亚洲综合中美

“Don’t cry,” halted Igna now sat beside the bed.

“My wounds are gone?”

“And?” he casually admired the machinery, “-technology’s sure advance,” he lifted, turned, and offered a helping hand, “-let’s go, Starix; we ought to show the world Raven’s might.”

“My wound’s gone,” he rose, “-I’m sure I saw an angel?”

“That’d be our little secret,” added the devil inches from the handle, “-keep it between us lest thee wants me to inflict the wounds again.”

“No, no, no,” chin swayed hastily, “-I’m grateful, really.”

.....

A brighter light pulled into the solemn hallway, “-Starix, master,” they called, “-you’re back!”

“Yes, yes,” said Igna aloud, “-wish the man good recovery after he’s gotten some space,” a look at Asmodeus, “-trouble.”

“Let me explain on the way to the estate.”

Thus the full party of Raven, save Mammon, took off for a manor overlooking the De Costle strip, one of the more desirable properties around. A big open lounge area overlooked the southern scape; clicks of twos formed, Igna chose a lovely view and a burning hot beverage.

“What can I get you?” asked Asmo mounting the bar counter.

“A beer I guess,” said Igna, “-I had something strong, didn’t go down well. Perhaps my body’s getting old?”

“Ha-ha-ha,”

“What?” he turned to Medusa.

“Master, you getting old is a hard picture to get,” she laughed, “-and immortal with aging issues, hilarious.”

“You, Medusa,” he placed the icy cold drink against her cheeks, “-were better as the silent brooding type.”

“Hmmph,” she shrugged the jest and pouted for another round. Starix and Kul left for the comfort of a more private area, not prone to pry, Igna eventually gave to his vices.

“What was the problem about?” he asked, now changed to a massive holographic display.

“War, master,” said the prince surrounded by lovely maidens in various erotic outfits, “-there’s a war brewing,” being a part of his harem, Medusa was also forced to change but into what? She slithered from a portal dressed in a snake costume, nothing gallant or pretty about the statement – all but a friendly joke.

“HA-HA-HA-HA!” exploded Asmo, “-the joke never gets old. Come on around, Medusa, there’s plenty of room to get around.”

“Whatever you say, prince of ass,” she vaulted and settled at Igna’s side, “-may I?”

“Permission is meant to be asked before, not when the deed is done...”

“Don’t care,” she mumbled and buried her knees in her chest and in a way, laid on Igna as if a child looking for the comfort of their parent. The Devil obliged the request and focused on Asmodeus’s group, “-war, yes?”

“Here,” he motioned and files arrived at Igna’s phone and also over the interface, “-a teleportation device, I know that, what’s the issue?”

“Issue is speculation, we have sources that place the object in the hands of the barbarians, the latter posing as legitimate members of Elendor. Tis all a blur, Elendor’s supposed to be under Old Cray’s rule – the sheathed sword. What if the empire forced upon Old Cray an ultimatum, either take back the blood of those who’ve harmed the empire or leave and by leaving you know, be massacred for the viewing pleasure of the Victorian crowd.”

“The prudish onlookers. They make no effort,” he said, “-no effort I tell you.”

A distant shuffle – something along the lines of doors or windows closing mildly inconvenienced the entourage, ‘-Kul’s headed out,’ thought Igna, ‘-one of two ways, either she’s out to get food or is on her way to deal justice.’ A messy-haired Starix limped into the frame, “-there you are,” cried Asmo.

“I need a drink,” he growled, “-Kul’s insane.”

“Her insanity is justified by how strong she is,” rationalized Igna, “-leave her to her own devices, we may see quite the change tomorrow.”

“Master, you don’t understand, she’s going after the Patek’s.”

“Is that right?” he rose a drink, “-to Kul’s successful campaign.”

*Ding, ding,* “-who is that?” day rose out the window.

“I’ll check,” said Asmo, “-good morning?”

“Asmodeus!” called a strict man, “-we’re representative of the imperial court. We’ve been sent by his imperial majesty to bring into question Raven’s possible dealing with the underworld, also, the company has been accused of treason by a respected source. They’ve shown proof of law enforcement aiding to cover the treasonous act!”

“What is it?” fired Medusa, rising from a castle of pillows and blankets.

“People from the Imperial court,” yawned the prince, “-should I send them away?”

“Imperial court?” caught Igna’s ear. Meanwhile, the prince and lass talked about what to do, Igna, dressed in a lavish bathrobe of red outlined with gold arrived at the sternly stood men, “-Imperial court,” he sipped tea, “-pray tell, on who’s authority have thee come to harass Raven so early in the morning?”

“And who might you be?” narrowed the messenger.

“No one important,” he returned, “-tell, who gave the order for such a tyrannical decision?”

“I-I,” a brief moment of doubt, “-it doesn’t matter,” he said with chest, “-we’re here representing the court. Asmodeus is therefore needed at the capital for a trial.”

“What?”

“A trial?”

“Yes, a trial, sire.”

“Trial it shall,” shrugged Igna, “-let us see how the imperial court works. We’ll be there later this afternoon,” the door flung shut, leaving envoys stumped and unable to react. Rhymical steps shortly exited the building, leaving Igna to stare at a tired and hungover Asmodeus.

