Chapter 78: Black And White (Part 2)

The Aural group Angela Holystone has allied herself with, famously known as 'Baise', seems to be in a bit of a confusion after hearing a particular piece of intel. As Angela enquires about it, she comes to understand why they are confused and finds herself in a similar state.

Angela: "So, let me get this straight: Abgere has made contact with Heise?"

The leader of Baise nods and as he does,

Angela: "Why though?"

"There's more."

Says the man directly talking to the spies who are relaying this information to them.

Angela: "What more is there?"

"Abgere isn't alone."

He conveys what his spy tells him.

"He is with five other people, all of them are ... peculiar, to say the least."

Angela: "Peculiar? How so?"

The same question rests within the heads of all of the people listening. And so, the man conveying the message makes himself clearer.

"One of them is a Hellfire."

Angela: "...!?"

Surprising everyone and especially Angela, that is revealed. However, that is hardly the end of their surprise.

"Ethan Kales is with them too."

Angela: "Who the heck is Ethan Kales?"

Surprised that she doesn't know, the entire Baise looks at her with wide-eyes.

Angela: "...?"

Leader: "Well, let's just say, he's a very dangerous individual."

Angela: "Okay~ what about the rest?"

As all eyes turn to the person conveying the information, he continues right where he left.

"Sneha Stone, the infamous sole survivor of one of the greatest and most prestigious Aural groups in history, is with them too."

Just as much as they did for Ethan, their eyes widen again. This time, Angela does know what the person in question is.

Sneha Stone is known quite well among the Aurals for the very reason stated there. She's the sole survivor of a highly respected Aural group that was slaughtered 12 years ago by a certain psychic.

"Furthermore, there seems to be two more people. While we have never encountered either of them before, they are both marked as important figures by Vermillion."

Angela: "Who are they?"

"Kais, a psychic that is said to have immense value. The reason Vermillion values him so is unknown to us though."

Angela: "Kais, huh? I have heard that name before. Pretty sure the Phoenix had said to do what we can to bring him into the organization. And there were multiple attempts in doing so, but I think all of them had ended in failure."

"There's another. She's a spirit-user. She's ... skilled. But, what's most intriguing about her is that, once in the past, Vermillion set a bounty on her."

Angela: "Vermillion sets bounties on a lot of supernaturals."

"Yes but, her bounty was quite high. It was as big as the bounty set on Valdis."

Angela: "...!"

All of them find themselves surprised, to say the least. However, the reason for Baise members to be surprised is simply that a bounty equivalent of the queen of Vampires is ridiculously high. The reason Angela finds herself surprised is that hearing that - reminds her of something, or rather, someone.

And as she remembers that, she comes to understand who this Spirit-user is.

"Her name is-"

Angela: "Sona Pectus."

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As the charade is over and Ethan is explaining the situation to the entire group known as Heise, Gabriel detects a telepathic link trying to connect to him. As he spots that link, he moves away from the group, and allows it to connect.

Henceforth, as if picking up a phone call, the Hellfire is connected to the Phoenix.

Rosevelt: "It's been a while, Gabriel."

Gabriel: "I suppose it has."

Gabriel, just like he always does when talking to the Phoenix, shifts to a formal and business-only tone.

Rosevelt: "I am surprised that you haven't brought all of them here already. Has there been some kind of problem?"

Gabriel: "I ... guess there has been one."

Rosevelt: "Oh, what happened?"

Gabriel: "The family of my fiancee was murdered and she was driven to the point of insanity that she committed suicide. That sounds like a problem to you?"

Rosevelt: "Interestingly enough, it doesn't. I don't see how that has anything to do with bringing those four here."

Gabriel: "They were murdered by Vampires, Rosevelt. It was all on that bastard strategist's orders."

With his tone finally breaking a little, Gabriel tells the Phoenix so.

Rosevelt: "And?"

Gabriel: "And I am taking my revenge on the Vampires, and their strategist. I am going to have these guys help me do so. Only after I am done with that will I bring them to you."

Rosevelt: "..."

Gabriel: "You have something to say?"

Rosevelt: "Well, I do but I think keeping it in me will be a wiser decision."

With a more relaxed tone, Rosevelt says,

Rosevelt: "Fine, do as you wish. But you are to bring them to me, safe and sound."

Gabriel: "Very well. Is there anything else?"

Shifting back to the business-like tone, Gabriel asks.

Rosevelt: "There actually is."

Gabriel: "Huh?"

Rosevelt: "So Gabriel, are you telling me everything? Or, are you hiding something from me?"

Asking so in an accusing voice, Rosevelt makes it quite clear that he knows that which Gabriel was trying to not tell him.

Hence, Gabriel decides to just come out and spill the beans.

Gabriel: "Temporarily, those four have teamed up with Abgere. And since I am to bring them to you SAFE AND SOUND, I can't try to kill him and end up on their bad side."

Rosevelt: "Is that so?"

Rosevelt laughs.

