“Those anti-establishment groups? Last time they were called ‘Revolutionaries’ and before that, ‘Ideologists’. I’m ashamed to say I was an ideologist once but this sort of things is like informal tradition around here.”

“You mean something like doing what is considered cool in your generation or in other word, follow what is trending?”

Another evening tea session with Greidan and there was still a protest outside except it wasn’t as intense as last night as security was tightened after what happened to me. This morning, I stopped by the local enforcer department to check on our prisoners.

As expected, they were youths, shivering and edgy youths.

After a session of ‘mild tortures’, they readily revealed everything about the plan to capture and ransom the summoned. For some reasons, their higher-up had suddenly ordered as such.

And all of them were from the ‘non-clan’ class.

They were treated lower than those in a clan since non-clan citizens are usually outsiders of Valvakea or members of dead clans.

It’s not surprising for them to be found in those types of groups but what surprised me was that even those from the clans joined as well.

“I supposed. Everyone in Valvakea is politically predisposed. Everyone feels some kind of injustice as though inflicted by the other generation or social class and vice-versa especially those from the ‘dead clan’ type. This kind of thing would persist until the latter generation disappeared, replaced by the new one and then the cycle continues. Although…”

Stopping himself, Greidan’s face was unease.

“Now, it’s a bit different right? Something about this generation feels off. It’s like something or someone guiding them.”

To my muse, he only nodded showing I’m still not in his secret club.

“Greidan, I want to change the test. Even though it’s not betraying the summoned, I still don’t want to incur grievances from them. If I were to expect full cooperation from them, better to show them I am someone that is trustworthy… even in a least.”

He nodded again.

“I was about to tell you something related to that. It was wrong for us to expect too much from you. Making the summoned fractured is less beneficial for us too. So last night, a meeting was had and we agreed to change your test while still maintaining our objective.”

I sighed inwardly. The initial test was to actually misdirect the summoned so the Reravir can proceed with an operation inside the city that is a little bit criminal in nature. The local native guards they can handle but us, they would suffer badly. It seems that they tried the operation before but all of their operatives were apprehended by Therius who headed the summoned six months or so ago. It was also because of that the Reravir reputation plunged and the public outrage had boiled, finding some new entertainment on the scandal of their operation even till now until another major scandal breaks out.

I’m not sure what is it they are trying to do but I’m pretty it is linked with the secret they’re keeping.

“Well, these are beneficial for both of us and consider them as a mutual token of trust between us. Just in the between the city of Fexin-Kravi, which is next to us on the west side and Rexos-Varve, on the outermost of west side near Endless Reach, there is a group called ‘Hidden Blasphemers’. This particular group was classified as a radical because their first reported activity was to blow up one of the three food storages. Don’t know why they do that but regardless, they were considered harmless afterward as that was their only violent deed but three years ago, they suddenly became abnormally active and they had committed various atrocities. The sudden change alerted the authority and they sent out an elite squad to deal with them permanently but the surprising thing was that they were prepared for that. What thought to be just another trouble-child group was operating like some trained organization. They ‘disappeared’, leaving no traces of their where being. Even if their operatives were caught, they had such a staunch loyalty that they wouldn’t reveal anything even under the threat of extreme torture.”

“-And you have something, an information or any relevant clues about them which the authority doesn’t have?”

“… let’s get to the point then. They were smart enough not to make everyone their enemies or else they wouldn’t last for three years after they suddenly went ‘professional’. By appeasing the gullible locals, they made an image of a necessary and noble evil of themselves. Even so, some of the local eventually realized that their charade so us Reravir or rather our information network, get ahold with one of them.”

Greidan took out two pieces of note from under his robe and gave it to me.

“This is information pertaining to their schedules of their systematic changing of their hideouts. We initially kept this as leverage just in case we need to make a deal with the Central Authority but it would be best if we use it like this instead. The second one is another one but this group is located the opposite side to the east. You’ll get the gist; I don’t want to find myself get into another long overdrawn monologue.”

--

The more I see it, Valvakea felt like a free for all, lawless land.

“Ruigne, joining us?”

Aeriasus who saw me from a far amongst the crowd was with August and Herkaloi, called me out. I just happen to stumbled upon them on my way back.

