"Enigma, do you have any absolutely trustworthy people? The stronger the better." Varian asked with an anxious expression.
"How trustworthy?" Enigma frowned. "Everyone has their own desires. Absolute trust is hard to find.
What's more, the members who joined Shadow Guardians are working for the common ideal, not loyalty."
Varian rubbed his forehead and glanced to his right. Boo kept trying to contact Irene Nial.
No response. Boo even tried to hack and get her location. But it didn't work out.
It was like she turned off her comm.
Boo hacked into Nial family and told him a bad news. The Nial family members tried to contact her, but they couldn't.
They thought she was on an important mission and stopped bothering her.
But Varian should worry. If the information was to be trusted, Sovereign Irene doted on her grandson Han Nial.
It was said that he resembled her deceased son a lot. And everyone knew that her biggest regret was losing her son and husband.
If anyone had the emergency method to contact her, it'd be him.
But to 'get' Han Nial, who was currently on RL-34 planetoid and convince him, Varian needed someone strong.
And trustworthy.
"Trustworthy enough to know about ghost ship and don't act on it." Varian said.
Boo flinched at his words. "B-But master, if a level 8 or level 9 gets inside, they can attack you faster than I can react. It'd be game over."
Enigma's pupils also shrunk at Boo's words. She looked at Varian and shook her head.
"I am telling this a millionth time, aren't I? Don't risk your life."
Varian slammed the armrest of his chair "I tried contacting Han Nial. That bastard is using some communication treasure and abandoned his normal one. I fucking don't know why everyone suddenly abandons comms."
"Important members switch comms during war times. Unless you have a good technocrat protection, there's a danger of being spied on. Then there's also the rare ones like star treasures which are more secure than traditional comms." Enigma explained.
Her reasoning was sound, and he agreed with it. But his frustration wouldn't go away.
"If I get someone's help, then there's risk." Varian stared into Enigma's eyes and said. "But if I do it myself, it's suicide."
His eyes were like torches, burning with an intensity promising to burn down everything in his path.
Enigma silently gasped. She knew that half a billion lives were at stake. But if he took this step, his own life would be at stake.
She wanted to persuade him to take other steps.
Like, post the truth in dark web with evidence. Then army would realize.
Give the information to the leaders of all twenty cluster cities. They could arrest the officers.
Do this, do that.
But even she couldn't convince herself that these solutions would work.
The information in dark web would be seen by Shadow Order and the attacks would happen before authorities could respond.
The cluster cities' leaders were all level 9. They had the strength to stop these officers. In fact, in the entire city, only they had the strength.
It's precisely because of this reason that Enigma knew there were spies in and around the city leaders.
Their movements would be monitored, analyzed and predicted. If their behavior deviated from the original trajectory, then abyssals would realize that they were exposed.
If such a thing happens, it'd trigger the traitors to do the deed.
Enigma knew it. Varian knew it. That's why, even if she wanted to persuade him out of this risk, she couldn't.
"I have one person you might be able to trust." Enigma leaned back in her chair and sighed as if she was drained out of strength.
'Sia will be very mad. Even if it's with someone trustworthy, it's ultimately dangerous. Argh, Varian, I really want to kick you now.' She thought as her deadpan eyes stared at his relieved face.
"Who is it?" Varian asked. Thankfully, he didn't know Enigma's inner thoughts.
As for her deadpan eyes and stare…wasn't she always like that?
Thankfully, Enigma didn't know his thoughts as well.
Or she'd hold a grudge.
She was complimented that her eyes were very expressive. How many complimented?
…Sia and Blue Flash.
"Enigma?"
Enigma snapped out of her daze and answered. "I'll give you his address. He's a person you know."
"Huh?"
*** *** ***
In a run down bar in the slums of Valos, a bald man was laying on floor surrounded by a bunch of swords.
His eyes were closed, and he tried hard to sleep. But no matter how hard he tried, images of a smiling woman flashed in his mind.
The otherwise slender beauty had a slightly big belly. It didn't take away any of her grace, and with the growing maternal radiance each day, she was like a goddess.
His goddess, Elaine. In his dark sky, she's the glowing moon.
Elaine hugged his arm and whispered. "What do you think she'll become?"
He carefully wrapped his arm around her and answered. "I don't know."
"Don't you have any dreams for our daughter?" She pinched his cheeks and snorted.
He chuckled and tapped her nose lightly. "Her life is hers to dream. I just want her to be safe."
"An overprotective level 8 father. Yep, yep." Elaine giggled.
"An overprotective husband too." He kissed her forehead and looked into her eyes.
"Well…" She glanced up at him and he leaned down.
Right when their lips were about to touch, her comm rang and she stood up. Looking at his frustrated face, she kissed him on the cheek. "I'm going."
"Do you really have to go? It's a three week journey…" He lowered his head and muttered. If it wasn't for the mission he absolutely needed to participate, he'd have gone with her.
Elaine hugged him into her bosom and said. "It's a presentation I worked on for two years. I want to be a good role model for our daughter. So…"
"I know. I know." He hugged her with carefully and said. "Both of you, be safe."
"Of course. Pluto is pretty safe. I'll be back soon."
"Elaine!" His eyes snapped open and he quickly searched for her.
Like always, he couldn't find her. The only place she resided was in memories. Beautiful memories that turned tragic.
Covering his face, he muttered. "I'll avenge you."
Knock. Knock.
"Huh?" The bald man grabbed a spear and approached the door. His senses indicated only a single person stood outside the door and by the aura was emitting, he was only level 6.
But it's precisely because of this that he felt even more threatened.
Valos city was under marital law. How could a level 6 roam free and more importantly, why would a level 6 come to this poverty stricken area of all places?
Was it a member of Shadow Guardians? Unlikely. They would first send a message and then meet.
Was it Violet? Or some others from the Athena agents?
'After cooperating with us, do they want to betray now?'
His train of wild thoughts was broken by the knocking sound.
Knock. Knock.
Despite knowing the risk, he went ahead and opened the door.
A familiar handsome face smiled at him as the young man waved.. "Been a long time, tutor."