Stray

Pandorater’s behavior.
I don’t think a mere flat snake has the ability to tell such a lie.
Listen, that Light doesn’t seem to be willing to enter this ‘side’.
I believe he will seek the truth himself.
It’s enough to keep an eye on them for now.”

“Vance.” There was a bit more coldness from the hearty male’s voice.
“You have no right to restrain me.”

“But I can kill you.” Vance answered briskly, licking the corner of his lips.

The gray parrot desperately moved into the shadow of the candlestick, trying to reduce its sense of presence.

“It’s just a trivial curiosity.
I believe you can overcome it,” Vance added softly.
“We have more important things to do, don’t we?”

There was a long silence from the crystal.

“…Although I think it’s unlikely,” the voice sounded again with the same icy tone.
“Are you too deeply influenced by humans? Vance, we all know that the ‘Demon King’ is just a title from humans’ wishful thinking.
It is not our king and does not need the bullshit of loyalty from our group of small characters.
To us, it is just a monster among monsters.”

Vance Talbott did not answer.
He lifted the trembling gray parrot up and drew a virtual circle in the air with his other hand.
A black mantra climbed onto the parrot’s neck, causing it to tremble more severely.

“Shh… good boy.
Don’t be afraid,” he said softly.
“This is just a small guarantee.
If you mention today’s event in any way, it will blow you up into beautiful flowers of blood.
Please keep this in mind.”

He let go of his hand, and the gray parrot fled away from the dark basement, completely forgetting that it had wings.

Meanwhile, the two who was still in the registration office were inexplicably relieved about it.

“I really haven’t seen it.” Nemo touched his nose awkwardly and took his gaze away from Oliver’s face.
“Ann said it could find me.
You see, it’s probably a sup….
Well, you know.
Nothing should happen to it.
Besides, its power is still with me!”

For the first time in Oliver’s life, he came into contact with such an unwilling demon worshipper, or a suspected demon warlock.
He had nothing to say, so he nodded.

“It’s not convenient for me to squeeze through, so hurry up and take a look at the taskbar.” Ann had already collapsed in the corner and threw the small lead cube around her neck in Nemo’s direction.
“Hurry up, so you still have some selection available… Remember to pick the one near Heilam!”

Nemo lightly grabbed the flying piece of metal, dragged Oliver into the crowd, and used the latter as a shield to open the way.
Seeing the two of them coming, the crowd happily let out a gap.
The smile of the female employee remained motionless, as if it was painted on her face.
She took the three lead squares handed over by Nemo, made a gesture, and then three dim black badges suddenly fell into Nemo’s palm.

Nemo couldn’t help but looked down for a few second.
The black badges were heavy, with pros and cons.
There was a living lizard carved on the front size, and a simple magic array on the back, with the holder’s name.
It’s just that the magic array looked gray and didn’t seem like it could be used. 

“All lizards?” he couldn’t help asking aloud.

“Your team’s rating had not been reduced or increased.
This is a tentative comprehensive rating,” the girl said sweetly.
“Please pour your magic power into your black badge and choose your task.”

Nemo squeezed the black badge with a sucking force, but it didn’t help stimulate any magic powers.
The black badge laid quietly between his fingers, unresponsive.

It seemed like his usual state had returned.
Nemo immediately casted a look of help at Oliver.

Oliver touched his black badge with his fingertips, and in the next second, a page-sized light screen appeared in front of them, densely lined with rows of tasks.
New ones would appear from time to time while old ones were removed.

“You can specify the country or city, as well as the task type.” The female employee made no secret about her concern for the two of them.
“Lingua, Franca.
As long as the pronunciation is standard enough.”

“Garland, Heilam.” Oliver cleared his throat.
“Task type… uh, task type…”

“How about looking for people or things?” Nemo said.
“Seems safer.”

“But isn’t there a task limit for the Advance Black Chapter? Will this kind of task not… have…”

The two of them stared at the results that appeared in real time, seeing a task quietly lying there.

“Take it quickly.” Nemo poked at the flashing line of text, then found in frustration that his touch was ineffective.
“Oh… I hate this design.”

The task description was very short, unlike the type that should appear in the scope a Black Chapter’s task.

“I want to talk face to face with Adrian Cross.
The deposit is prepaid, and the remuneration is negotiable.
The client ‘Joanna Edwards’ is located in Heilam.
There are no limits to the trustee.” Oliver read frowning slightly.
“Isn’t this a little…” Ordinary, but it looked suspicious.

“Maybe it was just posted.
It could be just a couple’s quarrel.
Oh, just pick it first! It’s now or never my friend!” Nemo snapped his fingers anxiously.
Just now, he could see a lot of task titles such as ‘hunting ten mutant griffons’ and ‘handling plague corpses’ disappearing.
Compared this task with those, it seems quite ordinary.

Oliver touched the fingerprint mark next to the task, and a piece of parchment full of instructions for the contract instantly appeared in front of them.
Nemo read it quickly.
It was full of long-winded official rhetoric, but there was nothing substantial.
Oliver seemed to have discovered this too.
He stretched out his finger and signed the contract.
As soon as he moved his finger away, the roll of parchment paper became solid and fell slowly in front of him.

“That’s it?” Nemo looked at the roll of parchment with novelty.

“…Probably.” Oliver rolled up the parchment, not sounding too sure.
“Let’s go and let Ann know.”

“You got it? How quick.” Ann leaned back in the corner and nodded at the parchment roll in Oliver’s hand.
“What’s the task?”

“It was commissioned by a lady,” Nemo said.
“She wants to meet Adrian Cross.”

“Looking for someone.
Not bad… wait who? Who does she want to meet with?”

“Adrian Cross.”

“…Who?!”

The two of them finally realized something was wrong.
Nemo and Oliver glanced at each other deeply.

“Adrian Cross…”

“…Sooner or later you two will be the death of me.” Ann’s hunting spear landed with a clang on the ground as she buried her face into her palms.
“Fuck, we’re screwed.”