Amidst the relentless storm, rain lashed the heart of Hongon, surging like a tsunami through neon-lit streets and colliding against towering skyscrapers. The simmering glow of green, pink, and blue neon flickered across the dense concrete jungle, casting fleeting shadows.
On the streets below, thousands of Mecharniis shuffled about, seeking refuge from the frigid downpour. Overhead, a mere ten metres above, the erratic hum of flying cars echoed, their headlights flashing against the grey concrete, painting it in amber hues.
In a dimly lit subway station, a rough-looking man slept against a ceramic-tiled wall, his legs stretched forward. His clothes were filthy and tattered, mirroring the misfortunes of his life. His long, wavy hair obscured half of his face.
A staggering salaryman in a crumpled suit wobbled to a stop next to him, slurring slightly before unzipping and relieving himself against the wall. The pungent stench of urine filled the air as yellowish steam rose, droplets splashing onto the hobo's hair.
"Ah!" The hobo yelped, his eyes snapping open as he jolted upright.
He scowled at the man, shooing him away with a flick of his wrist before exhaling sharply and slumping his shoulders.
"Ugh... Disgusting..."
A voice crackled from in front of him. A high school girl stood there, her shadow looming, her expression of distaste unmistakable.
The hobo studied her, his gaze drawn to her tight white school uniform, which strained against her ample chest. Her medium-length hair was stylishly striking — half-white, half-black. Their eyes locked for a moment, revealing a shared and unusual trait; piercing purple irises.
"...You've got to play the part, Ziyue..." He muttered, stretching out his hand.
She scowled instead of helping him up, crossing her arms beneath her chest. "I have
Jovian scrambled to his feet sluggishly.
As he tried to approach, Ziyue raised a hand, stopping him before deliberately slipping on a black mask. "You reek of urine. Can you at least bathe first?"
Jovian didn't answer as they began walking side by side, a striking contrast between a glamorous schoolgirl and a shaggy hobo.
"It's the most convincing part of my disguise, Ziyue... You're standing out too much," He drawled.
"Well, at least this uniform is remarkably effective at luring pervy old men into talking... You should've seen their faces when I ripped their nails out, one by one." The girl said, stressing each word eerily.
Jovian arched a brow. "Is violence necessary?" His eyes drifted distantly toward the passing crowd.
"Not always. But these people deserved it." She tapped her cheek playfully, her deadly charm unmistakable.
Without another word, the uncle and niece melted into the crowd and vanished.
*** Discover more novels at NoveIꜰire.net
The intelligence Ziyue had extracted from high-ranking officers led them to the most glamorous casino in the city — the venue for a secret negotiation between Haoxuan, the Magus Primarch of Hongon, and Nohrell Voss Fenrith, Astral Empress of Dunkelheit.
Fortune Five stood as a monolithic, globe-like structure of full-tempered glass, gleaming amidst the surrounding concrete jungle. Its dazzling neon displays made it a landmark.
Far to the east, two figures sprinted up the glass exterior, their feet gripping the near-vertical surface effortlessly. Upon reaching the 88th floor, Jovian, cloaked in dark fabric, raised a fist and gestured with two fingers toward the grand hall.
Ziyue followed his motion, her gaze landing on a group seated around a lavish roulette table. A fox Wildren with sleek white fur lounged elegantly, idly brushing her tail. Beside her, a blue-haired man stood with impeccable posture, his hands clasped behind his back. Opposite them sat a thin, short man in a pristine white suit.
Ziyue's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"What do you say, Haoxuan?" Nohrell's teasing voice echoed through the opulent hall, adorned in gold and silver. "Are you feeling particularly lucky?" Her heterochromatic eyes; one a simmering gold, the other a deep aquatic blue, studied him keenly.
She wore a striking blue Chinese dress with a high slit on one side, revealing her sleek black-stockinged legs. The texture of the fabric shimmered with an almost ethereal quality.
"Hahaha! Yes, yes. Traditional roulette games are quite rare." Haoxuan forced a smile, dabbing sweat from his brow with a red handkerchief.
Nohrell picked up a ten-million chip from her towering stack. "This is worthless," She remarked, her tone detached.
Haoxuan said nothing, but his eyes flickered toward her advisor, Suingi Marchand, standing stoically at her side.
"Shall we make this more interesting?" Nohrell suggested, resting her chin on her hand. She tossed the chip to the floor with deliberate boredom. "These stakes mean nothing to me."
"Huh? What do you propose, Astress Nohrell?" Haoxuan asked, his voice trailing off.
"Double your arcanite engine production. I've heard whispers that you've been deliberately slowing operations to create scarcity," The empress said, her tone regal and unwavering.
"And... if the house wins?"
"Then you'll receive a third of my Armatus knights. Under your direct command." Nohrell's eyes sparkled with amusement as she clapped lightly, glancing at her advisor. "Wouldn't that be exciting?"
Suingi exhaled a deep sigh, visibly unimpressed.
Haoxuan's eyes glowed with greed. If he won, Hongon would become one of the most formidable nations in the world. His lips curled into a smile. "Only a straight, single bet — high stakes."
"Line bet. Six numbers," Suingi interjected firmly, his golden eyes locking onto the Primarch.
Haoxuan flinched. "Yes, yes. Sir Advisor."
Nohrell tapped her manicured nails on the table before selecting her numbers. "Let's go with... 6, 8, 29, 37, 14, and 16."
"Not 14," Suingi advised, swapping it for 15. Nohrell smiled at him contentedly and signalled for Haoxuan to proceed.
The Primarch placed his hand on the pin and spun the wheel. The roulette whirred with near-frictionless precision before he released the ball in the opposite direction. It bounced back and forth before slowing.
The ball teetered on 35 before ricocheting... landing on 14.
Haoxuan's grin widened, triumph clear in his eyes.
But then, a sudden lurch — an unseen force jolted the wheel, sending the ball rolling into 15.
"What?!" Haoxuan shouted in disbelief.
"Hahahahahaha!" Nohrell threw her head back, laughing through her fingers. "I told you — Lady Luck favours me tonight."
Suingi stepped forward, datapad in hand, as Haoxuan, still reeling, begrudgingly signed the contract, committing to a 200% increase in arcanite engine production.
Nohrell bounced in her seat, revelling in her victory. "Well, that was fun~!"
Suddenly, the glass walls shattered.
Three kunai whizzed through the air, hurtling toward Nohrell.
Suingi reacted instantly, shielding her with his body as his energy barrier flared to life.