亚洲综合中美

“Mhhm, mhhm,”

“Kul, can you not see the man’s tied?” commented Asmo reclined against one of the tables. éclair came by a few minutes ago, the sight of the man repulsed him to gash the teeth and leave. “-Should I untie him?” inquired Kul, “-I mean, the mouth on him isn’t worth the trash in this room.”

“Better get to mind reading then,” shrugged he, “-no way we’re going to understand a word he says.”

The chair shuffled dangerously, hands tried hard to break the tightly tied rope, “-mhmmh, mhhm,” part of the visage was ‘accidentally’ burnt.

“I’m back,” proclaimed Starix, “-hope I didn’t make you wait long.”

“Where did you go?”

.....

“To find him,” a behemoth of a man, bare-chested and covered by a black mask, entered, “-I was lucky to find a torturer in the employment of the undead.”

“A zombie?” grinned Asmo, “-this will be fun,” hopped on his steady feet, “-the camera should be ready. Let’s send a message across to the world.”

Loud steps halted immediately at the entrance, the sudden noise plunged the maliciously filled room into silence, “-torture but don’t kill.”

“éclair,” exhaled Asmo, “-don’t startle us.”

“I apologize,” he entered and dusted off his shoulder, “-the basement is falling apart,” returned a snarky remark, “-Esvalo,” inched closer, the fear and petrified aura about the man had Asmodeus and Kul craving for more; dark emotions subconsciously revealed their very lustful smirks, the want for pain and suffering blatantly wrote across their faces similar to a child’s greed upon seeing a toy. “-your crimes speak loud and clear,” arms crossed, “-I’m sorry to say, there’s no hope of being saved. Middle man of Vermillion and Yonak, tell me, what will happen when they find the true intentions. I forgot to mention, Raven’s have taken control of Luon. The godfather happily handed over this position to Asmodeus. Our hands are full fighting the Saku’s. I say, let’s spice up the drama a little.” *Come forth, Undead fighters* five men of facial features to the Saku entered, “-the torture is to be performed by torturer under the watchful eye of the Saku. Staged or not, you’re going to suffer a whole bunch. Bid farewell to what remaining memories thee have,” he turned to Kul, “-eradicate his memories once the torture is over. Killing him won’t do much.”

“Mhmm, MHHHM,”

“He wants to say something,” suggested Starix.

“Let him speak.”

“With pleasure,” said Starix. Hand on the tape, he pulled slowly and painfully, tears formed, the pace didn’t once increase – once halfway, he snatched.

“DEMON,” he exclaimed, “-My death doesn’t matter anymore. Control of the Red-light district will be handed to Hondo. He’s proven worthy, the man is a direct agent from Cimier, there’s no way to fight, you’ve lost. Control of the district will remain close to heart, no matter what happens, we’ve won. Kill me for all I care, it’s done.”

“About Hondo, did you forget?”

“Wait, no, no,” the realization hit, “-he should have killed you, he must have, stop lying!”

“Too bad,” shrugged éclair, “-the man was defeated. We’ve won the battle,” shifted to Kul, “-start the torture session. Saku is the one who captured him.”

“I have an idea,” exclaimed Starix, “-Stanley’s homage is still Saku territory, why not move the body to one of their warehouses. Should be easy enough.”

“Security is tight.”

“Leave it to us,” fired Asmodeus.

A fast-food joint not far from the Crescent mall, located at the start of the De Costle stripe, kept a few customers. “-Igna, isn’t fast food too lowly a thing for a noble to consume?”

“What world are you living in?” they sat facing one another, “-food is food no matter the taste, price, or look. Eat to live my friend,” glanced to the counter where a waitress arrived with their tray.

“I’m impressed,” the food laid empty in the company of tissues and tomato packets, “-the food was very nice, didn’t look healthy one bit.”

“Don’t complain and drink up.”

“A nightwalker and angel sitting around like normal folks and enjoying meals, this must be a dream.”

“Dreams aren’t so great a thing,” said Igna, “-we should part ways here. The rocky encounter did breathe fresh air in the monotonous lifestyle. Fighting to the death was very exhilarating.”

“Before we part, about the gates, tis the first time the incantation. What is it?”

“Nevermore gate, restraints controlling my element.”

“Yeah, the curse of the inheritor of death. The more they die, the stronger they get, and if a certain point is crossed, insanity settles.”

“Adapt to survive,” murmured Igna, “-adapt. Good meeting you,” they exchanged phone number, “-Hondo, remember what we discussed – none will get in the other’s way. I don’t mind us co-existing.”

“I know, I know,” he yawned, “-I’ll stick to what I do best, battle,” the humble outline made for the door and vanished in an incoming horde of hungry folks. ‘Hondo’s handled,’ glancing the phone, ‘-what now,’ he waited with a single elbow along the window’s edge, ‘-the mana supply’s nearly empty. Deploying nevermore requires an internal component. Each death made me stronger in the short term, the influx headed straight to support the Shadow Realm. The domain feels stronger than ever before.’

*Woosh,* a cloud of purple hovered and sat, the fogginess swallowed into a human, “-my king.”

“Vesper, what’s the matter?”

“I apologize for the intrusion, forgive my insolence in stalking thee.”

“I don’t mind, what’s the issue.”

“Hades’ faction has decided on moving northward. Our army has locked in battle at the border of east and west.”

“They sure moved fast,” said he, “-there’s a deeper trouble.”

