"Damn it, kid, you’re a literal walking vita magnet. How the hell did you get so strong?"
Malakai approached his former captain, Rhett, who had somehow been waiting for him at the gates of Crimson Hold.
"How did you know I was coming out?" He smiled for only a brief moment before his expression turned neutral once more.
Rhett didn’t look surprised that his question went unanswered.
"A captain always knows." He patted Malakai on the shoulder.
Rhett cleared his throat and turned to Renlo, who had stood straighter.
"Captain!" Renlo saluted, an instinctive action he clearly hadn’t grown out of.
"Hey, kid." Rhett smiled, gesturing toward his new limbs. "Digging the new look."
"Haha, they’re nothing."
Malakai almost smacked the boy at the back of his head. He was very weak to compliments.
"What are you doing here?"
"Damn, that’s cold." Rhett placed a hand on his chest, as though hurt. "Is that how you greet the captain you went through life and death with? The one who taught you the ways of manhood?"
When all he received was Malakai’s deadpan stare, Rhett coughed. "I forgot how cold-hearted you are. You didn’t even try to reach out."
"Nyx told me the squad had been transferred to Vitaemora. I knew you were in the city."
He had asked Nyx after he woke up about the squad. She had gathered and informed him of everything about them. Malakai had been glad to hear that they had all survived.
"Then that’s even worse!" Rhett shook his head. "You couldn’t come say hi?"
Malakai shrugged. "I can’t leave the fortress without permission. You know this."
"Tsk, tsk, excuses, excuses. Doesn’t change what you did. Why don’t you buy me a drink and we’ll call it even."
Malakai proceeded to ignore his words and scanned the surroundings. "Where are the others?"
"Probably fighting darkness creatures or something pointless."
"Drinking and whoring around is pointless. Fighting darkness creatures isn’t."
"Yeah, yeah, so what are you saying about the drinks? Tonight?" His eyes glinted. "We need to really catch up. For one, tell me how the hell you’re wearing a captain’s uniform."
Malakai shook his head, turning toward Renlo. "You still haven’t changed. Let’s go."
"Wait, wait!" Rhett waved as they began leaving, smiling wryly. "The whole squad will be there—well, almost. Tonight at 9, Enchant Bar. Don’t miss it, the others can’t wait to see you."
Malakai responded with only one nod, walking away with Renlo trailing behind. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novel✦fire.net
It felt great seeing Rhett again, but Malakai couldn’t help being a bit irritated to find the man hadn’t changed his drinking habits.
"It sure was good seeing the captain again."
Malakai could see the excitement plastered on Renlo’s face. He found it odd that he hadn’t reacted when Rhett spoke about drinking again.
’It’s because you care. And you’re also controlling.’ Valentine’s voice echoed in his mind.
’Says the person whose goal the first time we met was changing me.’
’Ahem. Fair point. Still, I find it shocking you didn’t refute the first part.’
Malakai frowned. ’Because I didn’t want to argue.’
’Sure, sure... that’s exactly the reason.’
Malakai’s mood turned sour at Valentine’s constant tease. Did he care for Rhett? At the very least, his answer wouldn’t be no. But it wouldn’t necessarily be yes, either.
They weren’t nearly close enough for him to call Rhett a loved one, but it didn’t mean he’d sit still if something bad was about to happen to him. After all, he saved his life during the ambush in Sylvastein.
Malakai shook his head. He ignored Valentine and tried to distract himself with the city.
"I’ve missed this place," Renlo suddenly said, causing Malakai to cast him a quiet look.
’He lived here before.’
Just like Sylvastein, the City of Blood was also divided into multiple districts, arranged in a semi concentric circle with Crimson Hold at the center.
The whole of Crimson Hold was considered a district on its own, and straight out of it was the Blood District.
Like any place close to the central parts, it was where the elites of the elites of the Sanguine Clan were stationed. This was where the Scarlet Ten and other high-ranking highblood lived.
And Renlo, being the grandson of a Scarlet Ten, had grown up here.
The streets were paved, and mansion-like buildings with large compounds filled the space.
Malakai finally asked, seeing Renlo’s clenched fists.
"Yeah... it just..." His eyes were fixed on a mansion in the distance. It wasn’t one that Malakai recognized, but he could guess whose it was.
"...nothing." Renlo let out a breath before turning away. Malakai saw his smile return like it had never left in the first place.
They both picked up the pace, ignoring the countless looks being thrown their way. Malakai was nothing if not a celebrity. But though the Blood District was purely Sanguine, people with power and class, his cold look and hardened demeanor deterred anyone who might want to strike up a conversation.
"Em, Malakai, where are we going again?"
"The Umbrella Group main base."
"Right." Renlo nodded, then scratched his chin.
"Em, where is it again? Here?"
Malakai let out an audible sigh. "It can’t be here. It’s at the Vein District."
Renlo mouthed an oh and went silent again. The Blood District was purely residential and allowed no factions or groups to form since it was closest to Crimson Hold.
The two picked up the pace and, with blurring speeds, wandered into the Vein District. The first difference Malakai noticed was the people, crowded streets, bustling markets, people everywhere.
Unlike the Blood District, the Vein District was the center of trade and commerce, and more importantly, where the main base of the Umbrella Group was.
Malakai used the opportunity to go through the remainder of the mission details. The Umbrella Group was simply a collection of multiple merchants’ guilds forming one unified force.
The group’s reach could not be overstated. They dominated trade across the western lands. And sitting at the center of this incredible force was the Sixth Pulse.