NOVEL NEXT Chapter 057 | Recruitment Scheme
Echidna turned her indifferent gaze towards the infamous Aberrant of the SIGIL Seventh Division. He was a handsome young man attired in the usual black suit of the organization, although a fedora embraced his head from above. Carrying a briefcase, he moved with purpose and confidence.
'As expected of the Jaeger who annihilated the unspoken strongest of the cardinal families. I didn't even notice him until he interrupted our conversation.' She aloofly thought before shaking hands with the black-suited young man whose name was Damien.
"It is an honor to be in your presence, Sir Damien." The two of them maintained a professional smile, resembling tycoons about to make a profitable backdoor deal.
"Do you wish to join Block 7 of SIGIL, Miss Echidna?" Damien tilted his head and asked again, wanting to hear the answer of the future heir of the Dobermann Family. He was primarily intrigued and wished to see how far he could go with this premise.
"Is it really okay to join your division, Sir Damien? SIGIL is, after all, a secretive organization dealing with the Aberrants and cryptids who threaten the existence of humanity." Echidna's response was a question, not answering the black-suited young man's inquiry.
"This isn't about the SIGIL, Miss Echidna. Secrecy does not matter to those who stand at the very summit of existence. The seventh Paragon does not care about such things." Damien shook his head and continued.
"As long as you are loyal to the organization and do not break laws, Block 7 wouldn't care about what identity you formerly presumed in the past." He smiled at the indifferent lady, who nodded in a daze.
Echidna regained her calm a short moment later and smiled at the black-suited young man. "The perspective of the strongest powerhouses is a treasure to those who intend to become more than who and what they are."
"I will think about it, Sir Damien. Your words have given me a crucial aspect of the Jaegers and SIGIL." She lightly bowed towards Damien, who waved his hand. "No need to bow. I will look forward to having you as my comrade, Miss Echidna."
"Your intelligence is famous throughout the eastern district. Rumors had it that you created a group of personal guards, each of whom is a professionally trained metahuman. Even becoming the heir of the Dobermann Family isn't out of the question anymore."
Damien mentioned while staring at the indifferent lady, looking for a reaction. But Echidna maintained her eerie calm and replied with a smile. "An honor to be attended by a strong Jaeger. My achievements are merely ripples of a small pond."
"In comparison to those who swim amidst the ocean, I am but a small carp who wishes to become a part of those greater." The two started speaking like philosophers, responding with metaphors and random phrases.
The crimson-haired girl watched the two converse with eloquence, barely holding a chuckle from her lips. She glanced at the nearby little girl whose face was covered by a hawk mask. 'Must be part of the so-called personal guard.'
Hecate observed the little girl with veiled scrutiny and nodded in satisfaction. 'A metahuman with potential. Although, unfortunately, she isn't a Jaeger. Nevertheless, recruitment isn't within my job description. I can only report this to Damien or my Master later.'
She turned her attention towards the black-suited young man who was her senior. She hadn't forgotten the proposal of her Master to feed on his blood. It brought chills down her spine, not because of disgust but dread.
Hecate didn't want their relationship to devolve. However, she also understood that it was needed for growth. 'Perhaps, I'll handle it when the time comes. It hasn't been a month since I became a part of my Master's organization.'
'Maybe it wouldn't be embarrassing in a few months.' She inwardly nodded in agreement, intending to handle the proposal at a much later date.
In any case, the crimson-haired vampire felt a tiny tug on her clothing. She promptly noticed the little girl clutching her small black cloak. It was somewhat cute, which made her unconsciously pat the head of the young one. 'Children should be in schools, learning and having fun with friends.'
Hecate remembered the words of her mother, whose face she couldn't remember. Even though they were a vampire, her parents were peaceful and gentle. Never did they drink blood, but for that reason, they were scorned as the weaklings of the Clan.
However, her parents didn't care and continued to live normally. But it all changed when they were murdered by a manic vampire who was starved of blood. Then, everything changed. Her Blood Technique was awakened, and she was kidnapped to be experimented on in an unknown facility.
