755 Finding Max (7)
The man's gaze hardened, his eyes turning into shards of steel as his voice, laced with a sense of urgency, cut through the air. "When are the Blackguards expected to arrive?"
Lyria glanced up. Her brows knitted together in a frown, a shadow of uncertainty passing over her eyes.
"In three days. I don't know why they're not already here."
"Perhaps they believe Erik Kay cannot escape the city, but they are mistaken. Of that I'm certain."
The man leaned back in his chair, the creaking sound echoing in the silence. His expression turned thoughtful, a wrinkle forming between his brows as he processed the information.
His fingers drummed on the wooden table, each tap echoing his growing concern. "So, they've asked us to keep the city closed and prevent anyone from leaving?"
Lyria nodded. "Yes, that's what they've told us to do."
In his fly form, Erik clung to the rough texture of the ceiling, his compound eyes a mosaic of countless tiny lenses focused intently on the duo below.
His minuscule heart pounded in his chest, a rapid staccato in sync with the fluttering of his wings.
He was digesting the information, turning it over in his mind like a puzzle with missing pieces. Three days.
A countdown had begun, three days before the Blackguards would breach the city's tranquility.
His mind raced, a whirlwind of questions and doubts stirring within him. Why were they so confident he couldn't escape? What did they know he didn't?
<Are they brewing something, or they are just that confident? Regardless, I can't lower my guard. >
His thoughts spiralled deeper, probing the shadows of uncertainty. The Blackguards' confidence suggested knowledge - knowledge that he was yet to uncover.
The conversation below continued, but Erik's thoughts were elsewhere. His wings buzzed as he considered his options.
<Should I leave the city? No. No. That would be an enormous setback. Besides, I lured the Blackguards here to get information. This is the only chance I've got. >
The Blackguards were infamous for their ruthlessness, their name alone enough to send a shiver down the spine of the bravest warriors.
Many thought confronting them was a fool's errand. Yet Erik decided to do so.
He was not like the others. He had abilities they didn't know about, skills that even the most formidable Blackguards would find challenging to counter.
The perception of him being an easier prey than he really was would serve him well.
Erik had an insatiable curiosity, a thirst for knowledge that was yet to be quenched.
He wanted to know more about the Blackguards, understand what they were doing, why they were chasing him. He wanted to know if it were them who sent people to capture him back in New Alexandria.
This was an opportunity, a chance he couldn't pass on.
However, what Lyria said placed doubts. He had to come up with a plan and find Max before the situation became messier. He had little time on his side, as the guild would soon lock the city down.
Lyria's face remained calm and composed, but Erik could sense a hint of weariness in her eyes. That was weird.
<Why she should be wary of a driver? >
"Yes," she said. "I did what I could here." She paused for a moment, her gaze distant, as if lost in thought. "Now, it's just a matter of preparing, and wait."
Erik watched as Lyria leaned back in her seat, her body language relaxed yet alert. He could see the tension in her muscles.
The driver's voice was respectful, but there was a hint of curiosity in her tone. One a mere driver shouldn't have. Their job was simply to drive. Her eyes flickered with interest as she awaited Lyria's response.
Lyria's expression remained impassive, but Erik could see a flicker of concern in her eyes.
<What if...? >
"You should stop looking at me that way," Lyria said.
In the meantime, Erik thought about his situation. If the Blackguards had indeed discovered his involvement in the destruction of the Crystal Cross Gang back in Testrovsc's Rest, it was inevitable that they would have launched a thorough investigation into his background.
The Blackguards held a monopoly on cross-information from all corners of the world, making it clear how they had got such sensitive knowledge.
Erik couldn't help but acknowledge the immense power wielded by the Blackguards.
They were practically the reigning monarchs of the world, their influence extending far beyond the boundaries of Etrium.
Not only they controlled the Mercenary Guild, but their reach extended into various governments elsewhere. That was common knowledge. Albeit, most thought it was a sort of partnership.
This realization left Erik pondering about Frant, his homeland. Were the Blackguards just as influential there?
Had they infiltrated the government and established their supremacy?
With each passing moment, Erik realized how deep-rooted these guys were.
The driver cleared her throat, her tone now less deferential than before. It looked like she had enough of Lyria not replying.
Her eyes narrowed with impatience as she turned to Lyria. "So, what do you think the higher-ups will do with him once they get their hands on him?" she asked, her voice tinged with frustration.
"You should stick to your role and do not break character, July," she said. While most people would feel irritate about that blatantly direct question about secret affairs, Lyria tried to be as polite as possible.
<Now I'm certain. > It was clear. This woman was a blackguard.
The woman rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed. Her lips curled into a sneer as she spoke.
"Come on, Lyria. There's no one in this car aside from us. Can't we just talk like normal people?"
Her frustration was palpable, a clear sign she was growing tired of the secrecy and subterfuge.
Lyria's voice remained firm, her eyes fixed ahead on the road. She could sense the woman's impatience, but she knew she couldn't afford to let her guard down.
Forged by flames is out.