Skyfire Avenue - Chapter 639

Chapter 639

Chapter 639: I’m Going Back

“Quit your nonsense . ” Chu Dong’s tone was harsh with the Gourmet . “If you really want to apologize go home and do it yourself . A heart-felt sorry is enough . Do you think he’s the same man as before? Did you witness him crying hi eyes out, twenty years ago? Then he was fine, until the day he heard you became a Paragon . I saw his eyes get moist when he heard your name; the Infernal Vanguard . In his own clumsy way he told us he was lost . And why not? He misses you, but he’s old and can’t say anything . He very loudly claimed he was going to come here himself to represent the Chu family at auction, but I forced him to stay behind . Won’t you give the man this little bit of pride in his old age?”

The Gourmet was completely dumbfounded . The image of a powerful, dictatorial, stubborn man collapsed in his mind’s eye . In its place was an old man, pale faced and infirm .

“I’m going back! When this auction is over, I’ll go back with you!” The words tumbled from his mouth . Seeing his brother and hearing his admonitions was too much to bear .

Chu Dong silently nodded his head, and patted the Gourmet’s shoulder . “I have vital crystals to buy . ” He turned away and began to walk toward Skyfire Museum .

“Brother, wait a moment!” The Gourmet called out, trotting to catch up .

“Hm?” Chu Dong turned back .

“You don’t need to bid,” the Gourmet said . “I’ll think something up for the vital crystals . ”

A voiceless appreciation sparkled in Chu Dong’s eyes . After a moment he answered with a nod . “There’s a lot of politics surrounding this business, I’m anxious to broaden my knowledge of how these games are played . I’m confident we’ll be fine . ”

“Alright,” the Gourmet replied .

Ordinarily Skyfire Avenue was a temple to silence, but today the walls rang with boisterous conversation . Standing at the front doors, security was being directed by none other than the head of Skyfire security, An Liu . Inside, security personal wandered the rooms with watchful eyes .

An Liu was dressed in a bright silver flight suit, no different than any other day of work as far as she was concerned . Cold eyes scanned everyone who crossed her path . Guests required an invitation and a pat-down before they could come in .

All three Alliances were represented by eighty four delegates . Only affluent Eastern families had come to participate, since the Eastern government had all the crystals it needed already .

An Liu’s eyes suddenly narrowed, inexorably drawn to large figure coming her way . He had bright yellow hair, and was clad in white from his suit to his pocket kerchief . Handsome as he was, and with such a striking figure, he earned quite a lot of attention . However, An Liu was most interested in his eyes . They were deep, turbulent eyes that defied age . Wisps of power radiated from him that were hard to distinguish, but beneath them one could feel a vast tension .

As the middle-aged man walked toward the museum, he stopped and lifted his head . As his peered upon the old structure, he looked almost disappointed . For a moment he stared, then approached the door and produced his invitation .

“Hello, Sir Metatron . Please come in . ” An Liu extended an arm, welcoming him in after looking over the man’s invitation .

Indeed, this white-suited man – elegant and profound – was the Lord of Archangels for the Pontiff, Metatron . He was the manifestation of the Pontiff’s will, half a breath from Paragon himself . But that final breath had already eluded him for many years . The reason was simple; he’d used fantascia genetica . The decoction catapulted an Adept through the levels, but when they reached their peak it caused problems . For twenty years Metatron had struggled, but he was still no closer to a breakthrough .

The Archangel smiled, and offered a polite nod . He was the perfect public face for the Pontiff’s Citadel . Since each organization was only permitted to send one inspector, they had to send their best .

Another figure silently appeared before An Liu . Like Metatron, he bore a supernatural allure . In contrast, however, he was clad from head to toe in formal black attire . His short, dark red hair was a little disheveled, but it also added to his roguish charm . He had dark, sad eyes – fatally attractive to young women who were furtively stealing glances .

“Your invitation?” An Liu calmly asked .

A ly grin split the man’s face . “Can’t I come in without one? Maybe we could have a chat, discuss some way for me to find a way inside?”

An Liu narrowed her eyes . This was the first person bold enough to step out of line . He was a man everyone knew by name and reputation .

“Sir Lucifer, if you’re here representing the Dark Citadel then I ask that you produce your invitation . ” An Liu’s voice was somewhat colder this time .

Right on the heels of Metatron had come the Fallen Angel Lucifer .

He looked the security officer up and down . “A dual-Disciple Adept hm? Unless I’m sensing this wrong, there is a little darkness in you… a rare elemental attribute, and pure . Would you have any interest in being my woman? You know we have many methods to extend a person’s life back at the Citadel, even without vital crystals . Train with me and you can be as strong as I in no time . Through your dark purity I can rise to Paragon, and when I do I can bring you with me . ”

An Liu glared at him with eyes sharp as icicles . “Not interested . ”

Lucifer might have been called the fallen angel, but he had more arrogance than any of the Archangels . A fervent look flickered passed his eyes . “Are you sure you won’t consider my offer? It’s a wonderful opportunity for you – think about it . ”

An Liu’s voice was low and even . “I said I am not interested . If you’d like to participate in the assessment then produce your invitation . Otherwise please leave, you’re blocking the way for those who were invited . ”

Lucifer regarded her with a lascivious smirk . “Very good, little girl . You’re the first woman to turn down my advances . ” As he spoke, long spindly fingers plucked an invitation from his breast pocket . Lucifer handed it to her . His eyes – sparkling with Discipline – lazily dragged up and down her figure .

“If you dare make a move, I’ll make sure ‘the Fallen Angel’ is erased from everyone’s memory . ” A hard voice, full of violent promise, interrupted his leering .

Lucifer froze . He couldn’t tell where the voice was coming from . Almost unconsciously his eyes snapped to a nearby figure .

He was tall, lithe, and also dressed in black . However the stranger’s garb wasn’t a suit, but military attire . It was the uniform of a high-ranking Eastern officer, functional and made of the best materials . What struck Lucifer the most were the four golden stars pinned to the stranger’s lapel .

Military insignias were more or less the same throughout the universe . Four stars – a general? Among the army’s highest command . For pilots they would call him an Admiral, but the meaning was the same . However, this man was far too young to be a general . That didn’t stop Lucifer from feeling a wave of fear from the man’s presence .

Lucifer wasn’t any weaker than Metatron in regards to Discipline . He was considered lower in total power because the Archangel’s power naturally restricted darkness . If the two were involved in a fight to the death, it would be impossible to tell who would come out breathing . Both of them were the strongest Adepts could be before becoming Paragon, stagnant due to the same problem . They pushed themselves further than their potential, and now progress was almost impossible .

Lucifer’s advantage lay in combat experience . In terms of ability and understanding of the Adept world, the Fallen Angel was in the top twenty in the whole universe . Even so, a single look at this army man filled him with dread . He could remember only a handful of time he’d felt this . Lately only the Pontiff scared him so .

This stranger was like a beacon of holy light, so dazzling that Lucifer felt like his soul was burning . The indescribable discomfort filled him from head to toe . As an Adept of darkness, light was his greatest enemy . This man’s power seemed to be pure light .

“Who are you?” Lucifer unconsciously staggered backward a step, closer to An Liu . If this man really did mean him harm, than relying on An Liu’s character as a guardian of the peace wasn’t a bad method .

But he was wrong .

Dizziness swept over him as Lucifer felt a crushing pressure descend . This must be what it felt like for a vampire to stand outside in midday, he thought . He tried to gather darkness like a shield around him, but the light burned it away . If he tried to move forward, the pressure only got stronger . Sometime in the midst of his trance, the man had taken up position between he and An Liu .