Broker-Chapter 267

For the first time in a while, Sonya was speechless. It just… worked. She had to force herself to casually let go of First Wind’s hand and keep that easy smile on her face, or she might just break character. She could sense Qilin’s eyes on her too, which made the whole situation that much more batty. It hadn’t even been a fight. One simple gesture and she had a copy of a Herald’s power. It was galling that she hadn’t even tried to shake hands with the buffoon before this point. I’m not going to believe it until I try it out.

Focus, Sonya, Ishtar reminded her.

Right, right, not out of the woods, she agreed.

Sonya rested her hands on her hips. “How about I order something to eat while we talk, mm? I need to be here a bit longer since I’m Doctor Carter’s ride back to my ship.”

First Wind rubbed his hands together. “Lunch with three gorgeous ladies? Sold.”

Qilin’s eyes closed with what looked like an effort to find peace. “Can you please take your role seriously for once?”

He clicked his tongue and shoved his hands into his pockets, leaning forward to look in Qilin’s face. “I don’t wanna hear that kinda thing from you. Don’t get me started on our last assignment.”

Qilin looked away sharply. “You had it handled.”

He snorted. “Cuz I settle my shit,” he said dismissively before turning to look at Sonya. “Do you really even need two of us guarding you? I’m here,” he said with a cocky shrug. “Between me and Captain Kick-ass next to you, doesn’t seem like you have much to worry about. Hell, let Handmaiden take a vacation or something. I got this.”

Sonya raised her eyebrows. This guy has one hell of an ego. She smirked at him. “Consider it a vanity play on my part, if you like,” she said lazily. “The Pandora Committee insisted that I have security, so I asked for two of you.”

First Wind sneered. “I was your first pick, right?”

Sonya watched Qilin’s very small reaction. The Herald was trying her best not to show any shifts in expression with First Wind around, but that question got a sharp look at him out of her as well as a furtive glance in her direction. She really doesn’t like him. Interesting. They’ve worked together before, but this seems a bit more personal. I can use this. It’s not like I’m lying either, she thought mischievously. “Actually, yes.”

The two of them froze, First Wind actually blinking in surprise. “Wait, really?”

Qilin narrowed her eyes. “Him? You are aware you’re talking about this fool, yes?”

First Wind cocked his head and looked at Qilin again. “Watch it. A few trips around the park doesn’t get you a free pass, babe.”

Qilin crossed her arms. “You think far too highly of yourself, Luca.”

His eyes widened. “Bitch, we’re in public. I don’t do that kinda shit to you.”

Putting my plan into action might be a bit easier than I thought, Sonya mused before gesturing down the hall past the commentator’s box. “You were my second choice, Qilin. You are aware that you have something of a lackadaisical reputation, right?” Sonya said casually and turned away. “Come along and let's sit.”

Qilin sighed behind her while First Wind snickered. Sonya rolled her eyes as Marta fell into step next to her. She kept her expression as neutral as possible while they walked. On the inside, though, her smile was nothing short of demonic. A bit of a timetable push, but everything is going according to plan. Don’t you worry, Heralds, I will make sure to give you plenty to do while you’re on this assignment. Enjoy it, because one of you isn’t walking away from it alive. As for the other? I’ll bide my time.

—

Dinner with First Wind and Qilin had been nothing short of awkward. The two of them bickered constantly, and Sonya began to suspect that First Wind’s occasional remarks in his counterpart's direction were more than just bluster. They had a relationship, perhaps even an on-again-off-again. Currently they were very much off, from what Sonya could tell. At any rate, it’s something I can take advantage of when the time comes, she thought. First Wind is difficult to control and manage, but Qilin seems to be sensitive about my opinion. I’ll build their resentment up.

The helicopter ride over to the Idol of Venus that followed wasn’t particularly eventful, and it was well past sundown when they landed and disembarked. The members of the Inner Circle on board had already taken steps to conceal themselves in one way or another, so she had nothing to worry about on that front. She gave them a general tour of the facilities before they finally stopped on the deck near the wave pool.

“That’s pretty much everything. Make yourselves at home,” Sonya said. “I’m going to get in touch with Chairwoman Mint now.”

First Wind was looking around with a mixture of wonder and no small amount of envy. Greed glittered in his eyes. “I’m gonna enjoy this gig. I think I might take a dip.”

