Chapter 20 Crooked Teeth And Crooked Toes

"I accept".

With those words Crooked Jack let out a small sigh of relief. For second there, she honestly thought Chen Fei was going to refuse Crooked Red's offer.

If that were to happen well, she couldn't have anyone outside of the organization that knew her name and face. It would be unfortunate what would happen to Chen Fei, and she knew that Kim Baek Hyeon wouldn't be happy if the Crooked Blades killed his "Adam".

Crooked Red just nodded his head happily, before glancing at his left and right, causing both George and Jack to turn back towards the higher ranked member.

"You two are partners so you both know what to do. Give them their names, teach them some combat techniques and make sure they remember the rules of the Crooked Blades. In one month I'll give them their first assignment. More than likely some information retrieval from one of our operatives. Make sure they don't hesitate by then.... Am I understood?".

"Yes, sir!", exclaimed both Crooked George and Crooked Jack in unison.

With another flicker of his body Crooked Red vanished from the top of Water Moon College's Boys Dormitory. No trace, scent or otherwise could be detected by Chen Fei or Ichika, not even the dust and small puddles on the roof were marked by Crooked Red. His movement technique so powerful, that it allowed him to walk on water without even the slightest of ripples....

Chen Fei and Ichika glanced at each other, getting a rough idea from what Crooked Red's words meant.

Chen Fei gave her a small smile before nodding at her silently.

"If we are to be partners, then I hope I won't expect any knives been thrown my way I hope?".

Ichika smirked and shrugged her shoulders.

"Only if you want me to", she replied.

Both parties seemed to be quite pleased, or at least satisfied with their chosen partner. Neither knew, or even assumed that the Crooked Blades worked in teams of two, but considering that Crooked Red called Crooked George and Crooked Jack partners, they both assumed they would be too.

Crooked George, whose huge, manly physique was the complete opposite of Crooked Jack's sensual, and seductive one, stepped forward and handed both Chen Fei and Ichika another wristband, exactly the same model and make as the one on both of their wrists.

Pointing to them both he spoke.

"These are Holy Library's from the Holy Fossil Consortium. However, they have had the limitations removed on them, and provide you with access to the majority of the Holy Fossil Consortium's database. Anything up until the Golden Knight Rank and you'll mostly likely be able to find. Beyond that, and you'll have to enter the Lord Rank to access".

Chen Fei couldn't help but raise his hand awkwardly, as if trying to ask his teacher a question.

"Um, what exactly is the Lord Rank? I don't actually know what stage is after the Golden Knight Rank, so what does that mean exactly?".

Crooked Jack took a step forward, considering she was the one teaching Chen Fei specifically. Every named field operative in the Crooked Blades eventually had to take on their own apprentice, so as to nurture future generations of Crooked Blades.

Generally speaking most named field operatives chose close relatives or close friends children so as to ensure trust between the teacher and the student. Crooked Jack picking Chen Fei out of the blue caused Crooked George to be taken back slightly, but understood most of his partners reasoning when he saw Chen Fei's file.

Not to say that the Crooked Blades solely recruited their field operatives using this method. Any talented individual that managed to enter their radars would be a candidate that might be chosen at a particular time. Usually those who had special abilities, or were in special situations that the Crooked Blades could use in the short-term or even long-term future were scouted

Crooked Jack cleared her throat and used her hands to answer Chen Fei's question.

"A Knight who has broken through the highest tier of a Golden Knight is someone who is known as a Lord Knight, or Lord for short. How one becomes a Lord Knight will be explained to you once the information becomes necessary, but Lord Knights exceed the power of Golden Knights usually by about seven or eight times. Lord Knights possess immense physical and spiritual powers. Most can topple houses with a few waves of their hand, and can utilise spiritual power outside of the body. They are the only ones who can use combat techniques to their fullest potential. Golden Knights and below can use roughly 10% of their true power".

Both Ichika and Chen Fei's eyes widened slightly in surprise.

While both of them knew some things about Knights and even one or two things about Lord Knights, neither of them knew that the strength behind combat techniques were so limited in the Knight stage. Even Golden Knights could only use 10% of their true power.

