"Looks like you really want to die." Enigma said in a dry tone.
"…" Varian looked at her indifferent eyes with silence. For some reason, he felt her words had some truth to them.
Was this the infamous 'courting death?'
"I'm dead for the public, and the Sovereigns. And of course, for Kreo and Julius." Varian shrugged at Enigma's hologram.
Her mask only showed her eyes…dazzling eyes that shone with three colors. Those eyes were fixated on him as they awaited his response.
"I intend to stay dead. Or they'd probably send level 8s after me."
"Fair enough. But…" Enigma snapped her fingers and a tri-color throne appeared behind her.
She sat on it gracefully and crossed her legs. Resting her chin on her hand placed on the arm rest, she asked. "Why should I take you in?"
The air quietened down.
'Master! The aura! The aura is fluctuating wildly!' Boo screamed. Following Enigma's words, the aura skyrocketed. Boo almost drove away the ghost ship.
At the moment, the ghost ship was a few miles above Enigma's residence, yet Boo was scared shitless.
But it had all the reasons in the world.
If a high awakener were to observe, they'd realize that all the aura in the surroundings was gathering towards one place high in the sky.
It was gathering towards the ghost ship which was supposed to be invisible and undetectable!
"You almost got my position right." Varian's expression didn't change much.
Enigma had a reputation for her strangeness.
Abyss Will couldn't detect her.
Not even Sovereigns could capture her.
Her strength used to be level 7s, but it quickly reached level 8. Not just that, it was actually at the peak of level 8 now!
Varian didn't know much about Hybrids, but he felt that no hybrid could replicate Enigma's feats.
"Why should you take me in, huh?" Varian repeated her words and looked at Enigma on her throne. She stared at him with cold eyes.
Varian snapped his fingers and a throne appeared behind him. Its grandeur was only greater than Enigma's.
Varian sat on his throne and assumed the same posture as Enigma—crossing his legs and propping his head with his hand.
"Because I can help you accomplish your goals much faster." He said in a tone of absolute confidence.
"Don't you want to end the Shadow Order? Don't you want to find out the traitors who are working for Abyssals? Don't you want to nip them in the bud before they become a menace..forget it, they're already a menace."
"So tell me, Enigma. What is the price you are willing to pay to recruit me?" Varian asked with a smile.
"…." Enigma looked at him with indifferent eyes. Varian stared back nonchalantly.
"Good." Enigma nodded. She didn't attack him nor did she get angry.
'Master, the aura has dispersed. She…she was just trying to test you.'
'No shit.' Varian's expression didn't change.
He actually controlled the ghost ship and lowered its altitude.
'Master! Waa! What are you doing? We're in a level 8 range now. She'll find out…wait, never mind.'
Boo shut up after realizing Enigma already knew their position.
Enigma felt a distinct presence in her perception and raised her brow. Her tri-color eyes glowed for a moment before she leaned back in her throne.
"Brave."
Varian simply smiled. She wouldn't attack him anyway. And even if she did, Boo had no problem getting out. Though repeatedly bearing such attacks could break down the ship…
"If you can do what you really said, I am willing to pay a reasonable price to recruit you." Enigma said unhurriedly. "What do you want?"
"Sia." Varian said without thinking.
"Rejected." Enigma also answered without thinking.
Even though he knew it'd be the case, Varian was still slightly disappointed. Shaking his head, he went for the next best option.
"Sia's protection."
"Excuse me?" Enigma stood up and walked up to Varian's hologram.
Her eyes glowed with a dangerous light.
Varian didn't care about her reaction. "I got attacked by Kreo and Julius. What if they attack her next?
Those fuckers used level 7s on me when they thought I was only a level 5. I wouldn't be surprised if they arranged an ambush with level 9s."
Enigma's brows knit together and her voice grew colder. "She lived without you for a year and she was safe."
Varian clenched his fists and asked angrily. "You want me to pin hope on the past records?"
