Extra's Descent

After the meeting was adjourned, all the other heads left, leaving Zed and Lancelott in the room.

Lancelott sat in his usual seat, as Zed sat a few rows to the side.

Looking at Lancelott, Zed broke the silence.

"So? When are you planning on dispatching our traitors?"

"Haven't you already done that?"

"Ah."

Of course he knew.

The two were long time friends. Even he knew most of Lancelott's tendencies.

"Just give them a little scare. Kill off a few. They'll realize someone is onto them, but we won't give them any confirmation that we know."

Then, Lancelott raised his head, meeting Zed's gaze.

With a cold expression, he spoke indifferently.

"But you've already done that, haven't you?"

"You know me well. I've put Moriarty to work. He should be done by now."

And the first topic ended there.

Shifting to the next topic, Zed carefully looked at the keen expression on Lancelott's face as he went on to say,

"That aside, any reason why you wanted Evangel? I can understand Moriarty, but for the former…."

Hearing his words, Lancelott's eyes momentarily flicked towards his direction as his fingers drummed the table.

Then, he opened his mouth.

"She's interesting. It's like she's here for no reason, no aspirations, no goals, simply just here."

"Then…."

"She's a blank canvas."

"Ah."

Realization dawned upon Zed as he heard those words from Lancelott.

Evangel.

Or rather, Evelyn Cessna had successfully created a new identity. One that Lancelott had found to his taste.

An aloof individual with mysteries surrounding them. Someone that isn't a 'yes' man.

The kind of traits Lancelott seemed to be looking for.

Zed had been aware of this for a long time. It was for that reason why they had been best–friends ever since meeting each other.

Most people would be intimidated by Lancelott, which is why he had only regarded Zed as his only friend.

For reasons unknown, Lancelott had never changed his ways and had never formed close ties with the other heads.

While all the heads grew up together, Zed and Lancelott had always seen them as lackeys.

A thought suddenly surfaced in Zed's mind and he secretly clenched his fist.

His family's demise.

All because of the syndicate's actions under Lancelott's instructions.

Even if Lancelott hadn't known about Zed's family, the deed was done.

At the time, he had already distanced himself from the syndicate after they started engaging in illegal business.

Yet regardless, his past had followed him.

Then, he was broken out of his thoughts as Zed's voice reached his ears.

"For that Moriarty guy, well… I wasn't really interested in him at first. But I heard he was the only Evangel often talked to."

"Yeah."

"Mhm. Which is why I want to see him for myself. Just what kind of person had caught her attention?"

Listening to Lancelott's words, it sounded as if he was in love or something….

How peculiar.

The only times Lancelott had met her was whenever Zed brought her.

And during those times, Evangel had always stayed silent.

"But there's another reason."

Hearing his next words, Zed felt a chill down his spine.

"She's hiding her strength. I can't exactly estimate how strong she is, but I could make a guess she's stronger than all the heads combined. Even stronger than you, Zed."

"...."

He noticed.

However, Zed didn't show his shock in his expressions as he went on to say,

"I know. But I can assure you that she's been loyal to me this whole time, never complaining and all."

"Good."

Zed nodded his head. The two continued their discussions for the next few minutes or so until Zed was dismissed.

Staring at the closing door, Lancelott leaned back on his seat and gazed up the ceiling.

"Haaa…."

Letting out a deep sigh and covering his eye with his arm, he began to ponder.

The auction.

Truth be told, the actual event wasn't important to him at all. What mattered the most were the specific guests he had invited.

One of the natives of the continent he had belonged to, and a high ranking member of their military brigade.

The auction's main purpose was to gather all the big names of the black market in one place to shift their allegiance to the Milis continent, swaying and bribing them with Milis technology.

After all, only so many people would partake in war.

Which is why they needed to be convinced, to be assured that they would emerge victorious in the war.

Standing up, Lancelot was just about to leave until he noticed there was something missing from his pocket.

"....."

After looking around, he picked it up from the ground and sighed in relief.

"Haaa…."

It was a pocket watch.

Click—

It was a pocket watch. Clicking it open, inside the pocket watch, there was a small photograph of a young boy and girl—who was taller than the former.

It was his sister, and the boy was him.

The same sister he had never seen in more than twenty years.

Feeling melancholic, he whispered.

"Just a bit more, sis. Then I can finally go back home."

***

"H-haaa…."

With bated breaths, Aqua sprinted all over the blackmarket.

It was night.

And so, the streets were quite empty.

He had to get away.

"Someone, help!"

He screamed.

Yet, it was useless.

The black market was lawless and had almost no regulations.

It was a dog eat dog world.

And so, whoever had seen him, heard him, they chose to ignore, afraid of getting involved.

"Fuck! Please….!"

The man who was chasing him.

He was well aware of who it was.

Moriarty.

The person he had now regretted recruiting along with his late friends.

Infernis and Link.

They were both dead.

Killed by the same man who was hunting him.

It made no sense.

He knew Moriarty was about the same strength as them.

Yet for some reason, in each turn, they just couldn't touch him.

As if everything had been specifically curated to work in his favor.

But what he had found outrageous was the fact that he had never used magic.

Just his sword.

And that sword…. They couldn't predict it.

He had never faced a duelist with that kind of technique before.

And due to that, his two friends were killed.

There was no use in fighting him.

It was for that reason why Aqua chose to shamefully flee.

Pride?

Such bullshit wasn't present anymore.

He had to run for his life.

"Haa… Get away!"

Waving his hand without looking back, a magic circle formed and water bullets shot behind him, rippling towards Moriarty's direction.

Swoosh, swoosh—!

However, he missed.

"Tsk."

Clicking his tongue, Aqua was about to stop and fight for his life when all of a sudden, fog started to permeate the entire vicinity.

"...."

He glanced around, scanning, only to realize Moriarty had disappeared.

Then, a cold voice echoed from behind him.

"Dominion."

And those words….

It was the same he had muttered back then.

He felt the ominous pressure boring down on him, as he felt the back of his throat tighten, as if something was choking him.

His legs slightly shook, and far started to grip him, but he stood his ground.

He had to—

"Akh!"

A sharp pain struck his back as he stood frozen.

Drip. Drip…!

He glanced down, only to find the tip of a sharp blade pierce right through his chest, blood dripping.

No, his heart.

Thump!

Gradually, he was losing strength as his knees gave out and his vision grew hazy.

Drip. Drip…!

Thump!

He saw his life flash through eyes until eventually….

Darkness.