Under the dim, flickering light of the room, Red Raven's face glowed with the warm flush of alcohol. Outside, the wind howled fiercely, and rain pelted the windows with a relentless, crackling sound.
"Want to hear about my mission? You'll need a beer first, to steady your nerves," Red Raven laughed heartily, slapping the table with an expectant grin."It was a stormy night…" he began, the beer flowing as freely as his words. By the time he finished, the room was thick with his boastful tales.
Mowen, sensing an opportunity, sneered,"It seems your organization isn't that well-off if you're taking such trivial jobs."
Red Raven, who had lost several rounds of their drinking game and was visibly inebriated, his neck flushed a deep red, bristled at the insinuation.
"Who says we're not? We've got plenty of money—it's the danger of the missions that drives up the price!"
He unconsciously rubbed his bald head, a tell-tale sign of his unease, though embarrassment played a bigger role this time.
Mowen pressed further,"If you can't even satisfy your boss, I bet your rank isn't that high in the organization."
Red Raven's expression darkened, his clenched fists betraying his anger and shame.
"Nonsense! I don't take big missions because my master insists I protect you, a dead weight. Otherwise..."
"Otherwise what?" Mowen prodded.
"I could easily make a hundred thousand on any mission!" he spat out angrily, a twitch in the corner of his eye.
Noticing Mowen's amused gaze, he begrudgingly added,"It's just that the scientists need to verify it first, so the money isn't in hand yet."
"A hundred thousand, you say? And it needs scientific verification—sounds like a high-grade, mysterious artifact?" Mowen echoed in feigned surprise.
"Of course! The scientists are eager to study it. They didn't expect Dr. James to have the guts to hide a sample."
"Scientists are eager to study it? Can you tell me what it is?" Mowen asked, feigning curiosity.
"So, the Staint Syndicate is researching the Black Flower and its spores?" Mowen wondered inwardly."Is my father involved in this? Could his disappearance be connected?"
Testing the waters, he asked casually,"By the way, master, I heard your organization and my father researched something similar with those black spores?"
"Don't know about that. But given the amount of money involved, the organization must be very invested in it. As for your father, I have no idea!" Red Raven replied indifferently.
"Oh, I need to take this call." Red Raven glanced at his vibrating phone and retreated to a secluded corner to answer it.
When he returned, he seemed anxious, his face clouded.
"Master, what's wrong?" Mowen asked with concern.
Red Raven fidgeted with his hands."The scientists messed up with the sample I handed over. Now they urgently need that diary. If I don't get it, not only will I miss the payout, but the higher-ups will come down on me hard!"
"Master, can I help?" Mowen offered cautiously, sensing this was a perfect chance to get closer to the organization and learn about his father. He silently prayed for success, a cold sweat forming on his palms, though his expression remained calm and determined.
Red Raven eyed him skeptically."You want to join? Can you fight?"
"No," Mowen replied simply.
"Magic, sorcery, special abilities?"
"None of those, master," Mowen admitted honestly.
Red Raven scoffed disdainfully."Our missions brush with death. Every task is nerve-wracking. If you get caught, the organization won't acknowledge the mission or you."
"Like those impossible missions in the movies? I know you guys are like super spies!" Mowen said with admiration.
Red Raven, puffing his chest with pride, nodded in agreement.
"There's no free lunch. What can you offer?"
Mowen smiled, his gaze unwavering."I can gather intelligence, run errands, keep watch. If successful, I won't take a penny."
Seeing Red Raven's interest piqued, Mowen pressed on,"I can also use advanced tech to track targets, making your missions easier and safer."
Red Raven paused, a hint of sarcasm in his voice."You think this is a game? A newcomer like you can handle that?"
Mowen met his gaze steadily."I have my methods. You just wait for the results."
Red Raven, though inwardly delighted at the prospect of free help, feigned reluctance before nodding in agreement.
Back at the hotel, Red Raven, now in a good mood, couldn't keep his mouth shut."I knew your father was one of the scientists in the organization since I was young. He didn't have to do physical work, but there was plenty of mental labor."
Mowen probed further,"What was he responsible for back then?"
Red Raven sipped his tea."Over twenty years ago, there was a mishap at the temple. An important figure went missing. Your father was tasked with uncovering the secret of the disappearance. He suspected the person had fallen into a parallel space."
"A parallel space?" Mowen repeated thoughtfully.
Red Raven nodded."He said similar incidents had occurred in history. He was also researching time-travel capabilities, though they seemed unstable."
"I was just a green youth on my first mission, racing to a remote mountain academy. There, a boy on a mysterious mission was attacked by a demon general. No one expected him to vanish inexplicably while severely injured in front of everyone… We were too late."
"And my father? Did he find that person?" Mowen asked urgently.
Red Raven's gaze turned icy."No. Your father… he disappeared as well."
"Do you know how my father disappeared?"