The sound of fast footsteps echoed in a long hallway lit only by dim lights coming from the windows of other buildings. She turned around anxiously as she heard heavy footsteps getting closer and closer.
Her heart beat like a war drum. Imdiately she reached for the gun on her waist, even though he knew she was outnumbered but she would not give up without a fight.
When the footsteps were only two ters behind her, she turned around and released a shot. A loud sound echoed in the quiet alley, but it was misfired because her hand was already held down by the man’s grip.
"Serena Shawn?" strangely there’s no hostility in his voice.
Serena narrowed her eyes "Who are you?"
"Stephan Louis Knoxville," the man answered.
Serena’s eyes bulged in shock "Forr Archknight?"
The man sneers "Who knows if soone can still be called an Archknight without their King?" he mutters in a llow tone but only for a second before his expression turns cold again.
Stephan removed his hand from Serena’s wrist. Serena rubbed her sore wrist, but she was relieved that it wasn’t Dragxtarn, Argus, Paladin, or whatever group that had been chasing her these past few days.
"You are very famous, Miss Shawn" Stephan teased.
Serena rolled her eyes "I know, Lucky ~"
Her sarcastic response implied she still hadn’t lost her guts, which was a good thing because what he was about to ask her wasn’t sothing the faint of heart could do.
"If you want to live, co with " Stephan walked past her without waiting for her answer.
Serena hesitated for a mont but when she looked ahead of her, she saw dozens of n lying on the ground, and blood was flowing from their bodies and creating a pool on the ground.
’Since when?!’
Serena’s breath hitched, she didn’t expect the enemy to be so close and the man finished them off without making a sound. Serena looked closely at the bodies on the ground and she imdiately recognized them by their uniforms... They were Argus!
"Hey, Wait up!" Serena watched Stephen’s receding figure and she imdiately chased after him.
As they left the dark alley, they stopped in front of the black car, Stephan went around the car and the door opened automatically as he approached the driver’s door. Stephan got in and a second later the passenger door opened.
Stephan turned to Serena who stood there with a blank look "What are you waiting for, an invitation?" he quipped.
Serena pursed her lips but didn’t dare to say anything to the man who had killed dozens of Argus Agents without leaving a wrinkle on his suit, nope, she was smarter than that! Serena got into the car but after she sat down, the car didn’t move, Serena then looked at him with a confused look.
"Put on your seatbelt," Stephan reminded her.
"..." Serena pulled the seat belt and put it on over her shoulder without making a single word of complaint. After she fastened the seat belt safely, the car finally drove away at the sa ti, Serena had so many questions in her head.
After fifteen minutes of silence, Serena started to ask, "Why did you save ?" She couldn’t believe it was out of kindness because he didn’t look like that kind of guy.
"Because Luxemborough considered you dangerous, aning you are valuable" Stephan answered calmly with his eyes fixed on the road.
"Valuable?" She frowned.
A sneer tugged at the corner of Stephan’s lips. "Yes, I consider you a valuable asset to , Miss Shawn."
"Does that an I can make you an offer?" Serena tried to figure out how important she was to Stephan.
"Or I can leave you here on the street and let the Dragxtarn pick you up or worse, Paladin. give up Miss Shawn, you know you running out of luck this ti." Stephan chuckles then he turns at her with an arrogant look "You must admit Miss Shawn, you need more than I need you"
Serena scrunched up her face, knowing she was indeed in a losing position here even so, there was no sha in losing to the Archknight. Serena takes a deep breath before she speaks "What do you need from ?"
Stephan was silent for a mont, then his whole deanor turned serious, "It’s about your research on the connection between King Lucient and Nazareth the Black Dragon."
"What does it matter? Nazareth is dead anyway," Serena didn’t understand why it mattered so much, no matter what she found it wouldn’t change what had happened.
"It’s matter!" his voice beca firm, "More than you can imagine, Miss Shawn, which is why they are determined to make sure you die."
Serena couldn’t hide the fear in her eyes even though she tried to look strong. Stephan was amused as she reminded him of another headstrong woman. "Have you ever wondered how a history article could get you into so much trouble that you were forced to live as an exile?"
Serena honestly never understood why her article made her country so angry to the point that they asked Luxemborough help to hunt her down, were they that petty? "Do you know...why they’re doing this to ?"
"You must bla Samuel Akbretch for that" Stephan let out a playful grin.
"Why?" Serena’s lips parted slightly.
"Because he is the one who asked you to conduct research about the mysterious symbol" Stephan glanced aningfully at Serena.
