Chapter 12
All for the sake of harmony
a bewildered Ken looks at Daxia.
~why would you want to join us? that's the dumbest thing to do as a bounty hunter. ~
Daxia smiles and leans back in her chair and crosses her arms.
- true, if I was a normal bounty hunter but you know I am not besides I have a few reasons to join you -
Ken looks at Daxia skeptically.
he begins to suspect it's a trap, he knows he should've killed her but decides to humor her for now.
~and what are those reasons? ~
Daxia raises her index finger
- first, what do you know about my eyes -
Ken is surprised by the seemingly random question but he wouldn't waste an opportunity to geek about history.
he smiles and begins to pour out all he knows about the evil eyes.
~ the evil eyes are believed to have first emerged somewhere in Asia around 8000 years ago.
many cultures spoke about evil eyes and their mystical powers ranging from vague and broad ideas like causing injuries and causing misfortune to exaggerated abilities such as the ability to steal anything you possess.
such wrong ideas about evil eyes could be attributed to members possessing the eye trying to keep it a secret. however, it is now understood that the evil eye possesses four abilities ~
Ken raises his fist up and opens his fingers one by one as he lists the abilities.
~ 1 enhanced vision: being able to see much further and much smaller objects as well as better ability to track objects with their eyes
2 wider range of vision: being able to see the majority of the electromagnetic wave spectrum including x-rays, gamma rays, and infrared rays as well as being able to see mana the energy that fuels most spells, and the ability to control their range of vision at will choosing what to see and what to ignore
3 the ability to copy any spell they see which is believed to be the result of the previous two abilities
4 finally the ability to focus electromagnetic waves and project them through their eyes.
which is believed to be the cause of the rumors about misfortune and injury as ancient people wouldn't have been able to detect the radiation and thus it would appear to them as though the person just got sick and died.
for their powerful abilities, evil eye possessors were usually recruited by armies as mercenaries the most famous owner of evil eyes in history was liu ch'ung governor of Shansi from ancient Chyna -
Saiko blinks repeatedly surprised then claps for Ken and smiles
_ wow how do you memorize all that a clap and a half to you_
Daxia's lips curl up
- you really are a freak you know? your mind is not human, but back to my point while the abilities of the eyes are correct, the entire history of it is wrong. our eyes are not the evil eyes from history but everyone in the world thinks that -
Ken looks at her skeptical still.
~ are you sure you are not just mad about the name evil eyes I mean they look like evil eyes and have the abilities of evil eyes so maybe just maybe they are just evil eyes -
Daxia looks upset
- what? you are the history is fake guy why do you think this one is correct -
ken shrugs
~ hey I am always skeptical I am skeptical of history but I am also skeptical of claims made about it why do you think it's false ~
- because our eyes aren't 8000 years old I don't know if an evil eye existed in the past but our eyes aren't even 2000 years old.-
Daxia exclaims looking riled up.
-an ancient ancestor of ours who was jealous of the elves' abilities to use more than one type of magic used his organic magic to create the eyes for himself and changed his DNA so it can be inherited, he named the eyes Tàiyáng zhī yǎn which means eyes of the sun to be an opposite to the elves who are always associated with the moon -
Ken's lips twitch in excitement
~ if what you are saying is correct and I am not saying I already believe but if you are correct, it means the history of an entire clan was entirely made up ~
Daxia adds
- or linked to something that it's not. -
she continues her expression getting more and more agitated as she recalls the hardships her family suffered from it.
-my family has suffered from this connection for ages. we are feared. we have a reputation for being evil, envious, and disloyal. it was always my dream to clear up my family's name -
Ken chuckles finding the information rather amusing since he has seen firsthand the source of this reputation.
although Ken always brags about being the best bounty hunter, technically speaking, that title should belong to Daxia since she is the one who finished the most missions.
' but being the best is about quality, not quantity ' he reassures himself in his mind
but he has to admit she is a fearsome fighter although they were able to win against her that's only because half the features of the demon sword were made specifically to counter her.
