Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 191: Seeking vengeance

Chapter 191: Seeking vengeance

They say one only comes to appreciate the beauty of life when death is close by.

Alex couldn’t come to understand that quote more than right now as he sat in the meeting hall that was currently devoid of any other.

Contemplating the circumstances caused him to feel genuine fear.

It wasn’t his first time courting death as his job on Earth as a spy entailed such dangers but this time with Arwen’s prediction looming over him, it seemed like there was no escape.

He had never felt so powerless before and as reality dawned on him, it grew harder to make sense of anything else.

"What do I do, Bella?... If I make even one mistake... I’d never come back home. I just... I’m scared I’d lose." Alex muttered as he looked toward the ceiling, seeking some form of reprieve.

Unfortunately, there was no response, and for a moment, Alex felt quite lonely.

Closing his eyes to calm himself, with very little success, Alex let out a tired sigh before opening them up again.

He resolved to try again tomorrow but just as he attempted to rise to his feet, the doors to the meeting hall flew open and Nadia walked in, a worried expression on her face.

"You are here?" Alex inquired with a raised brow.

Nadia nodded. "Mn."

Noting her expression, Alex inquired further. "Is everything okay?"

"... No, I mean, yes."

"..."

"I just...I was worried about you."

"Me?" Alex raised a brow.

"Mn. I feared that the weight of the situation might cause you to feel distress."

"... You are correct," Alex muttered as he leaned back into his chair. "But then, you are also in a similar state, no?"

"I am but didn’t we agree to do everything together?" Nadia replied as she slowly made her way over.

Alex watched her graceful steps up until she arrived before him, a mere arm’s length between them.

"So I’m here to fulfill my part of the agreement," Nadia added as she reached out her hand, a smile at the corner of her lips.

Alex’s gaze alternated between her smile and her hand and ultimately, he took her hand and rose to his feet.

Standing with just a hair’s breadth between them, Alex could feel the tremors in Nadia’s hands and if he listened closely, he could just about make out the irregular tempo of her heartbeat.

She was also scared...albeit even more than he was.

No matter how much one wished for death, if it came for them, that primal fear would always arise.

Yet... Alex let out a soft chuckle causing Nadia to look up at him.

"Did I say something funny?"

Alex shook his head. "Not at all."

"Then..."

"Thank you." He muttered softly.

Nadia’s heart palpitated at the unexpected statement, causing her to stare in silence at the man before her.

"I thought I was alone but I realize now that I was wrong... Thank you."

"That... I just..."

"Get some rest."

"Yes?"

"You’ll need as much rest as you can get for tomorrow."

"And what about you?" Nadia nervously asked.

Alex flashed a warm smile. "I’ll be fine. Go for now."

".... Alright." Nadia nodded after a brief hesitation.

With that, she turned and slowly made her way to the door only to pause and then turn back.

"Alex..."

"Yeah?"

"We’ll win, right?"

"...Yes."

"Are you lying?"

"...No."

"That’s good." Nadia nodded with a smile and then turned to leave the hall.

***

The pale light of the Nighteye receded and the golden rays of the Lightbringer shone on Eventide, heralding the dawn of a new day in Krobridge.

Celebrations for the Emperor’s birthday were still in full swing despite the underlying tension that existed amongst the populace.

One need only walk the streets of the city to realize that security had been tightened with quite a number of heavy weapons placed in strategic locations.

The same could be said about the Extensions that were on high alert following the destruction of the dukedoms.

In any case, though they were worried, the inhabitants of Krobridge believed in the liaison and thus didn’t allow the situation to spoil the original mood of the festival.

A large bronze statue stood at the center of Krobridge, overlooking the entirety of the city.

It bore the likeness of the first Emperor, Emperor Enoch I, who was said to have birthed the empire.

Of course, with the festivities, no one took notice of a certain individual standing in front of the academic building of Kro Institute, his gaze fixated on the glistening statue.

"Incredible." Crow Mask muttered with a glint in his eyes. "A mere human is capable of receiving such worship and praise... imagine how much more a god would receive?"

He spoke with a calm but strangely excited tone, almost as though he foresaw something wonderful in the not-too-distant future.

Just then, a disgruntled voice came from behind him. "You called for me."

Crow Mask had a smile underneath his mask as he turned to face Damian who had a slightly annoyed expression.

"You seem well."

"I am not."

"But you seem so."

"..."

"Huhu, why are you here?"

".... Are you seriously asking me that?"

Crow Mask raised his hands in a jocular manner. "Alright, alright, calm your nerves. No need to have such a short fuse."

"Tch." Damian clicked his tongue.

Crow Mask chuckled. "Aren’t you curious?"

"About what?"

"About why I’m doing all this?"

"... Would you tell me if I asked?"

Crow Mask gestured as though he were in deep thought before letting out a sigh.

"What’s the harm in sharing?"

"... Then why?"

"Revenge."

"Hmm?" Damian raised a brow.

"Hehe, intriguing, right?"

"Who do you seek vengeance against?"

"Shhhh." Crow Mask gestured. "They might hear you."

"That..."

"Well then, I must return. This was fun, let’s do it again."

"You..."

Whoosh

Before Damian had a chance to say more, Crow Mask disappeared into his shadow, leaving behind nothing but the annoying echoes of his voice.

"Fucker treating me like some lackey... Once I become the Blood God, you’ll regret this!"

***

"I’ve got a plan." Alex confidently announced as he stood at the helm of the table in the meeting room currently occupied by Nadia, Arwen, Claudia, and Roland.

Unfortunately, Elizabeth was absent as she needed to recover in her chamber whilst the executives of the Department needed to make preparations for the upcoming battle.

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