Chapter 207: Road Of ckmail
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[Kiera, Jake, Sarah, Evan, Hiro, and Leo are alive. A few more of their members as well, but the rest are all dead.]
Emir heard Lyra''s report echo through his mind as he put on the NeuroLink headset, still lying down in bed.
[You think she''ll me me?]
[...No, she''s smarter than that.]
He let out a chuckle and said:
"NeuroLink Activate."
His eyes, which had previously seen the world''s reflection through the headset, now showed a white space with several menu-like options on the side.
Emir''s body was no longer physically active; his neuralwork was linked with the headset, disabling his body''s activities.
His body, an ''Icon'' in the digital realm clicked on an image that dropped down a list of others. Thest option wasbeled ''Link Invite.''
[Lyra, send the code.]
[Done.]
Emir''s brain was flooded with a series of numbers, letters, and symbols that he transferred to the link invite box.
And soon, his vision changed to that of a dark room.
He easily adjusted to the transfer, only feeling slightly disorientated.
''Where are you, Auric....''
Emir silently nced around, attempting to identify the space before him.
But the host of this ce had seemingly disabled his abilities.
Meaning that even his night vision, which he had grown reliant on, wasn''t transferred over to this metaphysical world.
In his struggle to make out his surroundings, he spotted several long table-like structures ced all around him.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
An opening was left right in front of him.
An invitation for him to walk through.
''Sure.''
His feet moved across the floor, epting the invite.
''A podium?''
His eyes soon spotted what appeared to be a wooden stand, smack dab in the middle of the
room.
Emir then walked closer, his every step careful as he approached it.
After a soft step onto the podium, a sound announced itself.
Click!
His back was locked in ce as he felt a cold metal surround the structure he stood on.
''So they don''t have their abilities either....''
Emir quickly came to the realization, understanding their need for high-security measures. sh!
A sudden, blinding light materialized right above him, reminiscent of a spotlight in a grand stage show.
''Or maybe they like a theatrical ir to everything they do.''
He inwardly scoffed, rebutting his previous thought.
Emir knew that entertainment came first to most of them.
After all, those who led long lives needed something to spice it up.
''Let''s greet them first...''
Now, with the light above him, he could discern his surroundings more clearly.
Around him stood the outlines of four men, their features just visible.
Each side nking the podium held the leader of an Elite family, distinguished by unique
characteristics he recognized from the novel.
Turning left, he bowed respectfully and spoke:
"Lord Auric of the Goldleaf."
Facing forward, he addressed a fiery-haired man with broad shoulders:
"Lord Ignatius of the ckwood."
To his right, a man with long gray hair and delicate features:
"Lord Eldritch of the Moonscribe."
And then finally...
Emir turned to his back.
He spoke a name not supposed to be known by anyone except the Elite:
"Lord Isidore of the Ebonfyre."
The ck-haired man, shorter than most, acknowledged him with a nod.
"Thank you all for epting my invitation to talk."
Emir added as he bowed deeper, his hand near his second heart.
A show of respect.
Then a friendly but serious voice came from what was once his left and now his right:
"I have done as you asked, chosen one... Now, might you tell us what you gathered us here
for?"
"Yeah! What the fuck do you want, you pipsqueak?" Ignatius said, his tone as wild as his red
hair.
"Why do you know of Isidore''s name?" Asked Eldritch, his voice as soft as his son.
"..." The man himself sat quietly, appearing to enjoy the ongoing event.
''The novel didn''t lie about their surface personalities, at least...''
"Please. Show me respect as I do to you, Lords. And I shall answer you now...."
"Regarding my knowing of Isidore''s name, I am the chosen one, am I not? Then isn''t it obvious how?"
A hard m resounded at Emir''s left, and soon came Ignatius''s booming voice:
"Who cares about that?! I asked you, what the fuck do you want?!"
Emir let out a sigh.
"...There''s no need for such theatrics, Lord of the ckwood. I know you to be a good-hearted man, so I believe that such a front is unneeded."
||||
After a long period of silence, Ignatius''sugh echoed through the space, shaking Emir''s
eardrums to the core.
"Ugh..."
''Fucker''s about to pop my ears.''
"....Lord."
Ignatius understood Emir''s call and quietened hisugh.
"You''re way more interesting than I thought, young man... Isidore should get a team upgrade
soon!"
Emir let out a chuckle and said:
"That''s fine. Even with the Lord''s best, getting past Amanda''s barriers would be an obsolete
task."
"Lyra you mean? Your AIpanion?" Eldritch asked quietly.
