Chapter 540 - 536: Return
"Should we try to find him?" One of the Kings asked Aluren.
"How do you expect to? He kept his phone off. Even tracking won't work," Aluren answered.
"What can we do then? Wait?" The King asked.
"Yeah. For the next few days, this Estate is our base. Take care of the bodies that are lying outside. Since we're going to be staying here, we might as well keep the place secure," Aluren answered. "Moreover, I don't want any disturbance because of the bodies."
"For the next few days, you guys are to stay in this city. As for what you're to do, you can think about that yourself," he added before he went silent.
Gander was standing in the back, watching everything. He couldn't help but sigh as he watched what was happening.
These people really believed that Ryder didn't know about their arrival?
'Of course, that guy isn't here. And coming back in a few days? I doubt he will come back before he takes care of you all. That guy is playing a really big game,' he thought.
But he was also confused about something. According to what Aluren said, the plan of their arrival was made only recently, and only the Kings knew.
For Ryder to know about this, did it mean that King was working for him?
Gander couldn't help but observe all the Kings. He believed his assumption to be correct, which meant Ryder wasn't alone in this scheme. Someone was helping him.
'Who could it be? The only clue I have is that it's not Renner since Ryder wants my help to bring that guy out.'
'Oh, god. I don't have time to think about such things. I need to finish the task I'm given before that guy decides to expose me.'
Gander walked over to Renner, who was gazing out the window.
"Your Majesty, I need to leave for the meeting. Shall I go?" He asked.
It wasn't off since Gander worked for Renner in the organization. To leave, he needed the permission of Renner.
"Go," Renner answered lazily.
With a slight nod, Renner started leaving, but only after taking two steps, he stopped.
Turning back, he glanced at Renner as if he had suddenly thought of something.
"Your Majesty, why don't you come with me as well? Since your target isn't here anyway, there's no benefit in staying here. You're only told to stay in the city but no restriction about staying in the estate. Come, I'll show you my arena," Gander told Renner, trying to get him to come together without making it too obvious.
"It's fine. I don't want to," Renner answered.
"Alright. If you say so. I just heard that you liked horses. I wanted to show the best horses in my arena. They're real champions. We can also try having a horse race with both of us as riders. I'll go easier since it's my arena," Gander said subtly.
He knew that Renner liked horses and horse riding. That was what he believed he could lure him out with. Moreover, he also hoped to bring out the fighting spirit of Renner.
"Are you saying that I can't ride horses and that you'll need to go easy on me to let me have a chance?" Renner asked as he frowned.
He didn't realize that he had just played into the hands of Gander.
"Of course I'm not saying that. I'm sure you know horse riding as well. The thing is that I've been doing this for years. I'm an expert in this. It would be too unfair for you if I try my best since you haven't had as much experience as me," Gander answered.
"You! Fine! Come! Let me show you my experience, but I'm warning you, if you dare go easier, you'll die! Watch me defeat you when you give your two hundred percent!" Renner hmphed as he started walking towards the door with long strides.
'It worked! I guess I was right. Want to make a King do something? Just hurt their pride,' Gander thought as he smiled. He started walking behind Renner as he left the mansion.
The two of them walked out in the garden where another King was already taking care of the bodies.
Branches of trees had come out of the ground, which had wrapped the bodies and started decomposing them.
The powers seemed strange to Gander, but it wasn't strange since he had already realized that nothing was impossible when it came to the Kings. As for the person who was able to kill a King? Just how strong was he?
'I guess today I will see two powerful beings fight and really see the true extent of their powers. If Ryder wins, I'll be temporarily safe, but if he wins, I'll be killed for betraying him,' he thought, stepping inside the car, which started driving towards the arena.
Inside the Arena, Ryder was sitting in the office of Gander with both his feet on top of the table.
He was waiting for Gander to bring Renner. As for having trust in Gander, he was sure that Gander wasn't going to expose him.
He was certainly going to find a way to bring Renner here since he understood Renner. Moreover, he also had his faith, so the chances of Renner doubting his words were close to none.
All he needed to do was wait for the arrival of his guests.
"I am level thousand in the real world. The Kings are somewhere around the same strength if I were to make a guess. I can probably win with a straight battle, but killing them with tricks would be easier."
" And after I absorb the energy of one or two of them, it would become much easier."
Ryder was sitting and seemingly talking to himself as he thought of the future and wondered how strong he could be.
"There are twelve kings in total. If I kill all of them, I would most certainly become five or six times stronger. A level five thousand or above being. Just how strong would that be?"
As Ryder was waiting for a reply from Gander, the phone started ringing. It wasn't his real phone but a temporary number he was using, belonging to a phone he had stolen. Through this, he had called Gander, and this was also the number Gander was calling.
Seeing the number, Ryder picked up the call.
"Yeah, what's the update?"
...
On the other end, Gander was sitting inside the car beside Renner.
"If you're still in the city, you can come to my office. We can have our meeting there. I'll reach there in half an hour, and I'll stay there for a few hours," Gander informed Ryder vaguely.
...
"Understood," Ryder replied before he disconnected the call.
"This guy, he isn't half bad. He really succeeded," Ryder muttered as he placed the phone on the table.
He opened his inventory to make sure everything he needed was ready.
...
A flight had landed in the city from which a young red-haired man stepped out.
The man left the airport and saw someone waiting for him at the entrance.
The one waiting for the man seemed like a young woman who seemed to be in her late twenties. The lady wore a long dress which seemed a bit like a gown.
"Bastion, welcome back to the city," the woman said as she welcomed Bastion back to the city.
"Aunt Esmi? How did you know that I was coming back today? I don't think I informed anyone about my return?" Bastion asked Esmi in surprise.
"Secret," Esmi cheekily replied as she held Bastion's hand and started walking towards the car.
The two of them entered the car, which started moving towards their mansion.
"It feels so good to be back in the city again," Bastion said as he glanced out the window.
"I want to throw a party to remind everyone of my return. I'm sure there would be a few who missed me," he added before he called a number.
"Huh? Ryder's phone is turned off? This guy, he can't even keep his phone charged, can he?" Bastion muttered as he heard the notification of the number being switched off. "I'll try later."
"His phone is off?" Esmi asked, curious.
"Yep. I just tried,x Bastion answered.
Hearing his words, Esmi became a bit concerned. Because of Ryder's actions, she was a bit angry, and she hadn't called him, but she still remembered that Ryder had to leave in urgency, and it didn't seem like he was happy.
Was he in trouble?
"How about we go through the place he stays in? Since his phone is off, you can talk directly." She asked Bastion.
"Sure. That would be even better," Bastion' replied.
"Perfect."
...
Esmi started driving towards the Estate of Shu where Ryder was staying while at the same time the car in which Bastion's father was sitting, was closing in on Ryder's location.