Free Web NovelChapter 31: _The Man In The Shadows
"Alright, settle down people," the A-rank MC waved down the people in the hall, her smile bright. "Boy, do we have a lot of things to do tonight? And to think it wouldn’t have been possible if the S-Rank Rift from three days ago hadn’t cleared."
A few people laughed at that but Ambrose lifted a brow. He didn’t find it funny. Or maybe that was the unease from his Death Sense ability talking.
’So it’s clearly been five seconds,’ he said to Aura. ’Well? Now what? Why hasn’t anyone died yet?’
[Remember the ability can also activate if someone or something has been dead for a while within a vicinity.]
’So why didn’t it activate long before now?’ Ambrose shook his head. ’No... something is wrong. Very wrong.’
As his mind spun with more anxiety, the MC tapped her mic once before continuing. "Jokes aside, this event and indeed the safety and stability of this city won’t be possible if it weren’t for the brave Hunters who risked their lives to close the rift."
The air thickened with something solemn just then. Everyone hushed, a long silence settling in the hall.
Seeing this, the MC placed a hand on her chest. "And then those who unfortunately lost their lives doing so. They’re all heroes. Whose memory will be celebrated tonight." She brought out a handkerchief, wiping off imaginary tears.
Cause no way in hell was Ambrose supposed to believe she actually gave a shit.
"May their souls rest in peace." She added with a hopeful tone, many in the hall responding with nods and a resounding roar of claps and cheers.
Devon joined the clapping, sighing heavily. He was the leader of the raid. He’d watched how the people who lost their lives were slaughtered. The despair and helplessness that clung to him then were still present somewhere at the back of his head.
Smiling wryly to himself, he glanced at Ambrose, eyes scanning him from head to toes. "You’re... quiet."
That made Ambrose jolt with surprise. He blinked, hiding his troubled expression behind a smile. "What?"
"I said you’ve been oddly quiet since we sat. Are you okay?"
This time when the Esper asked, he leaned closer until his cologne slammed into Ambrose’s nostrils. The latter’s face heated up but he hid it.
"I’m... I’m fine," he stuttered. "Just still exhausted from my run this afternoon."
Devon stifled a laugh. "Right, that reminds me. Since when do you exercise outside training drills?"
"There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Devon Ferguson."
"Well, well, well..." Devon grinned, warm breath prickling Ambrose’s skin. "Good thing you’re my permanent Guide then. I get to unwrap you like a Christmas present each day until I see what’s inside..."
He paused until Ambrose was forced to turn his head to him.
Only then did his voice become smoother. "... And I mean that literally and figuratively."
The Guide’s eyes widened, face redder than a tomato as he threw another snack into his mouth for distraction. Devon chuckled, unaware that they were being watched from another lounge.
"Just look at them," Viktor clicked his tongue. "Devon even invited him to sit with him. In a lounge meant for S-Ranks."
His assistant, older by a few years and used to his shenanigans, tried to bring forward a different angle. "Perhaps Mr Ferguson only did that because Mr Hale was part of the raid. As a... form of silent acknowledgement."
One glare from Viktor made the poor man take a step back. Like he was about to be turned into a human popsicle if he overstepped.
"Don’t be foolish, Solomon," Viktor grunted, rubbing the fingers of his right hand slowly. "They clearly have something going on. Now I doubt it’s a relationship... but still."
It just didn’t make sense.
If anyone knew more about Devon Ferguson it was him. What the man showed the world now was a cold skin he wore after estrangement with his grandfather and years of being a Hunter.
The Devon he knew used to be as much of a playboy as he was. Probably even more. Men, women, young and old. He never committed unless there was some kind of hidden gain.
With Guide Han, it was obviously because of his A-Rank status.
So... why was he getting close to Ambrose? A mere C-rank.
"There’s definitely something up with their dynamic," his accent slipped while the rubbing of his fingers stopped. The air chilled around him as his mind fixed on a decision. "Enough being on the sidelines. Tonight I’ll make a move. Test the waters until one of them spills..."
He clenched his fist when Ambrose finally laughed at something Devon said, his silver eyes glinting with something dangerously close to warmth.
Meanwhile, Ambrose’s head shook. "Where was this crazy side of you back when you were a monumental jackass?"
Devon sniggered. "You say that like you’ve known me for years."
Ambrose didn’t say anything to that.
Indeed, the past owner of this body barely knew anything about him. Only that he was an S-Rank Esper in the same Guild who stole the ’love of his life’. It still irked him that the past Ambrose had let himself fall for that cum sack.
Speaking of which... he hadn’t sighted Guide Han yet.
*Don’t worry," Devon winked. "There’s a whole other side of me you’re yet to see."
Just then, the MC cleared her throat into the mic. "Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for due commendations for the dungeon raid team’s members."
"That’s our cue." Devon tapped Ambrose as the hall erupted with claps and cheers. "Stick close."
As they got on their feet and descended the stairs, the pressure in Ambrose’s chest finally cleared. Maybe the Death sense had given a false alarm.
Which was embarrassing when he only got it a few hours ago.
[You’re adorable for thinking an ability given by the system is defective.]
’You make adorable sound like a slur.’
[In this case, it might as well be.] Aura’s mechanical voice gained a serious air as they crossed through the rows of banquet tables. [Whatever you sensed earlier was real. Or maybe it wasn’t a ’what.’]
Suddenly, as if the universe itself didn’t want him to rest tonight, another chill bolted down his spine. The noise around him ceased completely in his ears.
He frowned, head spinning until he stared directly at a corner of the hall. There was a marble pillar, sturdy and large enough to cast a shadow.
And underneath that shadow stood a man.
Long black hair. Donned in all black. And glowing red eyes that seemed like he wasn’t gazing at him. But in his soul. The man’s expression was blank as he followed Ambrose’s movements toward the stage.
’It’s... It’s him...’ Ambrose’s mental voice was filled with panic. ’My Death Sense is activating because of him.’
When he walked past a table filled with people who got up to clap, he lost sight of the man. By the time they were out of his view... so was the mysterious man.
