'What is the most important thing in a person's life?'
Aldrich had thought about this question and studied it many tis from a philosophical point of view. Love, family, knowledge, and wealth were the topmost answers to this question. And to say that there was only one answer would be a state of denial. These answers could have been right only before the Night.
A few minutes before
Aldrich put on his mask and made his way towards the main gate of ADA's HQ.
He hadn't known about the event that involved International Drears until he ca out of the Lab after 4 days of work. Aldrich couldn't find any better opportunity than this one to make an acquaintance with his colleagues. So as soon as he could, he ca to the city and waited for the event to be over.
Aldrich had given a casual glance over the issues related to him that ADA and other top Guilds had circulated. He had given no second thought to sothing like this. Or it would be better to say he had never needed to think twice about these things with Mr. Edwin at his service. But things had changed since those days of normalcy. There were definite goals that Mr. Edwin couldn't accomplish in place of Aldrich.
But the idea of getting into a scuffle every ti he was to enter a Dungeon even during the Bright Day troubled Aldrich. With worldwide orders of apprehending him on the spot, it would be that much difficult for him to get along with his routine, harming no one. And Aldrich had analyzed that he couldn't work as the Black Hand too. The infamous group worked on the principle of obtaining information and leveraging it for their advantage. Aldrich could do the entire work of the large group of well-established spy networks all by himself, in a matter of hours.
And why work in the dark, when one could work in the light.
Aldrich entered the main door of the Arican Drear Association like any regular employee. He had a blue jacket with a black t-shirt under it. Aldrich wasn't that tall, but the blue jeans on his slim legs made him look taller than his actual height. He had a paper bag in his hand, but who would notice these things about him. All security agents posted at the main door had focused their eyes on his mask and mask alone. By the ti their brain could process the bizarreness of the situation, Aldrich had already entered the door.
Aldrich saw a long path around 300 ters long, with a small fountain in the middle. The path diverted into many other small pathways at the end, with each going to one or another departnt of ADA. The small pathway that extended straight went to the Hall in which the Drears had gathered after the completion of the event. Aldrich had reached the fountain before getting surrounded by hundreds of ard Security Agents.
One agent, who seed to be the chief in charge, approached Aldrich.
"Masked nace, are you here to surrender? Put off your mask and get down on the ground with your hands behind your back."
Aldrich eyed the weapons, and with a gentle stream of Divine Sense, analyzed its components. It almost looked like a forceful way to conjoin the Mana cores with the current technology.
The most basic application he could compare it to was the act of gluing two materials. Instead of making an alloy and getting the best properties out of them. The value of lting and mixing materials for better use was discovered in ancient tis. And the Night had brought back Humanity to their first step.
Aldrich saw the Drears coming out of the building straight ahead. Most were of Rare Rank, and so were of Common. He identified so familiar faces, but the light red-haired lady had caught most of his attention. He also saw a lady in a red one-piece approaching him with large strides. Aldrich had known of her. She was none other than Ms. Olivia Wells, the new director of ADA.
"Ma'am, you shouldn't go near him. We can't guarantee your safety near a Drear like him."
Aldrich heard the high-level agent's warning and saw Olivia turning around to look at the mass of the best Drears around the world. That must have given her so confidence as she made her way through the rows of security agents, anyway. Aldrich looked directly into her eyes as she said to him.
"Co with ."
"But...," a look from her cut the agent's words short.
Aldrich felt surprised hearing her words and a slight smile surfaced on his face. He couldn't help but think that the ADA's future looked bright with a cool-headed director like her. He got to know that Ms. Wells was trying to take him away from the non-Drears towards the key party that could handle him.
Aldrich followed her and found himself surrounded again. But this ti, those who had surrounded him were all the veterans and powerful Drears. Aldrich saw the look of disgust, felt the thoughts of killing, and heard the pounding of hearts.
Olivia turned around, now standing just beside Dr. Annie, and asked.
"Why are you here?"
"I am here to apply for a new Guild."
Simple question and a quick answer. But the people involved weren't simple at all. A brief silence followed Aldrich's words and the first laugh from a Drear shattered this silence.
"Hahaha. "
The small laugh of mockery and derision followed by many other ones. But so weren't laughing, and their faces were becoming grave second by second. There was a deep frown on Annie's and Olivia's faces. And even Tomiko's face had lost its icy beauty, rembering her master's warning regarding the Masked nace.
"You are a fool to even think that you can leave this place alive."
A bearded Indian man ca out from the group of Drears. The sheer redness in his eyes could only slightly show the hate brimming out of them. There was a pair of Katars in his hands. Aldrich had also known of him. He was the Guild leader of the guild to which Sonu had belonged.
Aldrich saw all hands around him reaching into the void and taking out one Item or another. Items emanating the aura of power and might had flooded the area around Aldrich. Aldrich's eyes even caught the slim vines breaking out from the floor, but seed to be held back by their user. He looked at Annie and took a step.
"ATTACK!!!"
One drear shouted and, like being controlled by an unseen string, all of them almost lunged at Aldrich. But none could move even an inch from their place. An imasurable pressure had squeezed their chest, making their lungs empty of air. Their brain vibrated like being hit by a boxer's punch. The primal fear of being devoured by their natural predator took over their consciousness. All knees buckled under the ethereal influence, including Annie's.
INTIMIDATION
By the ti the kneeled Drears could move their heads, Aldrich had already vanished. They all looked up and saw the Masked nace seated on the edge of the rooftop with his feet dangling down, like a child on a swing. The paper bag in his hands finally revealed its mystery.
Aldrich's hand reached into the bag and took out the burger and a cold drink. He took a bite and looked at the Drears, who were shivering in fear.
Only undisputed Strength had the right to enjoy freedom. And only Strength was the most important in the world of RECORD.
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