Sitting on the booth bench with his arm wrapped around the shoulder of the lady he just captured, Adam quietly observed the entire nightclub using his domain.
"So. Ariel Lupin is it?" Adam could feel her stiffen further at the mention of her real name. Clearly, this was the first time that their identities might have been revealed by someone in such an out of pocket way. Already, he was able to see the assassin girl's mind going into full overdrive, trying to make sense of how the fuck he knew about her identity and just how much did he really know.
He could have played around with her some more but he did not really have the leisure to play with a little girl.
"I must say, this is quite funny. The descendants of Arsene Lupin are working with the descendants of Moriarty. What to call it if not fate?"
Adam spoke while observing the surroundings and scanning the place repeatedly with his domain for any anomaly. He had already noticed and marked down many suspicious activities going on in the club. In fact, he could say that nearly one-tenth of all the people here were part of the supernatural world which was highly suspicious in itself.
It was hard to say whether they were innocent people in the wrong place at the wrong time or in on this hurt for the Sacred artefact. What he could say though was that the people here were definitely going to be unlucky very soon.
"What do you want from me?" In the end, Ariel spoke in a quiet tone, a coy smile present on her face as she leaned into his chest seductively. No matter how anyone looked at it, they simply seemed like a couple who were a bit too close for comfort in a public setting. Nobody liked to witness PDAs when they were not involved in said action.
"Firstly, don't even try to take out that small needle covered in poison. I mean. It wouldn't do shit but it would sure as hell piss me the fuck off."
She immediately froze for a brief instant before flashing him a forced smile and a coy chuckle, "I do not know what you are talking about."
"Heh. You are cute but not cute enough to charm me. I have a literal succubus as a girlfriend you know? Gotta try harder." He leaned forward and muttered in her ears before looking up once again.
"So you are wondering what I want from you, huh? Well, to be honest, just from you? Nothing. Not even your brother really interests me. All of you guys are just bait, merely appetizers for something much, much bigger.
Now then, I will ask you one question and your answer to that question will determine whether I act humanly and try to convince you or simply decide to search through your mind and destroy your spirit, making you a vegetable."
His eye-covered patch started shining in a soft golden hue and the light leaked even from behind the patch. As though the equipment was barely enough to stop the powers of his eye.
"You see, I had a very short career but in this super short career, I had to face crazy demonic summoning two times. So, I suppose it's no wonder that I slightly, and I mean very slightly, hate anyone who does kind of stupidity."
He grinned but Ariel had the impression that she was a mouse being stared at by a hungry snake, ready to pounce on her at a moment's notice.
"So I will ask— are you guys active participants in this whole summoning bullshit?"
His voice was soft and delicate, as if he was simply asking about the weather and that her answer did not matter in the slightest.
But Ariel knew. It was a kind of instinct. This was not a question she could afford to deflect. Her training made it clear that sometimes, it was necessary to share some information when captured by the enemy forces. Not doing so… would only end up making the situation way worse than it was. And the situation was not really looking bright for her at the moment.
She knew in her heart… right here, right now— she could not afford to lie.
"We are not." She gave a very minimalist answer but it was enough for the intense golden light to vanish and the atmosphere around her to cool down ever so slightly. It didn't cool down completely, she was still at risk. She had a feeling that the next events would influence the rest of her life.
"Heh. How beautiful. I am glad to see that even if you guys might be competitors, you are not enemies that need Death. I will take this into account for our future dealing."
Patting her shoulder, Adam stood up and fixed his suit, "Now why don't you follow us? We have a very cozy additional room booked for us and I am sure it will suit someone of your standing."
"As enticing as this proposal is— I fear my protegee will have to refuse. I believe men and women of marriable age should not spend the night together, you see."
Adam stopped for a short moment before looking at the man who had appeared out of nowhere inside his domain, as though he had manifested out of thin air. This was quite surprising but the surprise lessened greatly when he realized who he was facing and actually how strong this man was.
It was a lanky man with a fashion surprisingly similar to Adam. The man was wearing a black trench coat and a semi-long top hat while holding a cane in his right hand.
He had greying hair on his temples and his posture practically shouted that he was nothing but a slightly older middle-aged man who enjoyed retro fashion.
Obviously, he was anything but ordinary.
"Doctor Moriarty I presume?"
Moriarty had a presence of the likes that few could compare with in Adam's mind and experience. The man was unassuming, but standing here in front of him, Adam had the impression that Moriarty was the centre, the axis, of this entire room.
"The one and only. How is Paris, dear Red Magician? Or should I call you, Adam Kaminari?"
Moriarty smiled when he was called out and took a seat opposite Adam. On the other side of Ariel, Makoto, who had stayed silent all this time slowly unsheathed her blade which prompted Moriarty to raise his hand and place a finger on his lips.
"Young ladies should not bring out their weapons if they are not ready to have it stolen." He chuckled to himself, "Furthermore, as enticing as it would be, I am sadly not here to fight. Only to recuperate an important partner."
"I see." Adam nodded, "We are certainly facing quite the problem, aren't we? I do not wish to bring harm to people here with a fight. So let's do it like this. I want a VIP ticket to your auction."
"Oh? You wish to bargain?"
"You are strong. Even stronger than the two of us I must admit." Adam dipped his head in acknowledgement. "But— you cannot kill me and I am more than fast enough to kill your partner before you attack. So the choice is yours. Her life or a measly VIP ticket to the auction. Seems pretty easy to make."
Silence stretched between them, a tension progressively growing with each second until Moriarty exploded in laughter, "I like your style! Very well. I will conceed this round Adam Kaminari."
Moriarty took out a card and threw it at him before standing up, "Come on dear, we need to go back."
Ariel nodded and stood up before following Moriarty.
"Oh. One last thing Doctor Moriarty."
Moriarty stopped and turned his head ever so slightly to take a look at Adam, "What else?" He smiled but it was clear that he was ready to smash everything and everyone here if Adam decided to push his luck.
"My name is not Kaminari. I am— Adam Gospel. No more, no less."
The two men, one young and one old gazed at each other, their eyes filled with calculating light as they judged their existences and significance. In the end, Moriarty seemed to like what he had seen as he gave a more genuine smile and took off his hat before giving a deep and dramatic bow.
"Adam Gospel, the Red Magician. I… will remember you."
At those words, Moriarty vanished alongside Ariel as if they had never existed in the first place. Only grey smoke and heavy fog were the testament to their presence.
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