Free Web NovelChapter 230: _Stranger Things
Pantheon Underground Base
"Look who’s finally back." Wukong scoffed, eyes pinned on the entrance of the meeting room.
Loki strode in purposefully, donned in a silk robe with starry crystals adorned all over it. They grinned from ear to ear as their eyes flicked between every member of the pantheon gathered around the table.
"Aw, Wukong." Loki drawled. "You should’ve at least called if you missed me so much."
"Fuck off, Psycho."
"Someone’s more uptight than usual," the lord of chaos made themselves comfortable on a chair, crossing one leg over the other. "What did I miss?"
It was Yemoja’s turn to show agitation. "While the rest of us racked our heads and went all out searching for that accursed void entity," she squinted hard at them. "You were out in Aurelia city doing gods knows what."
"I was on a mission, dear Yemoja."
"One that was surely lacking compared to what the rest of us had to face." Yemoja’s voice rose. "Speaking of which—did you at least succeed?"
Loki didn’t answer immediately.
They swerved their head to Apollo. The latter kept silent before letting out a small sigh.
"Answer the question, Loki. We’ve been waiting and last we spoke you said you were close to uncovering something about that C-Rank Guide."
Kali’s violet eyes flickered. "I fail to see why Ambrose Hale is being scrutinized by the United States Hunters Federation at all."
"Oh, I believe they have good reasons," Loki chuckled. "And yes, Apollo. I indeed uncovered something juicy."
They got on their feet, swiping a hand forward.
A life-like illusion of Ambrose’s upper body emerged, hovering over the table. "Ambrose Hale. Former member of the Phoenix Flight Guild. Now a member of a B-Rank Guild called Steel Falcon."
Loki’s fingers settled on the table’s edge. "Just like the Federation’s info suggests, he’s surrounded by two S-Rank Espers," two illusions appeared behind Ambrose’s. "Devon Ferguson and Viktor Morozov."
"But what do you mean by surrounded?" Apollo questioned.
"I mean, they seem to be part of some threesome shit."
"Loki, for heaven’s sake," Yemoja rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Could you be less lewd?"
"But it’s the truth." Loki shrugged. "I’m still not certain yet but I saw the way Hunter Devon checked on him after a dungeon raid. There was nothing straight or friendly about that."
The rest of the group exchanged looks.
When they brought their gazes back to Loki again, Apollo straightened on his seat.
"How does any of this prove important to us or the Void Entity though?"
"It might not seem like the case at first," Loki pointed a finger. "But I know what I witnessed today. Ambrose Hale came out unharmed from a C-Rank dungeon that proved to be at least A-Rank. Alone."
Apollo’s expression remained unreadable.
The illusion of Ambrose floated silently above the table while the members of the Pantheon absorbed Loki’s words.
Then Wukong clicked his tongue.
"So?" He leaned back in his chair. "Maybe he’s stronger than a C-Rank. Maybe he’s hiding something. Big deal."
Yemoja nodded slowly. "There are hidden talents everywhere. Guides. Espers. Illegal experiments. Ancient beast bloodlines. We’ve seen stranger things."
"Exactly." Kali crossed her arms. "One mysterious Guide does not suddenly become relevant to a matter involving the Void Entity."
For the first time since entering the room, Loki’s grin widened.
"Oh?" They folded their hands together. "Then perhaps I should mention the most interesting part."
Apollo’s eyes narrowed as Loki tapped a finger against the illusion.
"When we SSS-Ranks look at Hunters, we see aether."
Everyone knew that.
An SSS-Rank’s perception wasn’t something ordinary Hunters could even comprehend.
"I see their Rank. Their affinity. Their potential. Their injuries. Their lies." Loki’s smile slowly disappeared. "I couldn’t see Ambrose’s."
Absolute silence.
Wukong straightened first. "What?"
"I couldn’t read him."
Apollo’s chair scraped softly against the floor.
Yemoja frowned.
Kali’s violet eyes sharpened.
All while Loki continued calmly. "At first I assumed he possessed some unusual item. Then I thought perhaps he was actively concealing himself."
Their fingers drummed against the table. "But neither explanation makes sense."
Apollo’s voice lowered. "No C-Rank should be capable of hiding from your perception."
"Exactly."
The room suddenly felt colder.
Loki pointed toward Ambrose’s illusion again. "Either Ambrose Hale is somehow blocking an SSS-Rank’s sight." A pause. "Or something inside him is."
Nobody spoke because the implication was obvious.
Wukong slowly lowered his arms. "... That’s impossible."
Loki laughed. "So was a C-Rank surviving an A-Rank dungeon alone."
Kali’s eyes never left the illusion. "If what you’re suggesting is true..."
"... Then we’re looking at something operating on an SSS-Rank level," Apollo finished quietly.
The room fell silent again.
And this time nobody argued.
★★★★★
In Ambrose’s House, lunch had gone surprisingly well.
Or at least less disastrous than he expected.
Orion had spent most of the meal asking ridiculous questions while Devon answered half of them and Viktor threatened to answer the other half.
Valentine somehow managed to survive the entire experience without fleeing.
A remarkable achievement.
"I’m done," Ambrose announced eventually.
He stood first, carrying his plate toward the kitchen.
Valentine watched him disappear.
A few moments later he quietly rose as well.
The late afternoon sun painted the backyard gold.
Ambrose stood near the fence, hands resting against the wooden rails as he stared at the skies.
He didn’t hear Valentine approach. Not until the man stopped beside him.
For several seconds neither spoke.
The silence wasn’t awkward.
Just... comfortable.
Finally Valentine glanced around.
The trimmed grass.
The flowers.
The small garden Orion insisted belonged to him.
"The house feels peaceful."
Ambrose looked up. "It is." His smile softened. "I never really had that before. Not in a long time, at least."
Valentine hummed. "I can see why you’d become attached to it."
A cool breeze drifted between them.
For some reason it carried the scent of coffee and old books.
Valentine’s scent.
Ambrose found himself smiling again when he noticed Valentine’s eyes on him. "What?"
The Necromancer raised an eyebrow. "You’re staring."
"No I’m not."
"You absolutely are."
"Maybe a little."
Valentine chuckled at that.
The sound was rare enough that Ambrose almost forgot how nice it was. Warmth spread through his chest.
"Thank you," he said suddenly without thinking much about it.
Valentine blinked. "For what?"
"For coming to check on me."
It was the Necromancer’s turn to stare at him. Something softened behind those crimson eyes.
"You don’t need to thank me for that."
"Still." Ambrose’s voice lowered. "I appreciate it."
The distance between them somehow felt smaller now.
Valentine’s gaze drifted to his lips.
Ambrose noticed, making his breath catch.
Neither breathed or looked away for a brief moment.
The world seemed oddly quiet.
Then Valentine slowly lifted a hand. His fingers brushed a loose strand of hair away from Ambrose’s face.
The gesture was gentle.
Far gentler than anything Ambrose expected from a man nicknamed the Lord of Death.
His heart skipped a beat as Valentine leaned forward ever so slightly.
He didn’t pull away.
They were so carried away that neither of them noticed the backdoor beginning to open behind them.
