Chapter 127: Chapter 126 : Hidden In Plain Sight

Spending another hour at the Combat Arena, Ralf parted ways with the female bodyguard and headed home where he picked up Hana for a Fawkes family outing.

“Whoa, it’s them! That’s Ray, right. It’s the first time I’ve seen him outside the ring. He’s wearing the same mask as that man from the anime video. Hey hey, should we approach?”

“Don’t be stupid, let’s go. Don’t bother them.”

“Eeeh, but I want an autograph. Aaa, fine, I’m coming, wait up…”

Moving through the streets, the Fawkes family naturally garnered attention from those in their surroundings. Ralf, Ray and the Silver Path were the talks of the town.

Gazes rushed to the group and conversations broke out with them as the main subject. Luckily for them, this was all their presence provoked.

Through continued exposure, the frenzy around the duo had drastically cooled off from what it was since the initial boom…at least enough that they could now stroll through the streets without fear of being dogpiled

People still approached, but they would only do so when Ralf was alone. When he was accompanying Hana, no one dared to approach them. Knowing what lengths he would go to, no one wanted to end up on the wrong side of Hana Fawkes. An unwritten ‘don’t speak unless spoken to’ rule and never approach policy was in effect regarding her.

Curiously, the same policy was in place for Ray, so with both of them present, the surrounding pedestrians scrambled to put some distance between the group and themselves.

“Mother of Dragons?” Ralf’s brows ticked up at the words.

“Yep, Mother of Dragons. I heard it from Greg. Apparently, that’s my unofficial title,” Hana said.

“Sounds awesome. Right Ray?”

((Yeah,)) Ray voiced through the Psi Clone, floating beside Hana, as though haunting her.

The Psi Clone he was operating was very different from usual, on multiple levels.

The most obvious difference was that it was fully clothed. It wore the duo’s usual, black, white and silver, get-up. Along with this, it also donned a handcrafted Zero mask, identical to the one worn by Professor Zakute in the instructional video.

Why dress up a Psi Clone like this? And why did Ray choose to accompany the pair on their walk in the first place?

Let’s skip to the latter. While Ray had changed a lot, it wasn’t to the point where he would subject himself to the attention he was currently being bombarded with.

He would walk with Hana if she requested it, sure, but this wasn’t the case at present. And similarly, Ralf hadn’t forced his hand either, but rather convinced him on enacting a certain ploy.

What was it?

The answer: to cast an illusion and create a blind spot.

Thirty minutes ago, Ralf stopped by the Mental Space and offloaded his idea on Ray’s lap.

…the element of surprise is half the power of the attack. If people know we have a grendo gun, then they’ll be able to plan around it. We have to keep that fact hidden.

Ray raised a brow at these words.

Isn’t that what that guitar case is for? If we play a few songs during the entrance, they’ll think that we’re just carrying a guitar inside and be none the wiser. That’s the plan, right?

Ralf shook his head.

That was the plan. Thinking about it, that level of trickery will be easily seen through. We have to be sneakier. So, I’m thinking, why don’t we just have the gun be placed in a Psi Clone. We can dress it up, and stuff the gun inside and no one will know. Normally, having a Psi Clone linger around you would be strange, but with our story and your existence being well known, it won’t be strange at all.

As long as we do it enough, the Psi Clone’s existence will be treated as a cosmetic thing made for communication purposes only, and will not be taken as a threat, when in reality, it will act as a mobile storage unit for our deadliest weapons. Think about it. Not just the grendo gun, we can store ammo, grenades, fuel, poison, and if it comes to it, even bombs. What do you think?

Hearing the explanation, Ray approved of the idea. It was smart and would create a mental blind spot that could be exploited in certain circumstances.

In Ray’s mind, the tactic was thought up in response to the incident with Nikolas in the corridor. Ralf might not act like it usually, but he was still Silver. He was a prideful one. The other’s slight and condescending gaze rubbed him the wrong way. Ray believed that Ralf created this tactic to have more options if such a situation repeated itself.

This belief though…wasn’t entirely accurate. While this did play a part, a bigger motive in Ralf’s decision in proposing this ploy was to have Ray spend more time in the outside world.

Since he started making anime, Ray had been spending an absurd amount of time in the Mental Space. Ralf wouldn’t stop him outright, especially knowing how much fun he was having, but at the very least, he wanted his other to take breaks now and then. This tactic was one of the ways he sought to realize this desire.