Qilin stepped past him with a scoff. “Miss Chernovna, might I have a word in private?” she asked before glancing over her shoulder with a sour look. “Preferably somewhere without an air current?”

The Australian International whipped his head in her direction and scowled. “Hey! What’s that mean?”

Sonya laughed. Watching her browbeat him was a delight. “Certainly, Qilin. Come with me, and we can chat a bit. Let me just get this text out really quick,” she said and made her way back towards the dining pavilion with Qilin and Handmaiden in tow. She gave her friend a look before sending her on her way to check in with the other members of the Inner Circle. If Qilin wanted to make a violent move, she would have by now. A lazy creature like her doesn’t like waiting for very long for anything.

Sonya remained silent while she tapped out a quick message on her phone to Carla.

<Hey, gorgeous, First Wind and Qilin showed up on their own. I’ll take them.>

The phone chimed immediately afterwards.

<They did what?! First Wind was in South America. Ugh, fine, I’ll let the people who need to know, know. Are you sure you’re okay with them?>

Sonya smirked and hammered out a reply.

<I’m very happy with their initiative. This works nicely.>

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

The next message came after a slightly longer pause.

<I understand. Please be careful. Things are calming down at headquarters, but the work is growing more intense. Things are a little strained with the UN too.>

Sonya frowned.

<Do you need anything? Just ask me.>

<I can handle it, love. You just enjoy your world tour. I’m thinking of you.>

<You could come by for a day if you want. It’ll take a few days to reach my next destination after the awards ceremony.>

Another long pause.

<REALLY?>

<Haha, yes. Actually, I insist. Come see me.>

The next message was a bunch of garbled text followed by <... I’ll be there!>

Sonya put away her phone. “She’s so cute,” she hummed to herself as they entered the dining pavilion. It was full of tables now that the crew had adjusted to life on the ship a little more. A few people were eating while others were coming and going. She waved at some of them and was pleased to see they’d internalized her decree about not treating her with reverence while she had guests. They waved back, and she led Qilin towards one of the private dining spaces.

“I know you’re not hungry,” Sonya said casually when they stepped into the room, not looking back at the Herald. “But would you like a drink?”

“No, thank you,” Qilin said evenly.

Pressure filled the air, and Sonya raised her eyebrows. She turned back to look into Qilin’s glowing green eyes as the Herald’s hair started to float around her. She tilted her head to the right. “Then what can I do for you, hero?”

Qilin tilted her head forward and looked Sonya in the eyes. “You didn’t even flinch.”

Sonya shrugged. “It seems like we’re past performances, aren’t we?” Her eyes went hard. “I don’t like repeating myself, little hero.”

Those last few words made the hero tense, her eyes widening while confirmation flickered in them. The hero relaxed a little, the pressure ebbing and her hair stopped fluttering around her. She cleared her throat. “I want to renew my deal. I think my silence will be sufficient as payment.”

Sonya grinned. “Let me call my lawyer.”

—

Nietz sat in the grass, staring out at the moonlit water. He hadn’t moved since watching the fight between Handmaiden and Kingshark. His thoughts were a jumble. He had known, of course, that Mythic-tier light-touched were powerful. Yet seeing it in recordings and witnessing it firsthand were two very different experiences. He would be the first to admit that he had an easily bruised ego. He was self-aware enough to accept that about himself. There were some things in life that you couldn’t build an immunity to, even with a power like his.

He sighed and looked down at his phone for the hundredth time. The photo on the lock screen was a selfie of himself, Hammond, and Locke. A picture taken on their first day of camp. Locke was grinning ear to ear. Hammond was still having a hard time with making a facial expression beyond mind-numbing embarrassment. And I still have that goofy grin on my face, he thought with a sigh. He rested his head against the phone and closed his eyes. Come on, Anton.

He rallied himself and unlocked his phone, dialing out.

<”Anton?”>

“Hey, Locke, yeah, it’s me,” he said quietly.

<”Are you okay? You didn’t get hurt while you were there, did you?”> she asked.

He snorted and glanced down at the parts of his body that were still healing. The bandages on them were hidden by his clothes. “It wasn’t bad. Just a couple cuts and scrapes.”

<”You’re bad at lying.”> she chided him. <”Go see a healer.”>

He shook his head. “You know I can’t do that.”

