
"Congratulations," she said. "You just crushed a rebellion with spreadsheets."
Hiroto took a cautious sip. "I'd rather do anything but numbers now."
Virelya returned, brows furrowed. "Someone approached me in the shadows—offered poison to end the 'Silent Accountant.'" She handed Hiroto a small flask.
Hiroto blinked at the pale liquid in the vial. "Poison?"
Sera peered. "Looks… like tea."
Before he could decide, fatigue overwhelmed his caution. He lifted the vial to his lips, drained it in one gulp—then froze as a bitter warmth spread through him.
His vision blurred; his head spun. He staggered, hand clutching his throat.
Through the haze, Sera cried out, "Commander!"
And in that moment, as the world tilted around him, Hiroto realized the next line on the ledger would be his own life's entry—assuming he survived this truly unintentional draft of poison.