Chapter 35: Mako again
Ini navigated the orphanage's corridors with ease, his eyes scanning the shelves and filing cabinets for the document he sought. The document was related to a person he was trying to locate, and he hoped it would provide some valuable information.
After searching through the files, he finally found what he was looking for. The document contained details about the person's whereabouts, and Ini's eyes scanned the pages quickly, his mind absorbing the information with ease.
He made a copy of the document, careful to replace the original in its exact location. With the copy safely in hand, he teleported to an abandoned hut at the edge of the property.
As he materialized inside the hut, he saw that the walls were covered in dust and cobwebs. But what caught his eye was the symbol etched into the wall inside the hearth: "I & T" surrounded by a heart
"Good things never last"
Ini's eyes narrowed as he gazed at the symbol. He murmured the phrase to himself, his voice barely audible. And then, in an instant, he vanished into thin air.
He reappeared at the cave entrance, which was now bustling with people. The guild had finished their work, and the Warriors Association personnel were packing up their equipment. The hovercraft that had brought them to the site was preparing to depart, its engines humming as it lifted off the ground.
Ini was in the hovercopter, leaving with the guild. The cave entrance was now a distant memory, a place where they had uncovered a dark and sinister secret. The symbol and the twisted experiments were still fresh in his mind, and he knew that this was far from over.
As the hovercopter flew away, Ini's thoughts turned to the document he had obtained. The information it contained was crucial, and he knew that it would help him locate the person he was searching for.
The guild's mission was complete, but Ini's journey was just beginning.
They arrived at the guild and disembarked from the hovercopter. Ini didn't bother going inside, instead leaving after a few turns. He entered a nearby restaurant to grab a bite to eat, his eyes scanning the file in his hand. As he murmured to himself, "Should I keep my promise or are you not worth my time?" he closed the file and ordered something to eat. The aroma of freshly cooked food filled his nostrils, and his stomach growled in anticipation.
As he waited for his food to arrive, he took a sip of his drink, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of the mysterious symbol and the twisted experiments he had uncovered. He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't notice the man approaching him until he cleared his throat to announce his presence.
Without looking up, Ini asked, "What do you want?" The man smiled and introduced himself. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Mako." Ini continued eating, not responding. Mako took a seat across from him, seemingly unfazed by Ini's lack of interest.
Mako continued, "I'm from the Redfang Guild, a fellow S-Ranker like yourself. I came to make you an offer that could benefit both of us." Ini raised an eyebrow.
"Not interested," Ini said, cutting him off. Mako smiled and said, "You might not know, but we're the richest guild in the country and the second richest in Africa. We have lots of resources at our disposal, and we're always looking for talented individuals like yourself to join our ranks."
Mako leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. "Imagine having access to unlimited resources, the best equipment, and the brightest minds in the industry at your fingertips. We could offer you opportunities that your current guild can't even dream of."
Ini listened to Mako's pitch, his expression unreadable. He wasn't impressed by the guild's wealth or resources, but he was curious about what Mako wanted from him. "What makes you think I'd be interested in joining your guild?" Ini asked, his voice still neutral.
Mako smiled and said, "We've been watching you, Ini. We know about your skills and your accomplishments. We believe you'd be a great fit for our guild, and we're willing to make it worth your while." He pulled out a white card with a single red fang at the center, the phone number and email on the back, and handed it to Ini.
"This is my card," Mako said. "In case you change your mind, you can reach out to me directly. We're always looking for talented individuals like yourself, and we don't give up easily." With that, Mako stood up and left without turning back, leaving Ini to ponder his offer.
Ini looked at the card, weighing the pros and cons in his head. He decided that making connections might be useful in the future and kept the card. Finishing his food, he headed back to the guild and then to the subpenthouse.
Upon entering, he saw Arike already awakened and waiting for him, although she was still pale due to massive blood loss and looked like she should be resting. Ini said, "Why are you here? If you can't give me a good explanation, I'll knock you out and make sure you rest."
Arike simply said, "Thank you. I thought I would die." Ini's expression softened, and he replied, "Don't worry, I won't let you die on my watch. Now go rest." She nodded and headed to the room to sleep.
As she left, Ini couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility towards her. He had saved her life, and now he felt a sense of obligation to take care of her. He shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside. He had more important things to worry about, like uncovering the truth behind the symbol and the twisted experiments.
With a sigh, Ini entered his own room to rest, feeling the weight of a long day. He lay down on his bed, his mind still racing with thoughts of the mysterious symbol and the guild's offer. He knew that he had to make a decision soon, but for now, he just closed his eyes and let exhaustion take over.