Chapter 366: City Of Orion
City of Orion, also known as the City of High:
As one of the twenty cluster cities of Uranus, this city was home to the largest drug dealings of the federation.
The vassal family of Nials who used to take care of the city were slaughtered shortly after the Pluto War.
They were much unluckier their valors counterpart—Weiss family, who despite steep decline were still alive.
Orion was under the influence by four drug companies. Though they weren't unanimously ruling the city, as long as they didn't cross a few red lines, they had no opposition in the city.
It came no surprise to Varian that these four drug companies also had a deep rooted intelligence network.
After enough sneaking in and out, and many trials, he finally found the database of the four companies.
It was only then did he understand why Thomas Grant held himself in such high regard.
A single grant family's intelligence network was equivalent to these four companies.
"They are going to target a high military officer Sirk?" Varian had Boo flip through the database and finally found the target.
In fact, the database didn't have much data about kidnapping. There were no records about the previously kidnapped targets.
Only the current ones were present.
Varian suspected that they were deleting the past records periodically.
So, he only found the record of one kidnapping target.
{Sirk.
Age: 70
Level 8 Ice Path
Weakness: His son, his reputation...}
There were multiple files each dedicated to one goal:
> His bio
> People deployed around him 24x7.
> Neutralizing actions against him.
> ....
Varian read through the files and sighed deeply.
"Boo, is all this info correct?" He asked offhandedly.
"I can't find detailed info and about many secretive things here, master. The information network here is just as bad as Valos.
But whatever I could check matched with these files.
Sirk is a very generous man. He donates to schools and orphanages. He also funded several drug rehabilitation centers." Boo said.
Varian fell silent for a few seconds.
Colin on Valos, and Sirk on Orion. Both of them were high ranking officers. Why target them?
"They have a high net worth, master. Just killing a few monsters gives them many Karma points.
If they can work for it, they'll also gain many aura crystals. Forget big businesses, they're the richest bunch of these cities."
"Haa~" Varian exhaled lightly and nodded.
"Let's collect all information first. While there's a plan going around Sirk, no actions seems to be taken. We can come back later." He said and drove ghost ship out of Orion city.
Truth be told, he was tempted to solve Sirk's problem. After all, an honest and generous military officer being targeted by these scum...it was unbearable.
But Varian had a bigger plan in mind—find out the motives of Abyssals.
His interference in Orion might alert them to his presence and change the status quo. He didn't want that.
Thus, the man and the ghost began their trip to visit each and every city in the Uranus cluster.
Their goal was clear. Collect the information about the kidnappings/threats/lures happening or planed to happen.
It was taking longer than expected.
"I almost slipped up. Thanks to Enigma or I might be in trouble. I should be careful." Varian rubbed his forehead and looked at the message in his comm.
{Edwina said you had both Body and Mind powers—it's impossible to awaken in two paths of same avenue.
She also reported that you awakened in Lightning path.
Varian, I know you're not normal, but try to hide it as much as possible. I am considered an anomaly, but you are something different altogether.
I covered up saying you only awakened in Mind, Lightning Path and Gravity Path.
Fortunately, Gravity Path can also be used to explain you breaking that guy's bones in school and you breaking out of her space lock.
But—
Your actions are worrying Sia. She's nagging me all day. I can't believe I'm saying this again, but stay safe.
Or I'll have to drag you back to Earth
Enigma.}
"...." Varian read the letter and titled his head. "She doesn't show any emotions in person, does she?"
"No, master." Boo answered.
"Then why the hell do I feel her emotions through her messages?" Varian wondered.
However, he quickly shook his head.
It must be me imaging things. For some reason, despite stating it was because of Sia, I felt that she was worried about me. Impossible. I don't even know who the fuck she is.
Throwing them out, he thought back to the real issue.
"My bad. I should've noticed that I showed both Body and Mind path. But in my defense, I never had any trouble in awakening paths of the same avenue.
You blaming me and me blaming myself is fine, but the real culprit is silent."
System: [Host, you're too shameless!]
In the end, even System decided to defend itself. It was minding its job and suddenly, its host decided to accuse it!
Was there still any justice remaining in this solar system?
Sure enough, it was a good decision to let Devas to go extinct.
*** *** ***
The next day after Military Region trip:
"Haa?! Are you fucking kidding me? This trash is going to join us?" Betty clutched her head and screamed like she was witnessing the end of the world.
"Yes." Edwina nodded with a tired face.
"Em, hello Betty. You're looking as sweet as ever." Vinar smiled awkwardly and greeted.
'Too much simping!' Edwina sighed and compared Vinar to Varian.
Their names differed by a litter, but their attitudes differed by miles. As opposed to Vinar who went above and beyond to please Betty, Varian didn't give a single fuck about her despite her being his mission.
Was it arrogance?
Or...was it his confidence?
Even now, she didn't believe in his words: 'I know the kidnapper and the accomplice. I'll let Betty be kidnapped, but she'll be unharmed...'
This was absurd and narcissistic.
But the same narcissist was also less than 20 years old and level 6 in three freaking paths!
Of course, she had a doubt later on.
How could he awaken in both Body and Mind Paths? That's impossible!
She enquired her higher ups and after a long pause, they finally gave her the answer.
He wasn't a body awakener. He awakened in Mind, Lightning and Gravity Paths.
After that bastard left, she scrambled left and right before finally remembering this guy.
To be honest, Vinar was actually her first pick before she was informed of Varian's entry two weeks ago.
"Vinar, aren't you too weak?"
Snapping her out of her thoughts were Liluh's arrogant remarks. The green-haired boy stood beside Betty with crossed arms and sneered at Vinar.
"Weak?" Vinar's simping face was gone and his aura rose.
Betty's expression changed and she opened her mouth in surprise.
This strength...it'a almost catching up with Liluh's mid level 5.
How could a person from normal background be so powerful?
They were evil! They helped gangs kidnap people from rich background!
'Yes, yes. He is from normal background. He is trash.' Betty gritted her teeth and looked at him with disgust and hatred.
'I don't want to go through that again. I hate these people.'
"Liluh, if you defeat him, I'll go on a date with you."
Vinar's and Edwina's expressions changed drastically upon hearing her words.
"Bet—" Vinar wanted to talk her out of it, but Liluh turned into a snake and whipped his tail.
"Deal, Betty!" Liluh grinned in his half-man, half-snake form.
"Fuck you! Let's fight!" Vinar's hair spiked as lightning shot out of his body.