Hmm, this is an issue… I assigned by far the most dangerous task to Lyrael. My part of the job was supposed to be the one where my life wouldn't be at risk. What a day.
As the pressure wave intensified, I finally let out a breath I'd been holding.
"Look, sorry for coming on so strongly from the get-go, but my time's really constrained right now, if I'm being honest."
"So what, you just expect us to take on a task this dangerous for a few pills? Don't kid yourself."
"That's exactly right. And no need to act like this is out of scope for your syndicate. If that were the case, you wouldn't have taken a commission from Steel Imperator, would you?"
The pressure, which had previously just been there to intimidate me, took on a sharp edge. The man was ready to cut me down if I said one wrong thing at this point. Real killing intent, in layman's terms.
By this point, I'd shut my eyes.
"How do you know that?"
He asked, not even trying to suppress the murderous note in his voice.
"Ahh, since I know one of your highly guarded secrets, it's only right to share one of mine, so that we're even."
I let the killing intent overwhelm me, and my instincts flared up.
'Devour him. Take his pure energy in. Consume him.'
Shut the hell up, now's not the time. And it's not like I'm strong enough to defeat him anyways.
Bickering with my inner thoughts was absurd, so I dropped it, and, allowing the hunger to go wild, opened my eyes.
"Stop trying to change the subj-?!"
Finally, he saw it.
I smirked.
This is great. No better way to distract someone from a shocking discovery than to give them an even more shocking one.
Thing is, our eyes, as threadrippers, are rather special. Though, that must've been obvious enough, with all the happenings in the last few days. My point being - it's a disgusting look.
Ever seen someone whose eyes were infested with maggots, watching them writhe about right under the sclera? Well, ours are not too far off, but rather than watching maggots squirm inside the eyes, it's strings of ethereal, silver thread doing so.
The veins around my eyes also bulged up, moving about as if living a life of their own.
It's a very distinct look, one that anyone at least slightly familiar with folklore would recognize.
Usually, while keeping focus on controlling the threads of everything around me, starting from my hair and going as far as the very clothing I'm donning, the pattern in my eyes would reflect the weaves I was holding together, resembling regular human pupils.
Now, however, I let all semblance of control loose. The clothes I was wearing, along with my hair, the wooden cast, and even the enchanted metal glove all started pulsing with waves of motion in sync with my heartbeat.
And of course, the man before me clearly recognized the sudden change for the only thing it could be - the true, unconstrained form of a threadripper.
"It's hard to believe, even after seeing it with my own eyes. Weren't you all supposed to have been wiped out sixty years ago?"
The man asked, a look of utter shock and disgust mixed in with strong wariness.
"That's right. However, who's to say there weren't a few stragglers? I'm simply one of them. We really can't talk like this for too long though, sir. I showed you my true form as a sort of proof, but I do think the presence of your syndicate leader is necessary right now. Because, ahahah, I might… I might start a bit of a scene now that I've released my control."
I could feel an exhilarating chill spread throughout my whole being. The constant, quiet chant of my inner voice was drowned out by a ringing in the ears, muffling out most sounds from the outside world. Instead, all that was left was a feeling of immense power, and with it an indescribable joy.
"Sorry to say this, kid… No, the human age standards don't work with your kind. Tsk. Threadripper, I don't know what kind of delusions fueled you to come here on your own, but you're mistaken about something. Our head isn't here, and even if he were, there'd be no need for him to come over when we can dispose of you safely on our own."
"Of course, of course. Ahah! Yea, yes. Right. The three black rats waiting outside, plus you. Sure, I have no business fighting you lot and coming out alive. But..!"
Opening my arms wide with an exaggerated motion, I smiled at the man, showing my teeth.
"Your head needs these pills. Ain't that right?"
In a flash, the man was in front of me, blade pressed against my neck.
"…"
Despite having said something that should by all means have had my head rolling on the ground, I was still alive. The man was hesitating.
So I was right. He can't afford to kill me, no matter how much disrespect I show.
"I know what your syndicate head is attempting. Don't ask how; I wouldn't be able to tell you even if you tried torturing it out of me. But what I said about the pills wasn't a lie. I can have them delivered to you by this morning."
His blade wavered. I could also smell the hesitation from the three people stationed outside. They must be wondering why their branch leader still hasn't given the order to take me down.
"How, no, why go this far as to show yourself?"
He couldn't understand. Why would I go to the risk of revealing my existence to a syndicate as powerful as theirs?
And the man wasn't wrong. What I was doing here was exceptionally dangerous. Despite his hesitation, if he deemed me a threat, I'd have no chance of coming out of this fiasco alive. But that was alright.
"Well, when your dear friend puts her life on the line, isn't it only right to match her determination? Plus, she's such a lovely girl. The way she openly expresses her emotions - makes me wanna tear her apart, piece by piece. I bet her fear would be damn near tangible when I chew her throat out. Shit, no, this is all wrong."
