Free Web NovelChapter 36: _Let The Guide Decide Whom To Play With
NORFOLK COASTAL ALERT:
UNIDENTIFIED RIFT ACTIVITY DETECTED.
When Devon saw that notification on his phone screen, the earth spun beneath his feet.
Norfolk...
"Leo," he whispered, fingers curling tighter around the phone until it threatened to crack.
His nephew, the only child his older sister left behind, was in that city. Though he was an A-Rank and should probably be able to escape in one piece... Devon had doubts.
All around the hall, every Esper and Guide got this same notification on their phones. Even the MC at the side of the stage flipped out her device, her heart stuttering.
Unidentified Rift activity.
"What does this even mean?" Ambrose questioned with a deep frown as he stared at his phone screen.
His eyes shifted to Valentine who was already getting on his feet, adjusting his suit. The SS Rank Esper raised a brow.
"An unidentified Rift activity simply means its threat level or Rank hasn’t been calculated yet," the man explained casually. "Something tells me this has something to do with the Rift your joint Guilds ’closed’. Which should mean..."
He turned his head, gaze locking in the direction of a familiar aura he’s felt all night. The Vice President of the Federation was here. And from the looks of things, it wasn’t for a red carpet walk.
The music in the hall died down as all heads turned as one to the stage. The MC mounted the podium in a hurry, tapping the mic twice.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the Vice President of the United States Hunters Federation would like to give us a word tonight." She announced.
Ambrose watched with squinted eyes as people reluctantly began clapping. The mood had turned sour after that notification. It was probably a message sent to every Hunter in the country.
When the Vice President was about to leave Devon and his grandfather’s side, the former grabbed his shoulder. "Sir," his voice lowered. "Is this the Echo Rift reappearing? It’s... second phase?"
The Vice President’s expression was grim. "That’s what you’ll find out soon, Captain Devon."
As the man trudged away from him, Devon’s fists clenched. Something terrible was happening in Norfolk. He could feel it in his gut.
"Sir," this time it was his grandfather he spun to. "Leo. He could be in danger as we speak."
The old man shook his head. "You heard the Vice President. Wait until we’ve gotten a clear idea of what we’re dealing with."
Devon’s jaw worked.
Of course.
Wait.
While innocents might already be dying.
With a frustrated scoff, Devon pivoted from his grandfather, dialling Leo’s number. "Come on, you little runt. Pick up."
Meanwhile, the Vice President had gotten to the stage, placing his hands on the podium. There was no smile. No reference to the gala or praises for the ’successful’ dungeon raid.
Just a chilling silence that unsettled almost everyone present.
"Good evening, Hunters," not good evening ladies and gentlemen. Hunters. "Forgive me for the interruption. But I believe everyone got the Rift alert from Norfolk."
At this point, Viktor made his way to Ambrose. He and that mysterious man have been talking for too long and now he was curious.
With a hand in his pocket, he smiled when both men glanced back at his approaching form. "Ambrose. Would you like to introduce me to your... friend?"
His eyes scanned the man from his head to his polished shoes. Even from up close he still couldn’t make a guess on what rank this man was. His aura was that of an Esper’s.
But it was so... controlled. Too controlled.
"Ah. If it isn’t Jack Frost himself." Valentine gave a short laugh.
Viktor halted right in front of the man.
Jack Frost.
That was a nickname he got after a dungeon raid a couple of years back.
"I take it you’re a fan." Morozov arched his brow, eyes fleeting between the man and Ambrose.
Valentine’s response was calm. "Something like that..."
Just then, the Vice President continued with his grave announcement, interrupting the interaction. "For the past three days, the federation has conducted research on the S-Rank Rift that appeared here in Aurelia City. We’ve all heard the speculations... that Rift shouldn’t have closed so fast."
"Fuck," Devon cursed after calling his nephew for the third time. Still no response. Then his eyes slid to the dance floor.
He stopped, the frown lines deepening when he didn’t see Ambrose or Viktor anywhere near there.
"Our experts believe the energy from that Rift got transferred to another location in space time," The vice president said with an exhale. "Creating a second Rift. An ’echo’ of the first Rift—but probably more powerful."
As murmurs rippled through the hall, someone yelled out. "Are you saying this unidentified Rift activity is the second phase of the Echo Rift?"
Before the Vice President could nod another man shouted:
"Why then is this gala being held?!"
"A Rift more dangerous than the first one?"
"I have a business in Norfolk! What now?"
While all these complaints rolled through the hall, Devon held himself back from committing murder. Because he’d found Ambrose. And Viktor.
Except the damn Russian prince stuck too close to his Guide, an arm around his shoulders. They appeared to be talking to a man dressed in all black.
Whatever it was, Devon hoped to break it.
"So much for only ’borrowing’ him for a few minutes," he shot as the three of them snapped their necks to him. Devon didn’t waste another moment, clawing Viktor’s arm violently off Ambrose. "You’ve had your fun. Now back off."
The latter stumbled back by a couple of steps, mouth parted. "Where the fuck did you come from?"
"You’ve been circling him all night. And I’m done watching it."
Ambrose sat between both S-Ranks feeling like a cornered mouse. For once, Aura was silent in his head as he watched the confrontation escalate.
"Why are you so damn protective of him?" Viktor took a daring step toward Devon. "He’s not your boyfriend or anything. Or is he?"
"That’s none of your business."
"I don’t see him calling you his man," the Ice Prince didn’t back down. "Let the Guide decide whom to play with, Devon. That’s what you’re best at anyway. Play."
Something snapped in Devon’s mind. Perhaps the stress of not knowing the fate of his nephew piled on top of this mess.
He couldn’t stay quiet anymore.
Yellow flames ignited his eyes, sparks sizzling between his fingers. Viktor’s eyes glowed as well, the temperature dropping by several degrees around them.
The suffocating aura of two S-Ranks facing off surged through the hall like a tsunami. Many people who’d been focused on the Vice President turned their attention to the scene.
Just when Ambrose’s lips opened to speak—
The air thickened with a terrifying aether energy leak. Both S-Ranks froze, their powers receding like fire snuffed out by a storm. A chandelier directly above the bar rattled violently.
’This... this aura.’ Devon and Viktor’s heads tilted to the only other Esper standing there with them. Ambrose couldn’t help himself from doing the same.
Valentine.
The pressure only lasted for a heartbeat.
Then vanished as fast as it came, Valentine’s lips quivering. "If you two are done measuring yourselves..." His eyes flicked toward Devon. "...you might want to answer your phone."
Devon’s heart stopped.
Because indeed, his phone was ringing.
Leo.