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be it the horns that counter her lightning magic and radiation from her eyes or the sturdy swarm of nanobots, they were made with Daxia in mind knowing she would come after him.
they also had the magic they learned from the labyrinth which was new to her and caused her to be more surprised than he expected.
' if not for all of these, the fight would have been much harder. although I would have still won of course '
he smiles to himself and then looks at Daxia.
~ I mean you are the equivalent of a modern day mercenary. you are a bounty hunter and a damn good one at that so if anything, aren't you proof of the stereotypes it's not like you became a scholar or a doctor ~
- WHAT? I AM BROKE OKAY. I needed money to support my family it's hard to find work when everyone is scared you will bring them misfortune or curse them, we only have a few work options. this is probably the only job where the person would smile when they find out the one, they hired was from the infamous Xia family -
Daxia throws her hand up in frustration before she crosses them and looks away pouting
Saiko punches Ken's arm light before she places a hand on Daxia's shoulder to comfort her.
_ It's oka-
Daxia raises her hand to interrupt Saiko
- it's fine I don't need your comfort what I want is to clear my family's name and prove we are not related to the evil eye but aside from that part I am surprised that you are surprised only a scum person would need a reason to stop the kidnapping and torturing of children that's like comically evil -
at that point, Daxia is startled as she hears a loud voice coming from an empty space in front of her.
- I wouldn't be so sure -
Saiko is shocked by Naoi's words and looks at him wide eyed.
_You know why they are doing this ?_
- of course, I do. I have always been there and I have seen everything and met every heir to the Book of Knowledge -
- THEN TELL US -
Naoi shakes his head
-if I tell you, you might not want to stop them you are not yet ready to know the answer and I want them to stop seeking the book in this way I will however tell you it's all for the sake of harmony so their intention at least is not a bad one, but as your ancestors used to say the road to hell is paved with good intentions -
Naoi looks at Saiko with a gentle smile.
-you remember right, child? evil will tempt you with an easy answer to your problems -
the words of the old man echo in Saiko's mind along with Naoi's words as she recalls his words
' remember Saiko all people are born with good nature however our spirits are drawn to evil, evil is an enchanting mistress, it can be very tempting, and it will offer you an easier and faster solution to your problems, which is why your will must be strong to resist the temptation '
naoi floats closer to Saiko and places a hand on her head patting her head gently with a soft smile
- you must not be tempted child remember that for when the time comes for you to choose -
anger begins to swell within Saiko as she looks at Naoi and recalls her past and the torture she went through.
her mind dwells not on her own misery but on the children.
children that knew not the light of day, that never saw the sun, that knew not a day without pain.
children who at this very moment continue to suffer endless torment.
_HOW CAN YOU SAY THIS? WHAT COULD POSSIBLY EXCUSE THIS ?_
Naoi shakes his head
- when the time comes you shall know but you need to be ready for it -
Daxia coughs and interrupts the conversation
- so, what's your next move -
not wanting to deal with whatever the invisible ghost is talking about, Daxia tries redirecting the conversation to a more grounded level, although what the ghost said concerns her fighting over it will lead nowhere.
besides angering the invisible ghost is probably a terrible idea.
from what Ken and Saiko told her the ghost can toy with reality as he wishes.
she doesn't know how Saiko is able to talk to him with no fear like that, she is either an idiot or extremely brave maybe both.
Ken smiles and points at Daxia
~ you will be taking a trip to Koya and we will be your robotic servants from there we will cross the border to kim sangtae. I will add once we do that we should split up if you are seen with us your account will change to a criminal one and everything will become much harder for us ~
Daxia nods agreeing to the idea
- but you have to pay me back I am already struggling with money-
Ken looks at Saiko sideways as his lips curl up into a mischievous smile
Saiko becomes aggravated and looks him dead in the eyes and says
_No, don't even think about it we are not selling decay spells _
Ken's lips curl up even more
~ now who said anything about decay spells you are now an extremely powerful water mage ~
Saiko crosses her arms looking at him
_go on _
~ it doesn't have to be any form of attack spells; water conjuration spells are more than enough it would be great for use in deserts and Daxia would be able to sell them through legal means so ~
Saiko pauses for a moment to think about it.
she sighs finding no reason to refuse this one since it doesn't seem to be dangerous and since her water can think for itself, she can trust that the spells won't be used for anything she doesn't agree to even if she is not around.
