Felix's Hunch

Even Garrett who was literally beside the item didn't notice that the orb already vanished from the stand.

Hans sprung up from the chair and spread his perception around the whole auction house. The thieves were well versed in stealth but they wouldn't be able to evade his sight. 

Like a camera zooming onto the suspects, Hans' consciousness followed several figures gliding in the shadows. 

From the hall all the way to the exit, his eyes did not leave them for a bit. 

'It's the suspicious guy's earlier.'

If he chased them now, he could surely capture them and even robbed the orb of miracle for himself. 

However, he also wanted to know who was the mastermind of this planned event. For now, he'll let them keep that item. 

'Hmm…' 

Hans lowered his gaze and glanced at the commotion happening from below. Aside from an exchange of words, nothing physical is really happening. 

But if ever these people brawled, for sure, once it reached the Emperor's ears, they'd both received punishments. 

It seemed like the crown princess and Claus both understood that. 

"Ella, can you fetch the book I bought for me? I really wanted to leave now." Hans turned his head and calmly said. 

"Yes, Sir Hans but it might take a while before I can get it." Ella responded. She looked downwards and Hans immediately realized her excuse. 

"Go on. I'll wait for you here." Hans smiled brightly. 

Ella lowered her head, trying to hide her beet red cheeks, and nodded. Without hesitation, she exited the room in a hurry. 

After she left, Hans' brightened expression quickly turned cold. He rested his hand on his swords, shut his eyes, and followed the running thieves' mana signature. 

As long as they are inside his range of sense, none of them could ever hope to escape him. Coupled with his sensitivity to mana, unless they are outside the empire, they will never evade his sight. 

'Now, show me who's your boss.'

..........

Felix appeared outside the gym where Miguel was training and swept his gaze around the vicinity. 

Every citizen in Venice was already informed of the danger and the Prime Minister hurriedly ordered an immediate evacuation. 

Thus, aside from B-class Awakened and a few A-class patrolling in the capital, the place was pretty much deserted. 

Heavy securities were stationed everywhere and the air was filled with strong mana signals that would warn the authorities if the space was distorted. 

Looking back at the scene in New York, Venice had become pretty much like it albeit the buildings were still intact and the tourist spots still stood.

As he roamed the streets, Felix received several greetings from the low-ranking Awakened. They didn't really bother him. 

However, he could see in their eyes the feeling of boredom and lack of responsibility. He could understand it, after all, the news of Freya being kidnapped hadn't been released yet.

Additionally, the news of the rising mysterious organization, 'Illuminati', was only known to S and SS-Classes. 

These people haven't realized the dangers of that organization yet. From their expression, Felix could tell that they didn't even treat this seriously. 

However, he also couldn't do anything. The higher-ups forbid them from leaking the news to anyone or else a punishment would befall them. 

But as days go by, people will start to question the strange happenings in Italy. It might not take long before the news eventually reaches everyone's ears. 

By then, the pressure would be massive and the tension would arise. The monster would take the initiative which would eventually lead to another war. 

When that happens, this war would be the deciding factor if humanity will go extinct here on Earth or if they would prevail and successfully resist. 

Winning is unlikely but he can't do anything about it. There are no Urs who always roam the planet to clear dungeons to ensure that the monster won't overflow into the country. 

Now, there's no Freya who could immediately evacuate massive numbers of people in a fraction of a second.

Her existence could turn the tables on a fight as she could quickly teleport all SS-Class Awakened in one place and then hop into another. 

'The enemy seemed to know this.'

The organization specifically targeted her to prevent their plans from being foiled. According to Miguel, it seemed like she couldn't use mana when the enemy injected her with an unknown substance. 

No doubt, those were specifically designed to take her down. Using timing, precision, and element of surprise, they were able to eliminate Freya from the board. 

But the fact that they know Freya was here means there's a mole in the SS-Class Awakened who informed the organization of her movements. 

Whoever that was, he'll be the cause of humanity's downfall once a global war breaks out. 

No one could save them other than themselves. Protecting someone wouldn't even be the priority but rather, survival. 

"Sigh—"

Felix sighed heavily and pulled his collar up as the cold breezed through his neck. 

For now, he needed to ask Gia about the certain lead they have. As long as they have a clue, there's always a chance that they could find Freya's whereabouts. 

.......... 

Knock—, knock—

"Hello, this is pizza delivery."

Knock—, knock—

Hearing constant knocking from her apartment door, Gia sprung out of bed and wiped the tears from her swollen red eyes. She trudged towards the door but didn't open it. Instead, she just stood there and waited. 

Knock—, knock—

"Hello?" 

"I'm sorry but I didn't order pizza." Gia spoke in a hoarse tone. 

She's been crying all night and hasn't had enough sleep. On the outside, she was just Freya's secretary but in reality, they were already friends before they became Awakened. 

Knowing that there's a chance she might be dead by now, tears couldn't help but fall on her misty eyes. 

Even then, she suppressed it to not be noticed by whoever is knocking on the door. 

Only… 

'Did he leave?' 

After waiting for a minute, there's no one knocking anymore. She thought that he might have left so she peeked through the door hole to be certain. 

She could have just used her senses to perceive outside but she wasn't even in the mood to lift her hand. 

Nonetheless, she nobody as she peeked through the door hole. 

