Chapter 20 - "The First Gift"

Phantom strode through the empty street, his footsteps consistent. The chill of the night air caressed his wolf mask, and the reverberations of the auction's chaos faded behind him.

Then, with a flick of his hand, Erebos revved to life.

His bike—a sleek, black beast with a frame as menacing as its name—moved beneath him, its engine humming softly.

Glitch floated near, still trying to get it all together. "So, uh, you did notice she might've put something on you, right?"

Before mounting, Phantom extended his hand into his coat pocket. He fingered out with two fingers a small metallic tracking device, only slightly larger than a grain of rice. He spun it around once between the fingers before he tucked it away in a more compact pocket in his jacket.

Glitch, hovering nearby him, furrowed his eyebrow. "Why are you not throwing it?"

Phantom smirked but didn't respond right away. He straightened his gloves, then mounted Erebos. The moment he settled in, the bike's interface came to life, self-adjusting to his biometrics.

Phantom breathed through his nose before responding finally.

"Did you really think I was being romantic?"

Glitch's flames danced. "…Bro?"

Phantom leaned in, placing his elbows loosely on the handles of the bike.

"I placed three trackers on her."

Silence.

Glitch's whole body jerked back. "EXCUSE ME?!"

Phantom went on, as if nothing was wrong. "One on her waist when I picked her up. That's the one she'll find eventually."

Glitch's jaw figuratively dropped. "HUH?!"

Phantom flicked the helmet's visor down, but the smirk was still evident under the wolf helmet. "Two more. One in her shoe, and the last one…"

He tapped the side of his mask.

Glitch's flames raged erratically. "No way—NO WAY—did you PLANT A TRACKER WHILE SHE WAS KISSING YOU?!"

Phantom didn't say anything.

He just started the engine.

Glitch, stunned, stuttered, "BRO, WHO THE HELL COMES UP WITH THAT?!"

The heart of the bike pulsed weakly, its powerful hum building. Phantom's voice spoke from within the mask, clear and collected.

"She'll pick up the first tracker and believe she's safe."

SILENCE.

"But who would be insane enough to plant one while being kissed?"

"I am not throwing away the tracker because it is the first gift she gave me. Given that I am a very good guy, I just repaid it 3 times"

Realization crashed over Glitch.

The spirit burst out laughing.

"YOU'RE A MONSTER! AN ACTUAL MENACE!"

Phantom simply grasped the handlebars, wrenching them just a bit.

"Just playing the game."

With a swift motion of his wrist—

Erebos roared.

The black wolf of the streets disappeared into darkness.

The thief walked through shadows, her steps measured, deliberate.

Her silver locks glimmered under the faint brightness of the neon lights as she crept into a deserted high-rise, one of several temporary bases. She walked without hesitation, placing her palm on a concealed scanner in the wall.

A faint beep.

The door slid open.

Within—a cool, minimalist hideout. Flickering low lights, a desk littered with blueprints scattered everywhere, charts with covert paths indicated, and a monitor tracking Zyphorion's Elite and Phantom.

She sighed, her blue eyes narrowing as she reached into her waist.

A tiny metallic tracker flashed between her fingers.

"Found you."

She set it on the desk, allowing it to roll a little before halting.

But then—

Her lips folded into a thin line.

She reached down and took off her shoe.

Another tracker.

She tightened her hold.

"...Bastard."

She let out a breath, steadying herself. Then, she took a communicator off the table and dialed.

The call connected within two rings.

A cold, commanding voice of a woman came through the receiver.

"Report."

The thief hesitated for a fraction of a second before speaking.

"I think it's him, Auntie."

Silence.

Then—

"Is it personal or professional?"

Her voice was crisp. Cutting.

The thief stiffened. Her mouth dried up. She recognized that voice too well.

She pushed her posture to relax. Forcing herself to respond appropriately.

"...Professional."

The voice at the other end snapped sharper.

"Then address me properly."

The thief gulped.

"Yes, Matriarch."

Silence.

Then the tone of the Matriarch slightly relaxed.

"Your report."

The thief exhaled slowly, regaining her composure. She spoke each relevant point in sequence—how the auction played out, how the battle played out, how Sentinel's branch leader attended.

But she omitted something.

The trackers.

The Matriarch, however, was not so easily deceived.

"You sound too confident. Why are you so certain it's him?"

The fingers of the thief curled against the table. Her pulse had calmed now, but back then…

She closed her eyes.

Even before she knew he was there—

Her heart had raced.

"...My heart reacted before I even saw him."

Silence.

Then—a chuckle.

A soft, almost amused chuckle.

"Proceed."

Sorin Veltre leaned against the window of his private chamber, a glass of aged whiskey in one hand, the other idly swiping at a data pad. The city of Zyphorion lay before him, its golden lights shimmering like far-off stars.

A holo-call screen lingered to his left, the shadow of an unknown figure flickering in dim light.

"So," the voice on the other side addressed him, measured but anticipatory. "Your opinion?"

Sorin sipped his drink slowly, allowing the silence to build.

Then, with a grin, he replied.

"Phantom and Raven are… different."

"Elaborate."

Sorin swirled the liquid in his glass, watching the amber ripples. "Raven is a void. No presence. No movement. Just… gone and then there. Impossible to track. Impossible to fight. He is stronger than me. But Phantom?"

He chuckled, placing the glass down on the table.

"Phantom moves loudly, even when he's silent. He makes people notice him. His existence demands attention—even if he doesn't want it."

He leaned back against his desk.

"They're two different individuals. Not in the manner of people would think. But then. I want to witness them in battle together before drawing conclusions."

A pause.

"And Order?"

Sorin's smirk widened slightly. "Their funding is about to take a serious hit."

The voice on the other end remained indifferent. "Continue with progress. Report what has happened."

Sorin exhaled. "Auction went as planned. Sentinel got its place among the last bidders. All went smoothly."

"And the robbery?"

Sorin clicked his tongue. "Successful."

A chuckle came from the other side.

"Expected. 'Those people' are beyond us in every aspect, aren't they?"

Sorin didn't answer. He didn't have to.

There was a knock at his door.

He ended the call.