_haaaa, all right _
she proceeds to charge Daxia's smart grimoire with multiple water conjuration spells
~ one last thing ~
Ken takes out a watch and gives it to Daxia
~ this will give up access to a private encrypted Aethernet channel right now it only has me, Saiko, and Rin from the Hades store at the bounty hunter town, and now you. consider it our little chat room -
**************
Location: Alfym aether port Egit
Day: 23rd Jan 5027
Daxia takes a deep breath as she walks through the main gates of the aether port followed by Ken and Saiko disguised as two servant robots.
Daxia immediately notices that the Aether port is unusually filled with a large number of police personnel.
after agent 00 lost track of Ken and Saiko following their entry into the temple of Thoth, she heard that the world government ordered an increase in the security for all the cities and aether ports of Egit.
she assumes they are probably hoping to catch Ken and Saiko when they try to leave Egit.
' but that's what the masks are for '
Saiko glances around with her eyes
_ I have a bad feeling about this _
Ken whispers back.
~ it's fine everything is going according to plan so far ~
he then calls Rin
-what do you want I am in the middle of taking a bath-
~ I need you to hack an aether port system for me buddy ~
Ken hears a loud sigh through the call followed by splashing water
- give me a minute -
Daxia makes her way to the reception desk
- how may I help you today miss -
a young black-haired receptionist girl smiles at Daxia
-Daxia, xia Daxia I would like to book a portal to Koya please-
at this moment Ken suddenly hears Rin in his earpiece
-aahh fuck -
multiple portals open all over the port and multiple men wearing the iconic biomechanical armor of the GSTF rush out of them.
on each of their right shoulders, there is a symbol of a golden eagle with strike team 1 written under it and their respective numbers written on the top right corner of their chest.
each of the members is holding a spell rifle which they each point at the trio Ken, Daxia, and Saiko
**************
a couple of minutes earlier
a camera of the Aether port turns to face the people who just entered the port a girl and two servant robots.
an internal sensor that was added recently detects an electromagnetic anomaly.
the camera begins to tune its sensors to different electromagnetic wave frequencies looking for one that's not altered by the anomaly.
when it hits the x-ray range the two robots disappear and the bones of a human and a feline therian appear.
the camera then beams the image through the aetheric filed
**********
Sophia's eyes flicker before her lips curl up into a smile as she receives an image from one of the cameras they had set in the airports throughout Egit
- looks like we caught them you were correct to suspect they will use the illusion masks again -
- of course, they will there's only one place in the world where they can hide from the world government -
- Kim sangtae-
- correct and unless they plan to spend months getting there, they will need to teleport. now tell the team to get ready and teleport there immediately -
Sophia uses technology magic to connect to all the speakers in the team base and relays Claus's orders
- already did -
- techno magic sure is convenient -
- says the guy who has spatial magic. have you ever acutely walked anywhere or carried anything -
- I guess you have a point now please get up -
-why? I quite like my comfy seat -
Sophia smiles as she glances down.
she is sitting on a comfy billow that rests on a 100 kilograms worth of weights which in turn rest on the back of a topless Claus in an off white sweat pants performing a weighted plank
-operator-
Sophia sighs and gets off of Claus
- fine fine sometimes I wonder who you love more me or work -
- of course, you but work is work -
Claus gets up and kisses Sophia on the cheek before going to change
- I will leave their hacker to you -
Sophia smiles at Claus and responds
- leave it to me-