Through the summit, Balam had maintained his peace and silence not because he was careful of the humans that gathered around him.
If anything, that was all the more reason to get reckless and start trouble. He had no doubt that his true form would be able to stir a lot of troubles and their souls would be a good nourishment to his fiendish energy— that is, while fighting and killing them, he could gain more power to fight and kill more of them.
If there isn't that one that can singlehandedly subdue before he kills any of the hunters. He would be able to kill all of them gathered here.
Of course, this was just hypothetically speaking. Using human souls to grow fiendish energy has become disgusting to the demons. They'd rather cultivate it by hard training or better still, kill one of their own.
Besides, Balam was very sure he would pay for this with his life. If he harms one single human, something tells him Raith won't hesitate to cut down his head.
But what truly kept him concentrated… or to say, what he concentrated on so much that he kissed all that was said was the sleeper.
From the moment Rizo entered the magnanimous room, Balam had been fixated on him, the former didn't care about the gaze.
'He feels familiar. I can't be right. There is no way there is another one here on earth.'
Balam tried to convince himself over and over again until the summit came to an end.
The summit took over an hour, but to Balam, it seemed to end too quickly because he was so focused on something else that he lost track of the time flow of the real event he was here for.
But what to do? This too was important.
If he can get to the bottom of the uncomfortable feeling he was having. He was sure it would be of great use to his lord. Then Raith would truly be happy with him.
And so he picked himself up and quickly followed the young boy, leaving a large distance between the two to avoid being spotted unnecessarily.
When the young boy was admitted into a limousine car, he also grabbed a random bike and followed through. The bike was the only thing he was interested in learning. He wasn't good at it and caused commotion here and there on the road, but he did manage until the limousine strangely pulled into a corner.
Reluctant at first but what could go wrong? Balam decided to follow.
And as expected, it was a trap.
A one-eyed patched man in a black suit was standing behind the Limousine with a sword suspended to his hips.
As Balam's bike approached, he unsheathed his sword and pointed it forward speaking with an effortlessly audible voice:
"Stop the bike and identify yourself."
His voice filled the deserted corner of the road and he didn't seem to be straining his vocal cords. He spoke directly from his diaphragm, but what was more amazing was the power behind his tone.
It was shaky but the shakiness created a rhythm rather than insinuating the fact that he being careful.
By mere glance, Balam could tell this man had perfect control of his body down to tone. Starting from his breathing to the focus of his gaze, to his posture.
His hand held forward was slightly curved at the elbow not to expend too much energy while stretching his blade as the potential opponent in front of him drew nigh.
Balam stopped the revving engine of the motorcycle, he slipped out the side stand with a swift kick of his leg as he came off it.
Raising both hands he said:
"I am not here to fight you."
"You couldn't even if you tried."
Balam grinned wryly.
"You're wrong but let's not dwell too much on that matter. I don't want to get into trouble with my master. I just have a question for that kid."
The man's one eye narrowed.
"How dare you?! Who are you calling 'that kid'?!"
Violent cords formed on his forehead and temple as he gritted his teeth waiting for an answer. His next course of action was dependent on it. But he was very much boiling with a lot of rage.
"It's fine Peter"
His eyes went round and his boiling rage evaporated sharply. He turned his head to see his young lord crouching in the car, not even he knew when Rizo reached there.
Balam was looking at the young boy with intriguing eyes.
'I am sure of it! I am very sure of it!!'
His eyes glinted with excitement.
"You…" the boy lazily looked at Balam. "...you're not human…what are you?"
His words took their time coming out, his voice was vigorless but it made Balam's heart tremble. It was like he didn't want to delay the response.
'Is this the charm of a ruler? I wonder which one he is… should I just ask directly? No… I probably shouldn't, it could be dangerous…'
That was what he said in his thoughts but…
"You're a ruler, right? I know it. Which ruler are you? I have met the ruler of pride, and I serve the ruler of greed. Is yours the gluttony? Envy? Lust? Or Sloth?"
For the first since meeting him, the young boy's expression changed, creasing up a brow, traces of vehement sparks of carefulness could be subtly seen, escaping almost unnoticed the next couple of seconds that were spent in the pressuring silence between them.
"Who are you? How do you know about rulers?"
'Yes, I was right!'
A corner of Balam's lips went up.
"Didn't you hear, I serve one myself?"
"Be Careful how you speak to Lord Rizo!"
Peter. He yelled at Balam with a deep frown on his face.
Balam responded with a scowl, it was short. His gaze shot over Peter's shoulders returning to the ruler who was still crouching on top of the car as he spoke.
"I have never heard of another ruler. All the known rulers have left this universe."
Balam squinted his eyes.
'This guy? He has met the others before? He talks like he has.'
"Then all the more reason you need to meet my ma–
"I'm not interested. Now scram."
He cut short Balam's sentence, sending him off with a lazy wave of his hand and he disappeared leaving a disappearing blue light.
Balam was shocked.
Peter threw him one last crude glance and sheathed his sword like a master edo samurai. He walked away and entered the car.
Balam watched as the distance between him and the car widened.
'Should I just kidnap him…. The rulers are quite powerful. It would arouse attention if a fight between the both of us was to break up. This city will not survive it.'
He sighed, looking at the disappearing ass of the car one last time before giving up on the thought of chasing.
He turned away.
"Let me go and get some of that nice ice cream then."
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