Cursing under my breath, I returned Sebastien Flute's Recurve Bow to the shattered display case.
The guilt of borrowing it without permission weighed heavily on my conscience.
I had failed to stop Jasper, failed to protect the Tower Shard, and failed to even lift a finger against Cyran.
Damn it.
I was still far too weak to even scratch a mber of Quadra.
But I had to ask... was Cyran serious about targeting ?
Or was he being sarcastic?
Surely, I posed no real threat to his organization.
The thought was even more absurd than Jan's density.
Even this scene hadn't been part of the original plot, but then again, neither was this entire situation.
I'd have to tread carefully and gather more information before I could make any definitive conclusions.
With that encounter over, I headed back up to the first floor.
...
...
...
[Paris, The Museum Louvre - First Floor]
The lockdown barrier had been deactivated, the harsh artificial light replaced by the warm glow of the setting sun.
haah...
I realized one good thing about today was the likely lower casualty count than in the original novel.
Many people had died needlessly, and seeing that girl escape death from a demi-human was a small victory.
I had done sothing good for once.
Sothing that didn't benefit directly, for the first ti ever.
As I rushed back towards the bathroom, I retrieved my black duffel bag from the bathroom and made sure not to be seen while making my way towards the side exits of the building.
I knew there was a chance that Jan, Valencia, and Camila were waiting for outside so I'll leave my duffle bag behind one of the garbage bins and I'll retrieve it later on tonight.
Placing the bag I went back in walking towards the central entrance of the building.
Arriving there, the scene that greeted was one of organized chaos.
Police officers sward the area, their flashing lights illuminating the museum's facade.
Among them, I recognized the emblem of the Visionary Syndicate, their mbers clad in their signature dark purple uniforms.
I knew I had to get out of there quickly.
But as I turned to leave, a firm hand landed on my shoulder.
"Not so fast," a voice bood behind , its tone commanding and authoritative.
I turned to face the speaker, my heart sinking as I recognized the man before .
This person stood tall and imposing, his brown hair neatly combed, his green eyes piercing through .
A jagged scar ran down his left cheek, a testant to countless battles fought and won.
A pristine white cape flowed behind him, contrasting sharply with his tailored black suit, a symbol of his power and prestige.
It's Ajax Von Jr. Yves, the leader of the Visionary Syndicate.
***
Ajax's grip tightened on my shoulder, a silent warning to cooperate.
He steered towards a secluded place, away from the prying eyes of the police and the curious stares of his guild mbers.
The air crackled with tension as he released , his piercing gaze fixed on my masked face.
"Explain yourself," he demanded, his voice a low growl.
"How did you get past security? Where were you during the incident?"
I swallowed, trying to keep my voice steady despite the nerves that fluttered in my stomach.
"I... I'm a student," I stamred, my voice slightly higher than usual. "I was separated from my group during the chaos."
Ajax leaned closer, his eyes narrowed. "A student?" he scoffed, his scepticism evident.
"And what were you doing on the bottom floor? That area was closed off?."
Shit... He caught from coming out of there?!
"I-I got lost," I mumbled, cursing myself for my lack of composure.
"I was trying to find my way back to the main entrance."
Ajax's gaze bore into , his eyes unwavering.
"Really?" he put a finger on his chin a hint of disbelief in his voice.
"And you just happened to be wandering around an area... that was closed off due to a security breach?"
He's on to ...
I had to think fast, and co up with a plausible excuse that wouldn't arouse further suspicion.
"I... I was looking for my friends," I stamred, trying to inject a hint of desperation into my voice.
"We got separated during the chaos, and I thought they might have co up here."
Ajax's expression remained sceptical.
"Looking for your friends?" he scoffed.
"In a closed-off section of the museum? That seems a bit...reckless."
Before I could respond, a calm voice interjected from behind . "Boss, it's fine."
I turned to see a tall man with kind eyes and a warm smile.
He placed a reassuring hand on Ajax's shoulder.
"I've analyzed a few of the areas here," he continued, "and it seems this boy has a knack for getting into trouble."
I recognized him instantly, a wave of relief washing over .
It was Dempsey Anette, the vice leader of the Visionary Syndicate.
Dempsey tipped his hat towards , his smile widening.
"I rember you from that ti during the Golden Horizon auction," he said, a hint of amusent in his voice.
"It seems danger follows you wherever you go, huh?"
I nodded sheepishly, scratching the back of my head.
"Yeah, I guess you could say that."
Dempsey chuckled, turning to Ajax with a knowing glint in his eye.
"Turns out this boy was being a little less than truthful earlier, Boss."
"What?"
Ajax's gaze snapped back to , his eyes narrowing into slits.
A wave of pure terror washed over , freezing in place.
I felt like a rabbit caught in the headlights of a speeding truck.
"Hold on," Dempsey interjected, his voice calming the tense atmosphere.
"He helped defeat that monstrous creature alongside those other students we just questioned."
The intensity of Ajax's gaze lessened, the pressure on my shoulders lifting slightly.
"Is that true?"
Ajax asked, his voice still gruff, but a hint of curiosity replacing the earlier hostility.
"Would I ever lie to you?" Dempsey shrugged at him
Ajax sighed, "haah...You could've just said sothing, kid." He waved off dismissively.
"You can go."
I stumbled away, my legs wobbling as I put distance between myself and the formidable leader of the Visionary Syndicate.
"I think my soul almost left my body," I thought, a cold sweat beading on my forehead.
Never again will I lie... Never again... never again...
_________
Authors Notes:
- It's a rare occurrence that Ajax and Dempsey are together when an outbreak happens.
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