Kaito realized that Emily was not satisfied with his initial response and that joking about the situation wouldn't get him anywhere. He decided to take a more serious approach, still maintaining his calm but with a touch of sincerity in his voice.
"It's common for my presence to cause curiosity," Kaito said, leaning slightly forward in the armchair, his eyes fixed on Emily's. "But all these questions lead me to believe that the presence of Devils isn't exactly welcomed here. Is there a reason for that? Are Devils forbidden in the city?"
"No, Devils are not forbidden in Nightshade," she replied, her voice now a bit softer but still firm. "However, any supernatural being entering the city must report to the person responsible for maintaining order among the supernatural here. And the way you arrived without announcing yourself raises some flags."
Kaito frowned slightly, understanding the situation. "I understand. It wasn't my intention to cause trouble. I only just arrived and was still settling in before seeking out whoever is in charge of maintaining that order."
"The person responsible for the city will seek you out tomorrow," she said, with a tone that left no room for argument. "It's best if you stay here and don't try to leave, at least until you've spoken with her."
Kaito realized that Emily wasn't giving him a real option, but he also wasn't interested in causing trouble or drawing attention to himself.
"I agree with what you said," Kaito replied, keeping his voice calm and his posture relaxed. "I'll wait here until she arrives."
"Good," she finally said, not changing her expression.
Without saying goodbye, Emily turned abruptly and left the room, closing the door with a sharp thud.
CLACK!
Kaito remained seated in the armchair, his heightened senses picking up something unusual outside the door. He could feel the slight pulse of mana, indicating that Emily was using some kind of magic. He focused his perception and quickly realized she was trying to place a spell to trap him in the room.
A slight smile appeared on Kaito's lips. He knew he had enough power to break the spell easily, but he chose not to do anything for the time being. 'She's just trying to do her job,' he thought, understanding the situation.
Kaito stood up from the armchair and took one last look out the window, observing the city's tranquility at night. With a sigh, he decided to prepare for rest, knowing that the next day would be full of new discoveries and possibly challenges.
He lay down on the bed, allowing the calm of the environment and the temporary feeling of safety to envelop him. Tomorrow, he would be ready to face whatever Nightshade had in store for him.
...
The morning sun began to peek through the curtains of Kaito's room, gently illuminating the environment. He awoke with the lightness of the morning light, feeling refreshed after a night of rest.
Kaito got out of bed and stretched his body, preparing for the day. 'Today I will meet the person in charge of the city,' he thought, recalling Emily's words from the previous night. He knew it would be an important meeting and that he needed to be prepared.
Kaito entered the room's bathroom, appreciating the simplicity and cleanliness of the place. He turned on the faucet, letting the water run while grabbing a towel. He splashed cold water on his face, feeling the refreshing coolness that helped awaken his senses.
He brushed his teeth, washed his face, and then took a quick shower, letting the warm water relax his muscles and wash away any remaining fatigue. After drying off, Kaito dressed in simple but elegant clothes that would allow him to maintain a proper posture for the upcoming meeting.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
The knocks on the door were soft, but each touch seemed to carry a contained force, a warning that whoever was on the other side was someone of great importance. Kaito, still drying his face, remained calm, but his senses were on high alert.
"You can come in," Kaito said, his voice firm but polite. He put away the towel and turned to the door, preparing to receive the visitor.
The door opened slowly, revealing an impressive woman. She had short, curly blonde hair that framed her face perfectly. Her deep blue eyes observed Kaito with an intensity that made his heart race. Her posture was graceful and full of confidence, and the aura emanating from her was powerful and unmistakable.
Kaito was momentarily shocked upon seeing the woman enter. 'Beautiful and powerful,' he thought, unable to look away.
She wore a black leather coat that gave her an imposing appearance, perfectly matching the serious expression she carried. However, there was something more in her gaze, something that reflected a depth of experiences and emotions that Kaito could not yet fully comprehend.
"My name is Thalia Parker," she said, her voice strong but with a touch of softness that made her even more attractive. "I'm responsible for maintaining order in Nightshade."
Kaito froze for a brief moment, his mind working quickly to process what he had just heard. 'Thalia Parker... the same Thalia mentioned in the letter,' he thought, feeling a wave of surprise and disbelief.
Thalia, on the other hand, continued to observe Kaito, unaware of the whirlwind of thoughts passing through his mind.
"So, you're the Devil who arrived in the city without introducing yourself. That's not something we usually tolerate, but I'm willing to hear your justification," she said.
"That's me, but before I answer your question, can you answer one for me?" Kaito said, his voice calm and controlled as he maintained eye contact with Thalia.
Thalia raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by Kaito's unexpected response. She crossed her arms, watching him closely before answering.
"Sure," she said, with a slight curiosity in her voice. "But first, tell me your name." Thalia tilted her head slightly, her eyes fixed on Kaito, waiting for an answer.
Kaito took a deep breath, feeling the tension of the moment but also the confidence in his own position.
"My name is Kaito," he said.
Thalia observed Kaito for a moment, as if evaluating every word, every movement.
"Very well, Kaito," Thalia said, uncrossing her arms. "You may ask your question."
Kaito felt that this was the right moment to reveal his true mission. He needed to understand the situation before proceeding.
"Are you a demigod?" Kaito asked, getting straight to the point, carefully observing Thalia's reaction.
Thalia narrowed her eyes for a brief moment, her expression becoming more rigid. "I'm much more than that," she replied, her voice tinged with a touch of contained irritation.
Kaito noticed the subtle anger that crossed Thalia's face. She was clearly bothered by the question, and he knew he would need to approach the subject more carefully.
"I understand," Kaito said, trying to ease the tension. "It wasn't my intention to offend you."
Thalia relaxed a little, but her eyes were still sharp, as if she were expecting something more.
Kaito decided to get straight to the point. He extended his hand and pulled out the letter he had stored in his backpack, holding it between his fingers. "I have a letter for a Thalia Parker from New York, Queens," he said, handing the letter to her.
Thalia looked at the letter, her gaze hardening as she saw the name and address written on it. For a moment, her eyes shone with a mixture of surprise and disbelief. She slowly reached out and took the letter from Kaito's hands, as if she were handling something precious but also dangerous.
"Where did you get this?" Thalia asked, her voice low but laden with palpable tension.
"I got it from an acquaintance," Kaito said.
Thalia narrowed her eyes, her expression hardening even more.
"An acquaintance?" she repeated, her voice filled with skepticism. "I think you'd better be much more specific."
ZZZTT!
The electricity around Thalia's body intensified, the air around them vibrating with growing energy. The lights in the room began to flicker, reflecting the increase in power emanating from her. The intensity of her anger was palpable, and Kaito felt he needed to act quickly to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.
"Calm down, girl," Kaito said, his voice firm but without hostility. He began circulating demonic mana through his body, preparing for any eventuality. The sensation of the energy flowing through his muscles and bones made him feel stronger, more resilient.
"You came here at his request, didn't you?" Thalia asked, her voice now deeper, almost like thunder about to break the silence. The lights in the room continued to flicker, matching the rise of her fury.
'Zeus... She thinks I'm here because of him,' Kaito thought, quickly understanding what was going through Thalia's mind. He knew he needed to defuse this situation before things got worse.
"Thalia, listen," Kaito said, his voice calm and controlled but laden with sincerity. He took a step forward, not breaking eye contact. "I'm not here on Zeus's orders. I have no connection with him, and I don't share his values."
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