Heir Of Chaos

Now that he was free from the constraints, he could properly talk to her.

Dale rubbed his wrists. Honestly, every inch of his body still hurt, but it was far better than before.

He gestured to the document. "Since we are planning on working together, is there anything I should know? Like, I don’t know, why you are looking for the deserter."

In truth, Dale couldn’t care less about why they were looking for the deserter as long as he could leave that place in one piece.

But who knew, there might be some advantages to getting the knowledge.

Sera tapped on the document and Toxin picked it up, opening it. On the inside, there was only a thin piece of paper containing bare information on what the deserter looked like and what he had done.

’No wonder they thought it was me. There is barely anything to go on with.’ Dale read through the file after it had been handed to him.

[Find the deserter. Our latest intel suggests he is in Watchtower One; a facility owned and monitored by the Utra nation’s military.

Exercise caution. It is not outside our expectations that he is working with the person currently occupying the watch tower.]

Aside from vague information on the deserter, the document said nothing of what he did.

Dale tilted his head. Irrespective of how unclear it was, it did reveal something very interesting.

Whoever typed out the document seemed to imply that the military — or at least the person who was in the watch tower before Dale — was working with the deserter.

So did that mean that the contractors of the mercenaries were a private enterprise hiding something from the government?

’Perhaps... or it could be someone else.’

Dale turned his eyes to Sera. "Who is our contractor?" Why bother himself trying to figure it out when he could just ask directly?

Alas, the Ascended shook her head. "I don’t know. We work through the black market for both anonymity and efficiency. Our contractors don’t know our identities and vice versa."

Toxin interjected, "And even if we did, we wouldn’t tell you!" Her eyes glared daggers at him but Dale ignored her.

He faced Sera and lifted the document in his hand. "If you don’t know them, then how do you receive your payment? As far as I see it, what if they refuse to pay after you’ve completed the task... or better yet, you refuse to do the task after being paid?"

It wasn’t like either party could exactly go to the police. That would land both of them in jail and unless they were extremely petty, it did little good.

Sera waved her hand. "There are few who would dare go against me knowing my rank. My identity is secret but my rank is not."

Dale leaned back and dropped his hand, "Few implies that there are some who would dare so what will you do then?"

She smiled. "Intelligent as well? Okay, then. We don’t just do business on blind faith. Our contractors don’t contact us directly, they use an intermediary organization.

We also contacted this organization and all arrangements were made through them. Before the task is even brought forth, payment has been made to them. Based on the value, determined by political effect and power balance, they take a percentage."

Dale nodded as he processed the information. What she was saying was that the organization was the body that actually had most of the information.

’This intermediary organization sounds oddly similar to guilds. Could there be a connection?’ He pondered and was a little curious.

Not that he’d be able to find out any time soon. Even if he asked, he was sure he’d be put down immediately.

Just his rounds of questioning were already pushing his luck. He could frame it as curiosity but not if he asked for the organization’s details.

Either way, he knew what he wanted to.

"So, you understand?" Sera asked and he nodded. Everything was clear aside from how they’d find the deserter.

And on the matter of deserting, he raised an eyebrow. "On that matter, I’m meant to be at Watchtower One. If I’m not there when they come to pick me up, then I’ll be questioned and who knows what I might ’accidentally’ reveal."

Toxin slammed her hand on the table. "Are you threatening us?!" Even Block shifted towards him.

Dale raised his hand in surrender, "I wouldn’t dream of such. I’m just stating the truth."

Sera placed her hand under her chin. "Don’t worry, we’ll handle it for you. If we don’t, then you can tell them about us."

Toxin’s head whipped at her so fast that Dale was shocked she didn’t get whiplash.

"Ma’am... uh, are you sure?" She stuttered.

Sera nodded and stood up from her chair. Golden energy flowed behind her until it coalesced into wings.

The energy constructs flexed and flapped, lifting her a few inches off the ground. She smiled at Dale. "During your time with us, you’ll go by Ghost Killer."

Dale smiled and threw Toxin a glance. Just as was the case with the rest of them, the reason behind his name was very obvious.

He had killed Ghost so she named him Ghost Killer. Not that he minded. It was way better than Energy Pulse or something like that.

Toxin’s face twisted into a scowl. "Can’t he go by Pulse or something similar? Why Ghost Killer? And we don’t even know what he can do."

That name was a sour spot for her.

She turned to the door and nodded at Dale. "That’s what I plan on finding out. Follow me."

Dale stood up and, despite how much his body protested against it, forced himself to move. He stood beside Sera.

"Don’t expect me to tell you the details of my ability skill." He stated plainly.

Sera’s wings flapped a little, tussling her icy blue hair. "I wouldn’t ask. I like people like you who are honest and straightforward."

Dale shrugged. "It’s not like I have much of a choice. If I try to be cunning, you could end my life with ease." And that wasn’t considering that Energy Pulse seemed not to affect her.

She stared at him. "Precisely."