“Yes,” she breathed softly, “-certain individuals of other realms have tried to break through Totrya’s barrier. We know nothing of them or their intentions. Finding our domain will be hard enough; I’d request for thee to return to Hidros as soon as possible, us, thy people, require assistance.”

“Is it urgent?” he wondered.

“No, not really. If push comes to shove, the forces are ready to jump and annihilate the opposition. What worries me is the openness, without true support, there’s naught to be done.”

“I see,” he smiled, “-I’ve discussed merging the realms into a single world. Let’s leave it at this, once’s enough knowledge and power is acquired, we’ll merge the monster and shadow realm. Does it suffice?”

“Thank you, my king.”

‘Another quest put to the backburner. How does one merge a realm to another? Origin must know the answer,’ he stood after a notification, “-Return to the casino, the matter of the count’s property has yet to be complete,” the time showed 15:00, ‘-I forgot.’

Aside from the Casino and adjacent office building, several properties came as part of the deal. Once he returned, éclair took charge and drove to the various locations. First, the obviously big and tall parking lot one street over from the casino. Many o’ folks preferred the area due to the easiness of entry. Oval in shape, the edifice rose to at least six stories before stopping at the roof.

Next was the apartment and hotels located across the De Costel Stripe, an arch bridge carried the way to the other side. The land was the same size as prior, a somewhat minimally built hotel in terms of perimeter rose far beyond what could be seen around. Beside it were two smaller in height and longer in length stone-bricked rectangles. The first one stopped shy of the hotel’s breathing space, the second stretched from one end to the other. The community was mixed, some rich, some average; the poor had no business, the district to the south sufficed their purpose better.

“There’s the hotel,” said éclair, “-should we walk around?”

“Why not,” they stepped into the walkways leading to the inner area. Emphasis on nature didn’t come as a surprise, the buildings were separated by tenderly cared-for grassy paths. Laundry dried on railings and flower pots in other areas, “-block A and block B?”

“The first apartment is more affordable to the public,” he pointed to the left, “-Block B is a larger and more sophisticated in terms of security and comfort.”

“Certainly looks that way,” a U-turn to the car, “-what about the hotel?”

“Lower floors are for one-night stands, and upper floors are for guests.”

“Love hotels,” he paused and stared, “-seems like business boomed,” a reference to a lady leading a drunkard by his tie.

“Tis all considering the business side of things,” said éclair, “-for the property we move to Stanley’s homage – the residential area.”

“I thought the count to have land in Eldow’s high?” suggested Igna.

“Should be apparent when we arrive.”

A twenty-minute drive around the labyrinth of Stanley’s suburb (placed at the south-east) gave onto a sloped hill. Stanley’s homage, initially a smaller hill compared to Eldow’s high, rose into well-maintained streets and the general air of restriction. A great view over the stripe was one of many reasons why properties here were expensive. At the center of it all, the peak as one would say, stood a multimillion manor, gates to the architecture screamed of modernity kindly intertwined by nature.

*Beep,* the gates opened to a clean driveway splitting towards a garage and entrance of the manor. “About Oathtall’s family,” added éclair reluctantly, “-they sort of have pleaded to stay...”

“Sure...”

‘Pleaded to stay?’ éclair led the way at a slower pace till stairs leading into the porch. It opened to a large interior, nothing out the ordinary, figured Igna, “-have you come to evict us?” fired a female’s voice, “-my children and I will not move, this manor was gifted to us by my husband. The conviction was a lie, I don’t care what thee says, I’m not moving!”

“What do we have here,” said a slightly deeper voice, “-Lady Oathtall and her children.”

“Who is this?” her serious expression crinkled, “-éclair!”

“My name’s Igna Haggard,” said he stood before the butler, “-I’m the new owner of what thy husband owned.”

“You’re young,” she remarked.

“And you’re old,” he returned, “-age isn’t the issue, I’m the rightful owner of this place,” shuffled to the children, “-introduce yourselves.”

“Evans Oathtall, aged fifteen,” said the boy wearing glasses and devilishly sharp face.

“Ina Oathtall, aged twelve,” said the girl beholding a striking resemblance to her mother.

“Tell me, children,” he ignored the lady, “-what do you think will happen?”

“Eviction,” said the boy, “-father lost in court, and the property was handed to state, I think.”

“Evans, stop.”

“Quiet,” an index to the mother, “-speak only when I give permission, have I made myself clear?”

“You brat!” rage bubbled; “-I’ll make you regre-”

“Silence,” thundered a word of power, her mouth shut instantly.

“Evans,” he stood peering atop the boy, “-if you had to choose between your mother or sister, which would it be?”

The careless gaze looked back and forth, the grip tightened around his sister’s grip, “-I’d choose my little sister,” said he confidently, “-mother is an adult, she can find a way out of the situation. I knew deep down what they planned on doing would hurt us someday...”

“Why didn’t you speak up?”

“Father and mother gave us life. Being ungrateful is bad for a noble.”

“Good,” he smiled, “-I’m pleased,” *snap,* she dropped to the floor, “-good job raising the children. I sense no lies; the reply was sincere,” facing the girl, “-what about you, thoughts on the matter?”

.....

“Don’t know,” she shrugged, “-noble girls are bargaining chips... mother told me to limit my freedom and obey orders without questions.”

“I see,” the arms crossed, “-lady Oathtall, were these two homeschooled?”

“Yes, what then, you going to chastise the way of nobility?” worry filled her gaze.

“Evans’ very adept at academics whilst Ina is obviously the artistic type,” a holographic display materialized, “-let’s make a deal.”