Akin stared, shocked by the revelation of his sudden fate in a place he didn't recognize, unsure of what would happen next.
"This has to be some kind of joke, right?" Akin said, struggling to grasp the reality of the situation.
"I'm dead serious," Stanley replied, his tone unwavering.
"Nah… i An'it buy that, not even a little," Akin said, scoffing at the idea. "Sure, I remember that inn talking to me about it, but that was just my enemy's words."
" He was in the middle of trying to kill me. He'd say anything, spit out any nonsense, just to mess with me and that ghost girl… Not to mention he was practically beating us to a pulp."
Akin's resentment flared, a lingering grudge against Feya and the brutal beating he had endured. But his train of thought was interrupted by Stanley's laughter.
"I like your attitude, kid!" Stanley said, clearly impressed.
He observed Akin's defiance, his unwillingness to crumble into fear and confusion as most might in his situation. Instead, Akin held a clear disdain for the inns, which Stanley could read on his face.
"Uh…?" Akin murmured, confused by Stanley's sudden grin.
"Regardless," Stanley continued, "they want you dead. The higher-ups are well aware of your existence, and I guess they're terrified of what you represent. Generally the inns actually."
Stanley stood up, his smile lingering as he looked down at Akin,
"How are they even sure I'm not human to begin with? Making these decisions like they own people's lives… Who to take and who not to," Akin said, frustration simmering. "And last time I checked, only God has that power."
Stanley's response took him aback. "I know, right?"
"Isn't he supposed to be siding with his people?" Akin thought, glancing at Stanley with growing confusion.
He had no clue which side Stanley truly stood on as the man only seemed to complicate things further.
"Anyway, that aside, all thanks to me, myself, and I. I decided to convince them to give you a chance, seeing as you clearly despise those inns—sorry, I mean 'your kind,'" Stanley added with a playful tone.
" I told you I'm not an inn. Do I look like a shadow to you?" Akin snapped, his irritation growing.
Stanley chuckled. "No, I guess you don't. But you're definitely stronger than the average for your age group. Maybe that's a clue."
"So? They are many like me who are stronger than their our age group!" Akin argued, growing frustrated as he felt Stanley wasn't taking him seriously.
"Alright, let's get back to business," Stanley said, his playful demeanor fading into a more serious tone.
"Like I said earlier, since you hate them so much… how would you feel about becoming a certified inn killer?"
Stanley extended his hand toward Akin, his expression serious as he awaited an answer.
As Akin looked at Stanley, he felt the weight of his intense gaze, the man's presence radiating power that seemed to grow with each passing second.A shiver ran down Akin's spine, a mix of nervousness and thrill flickering across his face.
"Alright, I'm in." Akin agreed, his resolve hardened by his lingering resentment toward the inns that had destroyed his home.
Despite this, he still held a grudge against Stanley for knocking him out cold the previous night, though he couldn't deny his own desire to grow stronger—strong enough to match someone like Stanley.
"Perfect!" Stanley's demeanor lightened, his gaze softening to his cheerful expression.
"Certainly a good choice as This will extend your date!"
"But wait. I have one condition," Akin said, his tone sharpening.
"Yeah?" Stanley replied, already sensing what Akin was about to ask.
"I need assistance in finding a way to get rid of that damn inn in Hickson's body. Permanently. So, can you assist me?" Akin's gaze turned steely as he stared down Stanley.
"About him… I'm not sure if the higher-ups will let your friend slide. He's currently a significant threat."
Akin clenched his fists, but Stanley continued, "And they don't really care if it's a possession or not. As long as it's an inn, it's marked for elimination. Only a few possessed ever manage to slip through the cracks and regain control."
Akin's rage flared as his brow furrowed at what he'd just heard. His only friend, the last family he had from the orphanage—and now they wanted to kill him?
"You're kidding, right?" Akin's tone darkened, and he glared menacingly at Stanley, feeling any other emotion replaced by a growing, consuming fury.
Meanwhile, Stanley watched Akin closely, his expression slightly intrigued.
"I wish I was," Stanley replied, observing Akin's darkening presence and an ominous shift in his tone that seemed unlike a typical human's.
Kneeling beside Akin, he patted his head. "But since you want to help him, and require my assistance. I'll see if I can find you a way around the higher-ups' orders."
Akin snapped out of his anger, and hint of happiness flickering across his face as he stared at Stanley. "Are you serious?"
"Yeah. That's because I like you," Stanley said with a reassuring smile, patting Akin's face.
"Uh…," Akin said, in disgust and frowning. "I'm not…you know, into that."
Stanley chuckled.
"Neither am I." There was a glint of interest in his gaze, intrigued by Akin's blend of human nature and the slight, subtle hint of something else, something darker that emerged when he was in a rage.
"But don't forget about yourself," Stanley continued. "Because when all this is done, your death is inevitable. In my hand."
Akin's eyes widened, a chill of terror flooding him as Stanley leaned in, his words dripping with a suffocating power. For a moment, Akin could feel the weight of Stanley's strength, as if death itself hovered nearby. But then, with a quick pat on his shoulder, Stanley's demeanor shifted, the tension dissipating.
"Then again, I might retire before then," Stanley said with a smile. "Besides, I'd rather not kill you. I like your attitude boy."
Akin exhaled in relief, but the threat lingered, reminding him that his life still teetered on the edge.
"Was the intimidation really necessary?" Akin said, relieved watching Stanley as he processed everything he'd just felt.
"I just love to be cool you know!"
Stanley replied cheerfully.
"Oh and But just because I'm not keen on killing you doesn't mean someone else among our ranks won't," Stanley added in warning.
"As long as I can end them, bring Hickson back in control of his body…I'm fine with dying," Akin replied. But even as he said it, a small part of him resisted the thought of accepting death so easily.
"But can I ask you a question?" Akin said, pushing aside his strange feelings.
"Of course, as long as it isn't personal," Stanley replied, his tone casual.
"What makes him think I'm about to ask something personal?" Akin thought, observing Stanley. The man seemed full of himself yet oddly cool in Akin's eyes.
"Come on now, don't look at me like that. Don't you know I'm famous?" Stanley said with a grin.
"No! And didn't you just give me a little hint about your background?" Akin replied nonchalantly, noting how close Stanley was, feeling his breath.
"Well, I guess I did?" Stanley acknowledged.
"But good job," he added playfully.
"You sure caught on to those keywords, considering your background, Akin." Testing akin hoping Akin would pick up on that detail which akin actually passed.
"Not that famous enough to be on local television or newspaper covers, but sure, I'm popular," Stanley continued, with his cheerful demeanor placing both hands on Akin's face.
"Anyway, that aside, go on and ask what you wanted," he encouraged.
"Oh yeah. How can I get stronger? Like you," Akin asked sincerely.
"Duh! By becoming my student… then again, you're already under me!" Stanley beamed at Akin, clearly pleased with his revelation.
"And oh, I expect my students to be the best of the best," he said, his tone turning sinister as he leaned close to Akin's ear. "In everything."
A thrill coursed through Akin as he smiled, hoping Stanley would accept him as his student.
"I definitely won't disappoint you in the least!" Akin responded, determination ringing in his voice.
"After all, if I'm going to be their end, I have to be more powerful than them, right?" he added, grinning as his resolve solidifying.