Adam's voice spread out, causing them to pause.
"Don't move."
It was not an order. His face was still smiling even as he said those words in a lighthearted tone.
But literal chills went down all of their backs and made their hairs stand on end from the danger they felt. "If I wanted to harm you guys you would already be dead. I simply want to talk to Marlen. So you should give us some privacy."
Fear and tension were increasing among the group of members and they were at a loss about what to do, but Marlen acted quickly to dissipate the growing tension.
"It's okay girls. I am alright. He is a friend of Steven."
This seemed to help ease the tension ever so slightly as they hesitated before slowly walking away from Marlen. Of course, the moment they put some distance they immediately started calling for help from their extensive set of acquaintances.
They didn't know what Adam wanted and no way were they going to let anything happen to their friend.
"You have some loyal friends there. That is good. It's a rare thing in the world we live in. Cherish them."
Adam walked quietly and sat next to Marlen. His domain whirred into existence and blocked all sounds in a ten meters radius, making sure that absolutely no one that was unable to overpower him could listen to their conversation.
"So, how has life been for you?"
He wanted to smoke something to clear and ready his mind for the proceedings, but not only was smoking in front of someone bad manners – even though those cigarettes had quite a delectable and tasteful odor of floral scents – but he couldn't exactly use his smoke as he wanted with how much debt he had accumulated.
Marlen looked at him like he was a lunatic, but she relaxed ever so slightly when she realized that Adam truly bore no ill will for her. At least… not yet…
"It has been… Well. I guess it isn't bad."
"Hmm. Good. Good. As long as it isn't bad then it's good." He chuckled slightly as he said those goofy lines before finally talking about the principal matter he was here for.
"So, I won't beat around the brush too much. Why did you break up with Steven?"
"...What? How does it matter to you?"
"Sigh~! Now, I gotta explain it to her… Look. I honestly don't care about your relationship with him. Breaking up and having a new relationship is all too common in the world and I am not about to fuss about something like that. What is less common is when the one on the supernatural side says that it's a matter of their partner's security."
He shook his head as he uttered his next set of lines, "Steven is a stubborn man and he will surely seek you out and implore you for answers. He won't let you keep it vague until you give him something concrete— an explanation. You will cave in and accept, thinking that you can go through whatever you are going through with no problem whatsoever. But we all know that you won't succeed. You will fail and you will end up endangering my friend's life."
Hope for the best but prepare for the worst.
Adam thought that this was a very good motto and one he should keep as a creed of conduct for all his future purposes. After all, once bitten, twice shy.
"Now. Whether you die or not is not my problem. Millions of people die or vanish every year and every second someone is dying out there. One life is insignificant in the grander scheme of things. But things change when the one who might die is someone close to me."
Steven might not be his closest friend but he was still his friend. Nothing could change that as long as Steven did not cross him and betray their friendship.
"So… While I am being nice and friendly… Would you kindly tell me what the hell is going on? I may be able to help you."
—Or simply choose to get rid of you if that will be faster for me.
"I…"
Marlen choked on her words. She could feel clear intention in his words and the way he was looking at her.
This was no knight in shining armor. But simply a Grim Reaper ready to cut the problem at its source if he deemed it necessary.
She might have hesitated a little bit at the start… But now she knew that it was better to be as forthright as possible to avoid any form of misunderstandings with this lunatic of a man.
"It's honestly not such a big deal. But, the situation for supernatural creatures has been deteriorating quite a bit in Los Angeles.
"The last month had been filled with many incidents and the LAPPD as well as the other hunters are becoming harsher in their inspections. There are more and more cases of innocent vampires getting killed out there, you know? And as for us Mermaids, we don't really have the best reputation in the first place."
Creatures like vampires at least only needed to drink blood and werewolves were only really dangerous during the full moon.
Mermaids on the other hand… were dangerous all year around and were known as man-eaters in general.
"Everyone has been on edge lately and recently there has been a change in the Alpha of the Werewolf pack in Las Vegas. The previous one got sick or something. Some are saying old age got to him while others speculate that it might be poison or an assassination attempt. Either way, people are talking about a possible war incoming between the wolves of Los Angeles and those of Las Vegas."
She grimaced as she spoke out, "With the incoming full moon, things are looking up to be very dangerous for us oridinary folks and supernatural forces are searching for allies to make sure they can protect themselves."
Adam listened to her explanation quietly, with concentration. It seemed like he would have to talk with Yui about what the hell was going on exactly in the city. He also had to call Natasha and discuss this with her later.
He could guess why there might be some enmity with the wolves of Las Vegas. It seemed like Natasha's family was finally ready to seek vengeance.
"So, I get all that. But how does this result in you breaking up with Steven,"
Marlen shrugged her shoulder, "My mom just wanna form an alliance with a few families to seek protection. We are the most vulnerable in times of chaos because we are far from the sea and because of how precious we are."
This wasn't her being narcissistic. Mermaids could sell for astronomical sums of money.
Be it dead or alive.
Their flesh gave longevity.
Their tears were elixirs that could work as healing agents. Pretty good ones too.
Their scales could serve as armor.
Their skins could be used to make magical equipment that could affect the sea and give various powers in an oceanic domain.
Alive, they were also used as singers or sex slaves, or simply combat pets.
Mermaids were walking treasures in every way possible and had been hunted to near extinction because of their natural gifts.
So they needed protection. They needed shelter from someone strong to assure their safety. As the possibility of someone using the incoming chaos to hunt them down for some quick cash was extremely high.
"They want me in their family or honestly any mermaid. But I am the eldest daughter of the leader so I have the most value."
She knew very well what might happen to her but they needed the umbrella of a strong force to protect them. The choice of the umbrella also needed to be carefully done.
There were many forces they could seek asylum with but they were not a major group of Mermaid, unlike a few others who had settled down in other states.
"Of course, there is also the possibility we simply choose to migrate. So either way, I thought it would be better for me to break things up first with Steven before he got hurt."
She gave a sad smile and Adam mused in his mind as he looked at her.
He wasn't particularly moved. He was simply smiling inwardly at his luck.
Perhaps it was time to create his first official force.
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