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It was already nighttime, but the city was cheerfully loud and oppressively bright, as a political rally was in progress. Divine Hesoyam Rosa never had a mind for politics, always choosing not to vote in both national and local elections.
"The guaranteed reduction of excessive spending," Divine read from the flyer, her voice dripping with skepticism.
"That means lower benefits for the medically disabled and destitute. It's all flair."
Divine added, speaking to the half-listening Nathaniel Macaraeg, who was anxiously watching a luxurious hotel.
"You're still not going to convince me not to vote. That seems even worse." Nathaniel added, dismissing Divine's arguments.
Divine sighed, crumpling the political flyer and joining in on the monitoring. "We should've gone as soon as possible. The more time we waste, the fewer opportunities we have."
"We can't go and charge ahead mindlessly. They've deliberately chosen a public place so that any intervention will be limited."
"If Frizz was here, he would've charged in." Divine added, sighing.
"Frizz was strong but reckless. The rumors of superpowered people have increased by thirty percent in Fishbook because of him." Nathaniel added with concealed disdain, then paused for a few seconds.
"He was fun, though. I was starting to like the guy." He added with a somewhat somber tone.
"So it's going to rain." Divine sighed, tearing up while looking at the sky, hearing the distant thunders.
"Yeah, hard. Hei called in a favor." Nathaniel added, glancing at Divine, whose face then frowned, aware of the source of the favor.
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Matthew looked outside the hotel window with a wine bottle in his hand, sipping it with a huge smile. He was both scanning and enjoying the city. *Crack!*
A thunder caught Matthew's attention. "That's strange. I checked the weather report this morning and it said there was only a small chance of rain." He added, sipping on the wine bottle.
"Cheng! This is a big day for us. I've brought some expensive wine. Go ahead and drink!" Matthew shouted to Cheng, who was reading a newspaper.
"No thanks, I despise alcohol. It ruins my diet." Cheng replied, uninterested.
"Always with the diet." Matthew scoffed.
"When's the boss going to arrive?" Cheng questioned, lowering the newspaper.
Matthew smiled with excited anticipation. "They're coming soon, and it'll be a blast. Ohhh, to see that soul absorption for the second time."
Cheng kept silent; he couldn't ignore his anxiety since he had never met their boss before.
*Bang!* The hotel room's door opened violently, revealing an emotionless woman dressed in a dapper business attire with white skin and blonde hair. The two men inside the room shivered; the woman was emanating pressure from her presence alone.
The woman was also dragging someone, an unconscious hotel employee, being held by the uniform.
"Madame Torres. I'm so glad you're here!" Matthew added, excited and giddy.
The woman held up a finger as Matthew reached for a handshake, stopping him, and after closing the door behind her, proceeded to slash the employee's neck. The blood gushed out, then levitated, heading towards the woman's mouth.
The rain then dropped, dropping violently, similar to a storm.
The employee was now a drained husk on the floor, almost a skeleton, after being drained of all the blood. The woman swallowed the last drop of blood with an excited look on her face, flushing her cheeks. The corpse then dropped on the floor, slightly unnerving the two men inside.
"Now, straight to business." The woman said, glaring at the corpse of Frizz with a seductive and gluttonous glare. "A shame his blood has lost all its taste." She said, clicking her tongue, approaching the corpse lying on the bed.
"Why is he still in his clothes? Why didn't you remove it?"
"Oh yes, we apologize!" Matthew said, unclothing Frizz in a hurry.
"Thaaaat's more like it, yes." The woman said, caressing Frizz's chest and lower region, and then looked at the two men with a satisfied grin. "Please leave. You'll be rewarded for your efforts soon."
Matthew and Cheng briefly exchanged their disappointed glances before exiting the room and silently guarding the door. The two could hear some thuds inside, further confusing Cheng.
"Is she going to have s-"
"No, she's not into that." Matthew instantly clarified, slightly offended.
(A white woman foreigner is in charge of the cartel. Who would've thought?) Cheng thought, puzzled.
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As the rain heavily poured, the cheering noise from the city dissipated. The political rally was cut off by the weather. Divine and Nathaniel were now drenched while monitoring the hotel from a distance.
"So Hei was right. They've mostly booked the hotel for themselves. Most of the people inside are cartel members." Nathaniel added, poking Divine with a stick to catch her attention. "Even then, Hei warned us to not be excessive with our abilities."
"Good call by Hei. The heavy rain will mask all the noise and delay any authorities or backups." Divine grinned and tied her hair, removing the drenched jacket and revealing a tight white shirt.
"I shouldn't've questioned him."
Divine and Nathaniel then rushed towards the hotel, their eyes gleaming in rage.
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Inside the hotel room.
"Hear my words, this vessel is now mine. His essence and seed turned over, to be mine forevermore."
Torres was now saddling the dead Frizz while chanting a ritual. Her eyes glowed as Frizz's eyes did, too. The room then glowed in a white hue; the ritual had started, and the two were now connected.
Torres chanted a ritual while saddling the dead Frizz. Both their eyes glowed as a white hue filled the room; the ritual had begun, connecting them.
"Eternal Pilfer: Soul Glutton."
A magical rune then appeared above Torres' head, starting the ritual. Frizz and Torres both levitated in the air as a stream of white energy, coming out of their mouths, and then connected the two.
"Yes, give it all. Let me ascend!"
[System]
"AAAAHHHH!" Torres screamed in pain as the connection was violently cut, dropping them on the bed.
"Piece of shit. The fuck!? My head!? What the fuck was wrong with the transfer!?" Torres screamed, reading the system notification that flickered and changed erratically.
[System]
╬ Don't attempt this again, woman. This is not your vessel to conquer. ╬
Torres read the notification, angrily frustrated. The hotel then quaked as dying screams and gunshots from below could be heard.
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