Chapter 193 The First Mission

"Zhao, what's the report?" A cold voice questioned, sitting cross-legged.

Mr. Zhao had his head lowered in reverence, eyes fixated on the ground as he prepared to reply.

"They had been able to settle on quite nicely."

"Shut the hell up and answer the real question directly." The voice hissed in rage, the distinctive icy blue gaze onto Zhao.

"He's contained, no sign of defiance whatsoever." Mr. Zhao finally corrected it.

"I would need to reveal my identity, soon enough." The voice snickered.

"Master..." Mr. Zhao shook his head, fearful about the consequences, the few that knew of his identity, the better.

"I have been curious about Nix, he had not directly engaged in a battle using the full force of his gift," The master smiled with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Leaning forward so that his elbows laid on his thighs, he clasped his hands together and placed his chin on them.

"It would be fun to watch him, won't it?"

Mr. Zhao's eyes widened, realizing he was being talked to, and immediately nodded his head in agreement.

Joining the organization was just the first step in getting closer to Nix. Being the one who had personally requested he joins the organization alongside his friends to avoid suspicion from the others in the academy.

"Prepare a task–a mission as you all call it. I would love to see how well he fares without using his gift or with his gift." He commanded.

Mr. Zhao crawled back, skeptical about such an assignment, Nix could not be bossed around without a proper and logical explanation.

To make things worse was the fact that Obsidian was in cahoots with him, it was highly unlikely not to involve the whole team in this.

"Master, if you could give some time, I could arrange–"

"Do you know what I hate apart from weakness and failure?" The master's chilly voice spoke calmly.

Mr. Zhao trembled, remembering the last member who had failed to carry out his task. His inability to think of an answer to the question disturbed him greatly.

Rubbing his forehead, the master let out a sigh of disappointment. "Zhao, for the sake of what we have accomplished together, I would forgive this only once."

Mr. Zhao gulped at the words, knowing any other time would be his last.

"A change of my plan would never go unpunished, do you get that?!" He clarified.

"Yes, master. I will proceed as ordered." He hurriedly got up, ready to dash out before he was told about something else.

"Zhao!"

He flinched at the call of his name, stiffly turning around and forcing a smile on his lips.

"How's Zephyr's memory coming along?"

Mr. Zhao's heart thumped hard in his chest, he tried to stabilize his eyes on the floor and make sure his breathing was controlled.

As far as he could tell, Zephyr's condition was still unclear. Rumi hasn't let him out since the time they had gone to their room. This was as good as him being in the dark as their master.

'Rumi, you would pay for this!' He vowed in his heart.

"He is slowly gaining his memory, but he is quite hostile to me and only speaks with Rumi." Mr. Zhao bowed in reply.

"As expected." The master shook his head, remembering their bicker

The master couldn't

"What part of his memory could he recall?"

Mr. Zhao cringed at the question, he had hoped he could just leave after that statement.

"He knows the fire rank user."

The master had a wicked grin on his face, he needed not worry about the issue anymore, all that was needed was time.

"Let him join the team for the task, maybe that could jog his memory." He snickered, clapping his hand at the new decision.

This wasn't pleasant news to him in any way, it looked to him like he would be giving the only asset they had to the enemy.

"But Master, he isn't fully..." He paused, remembering what he was reminded of previously. "I... I mean that can be arranged."

"Know your place if you want to maintain it." The master snarled.

Mr. Zhao gave one final bow, hoping that was all for the day.

'No calling of my name!' He noticed, internally rejoicing as he took several steps back before he dashed out of the dark room.

–––––––––––

Rubbing his hands, he looked behind him, Zephyr walking beside him, a confused face as he looked around the hallway like it was the first time he had been in there.

'This is going to be harder than I thought.' He shook his head at the unusual behavior of Zephyr.

"Sir, where are we headed?" Zephyr called on his attention, wondering why the path they took looked too lonely.

"To meet your team for your first official mission." He smiled, crossing his fingers for the success of this suicide mission.

He had always wondered how his master came up with all the crazy ideas that they implement. This mission was a little too concise to students who had just been transferred, coupled with a member who was suffering from memory loss.

'The best combination of a team.' He thought sarcastically.

"Team?! I never said I wanted a team. Why isn't Rumi tagging along?" Zephyr questioned in a protest, wanting to return.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Mr. Zhao shook his head, "she knows her place in this organization, do you?"

'I don't even know what all of this is! I just got a glimpse of my memory while being with her.' Zephyr had wanted to say it out loud but refrained from speaking directly to Mr. Zhao.

There was something sneaky about him that had his guard raised.

"Wouldn't you like to meet with Nix and the others, they are over–"

"Why isn't it Nix and the team?" Mr. Zhao walked up to Nix, pulling him in a hug.

Lank's mouth gaped open at the awkward gesture.

Nix tried to pull away, but when his eyes locked on Zephyr, his breathing hitched and he lost all sense of what he was meant to do.