Chapter 143: The Information Was Valuable

In a room in a residential neighborhood in Zerzura, Érica was smiling brightly as she saw a little girl in front of her.

“You’re very pretty Ashanti, you know that?” Érica asked and without waiting for an answer, she hugged the little girl.

The little girl, instead of feeling uncomfortable, returned the hug as she rubbed her cheeks with her.

Érica couldn’t help but be happy for her pleasant embrace and hugged her even more affectionate.

If anyone who knew her saw her hugging Ashanti in such an animated and enthusiastic way, they would undoubtedly be surprised.

Érica herself knew about that, as she had noticed her appearance in other people’s eyes was haughty and slightly arrogant.

It wasn’t as if she was trying to change it, she didn’t care what they thought, although she would not deny that she would probably surprise her peers with her attitude.

But how could she help it?

Ashanti was adorable!

“Do you like my presents?” Érica asked, letting little Ashanti escape her embrace.

The little girl nodded again and again with an excited expression, which made Érica giggle at herself.

From time to time, she would call out to Ashanti, Okello, and Lewa’s daughter, as that adorable little one liked to talk and call out to her.

For such a reason, now that she was in Africa, Érica took time out from all her daily missions to pay a visit to the family who welcomed her with open arms.

“Show her your notes, Ashanti,” Lewa advised with a smile and the little girl’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

She ran off to her bedroom and in a few minutes brought her notes from this short time.

They were some quizzes and tests all with details and descriptions of ‘excellent’, ‘wonderful job’ and ‘ten’.

“Oh, I knew you would be a brilliant student,” Érica announced proudly getting the little girl embarrassed and pointing to the toys she commented. “I think you deserve all my presents!”

“Really?” the little girl asked in high spirits and instead of turning to the toys, she looked at her mother.

Lewa gave a soft smile and nodded.

“Thank you!”

With a tender thank you and a quick hug, she started running to where all the toys were.

Since Érica and the others had already received payment from Akira, which surprisingly was quite juicy even when there were quite a few participants, she could now spend money without asking her family.

The toads on the island were many and the materials that could be got were expensive.

The poison glands of some poison toads and other organs were valuable and useful for alchemy, leading to a good profit being made from the sale.

And with that payment, Érica bought several gifts for Ashanti.

From a holographic watch, an enormous teddy bear, and other assorted toys, along with a space ring to hold them all.

Did she overdo it?

Looking at the little girl’s smile, Érica knew she hadn’t exaggerated.

She even felt that this was too little.

“Thank you,” Érica said as she received the cup of tea Lewa brought her.

“No, thank you. It’s hard to move from one place to another so suddenly. I’d like to say the kids adapt fast, but even they have their problems,” Lewa said, giving a half-smile and looking at Érica, revealed. “Your visit is most welcome.”

Érica could see that not only was it hard for little Ashanti to adjust, but Lewa herself had her own problems.

As she enjoyed their company, the two talked for a long while.

About Okello, who was not present because of his army training or the other refugees who already went to other areas, the conversation was varied.

At school, Ashanti was very well treated, and the teachers sought to teach her through educational programs that suited her personal knowledge.

Okello was being trained by the military, and the military was looking for him to show his full potential, trying to develop his innate ability to the fullest.

Érica talked about her time at the academy, how she was looking forward to joining the international tournament, and how she had already registered to take a spot.

While she did not sign up for the academic tournament, she was given permission to challenge someone for a spot in the international tournament, which was nice.

In the end, they both shared their thoughts and concerns about the Abyssal Portals and how Zerzura City was dealing with fear and panic.

The city used all channels to bring calm.

The authorities sent experts to local TV stations, schools to answer questions, and even the police and the church calmed the panic with various lectures and communiques.

Being a city practically founded by the Apicius Company, its connections were in most of the local companies and those that settled in the area.

That meant that they were quite strict with what the media reported, trying not to instill panic.

It was strange because several of those media had their clashes with the Apicius Company, either because of the organization or the idea that the company was only looking for profits, being several of those media the main critics.

Criticisms that despite their connections, the company did not stop.

This did not mean that they spread panic because of corporate rancor.

The Apicius Company was a separate organization from Zerzura City.

All the companies took that division directly, for that no one wanted to turn against a city that had the support of the Church of Time and Space and the military.

Not to mention the citizen support that Zerzura City had.

The city was not that old and most of the citizens still trusted the city that gave them a home while the number of foreigners was high.

The old citizens who were there from the beginning had unquestionable trust.

The road the city had to travel to reach the level it was at today was not an easy one.

It was a steep, rocky, and escaped road, which was surrounded by dangers.