The two new members eyes were drawn towards the various throwing knives all over Ichika's body. If Ichika, a Copper Human Knight could only use less than 1% of her combat techniques true power, then how strong would she be if she reached the Lord Knight Rank?

Ichika gulped silently.

Crooked George nodded at his partners explanation.

"Becoming a Lord Knight should be a goal that both of you have in mind. Both of you are still young, and most of your potential still remains to be unearthed. Becoming a Lord Knight should not be a problem so long as you don't screw anything up or get yourselves killed..... Anyway, these Holy Library's are also fitted with the Crooked Blades communication network. Right now they are only tailored to each other, and your respective teacher. Use this to contact us if you have a question about something, or need some advice while cultivating".

Crooked Jack gestured to the Holy Library on her wrist, and what seemed to be the Ancient Fossil Association's Knight Table on Crooked George's wrist.

"There are some things that we need to tell you, but I will make sure that I inform you that they are permanently embedded into your Holy Libraries. Considering what the media and the various criminal organisations say about the Crooked Blades, no current member has ever broken these rules and lived to expose us to the world".

Jack and George glanced at each other before Jack continued.

"There are several rules that all members of the Crooked Blades must adhere to. Most are just common sense, however some are more valued by other members of the Crooked Blades than others".

"The first being that as members of the Crooked Blades, you are never to kill without either getting consent from us, or in situations were taking down an attacker is possible. If your cover is blown then don't automatically assume your partners is. Just get out, and let your other half erase any information regarding to your existence. And yes, "erasing information" is an automatic consent from us".

"Second being the divide between personal affairs and business. Situations where a former friend or family member may be a target or client, so don't get your feelings mixed up when there is a job to do. Also, in regards to protection missions, the client comes before the mission. Don't ever think that your other half is above the client. The Crooked Blades will not pay for any failures that their operatives incur. Reputation is sometimes worth more than people, remember that".

"Thirdly, in regards to requests. Generally speaking at your level, only information retrieval or package drop offs are likely to be given. Simple and I won't go into detail with those. However, when you become stronger, like Silver or Golden Knight at the very least, assassination requests will start to be received. The method of killing is completely up to you, however the client sometimes will want a video or a less than humane method of death. They can make suggestions, but it is entirely up to you".

Jack let out a deep breath. Her visage turned serious as she spoke the last rule.

"Lastly. In the event that you consider betraying or revealing the secrets behind the Crooked Blades, we will kill you. And if you kill us, somebody with Crooked Red's strength will come along. No traitor has ever managed to spend more than 240 hours on the run. So if either of you decide to betray us well-".

Another cutting throat gesture was given by both George and Jack.

Chen Fei gave a small smile before looking towards his teachers expression.

"It's much more freer than I would've thought. No limits on our personal lives or anything".

Crooked Jack nodded, shrugging her shoulders slightly.

"The more restrictions placed on a person the less natural they'll act. Some requests and missions require undercover work, so appearing as normal as possible is always necessary. Sometimes, the cover of your real life is better than anything else. Of course, the opposite is always possible".

Chen Fei nodded knowingly.

If having using your real life as a cover, it also meant that your real life friends and family were at risk. Assuming that the majority of Crooked Blade members possessed family and some friends that they valued, only the small number, who didn't have, or didn't care would use their real life.

Chen Fei didn't want to have to look over his shoulder for the rest of his life, so using a fake cover would be best for missions like that. He wasn't solely dedicated to the Crooked Blades after all, and he knew that the Crooked Blades weren't solely dedicated to him.

If there came a time were he could decide the direction the Crooked Blades will take, then he might reconsider how much he valued the organization. Until that day came, he himself was his first priority.

Chen Fei and Ichika stood tall with their hands behind their backs and their spines straightened as far as they could. Despite the slight chill in the air, neither one showed any physical response to the cold.

Crooked Jack and Crooked George glanced at each other, before both smiled and nodded inwardly.

"Good! So from today onwards all members, even students must have a code name. So, I now pronounce you..... Crooked Teeth! And Crooked Toes!