Rosevelt: "And why hasn't HE killed you yet?"

Gabriel: "I guess, similar reasons to mine."

Rosevelt: "That so? Certainly interesting."

Gabriel can almost hear Rosevelt smirking as he continues.

Rosevelt: "It seems there will be a problem then. You might face quite a challenge in keeping those four safe."

Gabriel: "... Explain."

Rosevelt: "Oh, it's just that, some people might be coming to kill Abgere. And it will fall to you to try and stop those four from getting involved."

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Halogen: "That was quite a surprise, wasn't it?"

For once, he says something he truly feels.

Akio: "Not that it was a challenge."

Says Akio as he flicks his fingers, making the flames go out.

Vaika: "Well, you can't expect a challenge from these guys."

Vaika says as he steps on the throat of a Vampire, and crushes it easily to land his foot on the ground beneath.

Out of nowhere, just as he had finished listening to all Halogen knew about Abgere and was about to tell him what the job is that the Phoenix has given them, an unorganized bunch of Vampires attacked the trio.

As one would expect, the three Hellfires remained unscratched and killed all the Vampires. However, they couldn't help but wonder why these idiots attacked them.

Could they not sense just how much more powerful the three were compared to them? Or,

Halogen: "Someone ordered this. That's what I think, at least."

Akio: "And who would do something so pointless and stupid?"

Halogen: "Who indeed?"

Vaika: "... I may know the answer to that."

Vaika says so, looking like he can't believe his own realization, but he knows that what he thinks is the right answer.

The other two look at him, asking him to continue, and so he does.

Vaika: "Walter told me right before coming here that he had an encounter with ... Bronzer, the strategist of Vampire Kingdom. He told me that I should look out for him."

Akio: "What!? THE Walter Schmidt told you to look out for someone?!"

Vaika: "I was surprised too, but that's what happened."

In a quite soft and unchanging voice, Vaika continues.

Vaika: "He warned me that Bronzer would do the most unexpected things possible, that he would come at me in ways I'd never imagine, and that by the time I realize the meaning behind those moves, it'll be too late. So, I should look out for him."

Akio: "..."

Akio, left speechless, can only stare at Vaika as he says all that. Halogen, on the other hand, readily accepts the explanation.

Halogen: "I see. If that is the case, it certainly seems possible that he ordered this."

Seeing that acceptance of Walter's words conveyed through Vaika, Akio and Vaika find themselves at a loss.

Halogen: "Anyway,"

And so, Halogen gets the chance to lead the conversation.

Halogen: "What was the job?"

Vaika: "Right, that. We are to kill someone."

Halogen: "Just one person?"

Halogen, surprised by the fact that three Hellfires would be asked to kill just one person, questions so.

Vaika: "Just one person."

Halogen: "That person must be quite something, huh?"

Vaika: "Connect the dots from our earlier conversation and you'll know who it is."

Pondering on that, it doesn't take long for the 'priest' to understand.

Halogen: "I see. So we are hunting for Abgere, are we?"

Vaika nods. And irritatedly, Akio says,

Akio: "It's not just us either. Chang Lu, Ross Green and Laurie Brown are on it too."

Hearing the names of the other three Hellfires, Halogen says sardonically,

Halogen: "Six-on-one for Abgere? That doesn't like the brightest idea the Phoenix has come up with."

However,

Vaika: "It's not exactly six-on-one"

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Gabriel, with shocked eyes, listens to what the Phoenix tells him.

Rosevelt: "Halogen, Akio and Vaika are on one team. Chang, Ross and Laurie are on the other team. And they are competing for one target - Abgere."

Unable to form words, Gabriel just listens.

Rosevelt: "Whichever team kills him first will replace me as the Phoenix."

Gabriel: "What the heck are you saying!?"

Rosevelt: "What? Are you bothered because there will be three Phoenix. Don't worry, Gabriel! Things will work out."

Intentionally sarcastic, Rosevelt tries his best to contain his excitement as he reveals everything.

Rosevelt: "So anyway, when they come for him, you better do a good job at keeping those four safe and away from the Hellfires."

Gabriel: "Tsk! Bastard!"

Rosevelt can't help but laugh as he hears Gabriel curse him.

The thought that the third faction would need to fight and defeat six Hellfires in order to keep their alliance with Abgere going is scary enough. The fact that Gabriel can't be sure what they would actually do in this situation is even scarier.

The best thing for Gabriel to do would be to, just as the Phoenix says, keep them away from the Hellfires' way.

However, will they be willing to back down? Will they comply?

He just can't be sure with someone like Ethan Kales being the ones to make strategies and decisions and everyone else completely trusting him.

Rosevelt: "What's wrong, you have been really quiet for a while now!?"

Gabriel: "..."

Rosevelt: "Gabri-"

Cutting off the link between them, Gabriel sighs.

Gabriel: "This is going to soon become a mess that there will be no way out of."

He says so, telling himself of the reality he faces, and questions what he should do.

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