Squelch!
"!!!"
The branch head recoiled in surprise as I suddenly took a large bite out of my hand, no hesitation.
Phew, lost myself there for a moment. Relax, you idiot. Lyrael is friend.
Let's not start acting out of character all of a sudden. So what if I'm a bit hungry right now? Eating a friend ain't it, no matter how hard I was starving.
I won't repeat my past mistakes again.
"Sorry, lost my cool there for a bit. Thanks for putting up with my shit, though. Anyways, can you fetch your headman for me, please?"
"You think I won't kill you right here just because you know a few of our secrets?"
"Of course not. I just prefer to avoid needless slaughter where possible. Look, let's keep this simple. I'll increase the pay, so tell your men outside to chill out. I can smell their aggression from all the way over here."
"Do you really believe this is your place to haggle? You're the one at our mercy here, not the other way around."
"Don't get it twisted, sir. I know very well how high my value is, with the offer I'm giving you. You need me, or I would've been dead long ago."
I leaned in towards him, the blade leaving a mark along my neck.
"Six pills. That much should be enough for your syndicate head to break through to the next level. How about it?"
Though the man was once again surprised with my information, he didn't let it show visually. Of course, I felt the change through other signs.
"Fine. I'll entertain your shit for a while longer. What do you want?"
I folded my legs and leaned back in the chair, letting out a long, eye-watering laugh.
This feeling of unrestrained power - ah, how much I've missed it since integrating with humanity.
"Bring your headman over. Let me reiterate, I really don't have the self-control to stop myself from starting up a feast right now. There's a minute at best before I start going for your throats, so please. Your headman could certainly suppress me at his level."
My whole body was covered in goosebumps from the pleasure of finally letting some steam off.
I really, really, truly want a taste of the three fools outside.
Even in my current state, I recognized how absurd my attitude was, but what could I do?
I smiled even wider, the pulsating flutter of my garments growing stronger.
"Alright, I'll fulfill your little desire. But don't you for a second think that you can get away without a thorough investigation once all is said and done."
He let out a sigh, recognizing how valuable this opportunity was for his syndicate head. Even if the filthy threadripper had an utterly unbearable attitude, he had to hold it in for the sake of their head.
"Twenty-eighth!"
"Y-Yes!"
"Go fetch the boss. I'll hold this dumbass off with Thirteenth and Fourteenth."
At those words, wordlessly, one of the three individuals monitoring the situation from outside the room vanished.
I let out a sigh of relief.
The worst case scenario has been avoided, fortunately. Even though I played confident, I really had no idea how things would play out.
"Thanks for indulging me. Truly. Now, please do your best to hold on until your boss comes over… Here I come, hahahaha!!"
I got down on all fours and lunged at the man, no longer able to suppress myself.
Two people, seemingly out of thin air, appeared to block my path.
These must be two numbered people he mentioned earlier. Please do your best to hold out, fellas. If I accidentally kill one of them, their boss will decapitate me on the spot.
***
The Black Lake Healer Syndicate Head moved with leisurely steps, accompanied by the man who had come to fetch him - Twenty-Eighth.
His destination was the building where the branch manager resided. He could feel a massive collision of feral energies emanating from within.
What kind of guest must've shown up to be emitting an energy this bestial?
Of course, his own men were dark arts practitioners, so their energies were anything but tame. However, the waves of force he felt from within were much wilder, much more chaotic. This foreign energy was much weaker than that of the Black Lake healers, sure, but the 'texture' was unlike anything he'd felt before.
Like that of a starving beast.
Despite the wild - and by all means dangerous - essence, all he felt was… curiosity.
This is completely unheard of. What kind of entity is this?
He picked up his pace, itching to find out who their unwelcome guest was.
Crack!!
Suddenly, with the sound of glass shattering, a body flew out through the window of the building he was heading toward and landed in a heap right in front of him.
Upon closer inspection, he realized it was one of his men.
Thirteenth.
His body was covered in ghastly wounds, but they weren't the kind their healers couldn't restore. Much less so with their branch leader also engaged in the battle.
But as he moved his gaze further down, it became apparent.
Hah… No wonder our healers failed to mend these wounds.
Each of the wounds had strands of muscle, tendons, veins, and arteries hanging limply out. What's more, the muscle fibers were tangled into grotesque meat knots.
No matter how skilled, a healer couldn't restore a wound like this. Thirteenth bodily structure was a mess.
"Twenty-Eighth. Go bring him to the infirmary, and bring over three high-ranking healers. Regular treatment won't work."
At his command, the body was picked up and carried away in a rush.
Without giving them another glance, he stepped toward the house, reaching for the handle.
What was once an impassive expression had turned into an intimidating scowl.
The intruder crossed a line. If he doesn't have a good reason for this commotion, I'll make him wish he died today.
With that thought, he went inside.