And for a city that faced Warlords, waves of beasts, or hordes, the citizens had enough mettle to face the Abyssal Portals no matter how mysterious they were.

It was not the only city that had the trust of the people and there were other nations whose confidence in the rulers or authorities was high.

Sometimes even placing trust in people of high rank and each of those places had to be commended, as elsewhere, there was panic.

Perhaps the number of those people talking about the end of the world was low, nevertheless, they existed.

After chatting into the night, Érica left the house after cuddling little Ashanti for a period that was not quite short.

Érica had left her number on Ashanti’s new holographic watch for her to call her when she needed it and left her greetings for Okello.

Then she returned to the headquarters of Aurora’s mercenary group.

It was nice for Érica to come to visit Okello’s family, for that they were loving and Lewa welcomed her with open arms.

Although she was in contact with them, Érica could not visit them because of her busy study.

Érica had not put her training aside and her study of different spells took most of her free time.

However, she wasn’t complaining, and even less so when she was increasing her repertoire of spells.

After getting out of the cab that brought her, she arrived at the building and upon entering greeted those present.

“By the way, will you be joining the international tournament, Alice?” Clémentine asked curiously.

Érica turned her gaze to both of them when she heard that question and she wasn’t the only one, as the others were the same.

“Yes,” Alice replied, eating her chips.

“What section?” Nicole asked, this time unable to resist.

That she was joining the international tournament was normal and what was curious was what category she would be entering.

Was she going to go as an A-rank or would she try to take the only available spot that was higher up? If it was the latter case, then it meant that the top student was going to have a rival.

“As an A-rank,” Alice replied, and laughing in amusement, she added. “After all, I am officially an A-rank mercenary, and I have to follow the rules.”

One could tell she was being amused by her own response.

Alice was following the rules and the idea that she was required to be an official A-rank and, while some might consider her cheating, others would see it as cunning.

Although it wasn’t that unusual for her to do that when she was literally cheating the academy for half a year.

Including the teachers who tried to teach her.

“Now that I’ve won, I have to collect the dinner they promised me. Maybe I’ll go to a South American restaurant to sample the local delicacies along with Aurora,” Alice said, giving a thoughtful look and seeing everyone looking at her strangely, she shrugged her shoulders and announced. “I’m not the only one hiding her strength.”

Laughing in amusement, Alice watched Érica out of the corner of her eye and, seeing that she was trembling, turned her attention to her bag of chips to continue eating.

“Is Aurora going with us?” Érica asked, changing the subject, diverting the others’ attention.

This weekend was about to end and everyone had to go back to the academy to start the challenges and previous preparations.

There were already the positions and the people they held, so while those who held positions needed to prepare to accept the challenges, those who wanted a position needed to prepare to hold it.

Everyone had already signed up to challenge their opponents, so they would return to Atlantis City in a few hours to rest and be ready to start the week.

“Aurora is in an important meeting, but I know she will go with us,” Cithrel reported.

They all nodded.

******

Javier looked around at those present who were seated around a table next to him.

He was the leader of his own information network in the West African Republic and while he did not have considerable strength or an extensive network; he had his own contacts that allowed him to get information fairly quickly.

The West African Republic, since it was formed, was a mess, so a network like his allowed him to find minor events in that republic which was quite corrupt.

The others that were present in this place were similar.

From some cities that had not yet fallen to the west or east of the African continent, to individuals that were in countries like South Africa that were still standing.

These were other leaders Javier had had contact with and others were unknown.

They were around five, a fairly low number, although it was different when one thought that behind those leaders were information networks with dozens of people under their command.

They were not criminals, they just traded information of all kinds and all sorts... A job like any other.

He heard footsteps in the hallway and a man and a woman entered the room, attracting everyone’s attention.

The first one they recognized was the man who gave a helpful and professional smile as a simple subordinate, even though he was an S-Rank and a well-known hacker in the underworld.

His ability to infiltrate the various information networks, steal all the essentials, and leave with no one noticing was something they experienced themselves.

The scariest thing was that even if they wanted revenge, facing an S-Rank was no joke.

However, eyes turned to the woman who was accompanying Liam Hafen.

Slim and delicate, her black hair and eyes of the same color didn’t give off an ominous or overbearing vibe, but something different.

Like a normal, pretty young woman.

“I’ll finish this quickly. I have a trip to make,” the woman said, looking around at those present.

She was watching everyone’s reactions to her tone and expression.

However, no one was upset or overreacted.

She made it seem as if this meeting was insignificant, and she did so because she wanted to check their attitudes and reactions.

