Chapter 57: Monolid Black (Part 1)

In a city that never sleeps, there are quite a few skyscrapers that would leave many with their mouths open. This city, called Kelsey, is about five centuries old, and has been named as one of the most developed cities in the world. And one of the things that have largely contributed to it gaining this reputation is the fact that the headquarters of one of the biggest tech firms in the world is situated here. This tech firm goes by the name of Vermillion.

The fact that the towering skyscraper of 90 floors that Vermillion considers its headquarters lies in this city is easily the biggest reason this city is renowned for being developed, but to those who really know the truth, they can only wonder how this devious psychic organization is capable of gaining such a reputation when it seems to be so busy with actual work that its "employees" do. Just how does this form produce products that make it such a big company when no one in the entire organization is ever free for more than a day from doing jobs associated with the supernatural?

The answer is simple, however. It's because everyone in this firm is a psychic that things like these are possible.

Just how much effort would it take for a psychic to completely replicate a different corporation's products?

Just how much effort would it take for a psychic to then tweak it up a bit and release a much better model than the one that was the target to replication?

Just how much effort would it take to produce thousands upon thousands of copies of those products?

Well, if one Hellfire gets that job assigned to them, then it will be a piece of cake.

And that is why Vermillion is one of the greatest tech firms in this world. But no one actually wants this job, and so, it is rotated monthly between the 10 Hellfires.

While this may look tedious and not-so-important to a lot of supernaturals, for Vermillion to have the resources it needs to keep on functioning, this job is very essential. Which is why, losing the Hellfire that was currently tasked with this job is quite bothersome to everyone in the upper echelon.

In this kind of troublesome situation, what can the remaining 9 Hellfires do? They discuss it among themselves and their leader of course. So, when this shocking and worrying news reaches the ears of the Phoenix, the leader of Vermillion,

Phoenix: "It doesn't really matter."

He reacts with a frowning, not-so-impressed expression.

Phoenix: "I had already known about Gin's death before you all came shouting about it in my ears, I mean, mind."

He corrects himself because the slang doesn't work in this sense, not when the 9 Hellfires are talking to the Phoenix through telepathy.

Phoenix: "All this proves is that the man named Abgere is serious about his threat. You all should be careful. There's nothing more than that to say and no reason at all for this much buzz."

He says and ends their telepathic link. He does so because he has no interest in talking to those morons who will themselves forget about this problem when they wake up the next morning.

Now alone in his cabin, which was the entire floor, with no one to disturb him anymore, the Phoenix stares out the glass windows that shows him the view of the entire Kelsey city lit in the night by the radiance of those technologies that he himself definitely has a part in creating. As he stares at that scenery from the 90th floor, he can only wonder at the pathetic temptations of a superiority complex. He can only laugh at the people who grow conceited just because they see a view like that.

Phoenix: "Ha!"

He chuckles. He is undoubtedly delighted to see this beautiful view, but he knows it means nothing. He knows this view has no value at all as the only reason it exists is because of some humans trying to play god. These lights that are like a jewelry atop the city's neck, these large buildings like his own that can be found everywhere in the city and the traffic that never slows down, it's all there because a human tried to create these lights, the cars, these building and so on. A human tried to play god, he tried to create knowing that the human nature is of destroying.

For what reason were these building created so beautifully and elegantly? For them to one day become targets of terrorist attacks?

For what reason are these cars created with so many different styles and polishes? For them to one day be blown up by a militant?

For what reason are these lights that shine so brightly in the night created in the first place? For them to help monsters mix in with humans?

It's the foolishness of a smart person that leads to these inventions.

And yet these are the inventions that have helped Vermillion sustain itself in this modern era. The Phoenix, for just that reason, doesn't consider these things completely insignificant.

Phoenix: "So Gin was killed after all."

The thought comes to his mind as he stares at the man he can faintly see in the glass windows. That man has monolid-black-eyes and equally black, slightly long hair on his oval face and his skin pale enough for one to assume there is no pigment in them. He stands 6'3 tall and wears a black suit that fits the image of the CEO of a tech firm. That man is named Reid Vezalius Rosevelt, also known as the Phoenix.

Rosevelt: "Well, my guests might need some protection from this Abgere I guess."

He sighs.

Even though he had dismissed the news of Gin's death as not-very-important, he does understand the threat that Abgere poses to those not powerful or smart enough to defeat him. And so, the guests who'd be arriving at this doorsteps a few days from now might need someone to keep them safe during the journey.

Rosevelt: "Considering the route they'd need to take, Gabriel is the best person for it."

He says without any reaction as his black eyes shine a bit in response to him using telepathy over long distance trying to create a link with someone who is half the planet away.

Gabriel: "Yes, is something the matter?"

Gabriel, one of the Hellfires, speaks in a way that shows his foul mood. Even when all the Hellfires had come to talk about Gin's death, this man was just present in the link. He had not said a word the entire time. From that, Rosevelt could tell that he was in a foul mood so he was prepared to deal with it as he always did – talk business, nothing else.

Rosevelt: "I have a job for you."

He says in a plain tone and on hearing that, a sigh comes from the other end followed by no response for about 20 seconds. Rosevelt knows for a fact that he is taking those 20 seconds to get over whatever had spoiled his mood, which he also knows for a fact that it was not Gin's death.

Gabriel: "I'm listening."

Finally, in the plain voice akin to Rosevelt's, came the response.

Rosevelt: "The job is to escort 4 people safely to me."

Gabriel: "I see."

Rosevelt: "And by safely, I mean that they need to be kept safe from any kind of danger, be it from Abgere, vampires or even another Hellfires."

Gabriel: "…"

Rosevelt: "The safety of all four of them is the top priority."

Gabriel: "Is that so? Who are these four that are so important to you?"

Rosevelt: "Kais, Ethan Kales, Sona Pectus and Sneha Stone."

Gabriel: "Ugh!"

Rosevelt: "What? Is something the matter?"

Gabriel: "No. Everything's fine. Where are the four of them?"

Rosevelt: "That you'll have to track them down to find out. I can give you a memory sample of what Sneha's aura is like. That might help you."

Gabriel: "I see. Then please do so."

Rosevelt: "Well, that's all."

Gabriel: "So, there isn't any time-limit for the job?"

Rosevelt: "No. Times are dangerous. Just you bringing them to me safe and sound will be enough."

Gabriel: "Okay, I got it. When should I start?"

Rosevelt: "Can you start right now?"

Gabriel: "I can if you send me the memory sample."

Rosevelt: "I see. Then I'll make sure that memory sample reaches you within an hour from now."

Gabriel: "Then that is when I start."

Rosevelt: "Good. That's all."

Rosevelt says and after waiting for about 5 seconds for there to be any questions from the other side, he cuts the link when Gin doesn't say anything.

Because this only happened telepathically, neither of the two ever opened their mouths. And so, to a bystander, this conversation would have never even happened. And that is why Rosevelt, the man famous for being open and frank to the public going so far as to put 20 cameras at different places in every place he stays including his houses, is considered one of the cleanest man alive. He could never possibly do any kind of corruption when there are always cameras watching him, cameras that are directly connected to crime branch headquarters of the country. This man couldn't possibly have just said 'kill anyone who means those four people any harm' to someone. He couldn't possibly be shady at all.

Rosevelt … smiles.

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