Elsewhere in the hall, a mysterious young girl, Noe Laura, murmured under her breath, "How mysterious, Emmett Lee. You're capable of pulling such strings? A smart move… At least it saved him from trouble."
A faint smirk graced her lips as she added, "See you in the Academy, Bond."
---
It was another bustling Sunday morning in Section Three, where people went about their daily routines; grinding dungeons, hunting for necessities, and moving in and out of the district. The streets were lively, as they always were on rest days, filled with adventurers and merchants tending to their affairs.
On the outskirts of Section Three, in a modest yet comfortable apartment with three bedrooms, a sitting room, and a kitchen, resided Emmett Lee. He had moved here with Morca after Morca successfully cleared the DX1.5 dungeon. The apartment, though neat, bore signs of its inhabitant's laid-back nature. Seated on the sofa was a strikingly handsome young man with sky-blue hair. His legs were propped on the table, a glass of wine in his left hand, while his right casually flipped through a document resting on his lap. His expression was unreadable, exuding an air of indifference as if the world's happenings were of little concern to him. However, every now and then, his eyes flickered toward the door, anticipating something or someone.
A soft knock finally broke the silence. The door creaked open, revealing two figures stepping into the room. One wore a black mask, an unmistakable presence to those familiar with the underground battle rings. Had any spectators from the Dark Avengers Club been present, they would have immediately recognized him as the referee from the battle arena. The other, standing beside him, was none other than Morca, his piercing gaze locked onto Emmett Lee. The two brothers stared at each other in silence, tension hanging thick in the air. After a few moments, the masked referee, sensing that his presence was unnecessary, bowed slightly and excused himself, leaving the siblings alone.
The silence stretched between them until Emmett finally broke it with a knowing smirk. "How was the training, 'Crimson-Black'?" he asked, emphasizing the name deliberately, making it clear that he was well aware of everything that had transpired.
Morca, unfazed, countered with a question of his own. "How was the surprise? I hope you've finished the work you needed to take care of. Don't just sit there acting as if you have nothing to do." His voice carried a devilish tone, as if taunting a sworn enemy rather than addressing his own brother.
Emmett's face twitched at the remark, but he chose to ignore the provocation. Instead, he leaned back and chuckled. "I was quite surprised when I heard about your debut at the Dark Avengers Club. You really amazed me... facing forty-nine 1-star monsters alone, killing ten 1-star+ monsters without even making a move. But the most shocking part? You annihilated a 2-star Royal monster, a being comparable to a Saint-rank expert. You, my dear brother, are the real monster."
"That's all thanks to you, brother. If you had told me beforehand, I might have gone easy on them," Morca replied, his expression unreadable.
Emmett burst into laughter. "You? Go easy? If the audience heard you right now, they'd call you a fraud."
"Enough with the jokes, Emmett. Tell me what you know about the Dark Avengers Club, their power structure, their purpose. Why are they even called the Dark Avengers? The name sounds like something out of an antihero tale." Morca's tone was serious now.
Emmett's playful demeanor faded slightly. "I don't know much," he admitted, swirling his wine. "They're extremely secretive, and most of what people know about them is just rumors. What I can tell you is this.... they're strong. Strong enough that even the Seven Ancient Families don't dare cross them lightly."
It was clear that Emmett knew more than he was letting on, but he wasn't about to share those details. Morca narrowed his eyes, knowing pressing the issue wouldn't get him anywhere.
"Alright, enough of that," Emmett said, abruptly changing the subject. "Go freshen up. Tomorrow is the Academy Trial, and we're leaving at 6:30 AM sharp. Don't be late." His voice carried an air of finality, effectively cutting the conversation short.
Though Emmett appeared relaxed, Morca knew better. His brother had been dealing with the aftermath of his performance at the Dark Avengers Club. That very night, just hours before Morca's final ring battle, a different scene had unfolded elsewhere.
---
In a dimly lit control room deep within the Dark Avengers Club, the atmosphere was thick with tension. The room was silent, so silent that if a pin were to drop, it would ring out like a morning bell. Eight large screens illuminated the space, displaying multiple angles of Morca's journey from the moment he woke up in the club to the long passageways leading to the battle hall. This was the heart of the club's surveillance system, where four individuals monitored every movement.
Suddenly, three figures emerged from the shadows. Two of them wore black cloaks that concealed their faces, making it impossible to discern their identities. The third figure, however, was more striking—dressed in a similar black cloak, but with sky-blue hair visible beneath the hood. He wore a red mask, setting him apart from his companions.
As soon as the four individuals in the control room saw the masked man, they stood and greeted him with deep reverence. "We humbly greet Lord 2. How may we assist you?" one of them asked, bowing his head.
"You four should get some rest," the red-masked man said nonchalantly.
The moment he uttered those words, the four monitors slumped over, fast asleep. He then turned to one of his companions. "Dino, you know what to do. Shut everything down the moment I hand him the mask."
The figure named Dino nodded in acknowledgment.
The masked man then faced the third figure. "And you, Ref, your job is simple. Take him out of the hall quietly. If anyone pursues you, I'll handle them. Just get him out safely." A sly smile crept across his lips, barely visible beneath his mask.
"I can't allow those four to meet him," the masked man thought to himself. "If they do, they might reveal something about me. He needs to remain independent. The only help I can afford to give him is financial support, and even that must be done from the shadows."
With that, he vanished from the control room, leaving the plan in motion.
That was how Morca had managed to escape the Dark Avengers Club without anyone tracking him. The plan, while seemingly simple, had been executed flawlessly. It was a testament to a fundamental truth... sometimes, the simplest solutions are the most effective in resolving even the most complicated problems.
---
A/N
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