"…You aren't pinning any hopes." Enigma sneered. "You simply don't trust me. You don't think I'll protect Sia when the time comes."
"Yes. Now, we're working together, but I don't know you. If push comes to shov—"
"I will protect Sia with my life." Enigma cut him off and said in an absolute tone. "You don't understand my bond with her, but we're closer than sisters."
Varian was taken aback by her words and the sincerity in them.
What the fuck happened? Did Enigma and Sia already know each other before the Roxanna incident?
No, even then, it'd only be a year old relationship.
Closer than sisters—that's a big claim.
Just how much time and effort would go into nurturing such a bond?
But looking at Enigma who now clenched her fists and stared at him like she'd attack him any second, Varian decided to believe her. For now.
"Fine. I will believe what you said Enigma, but if something happens to her…" Varian's body glowed with impeccable white and black lights. "It's all on you."
"And if she stays safe, it's all on me?" Enigma suddenly asked, catching him off guard.
"Yes?" Varian nodded with a strange expression. Where was this conversation going?
"I'll keep that in mind." Enigma waved her hand and her throne disappeared. With a snap, a token shot towards the ghost ship.
Boo caught it and after a deep scan, presented the token to Varian.
It was a black token in the shape of a large shield. Varian injected his aura into it and it hummed lightly.
In no time, Varian felt a connection between them.
"Sia is busy, but she's safe." Enigma said. "She's mad at the Xanders and wanted to go on a killing spree."
Her cold voice seemed tired for the first time as Enigma sighed. "Finally, I can convince her to not do that."
'…looks like their relationship is better than I thought.'
"Anyway," Enigma looked at him and her eyes narrowed. "Since you joined, you have several choices.
First, you can train here. Though I doubt the resources we have can help you much.
Second, you can learn managing the organization."
Varian rolled his eyes at the option.
"There should be one with missions, right? Gimme a mission." He urged.
Enigma seemed to smile behind her mask. With a flick of her wrist, another object shot up to the ghost ship.
This time, Varian was holding a face mask.
"An 8-star treasure. It can hide your identity and even morph your aura. Unless you're specially checked by level 9s, it'll be fine." She explained.
"….isn't this too precious?" Varian asked in confusion.
"Of course it is." Enigma rolled her eyes. Her voice was now frustrated. "Like you…Sia also wants, no, demands your safety.
She didn't worry much as you're in the academy. But now…anyway, I am giving it to you because of Sia."
Enigma took a moment to compose herself. She didn't speak this much in a whole day, but here she was, doing that in a few minutes.
Looking at Varian, she exhaled.
"Don't die. I don't think I can handle it."
"Huh?"
"The mess that comes with your death. Sia will go crazy. I can't handle it."
"Haha." Varian laughed. Sia still cared about him and he just wanted to see her right away. Though it's impossible, knowing her thoughts made him happy.
Somehow, his laughter annoyed Enigma who was always composed. She tapped her comm and picked a file.
"Here. A kidnapping case from one of the space cities of Uranus Cluster Region."
Enigma's aura pushed out the ghost ship.
"Get out now."
Varian was out of the secret realm shortly.
"What a short-tempered woman, tsk. Sia will never do that…hm, maybe Sarah will beat me, argh, forget it."
Shaking his head, he checked the mission details.
{Location: Valos Space City, Uranus Cluster Region.
Mission: The kidnapping cases have been on a skyrocketing rise. Enormous amounts of wealth is changing hands everyday.
Accidentally, our intel found out the news of a kidnapping plan.
> Prevent the kidnapping or rescue the target.
Preferred strength: Low level 6 to high level 6.}
Varian chuckled.
Just this?
How hard can it be?
What can even go wrong?
…Right?
*** ***
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Correction: This was meant when this chapter was the latest a couple of days ago. It was not meant for today. Apologizes!
(Former message: next chapter will be released in around an hour. )