“SSY, leave Rosie a message,” *beep,* “-hey buddy, Raven’s gotten themselves in a bit of problem. Could you fly over and bring the best thee have – tis a matter of imperial proportions,” the message drop akin to a bomb – the lawyer, choosing to have a quiet morning glanced at his phone, saw the header, “-POA,” and casually listened.

“COME ON!” kitchen shook, “-IMPERIAL COURT?”

Back to the estate, Asmodeus strangely looked at the ceiling with a sadistic grin, “-and what are you fantasying about?”

“Rosie’s temper,” he giggled, “-just imagining how he’d react gives me a weird sense of satisfaction.”

“Yeah, if there was any way to label you a hardened idiot, I’d do so right away.”

“Why the rude comment?”

“Oh, don’t kneel there and throw puppy dog eyes at me,” sipped Igna, “-not going to work.”

Medusa, firm over the couch, squinted at the banter.

“And what’s on thy mind?”

“Casually joking in a time of crisis. Raven’s potentially at risk,” to second her, “-if it goes to court, Raven may be asked to reveal more...”

“Let it go to court,” said Igna, “-the scheme will lead to a court case, their battlefield. I found it strange how Elendor was called, a teleportation and unnecessary unrest; namely the death of Haania. I’ve found the answer, and you,” he pointed at Starix, “-thee take pride in being my second in the world of intrigue. Have a few minutes to think, come back not with reason; but a solution, not any old solution either, I want a rebuttal enough to shake those at the top. Here, I’ll extend the deadline to an hour, take men, resources, whatever you need, tis all on me.”

“Challenge,” he smiled, “-must I act on the scheme?”

“No, I need the solution – for I have one myself already. We’ll pair both and have the company vote.”

“Understood.”

“A contest of intellect?”

“Yeah,” firmed Igna, “-no better way to improve than through combat. Where’s Kul?”

“Here,” a disheveled blood-soaked demoness hovered into the lounge. Starix crossed her side and nodded, leaving the demoness perplexed, “-where’s he headed so earily in the morning?”

“To find a scheme to place against the master,” explained Medusa, a warm shower later, they sat around the same area, threw feet over a table, and watched television, “-I don’t get it,” added Kul, “-why ask Starix to make a ploy against yours?”

“Cause it seemed amusing,’ he replied, “-here,” he turned towards Kul, “-how was the expedition. There was quite the commotion from what I heard. Not to reject the effort, did you accidentally give away information?”

“M-maybe?”

“Aha!”

“How?” turned the whole room, “-HOW DID YOU?”

“Simple,” he smiled, “-I guessed,” the anticlimactic response slammed the attention, “-such a tease.”

“Go into details about what thee did yesterday,” the onlookers watched and gave a keen ear, enough to force Kul’s cheeks cherry, “-after master arrived yesterday, I spoke with Starix on matter of the Haania case. I surmised she wasn’t an actress – I mean, I looked for movies or shows; nothing. People don’t pay particular importance to child actors, they’re there to add background. Asmodeus’ celebration was open to everyone, that day, on master’s return – the casino made a lot of money. First, Haania was reported as beaten and assaulted – such was the testimony of witnesses, later on, she was pronounced dead – one thing is, the testimonies don’t justify her dead. Beaten within an inch of her life, I had Yui look around and came across many phones and videos taken at the casino and some circulating around the Arcanum. Her injuries weren’t brutal nor did the assault take place. The next course was the hospice, there I staked the area, no one came to mourn her death – an up-and-coming starlet not having any fans turn up? Don’t know about you, the narrative doesn’t add. Two representatives of the trafficking ring owned by Cimier showed up, and that was the time Starix asked for backup. I returned to the hospital, her body was gone and the staff refused to give information about the next of kin. Dead-end might have made me a little angry, so, I leaped on my bike and drove straight for the red district to meet with a contact. To my surprise, there was a heck of a more care present. Took the side entrance, entered the brothel, and shuffled to a window, there I saw them hidden in the crowd, my targets. Sadly, before I took a better look, they vanished and a screaming fight between owner and customer broke loose, the latter, belonging to one of the gangs threatened to kill. Thinking nothing of it, I made my way to her room where I heard a skirmish, flung the door open, and there, looming over her body was a man holding a knife – the next time I know, he was on the ground with his neck snapped, their reaction told me – I had killed one of them, two minutes later, the opposition laid nothing more than puddles. We rummaged through the bodies and found guns, drugs, and a phone. We burnt the bodies and everyone went to their normal business. Diamon begged to visit Asmodeus. She’s a friend so I said yes, Mammon’s with her at the casino, she needs rest.”

“Guardian of the Red-Light district,” applauded Asmodeus, Medusa, and soon, Igna, “-no wonder they love you.”

“They’re people just like us,” she said, “-I won’t forsake them no matter what happens.”

“Good,” smiled Igna, “-kindness and a strong sense of what is right and wrong, I’d want nothing more from my friends. Kul, I love you,” he professed.

“Pardon?” exclaimed the crowd.

“Don’t misunderstand,” he laughed, “-her retelling painted a good image, whether conscious or not, you knew to add revertant details; such as cars, the figures, the attack, and the shouting contest. Let me say,” he held the grin, “-it was a premeditated murder. Seems the local gangs aren’t working alone but under a greater faction. From Kul’s display, I’m sure it must have struck fear in the puppet master, hence explains why the imperial court wanted Raven away from Odgawoan.”