After Spin Bomb told him what had happened on the hill, Okafor paled. He felt a hammer in his chest. Dizzy, he groped around the counter until he sat down in a chair. He pressed his forehead with both hands. He looked at the Happy Prince.

"You're having a great time, aren't you?"

"On the contrary, I've lost my best cameraman in years…"

"Ah! Fuck you, you culture vulture. I've never been convinced by this bullshit about coming here to film animals mating. Don't tell me you were paid to provoke an incident like that on the hill? Holy shit, Happy Prince."

"You offend me. I'll forgive you. I will no longer bother you with my insignificant presence."

"Spoken like a true highrider."

"It would be good if you were all in orbit when Ata comes to exact his revenge. The money has already been transferred by my office."

The influencer left the store without looking back.

Okafor looked at Akachi. He pondered the situation. He hadn't been born on the streets. To run into Chekandino was to sign a death warrant in his own blood. He exhaled the air from his nostrils. He gestured for the boy to come closer.

"Akachi, do you want to go back to Ilu Nla?"

"Yes…"

"Do you want to meet your father again and recover your memories?"

"Yes, that's what I want most!"

"Escape from Chrome Hill before the Central Command crime court catches up with you. Save yourself while there's still time."

The rookie merc felt his heart pounding. A random encounter had thrown everything down the drain. Spin Bomb touched Akachi's shoulder to console him.

"It wasn't his fault, Okafor. I was the one who detonated Chekandino's spleens. He came shooting at us. We had to fight back, otherwise we would have died. Don't you understand? Ata's twin brother is a lunatic. He's a real psychopath. We weren't in the territory of the Fourth Estate!"

"Central Command won't care about that. If they need to take your head or Akachi's on a silver platter, they will. I suggest you run, both of you. Go on, don't waste any more time talking to me."

The pair said goodbye to Okafor. It was after eight in the evening. He closed the store and followed the two chooms up the slope.

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Spin Bomb entered his home in a fluster. She felt that something bad was going to happen at any moment. She grabbed an old backpack and put in a few changes of clothes that her older brother had left behind. She put in some cereal bars and a bottle of water and handed the backpack to Akachi.

"What about you?"

"I'm staying."

"For what reason? You have nothing to gain by staying here."

"It's more complicated than it sounds. You'll have to go without me. Hide until dawn. Then run away."

Spin Bomb pushed Akachi through the house. They reached the living room. To their surprise, there was a guy sitting on one of the sofas. His legs were crossed. His feet moved back and forth, as if he were impatient, although his posture showed apathy. He was holding a pewter javelin in an upright position, with the tip stuck in the ground.

"Are you going somewhere?"

Damn! I didn't see that bastard coming.

"What are you doing here, Yasini?"

"Can't you visit our fellow citizens anymore?"

"Fuck off."

"You always treat people with rude words, you know that?"

Akachi felt a strong presence around Yasini. The Ori Guardian made himself visible to the boy. He recoiled at the sight of Zuber's evil smile.

The spirit floated around the young amnesiac. It was studying his Axé emission. Yasini's ancestor was pleased. There was a great power there to be exploited. A potential that could be harnessed, but wasted in the hands of a boy like that.

"Yasini, look how petrified he is. If he was a real medium, he wouldn't be so scared of me."

"My dear Zuber, not everyone is familiar with your beautiful face. Let the boy relax a bit."

Spin Bomb looked at Akachi, then at Yasini. Without seeing the spirit, he had no way of understanding or participating in the conversation.

"Who is Zuber? Who are you talking about?"

"There's a spirit here, Spin Bomb. Your body is all scarified, like the scaly skin of a crocodile. You're a medium too, aren't you, Yasini?"

"Bingo! Point for you, Akachi. I was looking forward to meeting you, but I confess I'm not impressed. I was hoping for more. I'm sorry to interrupt your vacation, but a curfew has been imposed on Chrome Hill by the Central Command. No one is allowed to leave or enter the slum without our approval. Is that clear? Good, I like that. If you try to escape, I'll kill Spin Bomb. If Spin Bomb escapes, I'll kill you. And if you both run away, I'll kill Okafor."

At that moment, Yasini realized that Akachi had clenched his fists. The concentration of Axé in his body more than doubled. It seemed that the boy was a walking energy plant about to explode with spiritual force. The medium was pleased. He would use him as an asset.

"I have a proposal to get rid of you, Akachi. Join the Central Command. The head of Chrome Hill has set up a negotiation round with Ata. There's no guarantee that he'll be able to calm the predator down."

"Why would Akachi do that, Yasini? I'm the one who blew up Chekandino."

"It doesn't matter, Spin Bomb. Akachi was with you. As for why he gave in, well, I have a good reason. He's a potential medium. He may have been hampered by amnesia, or some other factor. But he certainly has mediumistic abilities. If he decides to accept, I will personally train him. If you refuse, his death will put an end to your search, Akachi. Take it or leave it?"

Akachi lowered his head and leaned against the wall. He hadn't received a tempting offer or anything like that. He was being blackmailed in a humiliating way. Every choice carried risk. He knew that he was being used in a larger power play, and that he couldn't bargain.

He removed his glasses from his face. He grabbed the hem of his shirt and wiped the lenses. A whirlwind of thoughts raced through his head. There was a lot to lose in this game, including his life. However, Yasini's blackmail had an element that could be an advantage. He could learn more about mediumship, about the cult of the ancestors.

"So, Akachi, what's your choice?"