'Waste of time.'

Hunching her shoulders, she turned around.

Then, as she was about to go back to bed, her exhausted figure suddenly jumped back in surprise. 

"Ahhhh!!!" Gia screamed. 

A man was sitting on the couch wearing something that resembled a magician's attire. 

"Good Morning." 

He greeted her as if he was clueless about what he had done. 

"You!"

Gia's face flushed as she pointed at the man. 

Of course, she knew who this man was. 

Felix Adams, one of the USA's S-class Awakened. 

However, the fact that he intruded inside a private property made her so mad that if not for her self-control, she might have hit this guy. 

"Don't you know how to knock!?" Gia asked as she gritted her teeth. 

Felix tilted his head and stared at the door. A smile formed on his lips. 

"I just did. Six times to be exact."

"Tch." Gia rolled her eyes, crossed her arms, and continued, "So why are you here?" 

"At least, give me something to drink first right, or maybe a sandwich?" Felix said as he took off his hat and placed it on the table across from him. 

"You really have the nerve to ask for those after trespassing inside my apartment?" Gia sneered at the shamelessness of this man. 

They met at the Awakened Gathering two years ago and her first impression of him was already shattered. This guy audaciously hit on several women there while they had their boyfriends with them. 

Who does that!? 

If not for Miguel's intervention back then, this man might have already died back there. 

On that day, she also hated this man. Although his feats 10 years ago were worthy of praise, she no longer acknowledged this guy as righteous. 

"I mean… get me some water at least." Felix grinned, stared at her eyes, and continued, "You're too hot and making me thirsty."

"Get the fuck out of my apartment." 

"No, I'm just jokin—" 

"GET OUT!"

At that moment. Gia coated her arms with mana and glared at Felix's face. The temperature rapidly rose whereas the air pressure suddenly became heavier. 

Felix's playful smile disappeared and he stood up from the couch. A flash of seriousness appeared on his face. 

"Look, I apologize. I'm just trying to lighten the mood—" Felix explained but was quickly shut down. 

"I don't need your apology, get out!!!" 

"Alright,  now there's no need for that. I'm really here for something importan—" 

"You bastard! If you don't get out…"

The mana permeating in the air increased. Gia's body was slowly wrapped by a blue flame. It's as if she's flaming in rage literally. 

'And now she's angry as hell.' Felix thought.

Sensing that things weren't going as planned…

Whirl—, Boom—

A burst of mana exploded outside his body completely nullifying Gia's mana. It clashed briefly before it eventually shattered due to the difference in quality in power. 

Silence—

The mana in the air vanished and Gia's energy gradually diminished until it disappeared. She glared at Felix while releasing murderous intent. 

Seeing that Gia finally calmed down, Felix nodded and sat back on the couch. Gia followed suit and aggressively sat on another chair. 

"I'm really sorry. It's just…" Felix circled his gaze in the room full of mess, and continued, "...it's just, your apartment is a mess so I thought I could lighten your mood at least."

"I don't need your help." Gia replied coldly. 

"Sigh—, it must have been hard on you huh?" 

"..." 

Gia lowered her head and didn't answer. Felix gave her a little silence to adjust. When he felt like she was ready to talk now, he immediately spoke. 

"In fact, I'm here for an investigation."

Gia raised her head and listened. 

Felix resumed, "We have been helping the investigation about Freya's whereabouts and we initially started on her recent activities back in the states."

Just like what he told Miguel, Felix summarized all of it. He projected the pictures and showed them to her, hoping she could identify the purple-haired man's identity. 

"I know him, why?" 

First, they are back in the US. He seemed like a nice person and together with Freya's attitude to him, she eventually abandoned investigating that man. 

Then, their second meeting was a few days ago back in Egypt. Freya ordered her to send him to Italy and she complied without asking any questions. 

Due to the seemingly close bond between Freya and that man, she thought it was because they are dating. 

At this moment, Gia caught Felix's face brightening in delight.

"Then can you tell me everything you know about him?" Felix asked. 

However, Gia immediately objected. 

"Why are you asking about him?" 

"You see, this man might be one of the members or accomplices of 'Illuminati'."

Hearing Felix's words, Gia's throat tightened. 

"That's impossible! Do you think she's stupid enough to let a dangerous man near her!?" 

"No, that's not what I mean. We just need to identify all the people who have met her in recent months. He's the only one we couldn't identify so can you please tell me, who is he?" 

Gia's eyebrows scrunched together. Now that she thinks about it, other than his name, she knew nothing about him. Freya also seemed overprotective of his identity whenever she teased her. 

Could it be that, from the start, he really has ill intentions towards Freya?

If that's the case then… 

'I was wrong about him.'

Gia bit her lips and clenched her fists in frustration. If she had been alert from the start, she could have at least prevented Freya from meeting with that guy. 

"His name is Hansel. I don't know if that's his real name or not. She was really oversensitive when it came to him so…" 

"..."

Felix stared at her motionless. Although Gia only gave a name which wouldn't really help much in their investigation, his mind has become blank. 

"Hansel…" 

At that moment, images flashed in his head like a photo album. 

He didn't know why.

But the moment he heard that name, the name of a man instantly surfaced in his mind. 

'Is it you?... Hans Luther?' Felix muttered.