Free Web NovelChapter 87: _Speak Of The Devil And He Appears
’I’m not imagining things, right?’ Ambrose thought to himself as he kept his face hidden from Gabriel. ’He’s staring at me. He’s legit staring at me like I... like we’ve got some history.’
But that was impossible.
He had access to all the past Ambrose memories. There was nothing about knowing an SS-Rank existence in any of them.
’What if... what if he’s like Valentine?’ Ambrose scratched his temple. ’What if he knows something is off with me?’
Speaking of which... he hadn’t seen or heard a word from Valentine since Norfolk. That was probably for the best—but at the same time, it made him wonder if the man was still watching him.
As if being surrounded by obsessive S-Ranks wasn’t enough. Now SS-Ranks are being added to the mix.
"Ahem." The council speaker tapped her mic just then, like she knew someone in the audience was having a little existential spiral. "I believe you all are aware of who I am."
Most of the people in the chamber remained silent.
Of course, they all knew.
Council Speaker Aileen.
An SS-Rank Esper and one of the only ones who actually keeps public appearances on the regular. Even without knowing her you could feel the power in her voice.
"Anyway," she moved on, "I also believe we all know why we’re here. For the past week, a series of events has led to the creation of an SS-Rank Rift anomaly. One that the world has never seen since the Emergence."
Those words finally stirred some discourse and whispers from the crowd. The eyes of many other representatives turned to the Americans.
Viktor snorted under his breath. "I guess it’s show time." He leaned over, making sure Ambrose saw his face.
The latter looked at him from the corner of his eyes—until he caught Gabriel also gazing at him curiously. He tore his eyes away, cheeks burning while he lowered himself deeper into his seat.
At this point, Gabriel arched a brow. ’There’s... something about his energy...’ his head tilted, eyes refusing to leave the Guide.
He could tell that he was of a lower rank.
But for the first time, he couldn’t gauge someone’s power level. That didn’t make sense. He could make estimates of even the highest-ranking hunters.
Unless... could this person secretly be a higher rank?
"An Echo Rift," Aileen went on, rubbing a finger on her nose. "The first of its kind. It appeared just a few days after the closure of an S-Rank Rift. On the Norfolk, Virginia shoreline."
The screens hovering above the chambers all flickered with images. Familiar ones that made Ambrose’s jaw tick.
First the different shots of the black Rift from different angles. Then images of the flooded city and other cities around it. Then finally—the Leviathan.
"Even with the combined efforts of three of America’s SS-Ranks," the images blinked out, "the Leviathan wasn’t brought down. For days, they battled it. And now... a new threat has emerged from the Rift."
Aileen raised her head, pointing directly at the American side. Ambrose froze for half a second, thinking she had her eyes on him.
"Hunter Gabriel," the council speaker blurted. "Please give a report of all the new conditions the Echo Rift went through before you left it."
All eyes trailed in the man’s direction.
He adjusted his sitting position before speaking into his mic. "Good day," he began. "As most of you may know, I was one of the SS-Rank Espers who fought against the Leviathan of the Echo Rift."
There was a pause. Then he continued. "Although I came sometime after my colleagues, I witnessed enough within the days spent on battling the creature."
"The Leviathan was unlike any SS-Rank beast I’ve ever encountered. Far more intelligent and strategic, withdrawing its A-Rank bipedal subjects when the battle got too heated."
"But most of all was the way it stuck close to the Echo Rift. This beast had vast amounts of ocean water to take the battle to. Yet it stayed at Norfolk. Like it was... waiting for something."
Someone across the chamber chimed in. "I’m guessing that’s the new entity that forced you to retreat."
As if like a trigger, another person spoke up. "Yes, about that... how sure are we that your spatial lock is containing a creature that you failed to bring down for days?"
"What if this new entity breaks out?"
"Can we trust the United States and the rest of the Americas to monitor and contain this Rift before it spills to other continents?"
And just like that, talks like this exploded throughout the chamber, most of them blaming the US for not taking the Rift seriously enough.
Ambrose could only watch, simultaneously trying to use the system to confirm something.
’Have you been able to run a scan on Hunter Gabriel?’
[Loading...]
[Scan completed.]
[Gender: Male
Sexuality: Gay
Rank: SS
Power Type: Space Manipulation
Attraction Points: Null.
Total Evaluation: Possible Future Link]
Ambrose’s eyes widened when he saw the man’s sexuality.
Gay?
He inclined his head toward Gabriel, noting how exasperated he was by the murmuring and arguing around him.
It made sense now.
No wonder the system marked him that first time at Norfolk.
"Enough," Aileen didn’t shout but her voice was enough to bring the arguing to an end. She straightened in her seat. "We didn’t come here to trade words. This council is meant to regroup and strategise quick ways to neutralise the threat."
Her eyes flitted to Gabriel again. "Hunter Gabriel. Please continue."
The SS-Rank nodded. "Thank you speaker," he drummed his fingers on the table. "While I understand the apprehension other member states might feel, I assure you... If my spatial lock gets broken down, I’ll feel it."
Some either rolled their eyes or whispered something sarcastic amongst themselves.
Gabriel ignored, mouth parting to say something else—
—Until a new presence fell on the chamber.
Ambrose stiffened, chills running down his spine. Time seemingly slowed around him, a dull ringing hitting his ears. The hairs across his body stood on end, eyes pinned on the entrance to the chamber.
’Death sense.’ His stomach tightened right when a new voice boomed through the chamber.
"The main truth we should all accept," a figure walked into the light, the black cloak he was draped in flowing behind him, "is that while sitting here throwing blame—the Rift is evolving in real time."
Everyone appeared to hold their breath as the figure’s face got illuminated by the light.
Ambrose’s pulse stuttered.
Speak of the devil and he appears...
"Valentine."
