"I must find soone," Erik said.
"There is soone you can't find? Really?" Rebecca rembered how Erik had been able to find every single target he laid his eyes upon.
For Rebecca, it was weird knowing he wasn't able to find sothing or soone, but it also ant that the person in question was very strong or very cunning, and that made the young woman unsure on what to do. Was maybe Erik trying to bite more than he could chew?
"There is a limit to what I can do, Rebecca. What I'm chasing is a shadow, a legend," Erik paused.
"Maybe you heard talking about him. His na is Shade. Rumors says he is the leader of the underworld, and I'm confident enough in him being here at Nokisi point."
Rebecca never heard about this guy, Shade. People in Frant were aware of his existence because he was born there, and he started his criminal career there too.
The first gangs he gained control of were from Frant, so it was clear he didn't have the ans he had today to remain hidden.
Erik sighed. "This guy is completely offline. I've scoured the internet and found nothing."
"Then this is the way you found people," Rebecca said.
"Among the many ways." He paused. "I still need so information to start sowhere, right?"
"Indeed. So, what do you need exactly? Keep in mind that, If you didn't find him, I'm not so sure I can help you."
Erik was the most skilled person Rebecca knew regarding these types of missions. If he couldn't find this guy, what could she do?
"I need the Band of Giants' contacts, mostly, and to see if there is soone among you who could have a lead. There must be soone knowing sothing, rumors, whispers, friends. I also need more people."
Erik had the ability to create clones, ensuring that manpower was never an issue for him.
However, the real challenge lay not in the scarcity of helping hands, but in the paucity of information and the dearth of reliable contacts. Erik needed a lead, and he had little ti to scour the city and flood them with his clones.
Rebecca's eyes widened in disbelief, her voice rising slightly with a mix of alarm and incredulity. "Are you crazy? Did you forget about the bounty?"
She leaned forward; her gaze piercing into Erik's, as if trying to search his mind for a reason behind his audacious suggestion.
"My mother will kill you as soon as she sees you," she said. She was absolutely certain about this, knowing well the ruthlessness that her mother could exhibit.
Erik t Rebecca's gaze with a calm, almost unnerving steadiness.
"That unless you vouch for ," he said, his voice smooth, betraying none of the tension that the conversation warranted.
Rebecca's expression hardened, her brows knitting together in a frown that etched the seriousness of the situation deeper into the mont.
She shook her head. "She won't ever listen to . You don't know her."
Many tis Rebecca gave her suggestions, or asked her sothing, and never her mother even listened to her. That was one of the things that frustrated her a lot.
No matter how much Rebecca protested, her mother always disregarded her wishes, whether it was forcing her to witness death, assigning dangerous missions, or enduring long and grueling training sessions.
Her hands were clenched on the table. "Look, you must know the rcenary guild accused to have killed civilians in the slums the sa day and you went to hunt in the slums, right?"
Rebecca's posture stiffened, her defensive instincts instantly flaring up as she interpreted the undertone of the conversation.
"What do you an by this? Are you trying to threaten ?" she asked, her voice laced with a sharp edge of suspicion and caution.
Such encounters weren't foreign to her; she had navigated through a myriad of veiled threats and overt intimidations throughout her life, making her all too familiar with these dynamics.
Her eyes narrowed, scrutinizing Erik's expression for any hint of malice or duplicity.
"Do you think I'm that kind of person?" Erik asked.
"I don't know what kind of person you are."
"There was nothing fake about our friendship, Rebecca. I may have omitted so things, but I never lied. What you t was the real ."
"Whatever," she dismissed with a wave of her hand, her tone a blend of frustration and rage.
"What I'm trying to say is, you know well, that I'm innocent. Yes, lives were taken that day, but let's be clear—they weren't civilians, far from it. And they certainly weren't innocents."
Rebecca's voice trailed off as she paused. "I believe you, but I can't see how this will make a difference."
"Listen," Erik said. "Here, you're presented with an opportunity—not just to track down a re criminal mastermind, but the linchpin of all the nefarious syndicates on this continent. We're talking about the head of the Crystal Cross Gang, among others."
To convince her mother to lend him a hand, he didn't know what else it was. The Fierce Lioness was bound to gain sothing from this, either Shade's or Erik's heads. Well, of course, the second would not be easy.
He paused for a mont, allowing the silence to underscore his next point.
"Just imagine it, the Band of Giants, no—specifically you, standing in the lilight. This could be your mont of glory. Even your mother, with her high standards, would have to acknowledge your achievent, at the very least for this monuntal feat. I'm sure I can pull this off. To find and kill this guy won't be hard, but I need a lead, breadcrumbs at least."
Rebecca thought about it for a second. "Even if I say yes, this doesn't an mom will do as I ask. She may not trust you, and she likely won't."
Erik leaned forward, his eyes locked on Rebecca's. He was calm, and that sold his point better.
"I know that," he said, his voice steady. "But at least we can try. If things beco dangerous, I will simply leave."
Rebecca crossed her arms, her expression a blend of skepticism and concern.
"Yes, with the whole Band of Giants searching for you," she said. Her gaze bore into him, as if trying to gauge whether he fully grasped the danger he was proposing to court.
Erik t her gaze with a slight, defiant grin, an attempt to lighten the mood and perhaps to reassure Rebecca.
"Then let's try to be convincing," he said.
Rebecca sighed. "Why are you searching for this guy, anyway?" She asked. "It's clear you didn't take a quest. Is there a personal reason? I want the truth this ti."
Erik looked at her. He didn't really like to say what he had on his mind, but in the end, he gave up, knowing he had to be honest about his intentions, or Rebecca wouldn't trust him.
"He is the leader of those who kidnapped my father. He is the leader of those who tornted for years, the Crystal Cross Gang. They tried to kill , to kidnap even. He may have not been the one physically trying to do so, but for sure he was involved."
Erik's mind was full of mories, each one like a sharp reminder of the Crystal Cross Gang chasing after him.
He rembered how they broke into his house, searching for the biological supercomputer. That day was scary, showing just how far they'd go to get what they wanted.
But that wasn't the end. The gang kept following him, making him feel unsafe even on the streets he knew well. Being constantly watched and chased made him always look over his shoulder.
The scariest mory was when assassins, sent by the gang, tried to grab him during the Red Palace's outing.
That attack showed just how serious they were about getting him, using skilled killers to capture him.
Every ti he escaped from the Crystal Cross Gang felt like narrowly avoiding death.
Their leader, the one behind all the trouble and attacks, was now right in front of him.
This was more than just another fight; it was about settling scores from the past, making Erik feel the weight of all those close calls and fights coming down to this mont.
Destroying the Crystal Cross Gang partially settled the score, but he wasn't satisfied with only that.
Besides, he wanted to weaken the Blackguards, those behind the ss Erik went through for years.
Rebecca noticed the intense look on Erik's face, a mixture of anger and resolve.
She got it; she had been through similar experiences herself.
Just like Erik, many people had tried to kidnap her, so she understood the deep sense of personal vendetta he felt towards his enemies.
"All right then," She paused and then turned to look at the man beside Erik.
"Mind telling who is this guy now?" she said, turning to June.
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