"...Yes, Lord. I believe you asking Isidore would confirm it, as he has long since known about
her. Same for Lord Auric."
"True." Auric added from the side.
"..."
Isidore remained quiet as usual, creepily locking eyes with Emir.
Emir shook his head and turned around, his gaze sweeping over the rest until he stopped at
the Moonscribe''s head.
"I havee here today to ask you all a simple thing...."
"A court retrial for the injustice that chanced my family a few days back."
".... You think I''m responsible?"
''This guy asks a lot of questions, doesn''t he?''
Emir scoffed at Eldritch.
"Who else but you, Lord?" "Having not involved yourself doesn''t distance you from the crime that urred right under
your nose."
"Corruption to the highest degree."
"Not even ounting for the fact that your son was kicked out... No longer considered
family."
Eldritch raised his hand, subtlymanding Emir to pause.
"I''ve nothing to say over what transpired."
"....However! I shall vote for the retrial, not just to mend my family''s mistakes but to also
thank you for taking care of my son."
''So he wants me to owe him to make sure that I take care of Elijah, huh....''
''Don''t worry, mate. He''ll be useful; I''ll train him well.'' He inwardly added with a snicker.
"I thank you, Lord." Emir said with a small bow.
After pping his hands twice, the Moonscribe''s head said:
"For those in agreement, say aye!"
|| ||
11
No one responded.
''As expected, I have to show my cards early.''
"My lords, I havee here today not only to ask you but to also warn you."
A loud cackle resounded as Ignatius spoke:
"And what might that be, young man?"
"Some in this room aren''t loyal to UEF, and I have evidence to prove it." Emir answered.
Bang!
Both Ignatius and Auric smashed their hands down on their tables.
"WE''VE GOT TRAITORS?!"
"Quite now! Don''t talk any further!"
''It isn''t about the bomb, money bags, don''t worry.''
Emir aired the baffled lord and greedy piggy bank and then looked back at Eldritch.
"...Are you threatening us, boy?"
"A threat? No... Just a piece of advice. If you all want to continue operating, then I must
inform you of the consequences of this event."
"WHO IS THE FUCKING TRAITOR, EMIR?!"
"I SAID STOP-"
Both of their voices were immediately snuffed out as the quiet man, Isidore, stood up from
his seat.
He then spoke, his voice low and dangerous, like a snake dripping with the most dangerous of
venoms:
"Quiet."
Auric, Ignatius, and Eldritch scoffed, rxing in their seats.
Emir turned towards him.
"What do you think, Lord Isidore? Doesn''t the saying, you can''t have your cake and eat it too,
fit this situation quite nicely?"
"Quiet."
After letting out a soft chuckle, Emir shrugged his shoulders.
"Sure."
"Answer only when you are spoken to."
"Yes, Lord."
"Dirtyundry shouldn''t be publicly aired out, don''t you think?"
"Unless necessary, yes, Lord."
"The fact that my friend Ignatius had yet to know of any traitors shows something, does it
not?"
"It shows that the Elite and the UEF work under a very delicate bnce and that a single wild knot like me could turn Earth upside down."
"Right... It''s really unfortunate that you''re smart; I never wished that my reports were wrong
before today."
"I have pride in myself, Lord."
''Too bad for you and your bastard child, my friend....''
"State your threat."
"As I said, Lord, I consider it advice-"
"Don''t y with me, boy! I''ve dealt with many subjects before you... Don''t think that you''re
special!"
"But I am Lord... and you know that."
Isidore chuckled.
"...But the others don''t, especially you, Ignatius; this big guy in front of you knows of
something that you didn''t in the many years you stood as head!"
"A FUCKING EMBARRASSMENT!"
The scolded man stomped hard on the ground and stood up to defend himself, but Isidore''s
words didn''t stop:
"ALL YOU KNOW OF IS BATTLE! YET LOOK AT YOUR HOUSE! A DISGRACE!"
Isidore walked forward, stepping into the Moonscribe''s domain.
"And you... ELDRITCH!"
"Will you scold your ''elders'' too?" The man asked with a snicker.
"YES, I WILL!"
"You gave this fucker a nuke! I warned you, but you never listened... Now look at where it
brought us."
"He might be lying—"
"You know that he isn''t! Now stay quiet!"
''This guy loves cutting people off.''
Emir inwardlymented while watching Isidore''s silhouette walk past Auric, only leaving
him a tap on his shoulders as he returned to his domain.
"Now I say this for thest time..."
"State your threat!"