Chapter 540
Chapter 540
{Motherfucker…} – crumpling the invitation in his fist, Lovr looked out the window of the palace, from where there was a beautiful view of Dantes at night, and thought deeply: is there any point in going to such a dangerous meeting with the 0th general? What can he offer him, and what will he ask in return? Why did he invite him at all?
{The secret archive of the department!} – Kyon’s eyes flashed. If he gets the position of the investigator of the 1st rank, he will be able to study the secret archive, and the information obtained from there will surely help him save Valeera. It is possible that there is even a plan of the palace with all its secret passages, as it was in the Boston department.
Lovr tried to assess all the risks. Well, at least it is obvious that if he does not go to the meeting, it will cause the 0th general to have suspicions that he can share with the empress, and this will not be good. And if he goes? What is on the mind of the 0th general? What information does he have?
{If he doesn’t know I’m “The Dark Baron”, then that’s fine, but what if he knows?} – Kyon has to take into account even such an unlikely scenario.
{He would have been very surprised at my appearance in the order, and probably would have contacted Lanatelle, but then why am I still alive? It turns out that he simply does not confer with the empress on every issue, but plays his own game… If that’s the case, then he should have concluded that I had agreed on something with Lanatelle, and now I am under her wing… However, the death of the five most important persons of Dantes should puzzle him. It is obvious that with his intelligence, he will easily understand that Lanatelle is involved in their disappearance…}
Thousands of options flashed through Lovr’s head, including the most deplorable and incredible ones. However, he is still alive, and no one has tried to kill him, moreover, he is given the opportunity to become a direct disciple of the empress. It’s not that bad… Given the high risks, he would have disappeared from Rosarrio long ago, but he could not leave Valeera. He had already decided that she would be his woman… She is his wife.
{I have to go to the meeting.} – Kyon decided.
Five minutes before the appointed time, he took the elevator down to the department. He was met by people in black masks – the servants of the zeroth general. After searching the invited guest, they escorted him to the office of their master.
The cherished door was getting closer, and the air seemed to be getting colder. Kyon hadn’t felt such tension because of the upcoming meeting for a long time. This conversation will probably be the most dangerous in his entire life. However, he had been in similar stressful situations hundreds of times, so he could easily control himself.
Lovr was well aware that he did not see the whole picture, so it would be wise for him to adhere to the strategy of “uncertainty”: not to give direct answers and not to ask direct questions. He will have to force the 0th general to put his cards on the table, while not revealing his own, to understand where the bluff and trap are, and where the truth is. He will have a very dangerous dialogue, where any wrong word can be fatal. Dancing on the edge of the knife.
In a well-lit room, Kyon saw a man sitting at a table in a strict black jacket with his palms folded in a lock: tall, fit, tousled black hair and short stubble on his chin. He was distinguished by a stern, masculine beauty, but at the same time his facial features were strangely difficult to remember, which cannot be said about the look. With his gray eyes, he looked at the guest so intently and shrewdly, as if he could see through him. Against all logic, the blood timidly flowed through the veins.
«Hello.» – Lovr said dryly.
«Hello, Kyon Stone. Have a seat.» – the general also nodded.
Having sat down, Lovr immediately tried to seize the initiative: «So, our contract is no longer in force.» – he did not even ask, but concluded. His words could be interpreted in different ways, depending on what information the 0th general has.
«Not all contracts are alike. We’ll talk about it later. First, answer some of my questions: what do you think about the destruction of the Silent Horror mega-clan?» – he asked coldly, completely ignoring his words.
For Kyon, the situation seemed extremely difficult. He could not remain silent, otherwise it would be too suspicious, and the answer must satisfy two opposite positions at once: the zeroth general does not know, that the messenger of the goddess is “The Dark Baron”, therefore, he should express joy about the eradication of crime in the country; but if the zeroth general knows, that the messenger of the goddess is “The Dark Baron”, then it turns out that he got out of the palace, making a deal with Lanatelle, which means that he should at least be upset by the loss of the clan.
«That’s fine.» – Lovr answered with slight irritation in his voice, crossing his arms over his chest. With such a reaction, he could express dissatisfaction with the destruction of his clan, as well as annoyance that someone managed to destroy the clan, but he, who spent more than six months on this matter, failed.
