The Golden Wolf Auction house was bustling with excitement and mild hostility from opposing factions. Blake walked toward his VIP room with everyone's eyes on him which were filled with fear.
"That's The Guillotine?!" One whispered
Another whispered, "They say he hunts his enemies even to the ends of the continent."
"Hurry move away. His temper is as wild as a minotaur." Someone else shushed
Blake closed the door to his room and sunk into his chair with a sigh.
"Who's spreading these rumors about me? I will chase that person to the bottom of the ocean." He growled
The man nearby him burst into fits of laughter. He held Blake's chair and his heterochromatic eyes looked at him with delight.
"Don't stress it. Horrible rumors are a good thing for underworld big shots." he beamed
They paused at the knocking at the door. The blonde man held a short blade behind his back as he opened the door with a sweet expression.
"Blake?" a voice echoed in
Blake responded in surprise, "Lan?"
The unfamiliar person entered. The face was ordinary with brown hair paired with green eyes and the man suddenly pulled off his face.
The men backed up at the unnatural display and the blonde person was pushing Blake in front of him. This action made him want to toss his secretary of the balcony.
"BLAKE!" Quinlan beamed
Blake snapped, "Why didn't you give me a warning!"
"So...Sorry." he shrunk
Blake sat upright and offered him a seat as well. A waiter came to take orders.
"We'll just have drinks for now or do you want anything else?" Blake asked
Quinlan muttered with despair, "Hmm...Non-alcoholic for now, I'm busy with something. So I settle for Arnold Palmer"
"Alcohol lovers are annoying sometimes. I'm feeling like White Russian, I consider actual desserts later." Blake ordered
The waiter paused in confusion.
Blake chuckled, "No, I don't drink the tears of my foes. The Guillotine has a sweet tooth which he's proud of."
The waiter rushed out while Quinlan laughed quietly. Blake noticed that Quinlan was stuttering less, he was still timid but he was more comfortable around him. He felt glad that he was opening up to him and felt a smile creep over his face.
Quinlan frowned, "How do you manage with your love of sugar?"
"Teeth of steel." Blake smirked
Quinlan sneaked glances at the quiet person behind his brother...it was strange that he started considering him as a sibling lately. He hoped that he stayed as a Nox, he knew that he might have not joined willing but he needs to convince him to remain.
"This is Sebastian. My secretary, I had to get. His personality is strange but his qualifications were too good to let go." Blake sighed
Quinlan nodded and turned his gaze to the stage downstairs. The auction had started, the lower leveled items were being brought up.
"W...wh...why are you here?" Quinlan spat out
Blake answered, "Strange but if you must know. I'm on vacation."
Quinlan's brain stopped for a moment and thoughts couldn't form. He really looked at him, Blake wore loose shirt with shorts.
"Is he sick?" Quinlan thought in horror his hand moving around
Blake chuckled in frustration which made Quinlan look away with as though scolded. Sebastian took the drinks from the returning waiter and tested each for poison before handing them over.
"As I was saying. I chased down a traitor all the way here before I finally got them." Blake smirked "And since I was out here, I decided I need a break. Do you know how had it was to earn my current standing in the family as well as a title?"
Quinlan nodded in understanding. Blake has been focused on dangerous fights mostly territory battles and traitor hunts which was the faster way to secure a Nox's position with high contribution, a high risk high reward type of venture.
Quinlan fought as well as a central figure but he was more centered in areas of medicine, morgue, aftermath cleaning up and evidence removal. He preferred fighting strong individuals anything else he involved himself if necessary.
"What are you doing here?" Blake asked without looking at him "You don't ask random questions, Lan."
Before Quinlan could answer a series of explosions rang out. The guards of Golden Wolf roared in range at the attack and unknown people slipped into the venue. Everyone erupted into fighting and more explosives went off as the ceiling came down.
"I'm off. Take care of yourself." Blake sighed
Quinlan slipped on his disguise and the separated. Blake walked for only a while until he was face to face with Lesia.
"Mother." Blake said with an expressionless face "To what do I owe the pleasure."
Lesia held her sword, "Did you do this?"
Quinlan followed Tyson. He had slipped away from the crowd toward the locations for auction items.
"Studying him for so long finally paid off. He would never miss an opportunity like this." Quinlan thought
He dashed forward and tackled Tyson into another door. Quinlan entered, shut the steel door and the dim lit was their only source of light in the room.
"Bounty Hunter?" Tyson asked without a trace of worry
Quinlan didn't answer and sprinted toward him. Tyson with almost bored eyes as he kicked him way and walked toward the only door in the room. It didn't open.
"Give me the key." Tyson demanded
Quinlan remained silent letting his black energy spread out. Failure wasn't an option, a scythe formed in his hand and the stared at each other again. One was determined while another was annoyed.
When Tyson advanced, Quinlan rolled on the ground and managed to extend his weapon to cut his cheek. A smirk formed on his face.
"You-" Tyson roared
His foot came down and Quinlan felt the crack of a bone. He forced his eyes to look at Tyson's anger small wisps of black aura clung onto his enemy without him noticing. Quinan kicked him aside and created distance.
They both bolted toward each other again.