137 Chapter 71: Two Demis Part 2

After half an hour or so, Angela's eyes open.

But unlike the earlier case with Walter, she finds herself comfortably seated on a sofa chair with an empty glass and a jug filled with water kept in front of her along with some cookies.

Seeing all that, she curses under her breath as she realizes that the reason for all this is that Walter Schmidt doesn't even consider her enough of a threat to tie her up.

This is how you truly demean someone.

Walter: "I see you are awake."

He says with a smile as he comes out of the same bedroom she had earlier.

Walter: "I have to say, you are kinda early. I was expecting you to be out for half an hour more."

She clicks her tongue, again realizing how his words, which are the exact opposite of hers from earlier, are far more condescending and hurtful to her pride than her words were.

Angela: "So, what are you gonna do to me?"

Walter: "Don't make me sound like a felon here."

He says with a dejected tone.

Walter: "I only want to know who you really are, why you did what you did and stuff like that."

Angela sighs as she hears so. Of course that's not all Walter Schmidt would want from her. If that was all, he would have peaked into her brain using his psychic abilities, found out all the answers and went away.

But still, Angela decides to be cooperative and tell him the answers to his questions.

Angela: "I am a Volcano in Vermillion and Angela Holystone IS my real name. As you should be able to tell, I am bit above the level of most Volcanoes. In fact, the Phoenix once said that I'm like a Demi-Hellfire, whatever that would mean."

Walter nods with a smile.

Walter: "Yeah, you are definitely above the level of Volcanoes. Still, you are not as powerful as Hellfires. I guess that sort of cringe-worthy term does suit you, Mrs. Demi-Hellfire."

Angela: "Don't you dare think you are completely safe just because you are more powerful. Irritate me again and you'll regret it for the rest of your life!"

In an annoyed voice that she has had ever since waking up, she tells Walter so as she glares daggers at him.

Walter: "Scary!"

He remarks while lightly laughing and motions her to continue. She clicks her tongue but does continue.

Angela: "The reason I decided to do that was to show the Phoenix that I should replace one of the two Hellfires who have died recently and become a new Hellfire."

As he hears that, Walter is unable to control his laughter anymore.

Walter: "And going after me was the best plan you had!? I mean, you could have picked one of the remaining Hellfires and did this to them. Who knows? It might have actually worked!"

Angela: "And how do you think they would take the fact that aside from that guy named Abgere, there is someone else trying to harm a Hellfire, and for a reason like this."

She looks at him as if it's the most obvious point in the world but he looks back if it doesn't make sense. But then, as if he just got what it meant,

Walter: "Oh, I see how you thought going after me was better. I guess you guys do not know it after all, do you?"

Angela: "Know what?"

She asks in an irritated tone.

Walter: "Well, name all the Hellfires for me, will you?"

Despite not understanding the purpose of it, Angela sighs and decides to play along.

Angela: "Gin Hanks, Julius Rome – those two are dead."

Walter nods and urges her to continue.

Angela: "Halogen Dietrich, Vaika Smith, Taser Lawson, and Akio Miyamoto – those four are in hiding and managing all the underground workings of Vermillion."

Walter nods yet again and urges her yet again as well.

Angela: "Laurie Brown, Chang Lu, and Ross Green – those three are managing the entire surface working of the Vermillion."

Walter: "Yes, yes,"

He nods as he asks,

Walter: "And the tenth one?"

Angela: "Nobody except the Phoenix and these Hellfires know who that is."

On hearing that, Walter smiles. As he does so, a possibility occurs in her mind, making her eyes go wide, but she immediately dismisses it.

'There's no way that could be true, right?' She asks herself.

Seeing her reaction though, Walter smiles even more.

Angela: "W-what the hell are you smiling for?"

Walter: "Nothing, just give me a moment."

He says as he dials a number on his cell phone and puts it to his ear. She can practically hear the loud ringing noise coming from the phone and so, when the person being called picks up, she is able to hear their voice too – and it is a voice she has heard seldom but can never forget who it belongs to.

Rosevelt: "What is it, Walter?"

The man on the other end of the line asks as if he's busy and doesn't have much time to talk with the person calling.

Walter: "Seems like you are busy."

Rosevelt: "Yes, I am. So, if there's nothing important you have to talk about, call me later."

In complete contrast to Walter's carefree tone, the Phoenix speaks in a no-bullshit tone.

Walter: "Wait, wait, wait!"

Walter stops him as he almost seems to be about to cut the call. Because of that though, Walter cuts to the chase.

Walter: "Two of the Hellfires are dead, right? You think we should replace them?"

He asks a bit nervously, as if worrying he'll say no.

Rosevelt: "If a suitable candidate appears, I don't see why not."

However, the Phoenix has always been more than willing to replace Hellfires even if they don't die. All he needs is someone who is suited for the job.

Walter: "In that case, I think I have found someone to replace one of them."

Rosevelt: "Who?"

Walter: "Hey, it's someone I think would be suitable for it. Don't you trust me!?"

With his best voice, Walter Schmidt asks so. And the Phoenix – is not affected by it at all.

Rosevelt: "It's not about trust. Hellfires are supposed to be the most elite of psychics. Even if it's you giving the guarantee, I can't just blindly give that position to that person without seeing their skills first."

Hearing so, Walter sighs and leans back on the couch as he says,

Walter: "Alright, I guess I'll bring her to you as soon as I can."

Rosevelt: "Good! Now if that's all,"

Walter: "Yeah, that's all."

Hearing so, Rosevelt ends the call.

Angela is left utterly baffled at that exchange and only looks at Walter with astonished eyes.

Walter: "What, you still haven't figured it out?"

Angela: "You … you are the tenth hellfire?"

The possibility she had denied earlier seems to have come true, and she cannot comprehend how.

Walter: "Yup!"

Angela: "B-but why?"

Walter: "Why not?"

Angela: "I mean, I mean …"

While the question is clear inside her heard, it takes a moment of stopping and taking a long breath to finally be able to recover from her surprise and ask,

Angela: "You are stronger than the Phoenix, aren't you? Why would you work under him then?"

Walter sighs and his gaze falls to nothingness as he says,

Walter: "It's not about strength. Well, at least, not JUST about strength. I was never willing to be a leader of any sorts. Even as a kid, I never did the leading, despite being best at almost everything."

He then stands up and looks Angela in the eye.

Walter: "So I just denied the position of the Phoenix when Rosevelt asked me to take it. And so, we are in this situation. Come to think of it, Mrs. Demi Hellfire, I am pretty sure Rosevelt once called me a Demi Phoenix. I guess I am a whole one level above you."

While it made sense, Angela still finds herself troubled in wrapping her head around everything. And so, Walter asks her,

Walter: "You don't need to think so much. The deal is this – you become an ally of mine – and I will make sure Rosevelt sees your potential as a Hellfire."

A moment of silence follows. She contemplates on his deal in this moment.

Many, many things come to her mind. Many, many ways this could go wrong. Many, many possibilities in which she regrets agreeing to his deal. And yet, this slim, 5'7 tall, ivory white, copper-haired woman with a round face and close-set crimson eyes says,

Angela: "Consider yourself lucky to have me!"

-as she shakes the hand Walter Schmidt asks to be shook.

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