755 Finding Max (7)
The man's gaze hardened, his eyes turning into shards of steel as his voice, laced with a sense of urgency, cut through the air. "When are the Blackguards expected to arrive?"
Lyria glanced up. Her brows knitted together in a frown, a shadow of uncertainty passing over her eyes.
"In three days. I don't know why they're not already here."
"Perhaps they believe Erik Kay cannot escape the city, but they are mistaken. Of that I'm certain."
The man leaned back in his chair, the creaking sound echoing in the silence. His expression turned thoughtful, a wrinkle forming between his brows as he processed the information.
His fingers drummed on the wooden table, each tap echoing his growing concern. "So, they've asked us to keep the city closed and prevent anyone from leaving?"
Lyria nodded. "Yes, that's what they've told us to do."
In his fly form, Erik clung to the rough texture of the ceiling, his compound eyes a mosaic of countless tiny lenses focused intently on the duo below.
His minuscule heart pounded in his chest, a rapid staccato in sync with the fluttering of his wings.
He was digesting the information, turning it over in his mind like a puzzle with missing pieces. Three days.
A countdown had begun, three days before the Blackguards would breach the city's tranquility.
His mind raced, a whirlwind of questions and doubts stirring within him. Why were they so confident he couldn't escape? What did they know he didn't?
<Are they brewing something, or they are just that confident? Regardless, I can't lower my guard. >
His thoughts spiralled deeper, probing the shadows of uncertainty. The Blackguards' confidence suggested knowledge - knowledge that he was yet to uncover.
The conversation below continued, but Erik's thoughts were elsewhere. His wings buzzed as he considered his options.
<Should I leave the city? No. No. That would be an enormous setback. Besides, I lured the Blackguards here to get information. This is the only chance I've got. >
The Blackguards were infamous for their ruthlessness, their name alone enough to send a shiver down the spine of the bravest warriors.
Many thought confronting them was a fool's errand. Yet Erik decided to do so.
He was not like the others. He had abilities they didn't know about, skills that even the most formidable Blackguards would find challenging to counter.
The perception of him being an easier prey than he really was would serve him well.
Erik had an insatiable curiosity, a thirst for knowledge that was yet to be quenched.
He wanted to know more about the Blackguards, understand what they were doing, why they were chasing him. He wanted to know if it were them who sent people to capture him back in New Alexandria.
This was an opportunity, a chance he couldn't pass on.
However, what Lyria said placed doubts. He had to come up with a plan and find Max before the situation became messier. He had little time on his side, as the guild would soon lock the city down.
He could feel a knot forming in his stomach - or what passed for a stomach in his fly form - as he realized the gravity of his situation.
Erik, perched high on the ceiling, listened as the conversation below continued. However, it was clear the two were done. Then Lyria stood up. She cast a last look at the man before leaving the room.
From his vantage point, Erik watched her retreat, his eyes following her every movement until she vanished from view. He needed more information, and Lyria seemed to be a key player with direct links to the Blackguards.
The man below appeared to be less informed, unlikely to possess the valuable insights Erik sought.
Determined, Erik tailed Lyria. She was his best chance to unearth deeper secrets and understand the intricate web of plans the Blackguards were brewing.
Erik knew Lyria's capabilities well; she was a master strategist, always finding the optimal path and the right individuals for her missions.
Her planning skills were exceptional, and that's what concerned Erik the most.
His suspicions about her were more intuitive than concrete. Observing her, he noted the minute shifts in her demeanor, the nuanced expressions that flickered across her face as she spoke.
Her posture, the way she articulated her words, and the brief pauses between her sentences all pointed to a deeper involvement than she let on.
It seemed likely that Lyria played a far more significant role in the unfolding events than what was apparent from their conversation.
Erik's gut feeling told him to tread carefully. Lyria was not one to be underestimated.
The hidden layers of her involvement were a puzzle he needed to solve to understand the bigger picture.
Lyria walked through the Mercenary guild corridors, her footsteps echoing in the empty hallways.
