CHAPTER 35 – HELP NEEDED

JOHNNY WOLVESBANE

In the quiet New Vanilla City, situated just five kilometers from Tasty Town, a marked departure from the turmoil that has plagued the latter as the epicenter of recent acts of terrorism in the empire. New Vanilla City stands out with its robust security infrastructure, overseen by the vigilant Magic Knights of the Imperial Forces, and likely enjoys direct protection from the esteemed Dragon Knight Academy.

Considering these factors, I concluded that it would be the ideal haven for concealing Maggie. Shielded from the prying eyes of the Empire and safeguarded by the reluctance of Neo Arcadia to risk searching for their informants, our presence here remains discreet.

For a month now, Maggie and I have found refuge in a three-story building bequeathed to me by my late aunt Karrie. This sanctuary shields us from the judgmental gaze of our parents, the oppressive atmosphere of our schools, and the extremists who show no regard for human life.

In this tranquil abode, I relish moments like sipping a cold beer on my third-floor balcony, where I can enjoy the view on a wide flat screen TV. Maggie, adorned in a stylish dress and apron, delicately arranges a tray with ice cubes and sliced fruits, creating an ambiance that fosters a sense of spousal intimacy between us.

I clicked the TV remote, tuning in to catch the latest news. On the screen, a distinguished figure with striking crimson dragonoid eyes engaged in conversation with a stout newscaster in his thirties.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I’m Aldrin Fitz, and tonight, we have a special guest with us, Junior Detective Associate Alris Vortigern, who played a pivotal role in uncovering a shocking case involving a doctor in Tasty Town accused of conducting dragonoid experiments and his potential connections to terrorists," announced the newscaster, pausing for emphasis as the camera focused on the young and handsome dragonoid detective. "Detective Vortigern, thank you for joining us," expressed the newscaster with a nod.

"Thank you for having me," responded the junior detective, offering a polite bow and a warm smile.

The newscaster then shifted the conversation, inquiring, "Detective Vortigern, before we delve into the details of this case, could you provide us with some background information? How did the investigation begin, and what led you to Doctor Voltaire?"

In that moment, the image of Doctor Voltaire flashed on the left side of the screen, prompting Maggie's eyes to widen in astonishment. Overwhelmed with fear, she began to tremble, and in response, I gently held her hand, offering reassurance.

The interview proceeded, with the junior detective responding, "Certainly. We began by coordinating with the Tasty Town Magic High School’s student council, which provided us with valuable leads. An anonymous tip about missing dragonoid students linked to the terrorist group Neo Arcadia led us to the school’s doctor, Doctor Pete Voltaire. Subsequently, we orchestrated a specialized operation to apprehend him."

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"You successfully captured him! You're now Tasty Town’s new hero, Junior Detective!" praised the newscaster enthusiastically.

In humble response, Alris deflected the accolades, stating, "Oh, no, no, no, no, no. It was a team effort. I wouldn't have achieved it without the support of the student council president, Hiraya Misteltein," as he introduced the golden blonde elf standing proudly beside him.

In that tense moment, Maggie rose from her seat, her body now covered in a cold sweat, and the unmistakable fear reflected in her crimson eyes. Reacting swiftly, I pressed the power button on the remote to silence the news and immediately moved to comfort her.

"Johnny… Johnny. They are coming for me. First, it was Rene. Then, it was the Doctor. I'm pretty sure the Imperial Forces will be coming for me!" Maggie exclaimed, panic evident in her voice.

I took hold of her shoulder, offering reassurance. "Nobody is coming for you, Maggie. I promise, I will keep you safe," I assured her, enveloping her in a comforting embrace.

"But you don’t understand! That junior detective — he's a traitor to his dragon race! He decided to help the empire just to undermine Neo Arcadia. And the Vice President — I mean, the President of the Student Council. I've heard she was the mastermind behind repelling the Neo Arcadian invasion!" Maggie revealed, her words carrying a sense of urgency and distress.

"So I've heard," I murmured, maintaining the tightness of my embrace. "But so what? You have me. We have the Vesryn Pulse."

"You don't understand," Maggie countered, shaking her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "I saw how Hiraya Misteltein’s squad defeated Rene. There was also information about Alris Vortigern’s use of the Vesryn Pulse from the Neo Arcadian scouts. They are too powerful. We need to meet with Gazelle."

"No, no," I whispered against Maggie's neck. "That will put you in more danger. And what will the leader of the dragonoid group do to me?"

"Gazelle can be trusted, Johnny," Maggie insisted, her face drawing closer, her crimson eyes locking passionately with mine. "He will welcome you to Neo Arcadia with open arms. Race or religion won't matter. As long as you act with justice, you will be accepted. And besides..."

Maggie delicately touched my cheeks and then leaned in, pressing her face forward, sealing the moment with a kiss.

"I will be with you. We will be together, forever," Maggie whispered.

"Maggie."

As we were about to share another kiss, my heightened sense of smell detected something akin to an intense burning of mana. I glanced around, but only our plants adorned the balcony. I shifted my gaze to the darkened skies, where clouds obscured the light of the stars.

However, I could discern a distant star seemingly approaching our direction. With my heightened eyesight, I identified what—or rather, who—was flying towards us. He had wings made of light that propelled him like a jet.

"Lysander Faradeiss," Maggie commented, her teeth gritting.

"You mentioned that he is your classmate, right?" I inquired.

"Yes. And I also saw him kill Rene Volk and his Arctic Dragon with one spell. He's one with Hiraya's," Maggie added, her grip on my hand tightening. "I-Is he coming for me next?"

"I doubt it," I reassured her. Then, I pointed to the bedroom. "Go hide for a minute. I will take care of him."

"Take care, Johnny," Maggie said as she headed to the bedroom.

I observed Lysander landing right in front of my doorstep. Hastily descending the stairs, I reached the ground floor just as three light knocks echoed on my door. Upon opening it, I was met by the silver-haired guy with lifeless blue eyes. I sensed a palpable sense of dread in his aura, and his blood pressure seemed sky-high. Despite this, he managed to offer a smile and a greeting.

"Good evening, Johnny," Lysander said.

"Good evening," I returned. "How can I help you?"

"Help... yes... help," Lysander chuckled, shaking his head as if amused by his own thoughts. "I will not beat around the bush for this one. I really need your help."

"Okay, so... what is it?" I inquired.

Lysander took a deep breath and then leaned in, whispering, "I need you to help me... kill Hiraya Misteltein."