Hecate didn't blame her parents or their way of life. Instead, she blamed the world for its perverted ruthlessness toward those who sought peace.
'This era of chaos... I wonder when the semblance of dawn would emerge in this world.' She thought in a daze and continued ruffling the hair of the masked little girl. "Are you a trusted guard of Miss Echidna?"
Hawk glanced at the crimson-haired girl whose velvet eyes gleamed with a glint of crimson hue. The vampire's voice was calm and somewhat soothing, prompting the little girl to slightly nod in agreement.
"You must be a powerful little one." Hecate smiled at the masked little girl who continued nodding at the crimson-haired vampire. "You should grow stronger. If you want to continue protecting the one you want to shield the most. You must become stronger."
It wasn't only a reminder to the little girl. It was an echo of what she needed to do regardless of her circumstance. 'I don't want to waste time. I'll have to discuss Master's proposal with Damien later.'
Hecate didn't want to wait until it was too late. She needed to be much stronger to defend the back of her senior and also become useful to her Master. She would sacrifice her dignity to do so, embarrassment be damn.
Damien and Echidna concluded their discussion, each maintaining their professional smile while shaking their hands once again. "It was a good conversation, Miss Echidna."
"Likewise, Sir Damien. I am looking forward to the change Block 7 will bring to New Janus. The Dobermann Family will stand by your side, regardless of the outcome." Echidna turned her attention towards Hawk and added. "Let us leave, Hawk."
"I already accomplished what I intended to do with Block 7." Hearing the words of her Mistress, the masked little girl nodded in understanding and escorted the indifferent lady out of the looming tower's reception hall.
Damien and Hecate gazed at the two stepping out of the building. It was peculiar to see a little girl guarding a grown woman. But it wasn't amongst the strangest things that could be found within the New World.
"What an interesting woman." The black-suited young man muttered to himself, recalling his discussion with the seemingly aloof lady. 'It seems that she intends to become the Master of the Dobermann Family.'
Damien already studied the intelligence regarding the two cardinal families under the command of Block 7. The Dobermann Family and Rottweiler Family were an intriguing bunch of people. They were smart and understood the power Block 7 held.
However, even amongst these subservient families was a rebellious fraction. Sooner or later, they would probably revolt against their current leaders, intending to reclaim their so-called honor and authority.
"That little girl has potential, Damien. She's already an adequate metahuman despite being nothing more than a child." Hecate remarked, attracting the attention of her senior. "I think it would be good to have her be a part of our organization."
Damien lightly chuckled and affirmed. "The two of them will be a part of Block 7. It is just a matter of time until they become subordinates of Miss Alastair. Instead of dithering about the future, how about we discuss our current assignment?"
The black-suited young man handed a file to the crimson-haired vampire. She held the file tightly and read through the details of their assignment. It didn't take long for her calm face to slightly frown.
"Dealing with open criminal syndicates such as the cardinal families is easy. Taking care of the underworld is far more complex. If we aren't careful, there will be collateral damage during our assignment." Hecate uttered and gazed at her senior.
"What plan do you have in mind, Damien?"
Damien's smile widened as he answered with confidence. "You should let me handle the underworld of New Janus. After all, I have several monsters within my influence. Most of them can assassinate a metahuman with ease."
"You, on the other hand, should delegate your focus to training with Francine. Hand-to-hand combat is your forte, correct? Your senior can be considered a very strong swordmaster. Her physical strength dwarfs mine by a giant margin." He pointed at his junior, who tilted her head in confusion.
"You mean, you intend to gradually eliminate the underworld through assassination instead of a direct confrontation? I am in agreement with your plan, but I need to discuss the Master's proposal regarding my sustenance of blood." Hecate was straightforward.
She didn't hesitate and promptly stated what she wanted to do with her senior. The crimson-haired vampire wanted the two of them to talk. Whether Damien didn't want to do as the seventh Paragon proposed or not, it didn't matter.
What was important was a conversation between the two of them. To lay their true thoughts and feelings bare.
Seeing the determined expression of his junior, Damien sighed to himself and patted her head. "You want to talk, huh? I have the same thing in mind."
"Follow me to my private quarters."