The zeroth general chuckled thoughtfully and asked the next question, even more unpleasant for the interlocutor: «What do you think about the death of “The Black Queen”?»
Such a provocative question could have enraged almost any person in Kyon’s place, but he showed unshakable calm, looked straight into the man’s eyes and said sharply: «Can we do without questions about this damn clan?»
«Why don’t you want to talk about it?»
«Because any mention of the clan turns me inside out!» – Kyon exclaimed with deliberate rudeness, which, again, could be interpreted in different ways.
After a few more tricky questions, the zeroth general was at the end of his patience, because he clearly realized that he would achieve nothing with such questions, so he asked a completely unexpected question: «Why did she kill them?»
«I don’t understand what you’re talking about.» – Kyon crossed his arms on his chest again, signaling with his gesture that he doesn’t know anything and that he won’t talk about it.
«What kind of deal have you made?!» – the zeroth general demanded an answer.
{Here it is!} – Kyon’s eyes flashed triumphantly, because he had found an important clue that could not be a trap, because it was all leading up to it. – {I knew he wasn’t the kind of person to play the role of a submissive stooge! He is playing his own game!} – a whole train of thoughts instantly flashed through his head. Alas, but the probability that the man knows about the real identity of “The Dark Baron”, has increased tenfold. However, even if this still unlikely scenario turns out to be true, he is now in an advantageous position.
«I don’t have to answer that question.» – Lovr straightened up indignantly.
«Are you refusing to obey your boss?!»
It turned sharply cold in the room, and the blood in the veins seemed to freeze. And although not a single muscle twitched on the man’s face, it was obvious to Kyon that he was furious.
Lovr did not succumb to intimidation: «I have two bosses, one of whom is also the boss of the other.»
{Damned boy…} – the zeroth general barely restrained himself from impulsive actions, sighed and, shaking his head, said impartially. – «You are a very controversial figure, Kyon, and you should be well aware of the dangerous game you have entered into.»
«And I love dangerous games and all sorts of deals, if something worthwhile is at stake.» – Kyon hinted, however, in vain, because the man knew why he came to him.
The zeroth general calmly continued: «I am ready to help you get to know your formidable patron better. I will give you access to the secret archive that you are now so eager to get into. You will know the answers to all your questions…»
{Which is to be expected!} – «What do you want for this information?»
«Nothing special…» – the man’s gray eyes shone mysteriously as he leaned back in his chair. – «Just get me one drop of Lanatelle’s blood.»
Kyon’s eyebrow went up in surprise. He hadn’t even expected such a request. Why does the zeroth general need a drop of her blood? What does he want to do with it? Or is this another test to consolidate the formation of their union?
«What are the additional terms?» – Lovr asked in a colorless tone.
The zeroth general smiled slightly: «None. But you’d better hurry.»
Kyon nodded in agreement, asked if there was any other reason for their meeting, and after receiving a negative answer, he said goodbye and left the office.
{What a pity that he is already under her protection… But not for long.} – a bloodthirsty grin with notes of helplessness appeared on the man’s usually expressionless face, like the grin of a hungry wolf greedily watching a juicy bunny in a cage that cannot be reached.
Late at night, heading to the palace, Lovr analyzed the information received. Can he trust the zeroth general? Of course not… That bastard killed him once, after all! Although it is not necessary that he knows that the messenger of the goddess is “The Dark Baron”.
Since a similar sensation appears in the blood from both the 0th general and the empress, Kyon assumed that they have similar unique bodies, or they are relatives at all. If so, then the man needs a drop of Lanatelle’s blood, most likely, just out of a whim, therefore, since he did not try to kill the messenger of the goddess now, he will not kill him after receiving the coveted drop. Otherwise it will be some kind of nonsense.
Lovr took an indecently long time to make a decision. The information hidden in the department’s secret archive is too important, but is the game worth the candle? Perhaps, yes.
{And how do I get a drop of Lanatelle’s blood? Haha… Ask for something easier…} – Kyon had no idea how it would be possible to do it at all. The zeroth general seems to overestimate his abilities now.
Lovr was brought out of deep thoughts by gentle girlish moans. Juno, taking a shower, tried to satisfy her vulgar flower, but in vain. He wanted to turn off the sound signal, but a flame of desire flared up inside. Yeah, he really wanted to relax somehow after such a tense meeting. Kyon tried to stay away from his stepsister, but now he couldn’t.