Chapter 66: Better to be Mistaken
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Rheina just keep looking back and forth at Eclipse and at the other person who just appeared out of nowhere.
From the assassin's point of view, she could tell that these two had known each other based on how Eclipse approached that unknown young man without being cautious around him.
Rheina knew that Eclipse isn't a type of person who would be comfortable with someone, be it his close acquaintance or not, that young man would always be cautious everywhere he goes.
'Also, I don't remember receiving a report about the Third Young Master's supposed acquaintance outside of the capital city because of his reputation.'
Not only that, Rheina didn't noticed the other young man's presence when he just suddenly appeared out of nowhere, but her instincts told her that this unknown young man might look dangerous because of the smell of bloodlust coming from him.
But at the same time, he doesn't seem hostile towards them while wearing that stoic expression of his.
'From what I heard from Eclipse calling out that man's name…. Arico, wasn't it?'
That's why when this unknown man suddenly appeared, Rheina immediately went over at the front to protect Eclipse in case something happened, but Eclipse signaled her not to do anything and he went over where that unknown young man stood.
Right now, both gentlemen seems to have a staring contest with each other while she watched them for more than an hour.
She sighed because it seems like they won't be speaking for another minute if no one dared to interrupt them.
"Ahem! Excuse me but I think we should get going before someone would get us then."
Both gentlemen seemed to snap back from reality and both of them looked at Rheina with their eyes frowned at her.
Rheina chuckled at she noticed the similarities of both gentlemen and then, stopped as she realized something else….
"Oh right. Rheina, this guy's name is ADRIAN CONRAD ASTERRIX, Arico is his alias. My older cousin by the way."
It seems like what she was thinking earlier struck him gold…
'An Asterrix?!'
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Arico looked at Eclipse with a deadpan expression written on his face as he said telepathically; ≤ …. 'Are you sure that you need to introduce me that way? Wouldn't this be a problem in the near future if someone from that family knew about this? Also, you didn't even ask for my permission if I agreed!' …. ≥
Eclipse, on the other hand, just shrugged off his shoulders as he replied back in the same way; ≤ …. 'What do you want me to do then? Let yourself be exposed in front of the Lotus Killer?' … ≥
Arico almost gasped but refrained himself as he didn't want to alert the other person who was with them.
≤ ….. 'H-hold on the f*cking second! T-that's her?! Rheina Clandestine of the Clandestine clan and Leader of Arcanum De Fleur, the Lotus Killer?! One of the prominent figures outside of the world plot?!' ….. ≥
Eclipse simply nodded as he replied; ≤ …. 'Yup! That's her. Now, you should understand why I introduced you to her as one of my relatives on my mother's side. Since that woman would suspect you immediately if you just stated that you're my close acquaintance out of nowhere when I haven't been outside of the capital city as Ezekiel Zephyr Chevalier.' …. ≥
And besides, Eclipse thought as it will be better for Rheina to mistaken Arico as one of the members of Asterrix family rather than to be someone else since the Asterrix family in this worldline seems to have a mysterious background that even Eclipse was having a hard time to uncover it.
When Arico heard Eclipse's explanation, the Slayer Agent could simply nod as a confirmation for his reasonable statement but at the same time, he frowns.
≤ …. 'Rheina Clandestine is an assassin, according to the system archive and her role in the world plot of [Mystique Enchantress] wasn't that important as she was only mentioned when needed but still, even though she is just merely a character passerby in the world plot but in this current timeline, she's one of the most prominent characters and you just got acquainted with such person?!' ….. ≥
Eclipse sighed because he could tell that the direction of their telepathic conversations would lead into some more questioning than answering so he replied back; ≤ …. 'Don't ask. Just play along with me for now and also, explained yourself on what the heck are you doing in this worldline?' …. ≥
Within the Slayers Department back at the Main House, Arico was always being dispatched to capture world-hoppers who violated the system laws since Arico sufficiently done his tasks, well, brutally at most.
'That's why I don't have the slightest idea on what he's doing in here. I need to ask him later on and also about the situation back at the World-Hopping Department and the Main House System.'
Arico, on the other hand, with no other choice but to comply with Eclipse and simply nodded for confirmation.
Well, what Eclipse told him seem reasonable anyway and it's the only way though.
'It would be better for Rheina Clandestine, who is the Leader of Arcanum De Fleur and the Matriarch of the Clandestine clan to mistaken me as one of Eclipse's relatives from his mother's side than to present myself as a close friend out of nowhere.'
Arico thought as he kept his stoic expression like he usually does.
He will be exposed right away but even if that happens, Arico is pretty much confident with his skills to counter the assassin's deadly strikes, but Arico had known Eclipse for a long time and for the world-hopper to warned him then, it means Eclipse form an alliance with this woman who was irrelevant in the main storyline of this worldline.
But outside of the world plot, Rheina Clandestine is one of the people that needs to be allied no matter what happens.
"H-he's an Asterrix?! So, it means…. All this time, you have been in contact with your biological mother's family's side?! Does he also have the Magician bloodline within him?! Just like you, Sir Eclipse?!"
Both gentlemen snapped from their own thoughts when they heard what Rheina said and from that moment, Arico raised an eyebrow and looked back at Eclipse for some answers but the nerve of this kid who didn't even bat an eye on him.
'This brat—!'
However, his thoughts were halted for a moment when a heard Eclipse's voice telepathically speaking to him.
≤ ….. "She just happened to discover one of my [abilities] since I have an authority to bring forth other skills that I have learned from my world-hopping journey, and she mistaken it as a Magician bloodline power of this world so, I didn't need to correct her though.' …. ≥
When Arico heard the reason, he sighed because of what Eclipse said and he wasn't surprised if he just let things go on the flow if it benefits him in the long run but…
≤ ….. 'Would that be alright? What if the Asterrix family suddenly shows up one day and then, that story of yours would cause some conflict with others if Rheina tells this to others?' …. ≥
Eclipse looked back at him with his most deadpan expression; ≤ …. 'Have you read her description properly in the system archive? Or even tried to analyze it? Rheina Clandestine is an assassin and one of their jobs, aside from killing someone, information about the client or even their allies, she wouldn't leak that information recklessly. She isn't just an assassin, but she also knows how to play in the political field and at the same time, she is a wise leader that everyone looks up to. That's why I choose Rheina as one of my allies in this worldline for the meantime since I don't know how much longer I should stay here though.' …. ≥
Arico; ≤ …. 'Well, it's up to you then. I'll believe in your instincts and just follow you. Also, I have some news for you, and I'll tell you later on but for now, we need to get out of here first. By the way, that appearance suits you even more rather than the previous strawberry-colored hair and cyan-colored eyes of yours as Ezekiel Zephyr Chevalier.' ….. ≥
Eclipse just looked back at him when Arico complimented his [new appearance] and just shrugged it off.
≤ ….. 'Actually, this is my real appearance and not the previous one thought.' …. ≥
Arico almost stumble down from where he stood because of what he had learned from Eclipse.
≤ ….. 'The heck are you talking about? That snow-colored hair and lilac-colored eyes of yours is the appearance you chose when you joined the Main House System millennium years ago, right? What do you mean that's your true appearance?' …. ≥
Eclipse was about to response when both gentlemen heard a coughing sound that catch their attention and they both looked at Rheina who seems like she is running out of patience because of them.
"Do you guys' mind if we go now? We need to get the hell out of here before those people manage to find us, especially you, Sir Eclipse! I'll question you guys later on so please, we need to move on."
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