Before he could leave the consortium, Octavia had informed Malakai of wanting to prepare. Due to that, he’d been forced to wait in the lobby at the bottom floor of the consortium.
Malakai wasn’t sure what annoyed him the most: the countless stares of the merchants in the hall, or the fact that he’d been forced to take on the tenth vein.
"Are you okay, Malakai?"
Malakai turned towards Renlo. "Yeah, why?"
"You look pissed," Renlo said with a knowing look.
He shook his head. "I’m not angry, just... impatient. She’s wasting too much time."
"But she’s only been gone for a minute."
"That’s sixty seconds more for the enemy to run free."
Renlo scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Well... when you say it like that..."
The sight of Octavia stepping out of the elevator caught his attention.
As she approached, Malakai caught sight of the unfamiliar man behind her.
But he couldn’t help but feel confused. The man had spiky orange hair and blazing eyes, features of an Aldrenari.
’It’s her guard. Odd.’
Bloom or not, it was odd to see an Aldrenari guard someone as important as a vein. He wasn’t even from a great clan...
"I’m ready... we can leave now."
Octavia spoke in a tone Malakai determined was caution. She instinctively flinched the moment Malakai turned towards her, but as though realizing her mistake, glared back at him.
A moment of silence passed between them. Malakai simply stared at her, not saying anything.
Octavia brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, nervous. But Malakai glanced away like he’d never looked.
"Nothing. We’re leaving now."
He began walking out of the hall along with Renlo.
Octavia glared holes into the departing Malakai. She couldn’t help but curse her mother for forcing her into this situation.
"Let’s get this over with." With a deep sigh, she trailed behind and caught up to him along with her guard a moment later.
"Where are we going first?" she asked, but frowned when Malakai didn’t answer. They had left the consortium and were now walking towards the grand gates.
"Mom asked us to work together. If you’re not going to involve me, then maybe I shouldn’t bother coming along anyway. I’ll tell Mom."
The words caused Malakai to come to an abrupt stop. As he turned, their eyes met and Octavia felt the same feeling as before. Death.
"Hey! Wait..." She took a step back and suddenly remembered she had her guard with her.
’He’s a Bloom! He can’t do anything to me.’ She reassured herself.
"We’re going to talk to the victims to see if we can get some clues about who’s responsible," he explained. "Now, is there any other thing you would like to know?"
"Ahem, not right now."
With a cold look that lasted barely a second, Malakai turned away and picked up the pace.
They soon left the estate and headed toward their first victim. On the way, Octavia’s voice broke the silence. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by novｅlfire.net
"Wait, don’t tell me you actually plan on walking to our destination!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands up. "Take a good look at me! Do I look like someone who walks anywhere?"
Malakai didn’t even glance at her. He just kept walking. There was only one thing on his mind.
’What is this chill?’
Since earlier, he’d been feeling a subtle chill that had persisted until now. He had scanned everywhere but there were no darkness creatures.
’Maybe it’s the weather...’ he concluded.
Renlo, instead, rubbed the back of his neck, looking like he wanted to disappear. "Uh... technically, you do look like someone who could walk..."
Octavia shot him a glare so sharp he instantly regretted speaking.
After that, the journey became quiet once more. Eventually, they reached the location of their first victim.
Malakai’s eyes settled on the large mansion in front of him.
"Coin Master Oner," Octavia muttered under her breath, causing Malakai to turn to her.
"What?" she said, feigning innocence.
"What do you know about him?" Malakai asked.
"Oh, now you want my help?" she said, folding her arms with a smug smile.
Malakai didn’t reply; he simply turned and started walking toward the gates.
Octavia coughed, quickly catching up. "Ahem, well, for the sake of the investigation, I’ll tell you! Hmph."
She took Malakai’s silence as permission to continue.
"The ranking in the Umbrella Group goes : my mother, the Guild Masters, district heads, Coin Masters, and then the registered merchants," she said, ticking off each tier with a finger. "Oner is a Coin Master, one of the market overseers in the district. He’s in charge of the southern sides of the market in the Vein District."
"Now, about him in particular, I’ve met him a few times while wandering with Mom. He’s a simple man. Greedy, but controllable. Oh, and he’s crazy about his wife. Like... really crazy. Unhealthy crazy."
She suddenly realized something.
"And I hear she was the one who vanished. So, I’d say... expect someone very broken."
And to Malakai’s bafflement, this was exactly what he met.
Entry into the mansion had been easy. The sight of the chaos-bringer’s spawn was enough to frighten any and every member of the Umbrella Group.
Malakai had just seen another reason why moving with Octavia was the right choice.
Entering the mansion, he was surprised to see the place devoid of any guards. They had been welcomed by the butler, who politely showed them to his master’s quarters.
There, the group saw the pitiful state of Oner.
He clutched a bundle of female clothes, definitely his wife’s, and muttered the same words while rolling on the floor.
"My beautiful wife... my beautiful wife..."
’It looks like he hasn’t had his bath or eaten in days.’
He exchanged a narrowed glance with Octavia; it didn’t seem possible to get any information from the man in this state.
"I apologize for Master Oner’s unruly condition, esteemed veins," the butler said, bowing low. His voice was filled with grief.
"He... he loved and treasured his wife dearly. To have her vanish so suddenly—i-it was too much for him to bear."
Malakai sent a final glance towards the broken man before turning towards the butler.
"I need you to answer some questions."