Alighting from the vehicle, the duo, Sylvia and Trevor heard the voice of an excited lady.
"What perfect timing! You're just in time for dinner." Taking a good look at her, Trevor found her having a striking resemblance to Sylvia.
'Her elder sister, maybe?' He thought.
Stopping just shy from Trevor's position, Bianca exclaimed, "My my, and who might this be, Syl (Sylvia)?"
"It's a long story, Bee; let's just go in," Sylvia responded, feeling too shy to explain due to the way Bee (Bianca) was asking.
Trevor couldn't help but speak up, "Before we do that, could I use the restroom?"
"Right!"
Sylvia immediately called for one of the maids around, "You, please show our guest to the restroom."
"Of course," the maid said, her voice soft and courteous as she performed a gentle curtsy and gestured in a particular direction," Ri- Right this way sir."
'Wow! His beautiful.'
---
Upon returning, Trevor entered the futuristic dining area, awestruck by its sleek surfaces and holographic accents.
The majestic, circular table at the centre of the dining room seemed to shimmer in the light.
"You must be Trevor," The mesmerising voice of a middle-aged woman, resembling Sylvia rang out, "Please, come join us."
Her voice warm as her hands played with Sylvia's hair.
This was Mrs Zina Albastrum, mother of Sylvia Albastrum.
'Mummy's pet, she is...hmmm?'
Trevor thought but his eyes were drawn to another figure on the table who kept staring at him with focused eyes.
It was that of a middle-aged man with short silver hair and purple eyes.
'This guy is dangerous,' Trevor thought, making a mental note not to anger him if he didn't need to.
[That's Sylvia's Father]
"Where are my manners," Trevor taking a deep bow with such grace that Mrs Zina thought in her heart, "He's just right..."
"No need to be so courteous, Trevor, you're our guest, so come have a seat already," Bianca said, her hands already above her cutlery, itching to eat.
"Yes, Please do have a seat," Mrs Zina said gesturing to the chair directly opposite Mr. Wright Albastrum, the head of the home.
"Thank You."
---
In a dimly lit room.
A huge silver-haired man girded up in a customised Azure-coloured suit, with a spectacle on his face, stood in front of an extra-large screen.
The screen currently displayed a photo of Trevor standing outside Sylvia's home.
On his left chest was a name tag that read, "Head of Defence- Victor Albastrum."
If Sylvia was here, she'd be able to recognise him as her only uncle, her Father's twin.
"You're telling me that there's no sort of information, nothing at all on our files to identify this man?"
The man addressed the much smaller man next to him, who adorned weird-looking green robes.
"It may seem impossible, but that's our current situation, Sir!" The man in green robes said as he pushed back his spectacles removing the few strands of his green hair from it.
"Well, search deeper. Wright wouldn't just let 'anybody' walk past his doorstep, especially not after last time...I'm sure"
"You sound worried...brother." A middle-aged woman with silver hair walked up to join the duo standing by the screen.
"Hmmm...I merely find this golden stranger interesting, Stephanie."
---
Back at Mr. Wright's mansion.
Trevor had learnt the identity of everyone in the room with him and the fact that Sylvia, who was turning 20 soon and Bianca, who had already clocked 22, had two other siblings.
The youngest, a boy, was merely 2 years old and the eldest, a boy too, would soon turn 25.
Trevor himself had only spent 15 years in this world, but by the time he came, the original owner of the body was 13 already.
Doing the maths, he deduced that he was 28 years old. He was almost double his current age before crossing over.
When he asked the whereabouts of the two boys, he was told that the youngest, Shawn by name, was asleep and the eldest, William, was on a Guild mission.
Trevor also learnt that among the two sisters, Sylvia was the talkative...and a bit overdramatic.
She narrated the entire story of how she and her team members were testing out a new serum and an accident occurred.
"I thought I'd never see your old faces again as I said my last prayers but then I saw something flash by...SHWINNN," She said.
She also narrated how she saw an unconscious Trevor amid countless dead bodies; she also mentioned that all the bodies were without heads.
All except one, who had a dog mask on.
When she reached this part all heads turned to Trevor.
They couldn't begin to imagine how such an innocent and sweet-looking man was capable of mass murder in cold blood.
But unlike the group, Mr Wright immediately stood up and gave a bow to Trevor.
"I don't what you are or whatever your true identity is...but, what I know is...you saved my daughter from certain death!
...and for that, I'm extremely grateful."
Trevor remained stunned, unable to process the unexpected turn of events. He'd braced himself for ridicule after Sylvia's story but instead received genuine appreciation.
And what's more, was that it came from the man who'd been looking at him like he was free food.
Mrs Zina nodded. "That's right, Trevor, Your selflessness has touched our hearts."
"It's nothing," Trevor tried to end the dialogue with a smile, feeling quite uncomfortable.
But Mr White continued, "You're a man of mystery, Trevor, but you have a good heart...I just want you to know that whether it be as a guest, a friend, or even family- you'd always be welcome here."
Bianca chimed in, "The mystery man...sounds epic."
Sylvia smiled, relieved.
After that, the family, Trevor included, discussed some more, giggling and laughter resounding through the dining room.
---
After dinner, Mr Wright asked Trevor to follow him.
Which he did as they arrived on one of the balconies on the roof of the mansion, from which one could get a perfect view of the wonderful City of Paradise.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Mr White said as he reclined on the metal rail, facing the city.
"It is beautiful," Trevor replied his gaze lingering on the city below him, "So, beautiful I wonder what secrets it holds beneath such facade."
Mr. Wright's expression turned contemplative, his gaze drifting across the city. "Paradise, like every other City, has its fair share of shadows, Trevor.
I think you already know that, considering the story my daughter told of finding you unconscious."
"Tell me, Trevor, are you a member of the 'Mortis Crew' ?"
---
The 'Mortis Crew', Trevor knew this name very well...it was the name everyone outside Suicide City knew the 'Death Soldiers', as.
There were numerous gangs, some big, some small. But among all the gangs in the 'underworlds' of the 11 great cities of mankind, four gangs stood proudly above all the others.
Whether it be in wealth, size, influence- these four overshadowed the rest, vastly:
The Red Vipers, the Lupus Gang, the Lotus Gang and the Dead Skulls.
But above this 'Big Four' itself was another...the undisputed 'Mortis Crew'.