After leaving the Omekro estate, Renny's mind lingered on Leila. He had been alone with the vice president's girlfriend, let his thoughts slip toward lust, and now he could only hope their brief moment didn't spiral into something larger. Yet that wasn't what gnawed at him most. What unsettled him far more was the fact that Leila had answered a question even Agent Kaviru had refused to touch. And the timing, why had it come to him this way, through sheer chance? Was it really coincidence that they met like this? Not only had she revealed something so vital, she had gone as far as offering him a demon seed.
The thought sat bitter at the back of his throat. He swallowed it down as he reached the basketball court Leila had mentioned. Just as she'd said, Krovanis was there, dominating the game with a handful of friends Renny could immediately sense were all Grade Fives, with a few Grade Fours mixed in. Their eyes, their energy, it was obvious.
The court pulsed with motion and noise, sneakers slapping the polished floor, the ball's heavy thud, cheers rolling like fire through the crowd. The game itself was fast and ruthless, Krovanis carving across the court with effortless skill. He dunked again and again, untouchable. He must have been a baller on Earth, and now, as the strongest of the Lesser Grade demons, his talent had sharpened into something almost unfair. With him on the team, victory was inevitable.
The sidelines buzzed with energy. A cluster of girls, some human, some demons, cheered him on, their voices rising in waves. Not all of them were Grade Fives, Renny recognized a few on his own level. It didn't matter. They all had their eyes on Krovanis.
"Oh my, look at that jump!" one of the girls squealed, nearly bouncing with excitement. "As if anyone else even stands a chance," another chimed in, her voice dripping with admiration.The chorus grew, each trying to outdo the other.
"He's so smooth with the ball... it's unfair."
"Forget the ball, look at his arms… damn."
"Tall, strong, and fine as hell… if he wasn't already perfect, he just had to smile too."
What started as praise for his game slipped seamlessly into admiration for his body, his looks, the effortless charm that seemed to radiate from him. Krovanis wasn't just dominating the court, he was stealing hearts with every move.
Renny could only shake his head, a smile tugging at his mouth. Ridiculous.
But his amusement didn't last. The mood on the court shifted as three demons stepped inside. Renny's eyes narrowed the moment he saw them, he knew those faces.
Not them again.
He rolled his eyes and tried to make himself small, but luck was not on his side. He was too close to the entrance. One of them spotted him immediately.
"Isn't that the convict?" the demon on the left called out, his voice louder than the girls' cheering.
Renny's stomach sank.
"Would you look at that!" the one in the middle added, just as loud, as if the whole point was to disrupt the game.
Renny thought bitterly, Are they seriously trying to get everyone to stare at me?
The middle one sneered. "Convicts watch sports now? Shouldn't you be shackled to drills instead of wasting time? A weakling like you can't afford to enjoy himself, unless you're looking to turn that enjoyment into eviction."
They started moving closer, forcing Renny to shift back, though there was nowhere left to retreat. His nerves prickled.
Then, suddenly, another demon stepped in.He wore thin, circular glasses that caught the court's light, glinting sharply as he looked their way.
"You obstreperous Damaruks. Haulgrimeth, Arvadren, Mauresh," he barked, his voice cracking across the court. The air itself seemed to flinch. He adjusted his glasses with one finger. "Find somewhere to sit before I pounce on you all, troublesome pests."
By the way the trio obeyed without a word, slinking off to the sidelines, he had to be of a higher grade than them.
The demon spared Renny a brief glance. Renny froze, he knew that face. He'd seen it before, on the leaderboard, right at the very top of Grade Four. No wonder they backed off so quickly. The demon then shifted his attention back to the game.
From then on, the game passed without interruption. When it finally ended, the court swarmed with people, all clamoring for a picture with Krovanis. He soaked it in easily, a star in Hell.
Renny sighed. He needed Krovanis alone, even if only for a moment, long enough to hand over the details of his target to him.