It was in a major street and the three were sitting at a table in a place that looks like a café.

“Join in what?”

“We were about to go back to the residence to look for Stryklos or you to assist us in an investigation but since you’re here, are you up to it?”

August who was keeping an eye at an entrance of a street-house not far from where we were standing, looked at me with a grin.

“Is it related to that girl?”

“Yeah. It’s not a personal matter as we got a warrant to apprehend the group. They committed some vandalism on the local properties of one of the Eight Clans. It was issued just about the day we arrived and we decided to handle the case.”

Herkaloi calmly explained with an aloof expression- “Quite a coincidence…” -While he muttered inaudibly but I heard that.

Most of the time, groups like these are monitored but never would the Enforcers take any action unless they went too far like the groups that Greidan had given to me but seeing that a summoned had wanted to do some sleuthing and arresting, they have to concede to such authority.

There’s a broad interpretations of what entail as a summoned representative but I took note of myself and other summoned, I can roughly say that we can usurped any authority so it wasn’t strange for them to do something like this.

“Well, since I’m here, sure. So what’s the plan?”

“Earlier we followed a guy who Anex-the girl we rescued- claim to be a contact for several groups for meetings and information exchange. We checked with the local enforcers. After we confirmed with them and was given several implicated suspects, we decided to move just recently. About the inside of that entrance, from what we know, it’s some sort of a club.”

After I’d agreed, August casually told me.

“Hey August, don’t you feel like we’re in an undercover cop B-rated movie?”

“Heh. By the way, any chance we can make movies-”

“Shush, someone is coming out.”

Herkaloi started to move and we followed. A figure walked out from the entrance but there were one more coming out behind the first figure.

“The plan depends on how many is coming out. Although we only have an arrest warrant for the contact but if we are able to capture that one, we can arrest those other two on the ground of colluding in an illicit activity. I’ll go and after our target. August, you can tail the other one while Aeriasus… and Ruigne, you two stay here and watch if any more suspicious person comes out.”

Everyone nodded. From outside perspective, it’s like we summoned are playing the role of the enforcers but with our status, we have the right to do so and unlike the regular native enforcers, we wouldn’t suffer much repercussion from the public even if we arrest the collateral groups with a flimsy reasoning.

As they split up and left, I stayed sitting along with Aeriasus as we monitor the entrance while people pass by us.

After a few second of silence or so, Aeriasus coughed, drawing my attention.

“I’m sorry. Although I volunteered to help, I don’t have any useful skill or special abilities like those two. Originally, they didn’t want to leave me alone watching as they were worried but nowadays, I can actually defend myself thanks to Vefal and the others.”

“All the rigorous training you had finally borne fruits.”

Aeriasus gave a small chuckle.

“Yes, I can’t say I’m a genius but I positively can claim I’m a fast learner.”

“Yeah, I can attest to that. I’m ashamed to say you surpassed me but that’s a reality I can’t deny.”

I shuddered, recalling the details from last month of our sparring. As both of us were students of Vefal, we naturally sparred with each other to check our progression. At first, I always been on the dominant side as both of us were on equal footing and she had a natural disadvantage due to her gender, the hollowed bone structure of her species and the wings behind her. But as time went by, I was losing my dominance as she swiftly advanced in her fighting skill. The last spar was a showcase of how much she had advanced and eclipsed me.

I was knocked out after fifteen seconds.

In the span of fifteen seconds, she outclassed me on every aspect of physical prowess.

“Don’t be so crestfallen, even if I am more skillful than you, I still can’t win against you in an actual fight.”

As though she knew of my thought, she comforted me softly.

“Yeah but still, I can’t help but be depressed about it.”

After a moment of silence, I suddenly felt that the air had gone awry.

“I been meaning to ask you this but I was afraid to ask since both of us were never alone every time.”

I turned towards her because of the unexpected seriousness in her voice. Huh, this is the first time I seen her face hardened. What sort of question would she ask? Is she… in love me?! Oh, I’m flattered but two is enough for a simple man. Guess I’ll reject her gently-

“Do you truly love Vefal?”

…

Okay, that was out of the blue.