Chapter 503: Offer Accepted!
Chapter 503
"I’m listening." Grey muttered with a sigh.
"Now that I got your attention, I can finally breathe easy." Duke exhaled in relief as he watched Grey close the door behind him and turn around with a raised eyebrow.
"What’s the deal with this device?" Grey asked, his voice carrying a hint of suspicion.
"It’s a device given to all field agents of the clan. A safeguard. A way to know who belongs to us or not, so we don’t end up eliminating one of our own by mistake." Duke chuckled lightly at his own words, though Grey’s frown deepened at the thought.
"Like I said earlier, the device activates the moment a member is near. It begins beeping, and theirs would also beep, letting you both know who’s who—as long as you’re both carrying it at that time."
"Can I get it?" Grey asked sharply.
"Yup. But you have to join us first." Duke replied without hesitation.
"Bu... but how am I supposed to explain that to Yami sir? I don’t even know the full advantages or disadvantages of joining you. Besides, why would I join the very clan that’s after my life?" Grey countered with a raised brow.
"That’s the point. Not only is the device one of the perks, you might also be saved." Duke’s tone turned firm.
"Saved? How?"
"Because once you become one of us, no one will dare touch you unless you’re directly wanted. Even then, the circumstances would be different." Duke shrugged as if it was obvious.
Grey sighed and shook his head. "Still sounds like a hell of a risk to me."
"Mind you," Duke continued, "you won’t be sent on any dangerous missions. And since I’d be the one initiating you into the clan, you’d automatically join my squad."
That last point made Grey pause.
’Hmm... all this sounds tempting,’ Grey thought, his brow furrowing as he weighed his options. ’But where exactly is the real advantage for me? Wait... Duke once mentioned the clan has countless artifacts.
One of them was that ring he gave me to mask my hair color. If I join them, I might gain access to even more powerful items. Who knows? Maybe one of them could help me find a way back to my own world.’
Seeing Grey sink deeper into thought, Duke smirked slightly. He could tell he was close to breaking through his resistance.
"And here’s another benefit—you can leave the academy anytime you want. Once you’re under us, we’ll inform our men in higher positions about this new development. That means whenever you have a personal issue to handle, you can walk right out of the academy without needing to give anyone an excuse."
’If this doesn’t convince him, then I’ve got nothing else to offer,’ Duke thought.
’That does sound useful,’ Grey admitted inwardly. ’I still want to visit the Noxarian faction again, gather more pills, and maybe even forge a weapon that truly fits my fighting style.’
Sigh!
Grey exhaled deeply and finally shrugged. "Fine then. Where do I sign up?"
"Sign up?" Duke chuckled, clutching his stomach as if Grey had just told the funniest joke in the world. "This isn’t some ’Get rich in one minute’ scam where you need a form and a pen. As long as you accept, you’re already in."
"Wait! What if I decide to back out? Since there’s no agreement, nothing is binding me from staying free." Grey smirked, testing the waters.
"True, true. Nothing binds you... except this." Duke’s voice dropped as he blurred out of sight for an instant, reappearing in his position before Grey could even react.
A sharp prickling sensation flared across Grey’s arm. Hissing in pain, he yanked his sleeve up and froze.
Etched on his shoulder was an insignia—the image of a half-risen yellow sun. It pulsed faintly, glowing in and out as if alive. A few seconds later, it slowly faded until it completely disappeared.
Grey’s eyes widened as he clutched at the spot. "What the hell...?"
’Ho... how did he do that in like a second?! That was fast. No! More than fast. Wait! Why am I even surprised? He is a Stage 6 warrior for a reason.’ Grey sighed inwardly as he dropped his shirt back down and rubbed his arm lightly. The pain had already faded, but the memory of the prickling sting still lingered.
"Why did it just fade away?" he asked curiously, staring at the now-blank skin.
"Oh, it’s not a big deal. If you need it to appear to prove your identity, just flex your arm and it will show up again." Duke replied casually, like it was the simplest thing in the world.
"Huh? Why all these? Why not just leave it permanently visible on the skin?" Grey pressed further.
"Anybody can fake and draw the insignia on their arms and claim to be part of us. But with the fading and appearing effect, it proves the mark is legit and cannot be counterfeited. That’s why it’s done this way." Duke explained, his expression calm, though his tone carried a faint hint of boredom as if this was routine knowledge for him.
"Fair enough." Grey muttered with a shrug, letting the matter drop. "So what now?"
"Here." Duke said after dipping his hand into his pocket. He pulled out something small before tossing it toward Grey.
Grey caught it effortlessly and examined it. It was a small device, no bigger than a baby’s fist. The screen was pitch black while the back shimmered with a solid yellow glow.
Its design looked sleek, foreign, and out of place in this world, almost like something straight out of another realm. The weight was strangely balanced, not too heavy but not light either, giving off the feeling of precision craftsmanship.
"That’s the device I was talking about." Duke explained as Grey lifted his head to meet his eyes. "Keep it on you at all times. It will blink, beep, or buzz twice whenever another member is within five metres of you.
That way you’ll never miss them. And when a mission is sent from me to you, it will buzz thrice. As your captain, I have the right to assign missions to my squad, which you’re now officially a part of."
"What kind of missions though?" Grey asked, his brows narrowing slightly.
"Don’t worry, nothing difficult. Mostly scouting or investigative missions, things that won’t put you in direct harm. It’s a way for you to get familiar with our operations without drawing unnecessary attention." Duke reassured him, his voice firm yet oddly comforting.
Grey let out a soft sigh before tucking the strange device safely into his pocket. For some reason, its weight against his thigh felt heavier than its actual mass, like it carried an invisible responsibility along with it.
"Is that all?" Grey asked after a moment of silence.
"Yes. For now." Duke nodded. "I’ll be checking up on you once in a while. Sometimes openly, sometimes in secret, so don’t be surprised. Stay alert. Take care of yourself."
And just like that, Duke’s figure blurred and vanished completely, leaving no trace behind.
Grey blinked, stunned at how effortlessly the man disappeared. He stood alone on the rooftop, the cool night wind rustling softly through his hair. The academy grounds stretched out beneath him in silence, the faint glow of torches flickering in the distance.
He clenched his fist slightly, feeling the invisible insignia burn faintly beneath his skin even though it wasn’t visible. His gaze shifted toward the horizon.
"Joining them might be more complicated than I thought," he muttered under his breath. "But I guess there’s no turning back now."