In the outer region of the city.

  Arriving at the destinations, Gilius was rather late to the meeting place. Looking up, was used to be a church. Rather than a church it was a temple that worshipped the light. There was only one religion for the Avalonians and that was to the light. So many of the structures were now formed to represent the light with a star. All were controlled by the state, so there wouldn’t be any branches of them. Though despite such changes, they follow in a similar format to how most religions worship a single god. But instead of a God it's more akin to a being.

  Arriving in a temple, there was a confession room as Gilius walked in. But rather than a priest next to him, it was a rather strange masked man.

  “Oh I need to confess my sins. I think that's how it goes,” Menace said as he was even wearing a long robe to play the part. This act caused Gilius to chuckle as he found it amusing that he would dress up as such.

  “Shouldn’t it be the other way around. Shouldn’t I be confessing?”

  “Like you are here to confess. Out of everyone, you are the one who holds the most secrets. What makes you think you are willing to confess now?” Gilius smiled because despite the fact they were all business, its seem they have reached an understanding beyond that. Menace understood him the most even when they rarely interacted. More than even his comrades, who had worked together for a lot longer. It seems that two people can interact without interacting.

  “Hmm…seems like you know me so well. Is that what we call being friends?”

  “If you tell me your secrets?”

  “Uhm not yet, maybe if everything goes well I will be able to tell you about them.”

  “Hmm that will be the day indeed. But I get that feeling that will never come now, will it.”

  “Haha you really are an interesting person. I can see why our leader likes you so well.” Gilius seemed to think that, despite his careless attitude, Menace was a deep thinker far beyond his usual laidback antics

  “So why did you contact me to come here rather than meeting with the others? It seems like this is a more personal matter.” Menace said as he then got his holoscreen to watch a show.

  “I have a friend. Name is Karma.” Hearing that, Menace then stopped playing around as he grew more curious. “She is currently working under Dr Fausto, who is recently moved in with him with Leonora of Lancelot.”

  “Ho seems like nothing gets by you at all.” Menace was impressed about what Gilius knew already. What he found surprising was that Gilius didn’t know he was Fausto, so it made it hard for him to realise that Karma works under him. This showed that Faust and Fausto had made sure that their identity was well protected.

  “I see so you want me to….” Menace was thinking Gilius wanted him to kill himself aka Fausto. But then Gilius said the unexpected that actually was rather unexpected.

  “No, I want you to protect her while I’m leaving the city.” Gilius said as he then slid a small case. Opening it, Menace then realised what was inside here. It was a blue diamond, a rare sight to see. It was a rather expensive item.

  “Hmmm…why are you so concerned about her that you would pay me a king's ransom to protect a normal girl?” Menace was already doing that, to be frank, but seeing how it was important to him, it was worth asking. He knows she is a shadow dweller, but there seems to be more?

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “I can’t tell you now. But I got word that Leonardo of Lancelot is watching her. I just saw him earlier and he was outside the condo observing Karma’s room.”

  “Ah, so you worried about a stalker. Well, you should call the police. They can help you with that.”

  “Like that is a problem. I know when the order gets one of its members to observe us, it’s a big deal. But in the case that she does something unexpected or gets in trouble with them….I want you to rescue her…” Hearing that Faust was now increasingly intrigued by his overprotection of her.

  “Are you telling me the worst case? I will be forced to fight against the order. The entire order. Just for her?? Let's not forget that if I were to abandon the mission, your people would probably try to kill me as well.”

  “Please…. you are the only man I trust with this mission. We are in the final process of the mission. I can’t be distracted now.” Gilius was showing a lot more concern as he then handed a letter to Menace. Even if Menace was to have to turn on them, Gilius wasn’t willing to care as long as Karma was safe.

  “Hmm a love letter…..” Menace read it and then realised that Gilius was hiding secrets. “I see you did have a secret agenda for this.” Menace then destroyed the paper.

  “Yes, so if you will… please protect her.”

  “Very well. But that means during this time, my terrorist gig is gone. Won’t that be a problem with the mission?” Recalling how he was being attacked and being chased left and right, it was rather annoying to say the least. This was while trying to cover up his identity and constantly working at the hospital. Though he still didn’t understand why they didn’t send a bigger force against him when he had been running amok. It seemed as though they didn’t seem all that concerned.

  “Don’t worry I’ll have that covered,” Gillius said as he then got it all done beforehand. It seemed like Gilius has been pulling more strings than he was giving Menace credit for. "Just keep up with your end of the deal."

  “Very well, this seems interesting enough. I will accept this side job of yours. Anything else?”

  “Just a welcome party when I come back. Maybe a meal sometime or maybe a chance for a game.” Gilius jokes.

  “Hmm…that seems like a date. Though you aren’t in my scope of interest, I will accept it if you pay the bill.” Both seemed to joke around as this was the first time for the two. After all the meetings, this was the first time they were like this.

  “Then I look forward to seeing you next time.” Gilius then left the confession room. Menace then got out, as well as he got rid of his robe. Leaving the premises, Faust then sorted his thoughts together. He was enemies with the Diviners because of what he is doing as Menace. Yet he was also their ally as Dr. Fausto. Looking at the current state, protecting the two was hard. Leonora was incapable of doing anything currently but would be hard for the Diviners not to take notice at her development later on. Also, if the order were to think once that Fausto was trying to use her for his personal gain….well things could turn ugly as he would be attacked by the order. Worse would be Karma, as she was already his demise with the diviner hating shadow dwellers. On the other hand, if he is seen helping Leonora as Dr. Fausto, the Liberties would not be pleased as they would take it as he was siding with the Diviners. If he were doing a mission as Menace but saved Leonora in the process, it would mean that he was a traitor to them as well. Liberties by nature aren’t that strong. But out of respect to the one who recruited him, he prefers that he not create enemies with them.

  This meant the best way is to strengthen the two so they can protect themselves in case something were to arise so that he wouldn't have to interfere. However, there was no way they could do it in secret. Especially with Leonardo on 24/7 surveillance on Karma. Recently, he has been using more tech to watch over Karma with her being the more reckless one of the two. Also does Leonardo has any shame in what he is doing? Back to focus, this is surprising since Leonora is the most dangerous one. But Karma is more willing to use her powers in the open. The reason why Karma wasn’t taught to train outside the city, is because he is afraid that she would be reckless with her ability. At the same time, it was concerning as training in the city is more noticeable. There was no way to train her without being noticed. And if he takes the two away in secret, this will make Leonardo more suspicious. Meaning there is only one thing to do to get the maximum benefit he could possibly imagine. Ignoring how Fausto would react, he had to make the call.

  “Seems like I will finally enter the palace!! This should be rather exciting. Guess I can finally go to a resort.” He then got his screen out as he changed his appearance to Faust. “Hello yes I would like to meet with Leo of Lancelot. Yes, I wish to meet him right now.”

  “Faust, don't you think it's dangerous to go to the lion's den?” Fausto, however, already figured it out as he was thinking the same thing.

  “Right now, even with your identity, it won’t be enough to protect them. Though the order doesn’t interfere with you, they can still prove a threat if you do things beyond their approval. Even if Leonora is not legitimately part of the order she is still under their control.”

  “True but won’t we expose Karma as well.”

  “Don’t worry, the most secure place is the most dangerous place.” Faust smiled.

  “Oh boy I don’t like the sound of this.” Fausto said as he was already getting a headache. Even though he's in the subconscious.

  “Don’t worry it will be a great idea!!” Which could only mean it is a bad idea…. "Guess my prayers has been answered too." Thinking about what Gilius wanted and what Faust needed, it was a chocie too good to pass on.