Inside of an abnormally wide and tall underground space that had a layout similar to that of a subway station, several members from Josephine Wong’s team - Nameless, Pei, Vivian were standing in front of a sealed off stone gate, along with a man in cloak and only One Eye - the human form of Tze Cha, the last of the dreaded Omen Dragons.
“This is the place, I can feel it.” Tze Cha tried to remain calm, cool and collected, but his glowing eye and grin revealed that he was beyond excited: “Now, don’t mind me, I am going to go in and take a look. Feels like - what do you humans call it, a buffet?”
“Just wait, Tze Cha, we have yet to confirm this is the other site.” Nameless had a bronze-colored zen staff in his hand and he blocked Tze Cha’s way with it: “This could be just a site of clustered malice, we must not act unless we are certain.”
“And if it is just another site with clustered malice, it would be under the jurisdiction of the Division, which means we will be the ones taking care of it.” Pei said while holding a metal mirror and a wooden sword in her hand and was standing along with Nameless and Vivian, between Tze Cha and two tech and magical signature analyst agents who were doing some final analysis of the surrounding area: “And we should send someone in to scout it first, unless Tze Cha you are willing to do it without causing any damages to the site.”
“Don’t you dare insult my intelligence with this poor shit of an excuse.” Tze Cha pushed Nameless’ zen staff away and walked up to the stone gate: “You think I’m going to let you go in first in the name of trying to confirm what we already know? Your petty human bureaucracy couldn’t mean less to me.”
“Are you really willing to breach the clear terms of our agreement? ” Vivian had both her hands on her daggers and asked with her eyes narrowed: “We swore with True Words.”
“What if I am?” Tze Cha’s voice grew colder.
“Then you will be endangering the line of Omen Dragons, just because you can’t keep your claws off some snacks on the table.” a familiar voice came from the shadows, and into the light came Jianmen and Josephine Wong: “Don’t be that dragon, Tze Cha.”
“Yu.” Tze Cha’s hands clenched up into claws, and two small explosion of energy waves pushed his sleeves up: “I thought you would have already retired after throwing your back out during your last battle.”
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
“Seriously, you? Making an old man joke?” Jianmen chuckled and walked up to Nameless, Pei and Vivian, who all gently bowed to him and Josephine Wong at the same time. “Just tell us, Tze Cha, why are you so eager to feed? And on malice of this kind of intensity no less?”
Tze Cha stared at Jianmen and Josephine Wong for a short moment, then asked: “How did you teleport here without me noticing?”
“Maybe I didn’t throw my back out.” Jianmen smiled and said: “And I’ve heard about your deal. I think it would be completely reasonable for them to try to scout this place first to make sure that this is indeed a site you’re looking for. If not, then what you’re gonna do is just pure desecration of some poor souls’ memories.”
“You can drop the pretence of trying to be fair. You can just tell me that you are on her side, as you were in that realm of which I was unjustifiably forced out. And I still carry the scar with me today.” the energy concentrated on Tze Cha’s hands intensified, black sparks shot out from his hands like some kind of dark lightning, and an energy storm was about to form around him.
“You shouldn’t worry, because I came with a proposal, and I think it would be relatively fair to both sides, without us having to resort to fighting and breaking our contract.” Josephine Wong shook her head and said: “You come with us, we go scouting in there together. If we find evidence that this is indeed one of the sites left by the one who left that relic, then we honor our deal.”
“And if it is not?”
“Then we will take over, but we will still pay you for all your trouble, how about that?” Josephine Wong said.
“I doubt you have something that could even be remotely of value to me.” Tze Cha’s stance became loose, as he turned down the energy around his hands.
“How about the secret substance that made it possible for me to stand here and face you?” Jianmen asked with a smile.
Tze Cha’s only eye lit up, then he scanned Jianmen from head to toe and toe to head: “Plus one six standard flasks of Elixir of Clarity.”
“Three standard flasks, and give us thirty days to prepare, and you have a deal.”
“You better keep your word.” Tze Cha retreated from his battle-ready stance and stepped to the side: “I will come with you. But you have to get out, the moment that we can confirm this is the site.”
“You have our word.” Josephine Wong nodded at Nameless, Pei and Vivian.
“Ms. Wong, this Monk would like to request to go with you.” Nameless bowed and said.
“Thank you Nameless, I was just about to ask.” Josephine Wong sighed in relief, then she turned to Pei, Vivian and the other two agents: “Pei, Vivian, I’ll count on you to keep this station safe here. Have you requested backup?”
“Alexander and Blue are trying to locate another potential area. And they will come here when they’re done.” Pei nodded: “Please be careful.”
“Here.” Jianmen gave Pei a wooden coin, bronze coin and three folded paper sigils: “The bronze coin will vibrate if anything unclean is approaching, and the others should help you should you be forced to fight.”
“Are you done? We haven’t got all day.” Tze Cha urged from the side.