Chapter 135: Trail
Finally, he said it anyway. "I am not interested in joining." His tone is very laid-back.
Francesca's smile, which had been a sign of hope, froze on her face. She blinked in surprise, needing confirmation of what she had just heard. "What? What did you say?"
Jaegar repeated his decision, "I'm not interested."
He continued, "I don't have any thoughts of including myself with others. I won't interfere in any of your matters either."
Francesca sighed heavily, her disappointment evident. She tried one last time, her tone serious, "Jaegar, you have to think carefully. You won't be able to live peacefully."
Jaegar, however, remained resolute. He met her stern gaze with his own stoic expression and asked, "Are you threatening me?"
Francesca's conduct shifted slightly, her tone becoming more matter-of-fact. "No, just informing you."
Jaegar maintained his calm exterior, not allowing her words to sway him. "You had fooled me there."
Francesca didn't respond to his remark, instead choosing to get up from her seat. "Be careful, Jaegar," she said as she turned to leave.
He watched her exit the cafe and make her way to a waiting car.
Jaegar had never expected her to ask him to join the group. She seemed to be thinking that Jaegar was the same as them.
After finishing his coffee, he too left the cafe and stood on the bustling streets, observing the ebb and flow of daily life.
As he walked back to his home, Jaegar couldn't help but ponder the group Francesca had mentioned.
It had been established to remove individuals with special abilities, so why would she recruit them into the same organization? The puzzle gnawed at him, but he ultimately decided not to delve deeper into these matters. He had his own life to live and his own questions to answer, and joining a mysterious group wasn't part of his plans.
Jaegar's decision weighed heavily on him as he made his way back home. He couldn't help but feel a sense of relief mixed with uncertainty. The encounter with Francesca had left him with more questions than answers.
As he reached his quiet neighbourhood and entered his modest home, he found himself deep in thought.
As the day turned into night, Jaegar found himself standing by the window, staring at the starry sky.
His thoughts were interrupted by Diana's voice, calling for dinner. Jaegar reluctantly tore his gaze away from the night sky and joined Diana at the dinner table.
*
The next morning, Jack and Mia remained hidden within the confines of the warehouse, still diligently searching for any sign of the facility they believed was hidden here. As they combed through the dimly lit space, their hope began to wane.
They had been searching for hours, but the warehouse seemed empty and devoid of any clues. Jack's frustration grew, while Mia's determination started to falter. They exchanged glances, silently questioning if their efforts were in vain.
However, their attention was suddenly diverted as they spotted a young man approaching the very alley they were concealed within. They observed him cautiously from behind the glass windows, unsure of his intentions.
Their curiosity turned to alarm as a car pulled up behind the young man, and two women emerged from the vehicle. Jack couldn't contain his astonishment and whispered to Mia, "Mi ran."
The situation had taken an unexpected turn, and the two of them now found themselves witnessing the newly arrived people in the quiet valley.
They remained hidden and watched them. Jack seemed to know Mi ran. From behind the car, two more people came towards them and stood along Francesca's side.
Mian then said, "Sander and Vondell."
Jack gasped, "What's going on here?"
Mia, staring with a startled expression, said, "I don't know. But if I have to guess, they are here for him." Her eyes locked on the young man, who stood with a confident composure. Not showing even a little fear.
A little white before,
The following morning, Jaegar found himself at home after Diana had left.
He contemplated going shopping, a simple task that allowed him to soak in the city's atmosphere.
He walked as usual, as it was a chance to observe the ebb and flow of life around him. He strolled out of his neighbourhood, a leisurely pace guiding his steps. He liked walking, as he found it to be calming.
As he meandered through the streets, a subtle unease prickled at the back of his mind. It was a distinct sensation that he was being trailed.
Two individuals seemed to shadow his every move. Not wanting to lead them directly to the city, Jaegar swiftly changed his course, veering towards the western outskirts of the city, where the abandoned warehouses loomed.
They kept their distance from one another and didn't follow him together. As they followed him, Jaegar was able to discern them as the ones he saw in the alley, the ones who fought with the creature.
The imposing structures offered an eerie backdrop to this unusual pursuit.
Jaegar continued his trek, weaving through alleys and narrow passages, his senses on high alert. The sound of an approaching car drew his attention, and he made his stop to see the ones he was waiting for to show up.
He had anticipated that she would act, but she had come after him after a few hours.
Just as he reached the heart of the warehouse district, the car came to a halt right before him. The car's door swung open, and Francesca emerged, accompanied by Miran, who had been following Jaegar from the shadows. Two more figures materialized, closing in from behind.
Jaegar saw the three people who had been keeping tabs on him for a few days, and Francesca leaned back on the car as she stared at him. She took out a cigarette from her pocket and lit it, the smoke curling lazily around her face. Miran stood beside her, her arms crossed, and a smirk played on his lips. The two figures behind Jaegar moved closer, their expressions unreadable.
Francesca took a long drag on her cigarette before finally breaking the silence.
Francesca broke the tense stillness with a question, her voice laced with determination, "Did you change your mind?" Her eyes bore into Jaegar's, seeking any sign of hesitation.
Jaegar, however, met her gaze squarely, his resolve unwavering. "No," he replied succinctly, his tone laced with a touch of defiance.
A heavy sigh escaped Francesca's lips, and her next words carried a solemn weight, "Then I have no choice but to take care of you."
Jaegar's eyebrows knitted in mild disbelief. "You mean, like killing me?" he inquired, his voice calm and measured.
Francesca shook her head, her expression grim. "No, not killing you, but leaving you barely alive."
Jaegar's steely gaze never wavered as he continued to assess the situation. "You seem like you came prepared," he observed, a note of caution in his voice, as he studied the three individuals standing before him, ready for whatever might transpire in the shadowy depths of the warehouse district.
Vondell, who had been watching him for a while, then yelled, "Show some respect to Ms. Ravenswood, you puny brat."
"Brat? Then what are you, old man?" Jaegar tilted his head, smirking.
He walked towards Jaegar, unsheathing his sword, his face contemptuous. "Me, old man," he snickered.
As Vondell's temper flared and he charged forward, Jaegar sensed him and his aura increasing. In a fluid motion, Jaegar called upon his innate powers, tapping into the swirling chaos and crackling lightning that dwelled within him.
A surge of energy coursed through Jaegar's veins as he harnessed the chaotic forces around him. The very air seemed to distort and ripple with his newfound power. His eyes blazed with an otherworldly gleam as he prepared to face Vondell head-on.
Vondell had been seeing him for a few days, and the way he acted around Francesca made him angry, as did the way he behaved arrogantly around her.
Vondell, driven by anger and frustration, closed the distance rapidly. His steps were swift and purposeful as he lunged at Jaegar, ready to unleash his own martial prowess. His hand gripped the hilt of his large sword blade, poised to strike.
As Vondell's blade descended in a deadly arc, Jaegar's response was nothing short of supernatural.
He raised his palm, his fingers crackling with raw, red lightning. In the blink of an eye, a surge of lightning erupted from his hand, lancing towards Vondell.
The bolt of lightning crackled and hissed, striking with unerring precision. Vondell's sword, infused with his own power, intercepted the attack. The clash between lightning and enchanted steel sent sparks cascading through the dimly lit warehouse.