Ignorant of his other’s self’s motivations, Ray naturally brought up the fact that Ralf could enact this tactic by himself. Ralf was perfectly capable of manipulating several Psi Clones in such a way that they could hold multiple conversations without issue.

It would be easy for him to manipulate a Psi Clone while having it pretend to be Ray. He brought this up but Ralf had a perfect counter:

Mom said I couldn’t pretend to be you. And vice versa.

Hit with these words, Ray sighed and gave up. There was no arguing against this.

With this being the case, he operated the Psi Clone himself and bore with the discomfort.

He didn’t plan to make it a regular happening. To him, a few appearances would be enough to solidify the idea in people’s minds, then he could let up. Interestingly, he expected it to be an uncomfortable experience, and initially, it was, but once the conversation began flowing, he, Ralf and Hana entered a fuzzy world of their own making.

((I’d rather you have a different title though.))

“Like what?” Hana questioned.

((Hmm, something with Silver in it. Like…Mother of Silver.))

“That does sound better,” Ralf rubbed his hairless chin with an approving gleam in his eyes. “What do you think mom?”

Hana’s face showed conflict. “I can’t lie, Mother of Dragons sounds better to me.”

((How about Mother of Silver Dragons then?))

Hana’s eyes lit up. “That’s perfect,” she said, clapping her hands together adorably.

The duo’s smiles constructively interfered with each other, causing an ear-to-ear monstrosity to appear on their face.

“Let’s make it official then, we’re stopping at the Adventurer Association anyway.”

Hana showed a wry smile. “I don’t think they’ll let a D-Rank Adventurer have such a grandiose title.”

“Hmm, I suppose not…at least not now. In the future, when Silver stands above all, you’ll be able to call yourself whatever you like.”

“I see, I’ll wait till then.” She nudged her sons’ shoulder, anticipation leaking from her voice.

Looking through her parent issued scouter, her sons’ potential showed a sideways eight. She had no doubts about if they could do it, only how much time it would take. This unfaltering belief filled her with endless excitement for her sons’ future.

“We’ve been walking a while, let’s call a taxi and drop off these groceries. I want to battle monsters already.”

“Sure.”

Her suggestion was taken in stride, and the group headed to the Fawkes residence.

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After dropping off their extra baggage, the group would hop back in the taxi and head to Popleigh’s edge. The Psi Bike was summoned and with it, the trio made their way to Ganurg, where they picked up a mission from the branch before heading into the Monster Zone.

The subsequent adventure was far from the life and death struggle it usually was, but a relaxing affair. Most of the time was spent chatting merrily while appreciating the surrounding nature.

Monsters were their usual monstrous selves, but overall, it was a fun experience for all those involved, especially Hana. She had spent much of her time cooped up and stagnant over these last few years, so having this change of pace did her soul much good.

After spending a few hours in the Monster Zone, the group left and returned to their home in Popleigh. There, they would spend their nights as usual, before a fireplace, comfortably soaking up its, and each other’s heat.

***

Rewinding the clock a bit…

In the future, when Silver stands above all…

These words hadn’t gone unnoticed by those in the surroundings. While the onlookers had managed to hold themselves back in the duo’s presence, once they left, the area became a bubbling cauldron of excitement and frenzy. People discussed the bold declaration with great agitation.

Witnessing the resultant stir, Sigurd, seated in the outdoor cafe, showed an expression halfway between wry and amusement. At the same time, his aged eyes sparkled, sparkled in a manner that was all too common in the surrounding area.

Yes, just as so many in this Dukedom, the Golden Fang Hunter also found himself engulfed in the duo’s invisible flames of frenzy. He was burning with no hope of extinguishment

It had already been three days since the aged Ascendant arrived at Popleigh. The first thing he did was confirm whether his fear was true or false.

He had similar concerns to that of Astra and Duke Reynolds, and just like them, he was relieved to find out that Ralf wasn’t a vessel of Dimitri nor a pretender, but a real person.

Once understood, Sigurd decided to investigate in the background. While doing so, he was repeatedly blown away by the stories and details surrounding Ralf and his faction. Sigurd wasn’t just a random nobody who was easily impressed or awestruck.

Due to his advanced age and status as leader of one of the Pillar Factions, he was no stranger to the shocking. Still, even so, he couldn’t help but be shaken to his core at what he had come to learn over these last few days.

He had known a bit before coming here, but hearing it all, from the incident with Hana and Turner to the Challenger Series matches knocked the wind of his lungs, and then that same wind was used to fuel the fire currently enveloping him.

