"Have you ever heard the name Christoph Gardos before?" Vatler asked as he picked up a glass of bright red wine from the waiter serving aboard the ship.
The luxurious ship Oceanus Grave quietly made its way across the night sea. Its golden lights shimmered softly on the gently rolling waves. The atmosphere on the deck was elegant, extravagantly refined, blending sophistication with a hint of coldness. Classical music gently filtered in the background, while the servants moved silently with professional grace.
In a secluded corner of the deck, Akira sat beside Natsuki, each holding their drink. Akira leaned back in his chair, visibly lazy, while Natsuki appeared alert despite her calm demeanor, casting glances at Vatler over her cup of tea.
"Christoph Gardos? Who is that?" Akira raised an eyebrow in confusion upon hearing Vatler's words, as the name Christoph Gardos struck no chord in his memory. His gaze was focused; his eyes stared coldly at Vatler, awaiting a convincing explanation.
"I think if I tell you he is the current leader of the Black Death Emperor Front, you'll understand," Vatler said with a playful smile as he slowly sipped his wine. His tone was not serious, more like a casual amusement during a masquerade party.
"Black Death Emperor Front? Aren't they terrorists from the Warlord's Empire?" Akira frowned slightly in surprise, then added sarcastically, with a good dose of unspoken pride, "If I recall correctly, I destroyed the Black Death Emperor Front when they tried to expand their terrorist operations into Japan, right?"
Natsuki turned her face slightly towards Akira but didn't comment, merely raising an eyebrow lightly as if questioning whether that was true.
"Kind of, but it seems there are some survivors, and they've resumed their terrorist activities under the leadership of Christoph Gardos," Vatler said, gently swirling the glass in his hand. "And it appears Gardos has gotten his hands on Nalakuvera, an ancient weapon of the gods said to have destroyed countless civilizations."
A brief silence fell, broken only by a soft sigh from Natsuki.
"Nalakuvera? Interesting. I didn't expect some mere terrorist to get hold of something like that..." Akira sneered with disdain, showing complete indifference. But as soon as he finished his sentence, he sensed murderous intent and overwhelming rage directed at him.
Murderous intent was something only a soldier who had fought many wars could possess, yet it wasn't something Akira cared much about — even though he pinpointed its source from the corner of his eye: it came from the waiter who had served the wine to Vatler.
"So, since you're telling me this, does that mean this little upstart named Gardos has reached Itogami Island?" Akira said neutrally, though it was clear he did not see Gardos as a threat, even with possession of Nalakuvera.
"Good of you to catch on quickly. It seems Gardos and his followers are hiding somewhere on Itogami Island," Vatler said, beginning to stare at the waiter. The deadly aura hadn't escaped his sharp senses.
"And that's why I want you to let me play with Gardos — you don't get many chances to play with an ancient weapon of the gods every day," Vatler added in a teasing tone, like a child asking permission to play with a dangerous toy.
"I don't mind, but I wonder... how did Gardos and his followers sneak onto the island without being detected?" Akira said with a calm smile, staring at Vatler.
"I think they had help — like being transported on a diplomatic vessel that's immune to inspection or search," Natsuki said coldly as she sipped her tea, easily realizing that Vatler was the one who helped Gardos sneak onto the island.
"I wonder where one finds a vehicle with diplomatic immunity that isn't subject to inspection or searches — perfect for transporting forbidden people and goods," Akira said with a sarcastic smile, looking at Vatler. He didn't intend to spoil Vatler's fun but wouldn't let the matter pass without a price.
"I wonder..." Vatler shrugged playfully. It was clear he knew Akira had seen through the game, but he didn't care to hide it.
Natsuki smiled lightly, but her eyes were sharp as knives. "You're crossing the line this time, Snake Charmer."
"Oh no, it's just a little amusement," he said, standing up from his chair and looking out at the sea. "I'm just bored, so I joined a little game to pass the time."
"Well, I won't interfere with your little game," Akira said indifferently, taking a single sip from his wine glass. "But since you want to use my land for this game, you should pay the appropriate rent, right?"
"Certainly, I had no intention of using this island without compensation," Vatler said, a playful smile spreading across his face. "Don't worry, I'll pay you the right price when it's all over."
"I see. I'll look forward to that," Akira nodded and then stood with Natsuki to leave, as there was no point in staying any longer.
Natsuki said nothing, for since Akira did not stop Vatler, it meant he had his own thoughts, and she did not want to ruin it for him.
...
To get more chapters please visit my p@treon :
[email protected]/Akasaki_Ryujin
For support :
https://ko-fi.com/akasaki_ryujin