Free Web NovelChapter 30: _Death Walks In
"Viktor?" Alisha repeated, head rising to search around the upstairs VIP lounges. "I could’ve sworn I saw him around somewhere. But yeah... he’s here."
Ambrose’s breath hitched, his neck snapping to one of the lounges. Above the ballroom, a ring of private VIP lounges overlooked the gala like theatre boxes in an opera house. And for the briefest second, he felt like he was being watched.
But when his eyes locked there... nothing.
"Oh well," Devon shrugged, completely unbothered. "I’m guessing the VIP lounges are for us S-Ranks."
Alisha nodded. "Yes, and..." she slung an arm around the waist of her Guide whose face reddened instantly. "... A plus one if we please."
Her tone was oddly suggestive, eyes fleeting between Devon and Ambrose.
But she didn’t linger, tugging gently at Trina. "We’ll be off now. Smell you boys later."
As they moved for the stairs, leaving the guys there, Ambrose huffed once. "Let me guess. She knows?"
Devon arched his brow. "Hmm?"
"About the permanent link," Ambrose went on. "It sure feels like it anyway. Or at least she suspects we’re in some relationship."
He won’t be surprised.
He and Devon have been too close over the past couple of days. Especially with all the ’rumours’ rolling around about the Esper and Han breaking up.
"She does," Devon answered coolly, grabbing a glass of wine from a waiter walking past them. After one sip, he added. "Don’t worry. Unlike what her abilities suggest, she’s not going to scream it to anyone."
His voice was relaxed, and so was the smile on his lips. After a quick glance around, he leaned into his ear. "You seem uneasy since we got in here."
Ambrose swallowed, forcing a smile. "Nah... just nerves. You know it’s my first time coming to one of these." Those weren’t lies.
But he also couldn’t tell him that he was on the lookout for a certain icy S-Rank.
"Sir Ferguson?" A male voice behind them forced them to inch slightly away from each other. It was a man in a suit and a small moustache, appearing like a butler of sorts. "You must want to sit. I’ll show you and your... partner to your private lounge."
The man’s eyes scoured Ambrose briefly, as if wondering why on earth an S-Rank Esper was hanging around a C-Rank Guide. He however masked his disdain soon enough.
As the two men followed behind the butler, ascending the stairs leading to the lounges — Viktor was gathering information from the comfort of his seat.
"Well?" He muttered to his assistant standing beside him, fingers drumming on the armrests of the sofa he sat on. "What did you uncover?"
The other man cleared his throat. "Sir, it’s just as you suspected. Hunter Devon appeared to have broken up with his six-month-long boyfriend, Guide Han. Some time after the S-Rank dungeon raid."
"Appeared?" Viktor echoed.
"Yes. Rumours have been spreading amongst members of the Phoenix Flight Guild."
"Anything about Ambrose’s relationship life?"
"None, sir. His last known relationship was with a random non-awakened boy in college. And that only lasted eight months."
Interesting.
Getting on his feet, Viktor crept slowly to the railings again. He placed his hands on it, eyes sweeping through the ballroom. The people. The clinking glasses and fake smiles.
They were all the same to him. Ready to pretend to get what they want, regardless of whose shoes they have to kiss.
All except... him.
"There’s something different about him," he whispered, ignoring the awkward stare of his assistant. His fingers rubbed gently against the railing, trails of frost chasing after his touch. "I don’t know what it is. But I promised myself I’ll uncover it."
A mischievous grin played on his face as he turned around, picking up his wine glass from the centre table. He downed it all in one gulp, a satisfied sigh leaving his mouth.
"I hope you’re ready to play, Devon. I’m not giving up easily on that little bird."
Meanwhile, as a cunning thought formed at the darkest corners of the S-Rank Esper’s head—commotion stirred outside the hall.
★★★★★
"Hey, who’s that?" One of the paparazzi people taking photos stopped, lowering his camera when someone new appeared down the steps.
"I don’t know..."
"Is he an Esper?"
"That... that aura..."
"S-Rank?"
The commotion was being caused by a man in a long black tail-suit and sunglasses to match. His long black hair carried into the night wind as he shut his car door behind him.
The same mysterious necromancer who’d been spying on the aftermath of the S-Rank dungeon raid three days ago.
An SS-Rank existence!
Although he was skilled in hiding his aura and blending in as a normal person, he’d accidentally let his aura slip. For just a second or two.
Which was why the people were restless.
However, when he retrieved his aura, they soon lost interest, playing it off as a false alarm. After all, they’d be able to recognise any S-Rank or higher from any Guild with ease.
If only they knew the man was unaffiliated.
Still, the United States Hunters Federation had invited him. To at least watch and be present. Normally he would’ve declined without batting an eyelash.
But tonight was different.
’That peculiar Guide is definitely in here,’ he thought to himself as he approached the large stone pillars at the building’s entrance. ’His aura permeates the air. So sweet. So sick.’
As he merged with a crowd moving into the hall, he kept his arms behind his back, mentally plotting his next move once he found him.
Upstairs, Ambrose and Devon had settled down in the latter’s private lounge. The butler from earlier poured wine for both of them, also handing them some fancy-looking snacks.
Ambrose took a bite from one of the snacks, munching with shut eyes and a small smile—
—Until a weird ringing hit both his ears.
His chewing stopped, a numbing chill running through his veins. His head swung to the ballroom, gaze pinning on the entrance.
A sharp prickle crawled down the back of his neck as he reached out to Aura. ’System. Was that—?’
[Your Death sense ability.]
More chills tightened his chest as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Devon noticed, side-eyeing him with concern.
Before either of them could speak, a female voice echoed from the elevated stage downstairs.
"Good evening, ladies, gentlemen, Espers and Guides!" An A-Rank Esper with a cheery smile mounted the podium, parting back her lush blonde hair. "Grab your seats and hold them tight. The Phoenix-Talon joint gala is about to commence!"
Claps and cheers rippled through the hall.
But Ambrose couldn’t force himself to clap.
Because whatever he’d sensed just now? It wasn’t good news.