And even if someone was upset with her tone, it would fall under another test, as what she was looking for was to make it clear that she was the one in charge.

Rumor had it that the Protector of Zerzura, Aurora Campbell, was starting some missions with that kind of introduction... And everyone present, who got that information, stood by.

“As Liam will have informed you. The promise of support will be granted, but it has to be from both sides,” said the young woman, and looking at those present, she announced. “I will not help someone who goes against what is stated in the deal. However, I will give my best to confront your enemies when you are in a life or death situation or when you risk transmitting information that may be vital to me or Zerzura.”

Simple and short.

In what they stated in the deal that was given greater importance were the ‘ideals’ of the Protector of Zerzura, ideals held by Zerzura City itself.

Protecting innocents, helping refugees, and caring for allied magical beasts.

Many individuals went against those values and principles.

Warlords starting their territorial conflicts affected and harmed innocents, while sometimes mafias, adventurers’ guilds, or players conducted shady business.

There were even foreigners who came from afar to become poachers and attacked magical beasts that the Zerzura city protected or with which they were allied.

However, the main point why everyone was present and wanted their promise was because it was worth it.

The Somali Terror started a war against the Lord of Mombasa and before their conflict reached its climax, he disappeared and now his entire reign did with him.

If they searched for information, they would find that the Protectors of Zerzura were the ones who took on the task.

Once could be causality, but what happened if those times were repeated?

And that’s what had happened for several years since Zerzura City was founded.

“We understand,” responded those present almost in unison.

“Excellent,” said the young woman with a smile, and without hesitation, she pointed. “I hope you will honor the deal. I don’t wish to get in trouble with someone who, for money, sells information they shouldn’t have sold.”

It was a threat hidden in a calm smile and, worse; it wasn’t a joke.

“As for the rest, they can do their job as long as they don’t harm innocents and abide by the rules. Mistakes can happen. I don’t doubt it, but you have to know how to admit it. Such honesty I expected from you,” said the young woman, and looking at Liam, she added. “Good luck with your work.”

With a casual goodbye, she left as if it was nothing.

Mistakes in selling information could be frightening, as selling an unimportant piece of information could lead to greater danger, but what she was looking for was honesty in admitting the mistake.

It was about trust on both sides and the consequences of not playing by the established rules.

At no point did she use Zerzura’s name or take advantage of the city’s influence and from start to finish, she was speaking for herself.

For someone who literally took on troublesome warlords as if it were a common mission.

Major operations had code names, however, Zerzura had so-called Assault missions, the name of which never changed.

“Scary, don’t you think?” Liam asked, giving an amused smile.

“You wouldn’t think a young lady as lovely as her would be the Protector of Zerzura,” murmured a woman among those present.

“Her words are scary when one knows she can dispose of warlords,” Javier added in an amused tone, and the others nodded with some seriousness.

If she took on a warlord who was considered dangerous and powerful for having an army under her command.

What did she have in store for them?

“Ha, it took a lot of convincing for her to act threatening. So I’m glad it affected you guys,” Liam revealed, and when his smile disappeared, he announced. “However, her words are not incorrect.”

His voice was cold and serious.

What was the most terrifying thing about the Protector of Zerzura?

It wasn’t her unknown strength or her stealth to take down her enemies.

It was that when she looked in one direction, Zerzura would turn her gaze to the same place.

That meant that many people supported her and many of them were individuals who were not to be bothered... And who felt touched when something happened to her.

“Anyway, we’ve been given a budget of fifty million dollars for this big project,” Liam revealed, leaving everyone stunned.

That was a huge amount of money... A scary number.

For them, who were not the major information networks in their region, it was a number that would allow them to expand even if they got only a small portion of the total.

“Ten million for everyone here, not including me, unfortunately. I expect you to upgrade your equipment or extend your information sources,” Liam said and, smiling, announced. “My goal is to have eyes and ears all over Africa. And this is just the first investment that will produce a huge amount of profit.”

He was giving an immense amount of money in such a nonchalant way that it gave the feeling that it was little.

However, that he revealed his ambition showed that they needed to reach at least high enough to indulge a small part of that man’s ambition.

“Oh, by the way, no taking out a little money to indulge yourselves, if I hold back, so must you,” Liam joked and when everyone let out a few chuckles, he pointed out. “I don’t want to later see your bank account to see how the money leaks elsewhere.”

The laughter stopped immediately... Even though Liam was wearing a smile, he wasn’t joking.

Only Javier shook his head, amused by the situation.

Why did he want to steal a few million when in the future he expected to make tens of millions?

Information was that valuable and even more so in a chaotic world like this.