Erik watched as she entered a dimly lit room at the end of the hallway. He darted in after her, his tiny form invisible in the shadows.
As Lyria entered the room, Erik hovered near the entrance, careful not to draw attention. He watched with curiosity as Lyria approached a seemingly ordinary wall and pressed a hidden button.
She looked behind, as if she expected someone following her. She was right. Albeit she couldn't see him, Erik was there.
A section of the wall slid open, revealing a secret exit leading to the outside.
<Look at how cowardly these guys are. Secret exit doors to flee when everything goes south, uh? >
Lyria stepped through, and Erik followed, his wings propelling him through the opening.
Once outside, they found themselves on a silent street. Lyria glanced around cautiously before setting off with purposeful strides.
Outside, Erik saw a car parked on the street, its engine running. He flew towards it, landing on the roof and clinging to the metal surface with his tiny legs.
Lyria walked towards the car and then entered the vehicle. Without a moment's hesitation, Erik flew through the open window and went to the back of the car, where Lyria wouldn't look.
Aside from Lyria, there was a driver.
A middle-aged woman with sharp features glanced at Lyria through the rearview mirror before turning back to the road. Erik tried to make himself as inconspicuous as possible, his heart pounding in his chest.
The driver's eyes flickered with curiosity as she glanced at Lyria through the rearview mirror.
Her posture was tense, as if she was eager to know more, but didn't want to pry. "Ma'am, did everything go well?" she asked, her voice laced with respect.
Lyria's face remained calm and composed, but Erik could sense a hint of weariness in her eyes. That was weird.
<Why she should be wary of a driver? >
"Yes," she said. "I did what I could here." She paused for a moment, her gaze distant, as if lost in thought. "Now, it's just a matter of preparing, and wait."
Erik watched as Lyria leaned back in her seat, her body language relaxed yet alert. He could see the tension in her muscles.
The driver's voice was respectful, but there was a hint of curiosity in her tone. One a mere driver shouldn't have. Their job was simply to drive. Her eyes flickered with interest as she awaited Lyria's response.
Lyria's expression remained impassive, but Erik could see a flicker of concern in her eyes.
<What if…? >
"You should stop looking at me that way," Lyria said.
In the meantime, Erik thought about his situation. If the Blackguards had indeed discovered his involvement in the destruction of the Crystal Cross Gang back in Testrovsc's Rest, it was inevitable that they would have launched a thorough investigation into his background.
The Blackguards held a monopoly on cross-information from all corners of the world, making it clear how they had got such sensitive knowledge.
Erik couldn't help but acknowledge the immense power wielded by the Blackguards.
They were practically the reigning monarchs of the world, their influence extending far beyond the boundaries of Etrium.
Not only they controlled the Mercenary Guild, but their reach extended into various governments elsewhere. That was common knowledge. Albeit, most thought it was a sort of partnership.
This realization left Erik pondering about Frant, his homeland. Were the Blackguards just as influential there?
Had they infiltrated the government and established their supremacy?
With each passing moment, Erik realized how deep-rooted these guys were.
The driver cleared her throat, her tone now less deferential than before. It looked like she had enough of Lyria not replying.
Her eyes narrowed with impatience as she turned to Lyria. "So, what do you think the higher-ups will do with him once they get their hands on him?" she asked, her voice tinged with frustration.
"You should stick to your role and do not break character, July," she said. While most people would feel irritate about that blatantly direct question about secret affairs, Lyria tried to be as polite as possible.
<Now I'm certain. > It was clear. This woman was a blackguard.
The woman rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed. Her lips curled into a sneer as she spoke.
"Come on, Lyria. There's no one in this car aside from us. Can't we just talk like normal people?"
Her frustration was palpable, a clear sign she was growing tired of the secrecy and subterfuge.
Lyria's voice remained firm, her eyes fixed ahead on the road. She could sense the woman's impatience, but she knew she couldn't afford to let her guard down.
Forged by flames is out.
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