Cronus' system: Against the gods

Chapter 27: Lucius Noctis

The room was dimly lit, with flickering candles casting long shadows over the polished golden floors. Despite the dimness, the room was unmistakably beautiful and well-designed for a place where Assassins usually met. In this room was General Silas, his expression grim.

"What do you mean by you couldn't kill the boy?" General Silas asked the figure before him

Ralph, his hands behind his back, walked forward until he was only an arm's length away from Silas "What I want right now is my payment, if you want further details, then the three hundred million dollars should start the conversation" He spoke

"I won't give you your remaining payment until you answer my questions!" General Silas retorted, his voice hoarse

"Oh...General... You know how I do my things, don't you?" A sinister smile spread on Ralph's face.

General Silas, unperturbed by Ralph's expression leaned forward "You think your petty illusions will work against me?" He taunted as he released his aura, causing Ralph to flinch and collapse on both knees. "Now.... Tell me what happened?" Silas dragged Ralph's jaws closer.

Suddenly, the room temperature dropped by a large margin, snowflakes started falling down and even Silas' breath brought out a cold steam. "What the hell is this? Another of your illusions?" He asked, clenching Ralph's jaws harder.

"No," Ralph replied

Suddenly, a cold hoarse voice called out from behind Silas "Let go of him, Silas" The voice spoke.

As the cold, hoarse voice echoed through the room, General Silas instinctively released Ralph, his fingers twitching as they loosened their grip. He stood upright, his body stiffening as the oppressive chill in the room intensified. Silas turned slowly to face the source of the voice, a tall figure standing in the shadows near the entrance. The air around him was freezing, snowflakes crystallizing in the dim light.

It was Lucius Noctis, the leader of the Shadow Guild assassin order, a man whose very presence commanded fear and respect. Even Chairman Voss dared not defy this man. His pale face barely visible under the hood of his dark cloak, his cold gaze settled on Silas with an intensity that even the hardened General couldn't ignore.

"Lucius..." Silas muttered, taking a cautious step back. Despite his authority, Silas knew all too well that Lucius's power far surpassed his own.

Without acknowledging the tension, Lucius stepped forward, his movements slow and deliberate. His icy aura seemed to cling to the very air around him, casting a shroud of silence over the room. He stopped beside Ralph, his cold eyes locked on Silas.

"Pay the man," Lucius ordered in his flat, emotionless tone, as if the matter were already settled.

Silas scowled, his pride bruised, but he wasn't foolish enough to defy the leader of the Shadow Guild. He clenched his fists at his sides, visibly restraining himself. "He failed the mission," Silas protested, his voice laced with bitterness. "Why should I...."

"He did not fail," Lucius interrupted sharply, his voice cutting through the air like a blade of ice. "I gave Ralph specific instructions not to kill the boy."

Ralph, still kneeling, smiled slightly, clearly enjoying Silas's discomfort. "I would've told you sooner," Ralph added smugly, "but it seems you're not the most patient of men."

Silas's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched as he struggled to keep his temper in check. He knew Lucius's word was law in the guild, and disobeying him would be foolish. After a tense moment, Silas pulled out a small device from his coat, pressing a few buttons on the holographic display before turning to Ralph.

"Three hundred million. It's done," Silas spat, clearly reluctant but resigned. "Don't think I'll forget this."

Ralph slowly stood up, dusting off his coat as if nothing had happened. "Of course, General," he said, his tone mocking. "It's always a pleasure doing business with you."

Silas's face twisted in disgust, but before he could respond, Lucius spoke again.

"Leave us, Silas."

The General's eyes widened, but he quickly masked his surprise with a curt nod. He gave one last glare at Ralph before turning on his heel, storming toward the door. As he reached the exit, Lucius's voice rang out once more.

"Do not interfere with the boy again, Silas."

Silas halted briefly, his back rigid, then left the room without another word, his footsteps echoing down the corridor. He had to report this to Chairman Voss but he also knew it was baseless as they would never be able to take action against Lucius.

Once Silas was gone, Lucius shifted his gaze toward Ralph, but his thoughts were elsewhere. His eyes narrowed slightly as if considering something far more important than the petty dispute they had just settled.

"I've taken a liking to this Rex Xander," Lucius murmured, his voice almost thoughtful despite its cold edge. "His strength... intrigues me."

Ralph raised an eyebrow, still wary but curious. "You intend to handle him yourself?"

Lucius gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. "Yes. I will take care of him personally. He may prove to be more... entertaining than most." His lips curled into a faint smile, though there was nothing warm about it.

Ralph tilted his head, a hint of surprise flickering in his eyes. "You don't often get involved in assignments directly. He must be special."

Lucius's smile faded as quickly as it had appeared. "He is... different.

With that, Lucius turned away from Ralph, his figure blending into the shadows of the room. The coldness in the air seemed to recede slightly, but it still lingered, as if his presence had left a permanent mark on the room.

Ralph watched Lucius leave, the weight of the moment settling in. He had expected Rex to be a challenge, but now it seemed the game had become far more dangerous than he had anticipated.

As he stood alone in the cold, Ralph couldn't help but chuckle to himself. "Well, Rex... it looks like you've caught the eye of the most dangerous man in the guild. Good luck with that."

With a final glance around the dim room, Ralph turned and made his way toward the exit, He had another assassination to carry out. One that would pay him even more and maybe give him enough money to purchase crystals for him to break through.

He was an assassin, so he specialized in hunting humans and not animals, or else, he would have joined a hunter guild long ago.

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