“Silver…they are something,” he said, admiration sounding clearly in his voice. His gaze shifted from the vibrating crowd to the person seated diagonally across from him. “Wouldn’t you agree, Astra?”

Just two minutes ago (three minutes after the Fawkes group parted), the bespectacled beauty happened to pass by the street and happened to catch sight of Sigurd. Spotting the familiar face, she took a seat and the pair caught up.

“Certainly.” The S-Rank Adventurer kept her eyes on the crowd as she responded. “If he wasn’t, I wouldn’t even be here, you neither…or those other curious fellows.”

Sigurd sighed at the mention of the last group.

Astra’s brows raised curiously. “They giving you trouble, Sig?”

“Why ask, would you help me if they did?”

“Of course…not.” Astra denied with a level of swiftness only her speedster reputation could match. “I’m the Reader,” she said while flicking the corner of her spectacle’s frame, “a simple observer. I won’t interfere with the story. That job falls to the characters.”

Sigurd sighed again.

The terms Astra spoke of weren’t new to him. All who were ‘close’ to her were made aware of them. To the world, she was the ‘Indifferent’, but this wasn’t what she called herself.

Those who were ‘close’ to her, knew that she liked referring to herself by the ‘Reader’ title and most people, out of respect, addressed her by it. Besides respectful reasons, it was the most fitting when one understood her particular stance and mindset.

She treated the world as one big endlessly complex story and everyone in it as characters…well except her. Just like her title suggested, she took the position of the reader, one whose duty was to simply experience the story and characters.

As for the latter, she kept a notebook that listed all the important characters, dividing them into different categories like main characters and side characters. Sigurd himself was listed as a side character in her notebook. The duo’s names were also in her book, though it had yet to enter a definite section and was just jotted down.

Sigurd came to and took another sip. “I see, I’ll figure out something on my own then… as I have been.”

“Hmm?”

Sensing her question, Sigurd explained. “Unfortunately, not all our foreign visitors were content with observing from afar. Since I arrived, I’ve had to swat away quite a number of overeager moths.”

“Oh, so that was your doing. I see, so that’s why they all pulled back, now it makes sense.”

“Hm, those fools are playing with fire.”

Astra’s eyes narrowed. “You really think so?” Her interest was piqued. Sigurd wasn’t just anybody after all. “Have you found anything about them?” she followed up.

Sigurd didn’t rush to respond. After a few seconds of sipping, he swallowed and lowered his cup.

“Nothing. Besides the anime instruction video and the statements circulating this region, nothing else is known about this faction. My three days of scouting has produced nothing either.”

“You too huh,” Astra plopped down on the table, disappointment leaking out of her lips. “No one knows anything, haa, how frustrating.”

“No one? Even Micheal and Ares?”

Astra rolled her head to the side in response. “I haven’t asked them yet - or rather, I haven’t been able to reach them. I’m sure one of them knows something, no doubt. I don’t know where they are and have no method to contact them. I’m not stressing about it though. I’ll let this plot point develop naturally. With all the frenzy this news has caused, they’ll surely show up any day now. Till then, I’ll wait.”

“You could always ask Ralf himself, he seems pretty friendly.”

Astra’s face turned troubled. “Sig, you know I’m super shy. I could never do something so bold.”

Sigurd nearly choked on his drink at her words. Coughing himself to safety, he put it down and showed a bitter smile. “Ah yes, of course, I see, I must have mistaken you with a different Astra, one who a decade ago was dancing…breakdancing on the world stage, my bad.”

Astra nodded as if accepting his apology. “No worries, it’s an honest mistake, I can understand the mix-up.” She pushed herself up, adjusted her posture and reached for her sweets and offered, “Want some? It’s freshly baked poison.”

“Sure.” Sigurd gladly took the ominous-sounding treat and plopped it into his mouth.

Astra got up.

“Leaving already?”

“Yeah, was on my way to meet with the Duke about getting the Combat Arena matches transferred over. I’d rather watch it alone at my place than with a large crowd.”

“Hmm, what a coincidence. I was planning to meet with the Duke as well. Let's go together.”

“Sure sure.” Astra had no problem with the proposal. “Want to drop in suddenly to surprise them?” The Unique’s face showed a mischievous smile as she proposed.

Sigurd sighed as he got up. “No. We’re going through the front door, the front door.”

“Haa, fine. Let’s get moving then.”

Unbeknownst to Vincent, two Ascendants would be showing up at his place in ten minutes. For the young man, the meeting would be an unforgettable one.

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