<”If something happens to you while you’re doing this, I don’t know if I…”> she trailed off.

He forced himself not to sigh. That was the last thing she needed to hear right now. At least she sounded stronger than the last time they spoke. Watching her power do that to someone had been deeply traumatizing. It would take a while for her to reconcile the realization with her feelings, let alone find a new way forward as a hero. At least she hasn’t given up on that yet. I won’t let her. She deserves better than the shitstorm the Representatives dumped on her.

<”Anton? Are you okay?”> she asked again.

“I’m fine,” he said. “Just sitting here and looking at the sea. Sowards is dead.”

<”Dead?”>

“Yeah. He tried to assassinate Miss Chernovna, from what I hear,” he said. “I don’t know the details, but he ended up in a coroner’s van. Got a text about it from a friend I made here at the competition.”

He paused.

“I didn’t win this round. I’m sorry, Locke.”

<”You don’t have to do this, Anton.”>

“Yeah, I do,” he shot back.

<”Your ability only works if your body uses its natural healing. You don’t have a regeneration function. Eventually you’re going to find someone way stronger than you, and then what are you going to do?”> she asked. <”You’re going to get yourself killed!”>

“I need to do this. I can’t stop now,” he said. “I even got Miss Chernovna’s permission to participate in the next round.”

<”Anton…”>

“Locke!” he sighed. “Fii, listen to me. I’m doing this. Not just for you, though, so don’t put that on yourself. I know you are. I want to be the best hero I can be. Whatever it takes. That means I need to step beyond what I’ve been doing. I can’t just go back.”

<”I believe in you,”> she said after a long pause. <”Just come back from this in one piece.”>

He smiled and glanced up at the water, watching it shimmer for a bit. He looked down at the phone in his hand. “I won’t let you down,” he said before hanging up. If it kept going any longer, she was going to say something that he wasn’t ready to hear her say. He wasn’t stupid. He knew. He felt the same way. He rested his head against his phone and schooled his emotions. “Only the powerful heroes have the right to enjoy things like that,” he muttered to himself. “You aren’t there yet, Nietz.”

He got to his feet and put his phone away, walking down the slope towards the harbor. A few hundred feet and he was standing at the rail. He could still feel the tremors of the two Mythics’ powers in the air. An echo of their presence. He wondered how long it would last and if people would just have to get used to the sensation of courage and madness clashing at this very spot. He rubbed his neck and shook his head. I passed her test; I got a top spot in this round. I should be satisfied. I can learn from this and prepare for next time.

He pressed his lips together hard, restraining his frustration.

But can I win next time? Do I have enough time to get stronger?

He looked down at his hands.

What’s the point of a growth-type power if it barely works?

He sighed and leaned on the rail, glaring at the ocean. Could I be as strong as Handmaiden in two years? That’s how long it took her to get to that point, right? He cursed under his breath and closed his eyes. “Fuck.”

He pushed off the rail and stalked away, hands in his pockets as he wandered back into town. He let his thoughts drift, trying to get back to his good humor. Endless positivity had always been his thing, but after what had happened back at The Hague, he just couldn’t shake that heavy feeling in his chest. He turned a corner and stopped against a wall to relax. I should get back to the hotel.

“My, my, what’s this?”

Bloodlust.

Nietz froze. His heart leapt into his throat. A horrible feeling worked its way through his guts. The voice had been positively bone-chilling. Not a rasp or hiss, but a casual, easy-going timbre. There was an undercurrent beneath it, though. One that made his entire body go rigid. Sweat dripped down his brows as he slowly turned his head to look down the alley. A pair of glowing eyes lurking in the dark stared back.

“I come looking for some fresh upgrades, and look what I find!” the merry voice said. It sounded American. New York, maybe? “I think I’ve heard of you, brat. You were in the top twenty. Very nice!”

The clack of dress shoes against pavement filled the empty alley as a man with gray skin stepped into the moonlight. His face was stitched together, off color in some places. His hair was mostly white with strands of black mixed in. He wore the most cosplay-looking black and red suit he’d ever seen. Like something out of a fantasy game. Yet for this guy, it just worked.

Mist billowed out of the stranger’s mouth as he tilted his head to the right, looking Nietz up and down while he twirled a cane between his fingers. “You got some real bad luck, hero. I just got back from a long trip, and I’m feeling peckish.” ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com