Serena was startled "You an the Seed of Life symbol? WHY?"
"You’ll find out," Stephan said aningfully.
"What do you an?" Serena waited in suspense yet he ignored her.
Stephan turned the car towards a small restaurant that was on a small road.
he parked his car then opened the door and said: "Follow !"
Serena followed Stephan out of the car to enter the small restaurant. The waitress who was serving the guests and so of the visitors who were enjoying their food at the restaurant glanced at Stephan with a knowing look.
Serena realized that everyone in the restaurant was Stephan’s underlings. They then walked towards the kitchen and the chef inside gave a polite nod at Stephan and then pressed the button under his table, soon after the door of the freezer opened and Stephan pulled the heavy door and stepped in.
Serena peeked inside the giant freezer. Actually, the hanging at made her a little uneasy, but Stephan walked calmly to the end of the freezer.
Stephan stood in front of the frozen wall then raised his hand in front of the wall, suddenly a circle of glowing runes appeared on the frozen wall, and not long after a door appeared out on the wall.
"Camouflage spell’ Serena gasped, anwhile, Stephan pressed his palm on the door for a few seconds before the door made a ’click’ sound and then opened.
Serena was amazed by the double security, she thought this place must hide sothing very important.
"Do I need to invite you, Miss Shawn?" Stephan sounds annoyed.
"No, I’m coming!" Serena entered the giant refrigerator in a hurry because Stephan already entered the door without waiting for her.
At that ti Serena was sure that Stephan would close the door if she didn’t follow him soon.
Upon entering the door, Stephan led her down a spiral staircase that led them to a fairly large room with wooden floors and natural stone walls. As soon as she entered the room, the familiar sll of old paper hit her nose.
Serena was amazed to see two-story rooms filled with tall bookshelves and tables filled with parchnts, tablets, and ancient artifacts. but in another part of the room, there were large-screen computers and high-tech machines that he used to determine the age and authenticity of ancient items. This place has even better facilities than her old working place at Dolza.
"Wow..." She couldn’t help but be amazed.
"Behind that door is also a bedroom, a full bathroom, a kitchen, and everything you need to make your life comfortable." Stephen pointed to an inconspicuous door in the corner.
"Should I live here?" she didn’t mind staying here, she just wanted to see how much she could leverage her advantage since Stephan seed to need her quite a bit.
Stephan answered nonchalantly "Or I can arrange a place to stay outside, like a hotel but I can’t guarantee your safety"
’You really won’t let anyone take advantage of you, even the slightest bit, huh?’
Serena had never faced soone as difficult to handle as Stephan, she forced a smile and said: "No, this place is suffice"
"Good, now co with , there’s sothing I need to show you" Stephan beckoned her with his finger for Serena to follow.
Serena rolled her eyes inwardly but didn’t dare to say anything because at this point she had already resigned herself to her fate as Stephan’s subordinate because what other choice did she have? Besides their earlier discussion has trendously incited her curiosity.
Stephan went to the computer with a giant screen attached to the wall after that he pulled the chair and took a seat afterward his hands began to type a series of intricate codes on the keyboard and a second later a picture of a stone carved with a weird symbol appeared on the screen, strangely enough, she recognizes this symbol very well.
Serena’s brow furrowed as she studied the image on the screen. "Although the flower design is a bit different, it is the symbol of the seed of life, where do you get it?" she rembered the stone Garrof and Lloyd had given her to investigate.
Stephan did not imdiately answer and a long minute brought intangible tension causing Serena to hold his breath. Stephan leans at the chair while staring at the screen as he is imrsed in deep thought.
After a long mont Stephan took a deep breath "From Nazareth, or at least what was left of him after he turned into black dust"
Serena’s face turns white as a sheet and her voice quivers "W- what...that...that can’t be..."
"The seed of life - Nazareth - Luxemborough - the S.A.I.N.T. organization - Lucient family, they all connected..." Stephan blue eyes bore into Serena’s "...and you will figure it out, how"
"Oh my...wait, I need... I need to breathe." Serena grabbed a chair and sat before she fainted.
Stephan didn’t care about Serena’s reaction because all his thoughts were focused on the image on the screen. Stephan closed his eyes and his mory brought him back to that day, the horrible day that haunted his dreams.
His arm was grabbed, and suddenly, he was thrown. In a mont of confusion, he heard him shouting, "Stephan, take care of my children, protect them, I trust you! Goodbye, brother." His last smile was warm and gentle, as he always rembered.
Stephan’s eyes widened in horror as the fire consud his best friend "MARCUS!"
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