Dungeon Raider System-Chapter 607: Family picture

Medusa waited until everyone left the room before removing her blindfold to see the picture Uriel handed to her. Many different thoughts crossed her mind before mustering the courage to open her eyes like the fact that Uriel still resented her for what she did in order to save him back at the Mapple corp.

headquarters, but the one predominant thought she couldn't shake from her mind was how much sense it would make if Jon was actually Uriel's father.

They were too similar, not because they both chose archaeology as a career path since Uriel was clearly influenced by the book he read, but because of how driven and passionate they were about the subject. Also, books were expensive and the only way someone from the slums could have afforded one was if they either salvaged or inherited it and she thought the latter was the case.

'Uncle Jon lived all these years thinking he lost his family when his son actually lived in the slums this entire time. Uriel, instead, grew up thinking he was abandoned by his family without knowing how hard uncle Jon had searched for him all over the world.' Medusa inwardly thought, happy for both Uriel and Jon since they finally found their long lost family.

"And?" Uriel asked Medusa as soon as she exited the room.

"I'm confused, the man in the picture isn't uncle Jon." Medusa let out as she returned the picture to Uriel.

"Of course it's not him! Why would you even think that?" Uriel grunted.

"Because it made sense. You've been nice to him lately and you two are very similar." Medusa pointed out, prompting Luna and Nika to bob their heads in agreement. "If uncle Jon is not your father then why would you even show me this picture?"

"Because there's no information on the picture, it doesn't say when or where it was taken. There's no way to know who even took the picture, the only clue I have is that this picture was inside Jon's wallet. I have only vague childhood memories, but I'm certain the man in the picture is my father. Think about it, why would Jon carry a picture of my father?

They don't even look alike so they're not related, the only possible explanation is that they're colleagues. That would explain why my father was in possession of one of Jon's books and also the Swiss army knife my parents gave me."

"I'm sorry Uriel, but I've never seen this man." Medusa apologized din a soft voice. The most likely reason as to why Jon carried the picture of Uriel's father on his wallet was that they weren't just colleagues but also close friends. However, that alone wasn't enough to carry his picture.

"It's just as I thought, then. My father is dead." Uriel let out a dejected sigh. "People don't carry that kind of pictures of friends unless it's as a memento after their deaths."

"That's not necessarily true!" Nika made her 'I have an idea' face and disappeared into the shadows. Now that she knew that the source of the wails she heard was actually Uriel she wasn't afraid to use her trait anymore and returned after a couple minutes with Emma by her side.

"Why did you bring me here?" Emma looked both confused and annoyed by the situation since Nika didn't explain anything to her.

"More importantly, why are you wearing that?" Asked Uriel when he noticed she wasn't wearing her usual comfortable clothes but a short dress with fashionable high heels that didn't fit her personality in the slightest but did wonders to emphasize her figure. She also wore round pendants on her ears and a long necklace with the sole purpose of drawing attention to her modest cleavage.

"I was about to go out to a concert with Amy when this idi... lovely lady dragged me without even an explanation."

"Shush, be a good camera and take a few pictures from us." Nika grabbed Emma and placed her in front of the group like she was setting a tripod, then hurriedly blinked to join the others.

Less confused, but still very annoyed, Emma did as she was told and took a few pictures and each member took a copy and placed it in their wallets, purses or pockets.

"This way, we'll always be together even if we get separated!" Nika said cheerfully.

"This is unnecessary, we made a pact inside the dungeon to not get separated again." Luna remarked.

"It's not fair! I wasn't there!" Nika pouted.

"You're complaining about unfairness? I'm not even in that picture. Not to mention that it's past curfew now and I'm late for the concert and Amy probably left without me. I saved all my money for this!" Emma's eyes became watery.

"I'll take care of that, but only if you change into something less revealing." Uriel glared at Emma with disapproving eyes.

"We're not even real siblings, but even if we were, it's not your damned business how I choose to dress." Emma scoffed at Uriel.

"Fine, have it your way." Uriel summoned the Jaguar spirit and ordered it to take Emma to the concert she wanted to attend. Despite his night terrors that caused him so much pain whenever he fell asleep, Uriel had rested enough to have his flux reserve intact which allowed him use the jaguar for menial tasks as such.

Emma let out a bunch of choice words at Uriel in more than one language as she was picked up and carried away by the powerful beast, inwardly regretting not having changed into something more comfortable.

"Thanks for this, guys." Uriel smiled at his friends. Despite still being haunted by his own memories and the lingering effects the otherworldly creature called Cthuhulu had on him, Uriel felt genuinely happy for the first time. He might not have found his father's identity, but he realized he wasn't an orphan anymore.

His family was comprised of dysfunctional people like himself, smart enough to be aware of their own flaws and stupid enough to not be able to overcome them, yet he wouldn't change him for the world.

A grumbling sound startled Nika who was still jumpy from their exciting night until Luna explained with reddened cheeks it was actually her stomach.

"It's not even dawn yet!" Medusa said in her sweet scolding tone.

"I don't have a bed and neither does Uriel anymore so going back to sleep is off the table unless you girls are willing to share a bed with us." Nika shrugged.

"Dibs on Uriel." Luna hurried to say.

"Let's just ignore that and have an early breakfast." Uriel looked at Luna afraid of her quick reaction.

The maid was already at her post despite the early hour which impressed Uriel, though it also unsettled him due to her strange behavior. Somehow, she knew exactly what everyone wanted without the need for them to ask and she also anticipated even when they needed an extra napkin. Her efficiency was as helpful as it was uncanny, but complaining about that would have been a stupid thing to do.

The group enjoyed their breakfast pondering in silence about their recent findings, but it wasn't long until Miss Dragonfang walked in. With a pale face and disheveled hair she seemed deranged, but she somewhat composed herself when she saw everyone was there.

"Good, you guys are up!"

"Yes." Luna didn't like when people stated the obvious, when they interrupted her meals or when people was too noisy and Miss Dragonfang had somehow managed to do all three at the same time.

"Ciara is here and she says it's urgent." Miss Dragonfang informed.

"What are you waiting for, let her in." Uriel snarled, he too wanted to have some peace before a busy day. He needed to find a way to contact Hollywood's holy rank hunter, get an appointment with the city governor, help coordinate the hunting parties and even buy new beds.

"Hi!" Ciara poked from behind Miss Dragonfang with a charming smile.

"You let her in without authorization!? Isn't it your job to avoid just that?" Nika glared at Miss Dragonfang who seemed to shrink to Luna's size.

"She's a friend and said it's urgent. Most of the crew is sleeping or out in the city and bringing her to the cafeteria to wait was the only thing I could come up with." Miss Dragonfang said in a small voice.

"What do you want, Ciara?" Uriel ignored Miss Dragonfang and questioned his guest earning a jab at his ribs from both Nika and Medusa for being insensitive after her father's death.

"I came to bring you your share of the ambrosia. I promised I'll grow some for you. It took a lot of flux energy and effort, but I think you'll be pleased." She replied and left an alloy briefcase that contained a small pouch. Uriel examined the contents and found it to be less alluring than the briefcase itself.

It was made with reinforced alloy that could probably withstand a heavenly rank hunter's physical prowess at its full, but what stood out the most was the mechanism behind its lock which wasn't the accustomed biometric scan. Instead, it was an old school lock code Uriel would have loved to use to practice his lockpicking skills.

"You didn't have to come deliver it in person, so what business brings you here?" Uriel grumbled when after taking the pouch to inspect its content Ciara retracted the briefcase.

"You are correct. I came to apologize for my failing to pay our debt in time, but you must also do the same as you failed to pay me my due for the expedition inside the dungeon."