Gregory and Michael slumped on the ground, their faces covered with sweat, and they breathed heavily. Blood covered their entire being. And it looks like a typhoon has visited their hair. Gregory swatted the leaf that fell on his face, he frowned as he saw the leaves falling in the trees.
"What? it is not Autumn yet right?" Gregory's voice muttered grumpily.
Michael stood up, his face covered in the shadows of trees. "No, this forest was just that peculiar. It's not weird why the cult chose this place as their base."
"Those damned cultists are madmen, they rushed as if they don't care about their lives" Gregory touched the mangled flash on his shoulder, he kept his expression straight as if the pain didn't affect him, but one could see his eyebrows twitch.
"Yeah, I didn't expect that their leader would be a B-class. If I haven't reach B rank last week. I think we would have to retreat and the consequences would be disastrous."
Hearing this, Gregory became solemn, "I can't imagine how powerful that Demon Lord Thanatos that they were trying hard to summon. But I'm certain that it should be at least A-rank or Even S. Fortunately, Fein discovered their traces earlier or the neighboring kingdom would be devastated."
"Yes, but it's not the end yet. We still have to clean up the remaining traces of the cult so this incident won't repeat itself in the future." Michael sighed after being reminded of the remaining work that they have to do.
"And we still have to find Kidd, he vanished again, it was already his fourth time. I don't know where Kidd is, he doesn't even notify us." Gregory continued.
Michael touched his chin, he thought of Kidd's strange disappearances. And this is the fourth time. They have use all their manpower to find his whereabouts but they can't find him at all. As if his entire existence vanished in the face of the planet. Michael and Gregory tried to inquire about it, but Kidd would only smile at them. They knew something personal to him must be involved so they didn't pursue it any longer.
After Fein started his journey on the Monster World Secret Realm, the Ranger's Eye Became busy finding the traces of evil cults from various parts of the country where there recent disappearance of people. They fought them for a long time and they already know the pattern of their activities, they need to kidnap people as their offerings, this gave the Ranger's eye an opportunity, and only this time that they successfully located their organization. Because these bastards' base was literally located inside a mountain.
"Fortunately, It all ends, it's exhausting going back and part outside of the city. After this, I think Kidd would appear again. I wonder what his problem is and why can he share it." Michael whispered as he look blankly at the distance.
Gregory shook his head. "Don't worry, he'll talk about it when the right time comes, For now, we just have to remain patient."
Michael nodded. "How about Fein? Is there any news on his side?"
"No, but he that Kid can manage himself. He was the most talented person that I know. He has surpassed in just a few years."
A smile appeared on Michael's face. "I hope he comes back soon. I thought that my talent was already exaggerated in the past, but I didn't expect that there was even more monstrous than I am. Sooner or later, he would be a captain on his own squad for sure."
The frown on Gregory's face visibly lessened after they talked about Fein. "The higher-ups were already considering that. They even planned to promote him into an honorary executioner but they were waiting for an excuse to do so, as to not cause dissatisfaction among the members."
"Yeah, and he would need to do a lot of tasks to accumulate his contributions. It seems he would be the youngest 'Honorary Executioner' in history." A complicated expression appeared on Michael's face at this moment.
He doesn't feel jealous of his friend's achievements. In fact, he was very happy for him. He was just worried for Fein, as he needed to fight various political schemes at that time. Michael knew how prestigious the status of 'Honorary Executioner' is. Those who obtained that title would have a big influence in most countries. Anyone would have to listen when an executioner has something to say. Just like its name, 'Honorary Executioner' has three privileges. First, they can carry out the will of the officials. Second, they can participate in meeting concerning the countries. And lastly, they can mobilize and lead an official squad that specializes in arresting criminals.
The status of 'Honorary Executioner' is taken seriously even in the kingdoms, as the requirement to be one are strict. First and foremost, one needs to have the strength of the S-class. People with criminal records are out of the question. The person should have records contributing to the fight against the demons. And finally one needs to be acknowledged by at least three 'Executioners', or they can challenge them and defeat at least one. Executioners are invincible even amongst the S-ranks.
"It seems Fein would be the one to break the current record. If that person learned of it I don't know what his reaction would be. The brightest genius that has fallen into depravity." Gregory muttered.
"You mean 'Niki'? The leader of laughing phantoms?" Michael asked with a hint of curiosity in his voice.
Gregory nodded as his eyes became hazy. "Back in the day, there was a dazzling genius that had shaken the whole world with his extraordinary talent and intelligence. He was a scientist that was obsessed with the pursuit of truth, back then he would propose crazy theories but he was still sane. But he was corrupted by his hunger for power and he conducted a lot of taboos. Experiment with crazy things to break his shackles. He was the youngest to become S-rank and he became 'Honorary Executioner' by defeating all of the existing ones. He was talented in anything that he do to the point that his peers could only look up to him. Yet one day, the same person has fallen into madness. He disappeared for three, his whereabouts unknown. The authorities and the world have declared him dead. But he came back, but he wasn't the same anymore. He did a lot of heinous things, some of the strongest have cooperated and tried to stop him, yet they can't do anything. The crazy thing was they joined him for his cause. Those people are the first and oldest members of the World's most dangerous criminal 'Laughing Phantom'."
Michael stared dazedly in the air. He couldn't help but remember his scientist friend. He silently compared Niki and Fein. "They have a lot of similarities--- talent, charisma, and thirst for knowledge." He muttered.
"What is it?" Gregory asked, his eyebrows raised. "Are saying something?"
"Nothing." Michael shook his head with a foolish smile.