BXBX NOVEL Chapter 179: White Birds
They had been somewhat distant lately, and he almost felt her lack of kindness hitting him, especially because…
He no longer saw the real Cristine there; she was just a shell of the woman he had known a long time ago, playing with children… She was just a woman, marked with the look of Vengeance, spewing fire at everything she gazed upon… Was she blind? Who knows.
'This is bothering me…' He thought while following her.
They were walking through the neon-lit streets, trying not to get too absorbed in the world around them. People were laughing, celebrating, dancing, and listening to songs that, well, Strax didn't even know what language they were sung in, but they seemed infectious…
As for the woman beside him, she was just there, existing; in fact, her presence was almost imperceptible, she was camouflaged in the air, but he could firmly see her outline and her as a whole… This was the advantage of the Dragon Eyes he possessed.
"Why are we going after an Informant?" Strax questioned, and the main reason, "And why me?" He asked, interested in the woman's answer, but it was merely to break the ice; he just wanted to understand what she was really feeling, but…
"Because you're trustworthy." She replied firmly and coldly. The answer was so immediate that it seemed like she just wanted to say "Don't meddle" or "Don't ask unnecessary questions." It was even awkward for him to be in the position he was in… But what could he do?
"Look, I honestly would love to—" "I know you're analyzing me all the time with those damn eyes, so please. Just be quiet and follow me. I'm not asking too much; I'm even rewarding you for doing this, so just accept it, okay?" She said, coldly and bitterly.
That was the last straw for Strax. He was okay, just trying to follow, but she had crossed the line. He didn't even give her time to continue walking and grabbed her arms, pinning her against the wall like a prisoner. They were in a place with no movement, no blinding lights betraying their vision.
"W-what a-are you d-doing! Let me go!" She ordered, stuttering. She suddenly found herself in a very embarrassing position. Strax had grabbed and held her wrists above her head while her cleavage was exposed a bit more than it should be… In short, an embarrassing and defenseless position. But despite that, she didn't feel uncomfortable, just very, very embarrassed…
Why? Well, it was obvious; she had been feeling something different since they met… that was obvious… at least to her.
"Let me go… Please." She murmured calmly. Strax looked at the completely defenseless woman, sweat dripping from her forehead as her grayish hair clung to her face. It wasn't just that; it was much more… She was just…
'When defenseless… So cute… And they still call her the Assassin Queen.' He thought while gently loosening his grip on her arm, wanting to talk and ease her discomfort.
"I'm being patient with you. But if you keep acting like this, I'll have to stop and give up on this damn plan, so look at me and tell me, what's going on with you?!" Strax questioned, looking deeply into her eyes. For a moment, Cristine's Blue Gap was absorbed by Strax's Crimson Red eyes, which invaded her entire being.
She felt tempted to speak, tried in every way not to say it, but she said something simple, yet to her…
"I'm afraid of death." She said, breaking any thoughts of Strax as well as her own…
Strax didn't know, but… Cristine had broken her Vow with her God.
"You think you're going to die? Just what I needed. Another crazy person wanting to test me with death phrases. I deserve it." Strax said, releasing her arm while turning around and pacing back and forth. "Seriously, look at me. Do you really think I'm going to let you even think about dying?
Damn, look at me, I'm not that kind of man, you know? I'm not going to let you die or whatever you're thinking." Strax said, more like he was arguing with her.
"And what the hell is this fear, that makes you turn into a dense block of ice?" Strax questioned; he just…
Lost it.
"And I—" "You nothing! You're overthinking possibilities that can't even be considered, fear of dying? You should be afraid of me, that's it." Strax said, interrupting her while sighing, "Okay, sorry, but it's hard to work with someone who's kicking me like a dead dog just because I wanted to know basic things about an important mission, don't you think?" he continued.
Cristine was shocked by what he had said, all in a span of less than two minutes.
"I'm sorry..." She said, lowering her head somewhat bitterly. She didn't know this man… cared so much about her, at least, she hadn't felt that initially…
"I chose you... Because it's comfortable to be by your side. And I feel less afraid." She said, completely breaking Strax's expression…
"W-w-what?" Strax stammered, surprised by what this woman was saying. "I mean… I like your presence; it makes me feel lighter… And you're trustworthy. I mean, you're strong; even though I'm stronger, I'm still a bit clumsy sometimes, and that gets me into complicated situations…" She murmured, unloading a truckload of information on him.
Strax didn't know how to react to this kind of thing… He didn't think much about what she meant, but… "I think we'd better continue." He stepped back, for the first time ever, he stepped back from a woman simply because he couldn't understand what had just happened…
[Affection from Cristine increased by: 45% - Affection Level 75% of 100%]
'What the hell is this? This is completely new?! I mean, okay, there was a previous reward "Total Affection from Cristine" or something like that, but doesn't this make the mission pointless?' Strax wondered.
"Yes, I think we'd better go… We're close, and he should be leaving soon…" Cristine murmured as she started moving again with Strax following…
…
"Welcome, looking for what? Books, spices, carrier pigeons?" A man greeted them. It was an antiquities store, a kind of shop that covered various things. Cristine was hooded and wearing a mask, just like Strax.
Cristine walked ahead. "No…" Cristine said, approaching the counter. "The birds are still asleep." She said, and Strax noticed how the shop owner reacted, with a slight trembling expression that was immediately corrected.
"…" He remained silent. "They are sleepy," he commented, and Cristine added, "Or tired; they've been traveling for a long time."
"Well, that's why they're still sleeping…" He commented. Strax had already understood what was happening. "Here is a good rest for them and their wings, isn't it?" She questioned.
"What are you doing here?" The atmosphere changed completely when she finished her words. "Food for big birds…" She answered. "You came to the right place." He said before pulling out a knife and attacking Cristine, but…
He was intercepted with just one hand… Strax's hand caught the knife and struck his flesh, but the knife didn't even cut him… Of course, how could a small knife cut through Dragon skin?
'He's not an ordinary fighter, though…' The man murmured internally, seeing Strax's reaction. 'Danger'
"Come on, stop stalling. You're here to sell items, aren't you?" Cristine said, pushing Strax's hand away from the blade.
Strax quickly understood what she meant when she started exchanging words with the man. Birds meant spies, and bird food meant information… well, he had seen that in old novels in his past life, but it worked basically the same way.
In a city where all types of people come, there are many cases of spies. Although it's from Thalassia, Eldoria has a policy of 'Null Area.' Here, it was actually the largest concentration of illegal activities, and spies? Anyone could be one.
In other words.
"Name." He said, and Cristine answered. "Assassin Queen." The man quickly moved away from the counter upon hearing her name. Yes, all this up to the attack was done from behind the counter.
"It would be good to have information on all the big birds. I'd love to hunt some birds." She said, smiling at him. Well, she was wearing a mask, but Strax could sense her smile… It was a connection, something like that…
[You are in the territory of the White Birds Guild]
Strax read the message out of the corner of his eye while observing the unfolding events. The gray-haired, fairly weak man put away his blade and looked at Cristine with a simple smile.
"…Follow me," he said, opening a door at the side of his counter.