"The cause of the Ammamoran Guards' death was due to the Crimson Demons, who used their blood for an awakening ritual."
"So, the Center has issued a new mission. Elimination of the spawns of the Crimson Demons…" Rhys explained, causing Ryuk's brows to crease.
"Wait… extermination of their race? Like killing all of them?" he asked, unable to believe his ears.
Less than a dozen Crimson Demons had been responsible for the awakening ritual; what's more, they'd already been taken down by their group on Nihility.
So why was there a need to wipe out their entire race?
"Extreme, no?" Officer Rhys added, as if reading his thoughts.
Ryuk gave a simple nod.
"Maybe it is. But the Crimson Demons are a ragtag group that doesn't have a fixed planet or home, and the only time they're seen is when plotting something insane—or evil."
He leaned forward, continuing. "They're already on the elimination radar of other planetary groups that are just as the Ammamoran Service Center."
"And their use of Ammamoran guards for their ritual shows they're not afraid of adding another powerful organization to their list of enemies."
"It's only natural that Amma (Ammamoran Service Center) follows the action of the others and targets them as well."
Ryuk hummed under his breath.
"Also, just so you know," Officer Rhys went on, "the reward for capturing a single Crimson Demon is one hundred thousand Ammamoran Notes, plus three thousand Ammamoran Points. I even have a lead on a Crimson Demon hideout right now."
He smirked. "Get a dozen and that's over a million. The rewards are crazy, right?"
"It does sound rewarding," Ryuk admitted.
Rhys smiled in satisfaction.
'His safe arrival already secured my promotion to the next hierarchy as a Commanding Officer. If he partakes in this mission, I could reach the next hierarchy even faster…
"So, what do you say, Ryuk? You in?" he asked enthusiastically.
The blunt reply shook Rhys a little, judging from his half-opened lips and widened eyes.
"Uh… why?" he asked, reighing down his surprise.
Ryuk shrugged it off.
"The last mission took a toll on me. I need some time to relax. And besides… there's someone who needs me right now."
He glanced at Iris, whose rainbow eyes were currently fixed on the ceiling's design.
"So, I'll have to refuse," he finished.
Rhys nodded slowly. "That's reasonable. As an Archguard with more than twenty-five thousand points, a quarter needed for hierarchical progress, you're only required to perform one mission for Amma every three months." Rhys explained, something even Ryuk wasn't really aware of.
"So, if you feel you need some time off, then a time off it is. Being an Archguard is already dangerous, after all."
"I'm glad you understand," Ryuk said, continuing to stand and pick up Iris in his arms, "If that's all, then I'll be leaving."
"I'll escort you out," Officer Rhys replied, rising with him, and they both moved out of the office.
"Also, that reminds me, how did you even remain trapped on Nihility in the first place? I remembered Grozque mentioning you and Orrelith—"
His voice faded as the office door shut, leaving the room in silence.
[Planning to get a New House?]
The system notification flashed before Ryuk's eyes, rainbow hair plastering against his cheeks from the rush of wind as the Amun flew swiftly through the sky.
"Yes," He replied curtly, his eyes fixated on his Ammamoran panels, which currently displayed various housing options.
[But why do you even need a new house?]
[You already live with the Dominares, and even Odette's mansion is open. Why get a new place?] The system asked in confusion.
"I'm not looking for a house." Ryuk replied, "More of a bunker space, hidden, and out of sight," he answered.
He expected more questioning, but the system didn't press further.
The truth was, Ryuk had decided not to take the quest because right now, as he said, he truly needed a bit of relaxing time.
But relaxing time, not in the sense that he wanted to sit at home with the Dominares doing nothing all day long.
Too many things demanded his attention now, beyond the little girl in his arms, and his plan could only proceed once he had a safe, secure bunker.
Eventually, he found an ad. A strange one.
An abandoned bunker, reportedly once used for underwater exploration by some Yorta organization, or whatever they were called.
Ryuk chose it immediately. First, because it was cheaper than most, only one hundred fifty thousand Ammamoran Notes, compared to the average selling price of three hundred thousand Ammamoran Notes.
Second, because it was underwater, with the only thing close to land being an uninhabited island, it was sufficiently far away from prying eyes or civilian lives.
He purchased it instantly, receiving a digital deed of possession—and most importantly, the cryptic passcode for entrance, and location.
With that done, he made a few supply runs, ordering the Amun driver to stop at a random market.
After gathering everything he needed, he stuffed it all into his storage ring.
Once he was quietly out of the market, he opened a vortex, and he and Iris immediately disappeared into it, fading away from view.
Stepping out, they appeared high in the sky, and once more, Ryuk opened another void vortex, stepping in and vanishing again.
He repeated this fifteen times until finally, he arrived at his destination.
Standing in the sky, beneath his feet was an endless expanse of blue sea, the only nearby feature being a bushy island about 30,000 kilometers away.
His eyes narrowed as his Amma Comms confirmed the coordinates.
'This is the location,' he thought.
Drifting closer to the ocean, he stopped just inches from the water's surface.
"Execute Open Protocol."
His words rang out, echoing over the vast sea. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ NoveI-Fire.ɴet
For a while, nothing happened. Then—
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In and Out_SnowySmoos