Free Web NovelChapter 246: _More Direct Approach
Phoenix Flight HQ
Han Jae-won paced back and forth in his living room. Waiting for someone.
Soon enough a knock sounded at his door.
He swivelled his head to it. "Come in!"
The door swung open and in came the man he’d been waiting for. The private investigator he’d hired a while back to infiltrate the Guild and find out who was responsible for attacking his comrades.
The man’s expression was cautious as he shut the door slowly behind him. "Guide Han. You called for me."
Han didn’t respond immediately.
He strode to a couch in his living room—then paused behind it. He placed his hands on it, squeezing just slightly as he raised his head to meet the man’s face again.
"I assume you still have nothing on what I sent you on, Matthew."
Matthew’s expression remained plain but there was a hint of hesitation behind his eyes. "Guide Han, I—"
"I better not be hearing any excuses."
"Not excuses, sir. But the same thing I’ve been saying for over a week now. All evidence I’ve gathered so far points at Guide Ambrose. Yet I’m still unable to discover how exactly he was able to pull it off."
"Oh, so in essence I hired you to feed me shit I already know?" Han laughed dryly. Then he shook his head. "But you know what? I’m coming to realise that you’re indeed correct."
Matthew’s brows furrowed. "Correct on what?"
"Ambrose Hale attacked my people," Jae-won said with so much conviction. "I can feel it. It explains quite a few things now that I think about it."
Once again Matthew blinked at him, totally lost on what he was driving at.
Meanwhile, Jae-won recalled how he’d sent someone to get information from Ambrose while he was in Vatican City. A B-Rank psychic Esper.
That ended with the guy getting killed and no one ever uncovering how that happened.
Or the time he sent Cecil—another skilled Esper with abilities that should’ve helped him execute his task without hiccups—to kidnap a mere six-year-old boy.
How did that turn out?
He somehow got captured and then his sister was forced to manipulate his fate in a way that he’d die without ever speaking.
To top it off his sister, an SS-Rank couldn’t even accurately predict Ambrose’s fate—let alone controlling it.
Coincidences?
Absolutely not.
"Guide Ambrose is indeed not ordinary," Han Jae-won shook his head. "In fact, I’m beginning to doubt if he’s even a Guide at all."
Memories of different times when he crossed paths with the Guide flashed through his head. Each time he felt like he was being stared down by someone who could pose a threat.
Even kill him.
A mere C-Rank Guide... kill him?
Utterly impossible.
And that’s because Ambrose Hale was no C-Rank.
"But sir..." Matthew’s frown deepened. "Isn’t he registered as a Guide? Even if he somehow experienced a reawakening that increased his rank he would remain a Guide."
"Thank you for the lecture I never asked for." Jae-won smiled almost manically. "I know that look you’re giving me. It’s the same one my sister gave me before she left me to face this alone."
He pointed an accusatory finger. "YOU think I’m insane. That I’m taking this whole thing with this idiot too far. That I’m obsessed."
The private investigator dragged a foot backwards. There was something genuinely dark about the way Han stared at him right now.
"I’m not saying that at all, sir. I’m just pointing out why—"
A black light swallowed the white in Jae-won’s eyes. Then his features snapped into something stone cold. Malevolent.
Before Matthew knew what was happening the Guide stretched a hand forward. The shadows in the room moved unnaturally, stretching out like beasts cornering him in a hunt.
The poor Hunter turned on his heels, ready to flee. He’d just grabbed the doorknob when the shadows reached him.
He stiffened.
Every cell in his body screamed that he was in trouble.
But he didn’t get the chance to react or fight for his life.
Because by the time Matthew looked over his shoulder at Guide Han Jae-won—his body got covered completely in darkness. The very next second the Hunter was erased from existence.
No screams.
No blood.
Just... nothing.
The shadows retreated to their normal shape as Han Jae-won’s smirk turned into a grin.
"Indeed," he lifted his right palm slowly, eyes pinned on it, "this approach truly is more direct..."
★★★★★
Ambrose’s House, later that night
"I still can’t believe we’re actually going through with this."
"You know I could just sit back for this one. You two can go on without me."
"Can you guys stop being dramatic?" Ambrose groaned for the umpteenth time as he adjusted his bowtie.
He’d spent all day convincing Devon and Viktor to accompany him to Valentine’s dinner date.
Which he’d decided would happen tonight.
Ambrose wore a dashing silver grey suit, his blonde hair permed to perfection. He also had a golden wristwatch to match.
As for Devon and Viktor, the S-Ranks each wore a form-fitting black tuxedo and a snowy white tail suit with fur-lined collars respectively.
"You think we’re being dramatic?" Devon repeated from the kitchen island, folding his arms.
Ambrose immediately regretted it. "I didn’t mean—"
"No, no... maybe I should invite you to a date with one of my ex-flings or heck Han Jae-won. So you’ll know how it feels."
"That’s not the same thing and you know it, Devon." Ambrose walked up to him, grabbing his wrist.
He dragged the reluctant Esper until he got to Viktor as well, also grabbing his hand. "Come on guys. We all knew sooner or later Valentine might become a part of... this. We’re still permanently linked, remember?"
Viktor snorted. "He doesn’t have to find out about that."
"Vik, it’s VALENTINE. Trust me, if you were able to find out for yourself he could and will eventually." Ambrose sighed. "We just gotta take things slowly. And this is such a great first step."
He cupped both their cheeks before pressing kisses on their faces.
That instantly shut both men up, Devon’s ears even heating up as he looked away.
"Ugh, whatever." He grumbled. "We’re already dressed up anyway. And we told the little man he’s tagging along."
Right on cue, Orion rushed down the stairs, lips stretched with pure excitement. He wore a golden suit Ambrose got for him days back.
"Are we going now?" He giggled, eyes flitting between all of them.
Ambrose beckoned him to come closer. When he did he lifted him off the ground and nodded.
"Yes, we are, my little prince charming." His head snapped to the living door. "Let’s go have some fun!"
Little did this family know about the danger stirring across the city...
