Money Horse

As the rays of the morning sun slipped through the barrier, it shone on everything that existed beneath it, including the barrier flowers that could be seen everywhere in the shelter.

As soon as the barrier flowers came in contact with the sun's rays they swayed slightly, and in a few minutes started trembling from the roots.

It only took a second, but the flowers began to wither, like a malnourished plant, their once beautiful petals turning brown and shriveled before drying up into an unsightly shell of its former self.

At the moment, in the middle of Twilight City, one could see a building as tall as the skies.

In this building was a myriad of rooms, meant for known and unknown purposes, and in one of these rooms, meant for being rented out to any Agent with enough merit points, one could see two familiar men stepping out each with luggage containing their belonging.

These people were Aiden and Jonathan, and as they stepped out Aiden said leaning into the door. "Mai, we're waiting on you, could you hurry up?"

After saying this, Aiden waited for a reply, but he got none earning him a chuckle from Jonathan who said. "Let's go Aiden, she'll catch up, besides we have to get to the fifth floor first."

Saying this, he started walking away prompting Aiden to follow him with a quip. "You're not very gentlemanly are you?"

"I bought you guys new clothes, that's about as gentlemanly as I can be," Jonathan swiftly retorted.

Listening to Jonathan's retort, Aiden scoffed as he said. "New clothes, I feel like Abdulla in this thing."

Aiden's comment made, Jonathan give him another look.

Aiden wore a black tunic shirt with a classic mandarin collar, the shirt reached his ankles along with a pair of black pants, that hid his tail.

To top it off were black sandals and a raindrop watch.

Although Aiden seemed to have a problem with what he wore, the glances of some of the female agents spoke of his good looks that shone through his odd attire.

Unlike last time he let his long and slightly messy hair flow freely down his back, but although his hair was long, it didn't make him look feminine at all.

With delicate yet sharp features, eyes as deep as an abyss, and hair as if dipped in high-quality ink, Aiden seemed like a model trying out a new fit.

He looked casual, leaving a few buttons open to reveal a smooth but muscular chest.

Looking at what he wore, Jonathan couldn't help but sigh at how unfair mother nature was, he wore a slim fitted black jeans, a black crew neck t-shirt, and a black denim jacket.

To top it off were matching black sneakers, and for accessories, he wore a black belt a stainless steel watch, and sunglasses which he hung on his forehead.

All his clothes were of reputable brands, but Aiden's clothes were something that he'd just purchased randomly off the Silence's website.

Soon they reached an elevator, and after pressing a button and letting it open, Aiden walked in prompting Jonathan to follow behind him.

Now that they were alone in the elevator, Aiden suddenly asked Jonathan. "How's it going with the paperwork? Have you moved my mom yet?"

Turning to Aiden, Jonathan responded. "Yeah, with your signature and fingerprint, it was easy, but there's a pressing issue I want to inform you-"

"Don't worry about the increased bills," Aiden responded expressionlessly before adding, "Once we sell the crystals I'll figure out a way to cover it, till then, you'll have to foot the bill. Now did you do that stuff I told you about?"

At the sound of Aiden's question, Jonathan remained quiet, his eyes twitching as he scolded. "What do you think this is? Do I look like a billionaire? I'm not paying."

"Jonathan," Aiden called out Jonathan's name calmly before adding. "You know all too well that I don't have any money."

"Bullshit!"

Jonathan's voice suddenly sounded out, as he argued. "We are a team Aiden, I'm not your money horse."

"I never saw you as a money horse, just a regular horse," Aiden replied calmly earning him a frown from Jonathan.

Shaking his head and letting out a frustrated sigh Jonathan said. "You forgot I looked into you, that's how I know that, unlike the previous candidates, your group was taken to the enclave the moment the tournament was over, you had no contact with the Shelter so how in God's name did you spend two million Creda's in the enclave?"

"Two million Creda's!"

Aiden's voice sounded out, but just when he was about to follow up he heard the sound of the elevator stopping.

As they strolled into the lobby of the fifth floor, Aiden lowered his voice his tone grim as he talked to Jonathan. "Jonathan I don't know what you're talking about, but I need you to calm down and explain to me, what the hell are you talking about?"

Hearing Aiden's tone, Jonathan raised a brow appearing surprised before he said. "Why are you acting surprised, yo- fuck I just remembered that you didn't participate in the first part of the selections, haven't you checked your account ever since?"

"I haven't," Aiden remarked his expression one of thought as he added, "I didn't think that I had money in my account."

Talking to this point, Aiden remembered that Bruce purchased a house in the Raindrop estate, he now knew where he got the money from.

Hearing Aiden's words, Jonathan sighed and said. "Your device is already linked to your identity number, just check it later. And to answer your earlier question I did do what you asked me to do, I got in contact with Mai's father, and offered him some money if he agreed to go into hiding for three months."

"How much?" Aiden asked feeling curious.

"5000," Jonathan replied with a pained expression.

Hearing Jonathan's words, Aiden didn't show any reaction, but inside his mind, he was screaming. "What the fuck, now we have to pay a guy to save him?"

By now they had reached the reception counter of the fifth floor, unlike the first floor which was run by human employees, the fifth floor and above was strictly for Contractors, meaning the employee in front of them now was also an Initate Contractor.

These were the jobs initiates had to take to earn points, and since the Silence recruited every year, by the time the older initiates became Agents they would already have replacements.

The person at the counter was a man with curly black hair, chestnut eyes, and porcelain-like skin.

Lithe in nature, he seemed frail, and yet his inquisitive eyes spoke tails of his daring nature.

Looking into this person's eyes, the first thought that came to Aiden's mind was. "Is he wearing a choker?"

The man in front of them wore a traditional business suit, but something stood out about him which was the black choker around his neck.

Seemingly growing tired of Aiden's inquisitive gaze, the waiter who seemed to have been waiting for them to say something finally spoke, his voice laced with boredom. "What can I do for you darlings, I know I'm pretty but you don't have to stare so hard."

Hearing the man's words snapped Aiden out of his thoughts, prompting him to turn towards Jonathan who said to the receptionist. "He's here to take a mission."

Raising a brow at Aiden's silence, the receptionist muttered. "It seems Mr. Hottie here can't speak for himself."

As he said this, he also stretched out his arm, handing Aiden a bluish card.

The receptionist's outstretched hand allowed Aiden to notice his painted fingernails, but he ignored them and took the card from him.

"Do you feel that Aiden?" Landon's voice suddenly sounded out in Aiden's head, prompting Aiden to respond in his mind.

"This person wants to kill me!"

"What's your name?" Aiden finally spoke, asking the receptionist the most basic of questions.

At the sound of Aiden's voice, the receptionist's eyes seemed to sparkle even more, his voice laced with emotion as he said. "I'm Rose."

"Rose, is that a code name?" Aiden asked as he gazed at the receptionist.

"Hmm," Rose nodded, his lips curling up as he slid another card on the counter. "You should call me if you want to have some fun, I know everything that goes on in this city."

"Is that so?" Aiden asked halfheartedly losing interest in the conversation, as he did this he glanced at the card on the counter but made no move to pick it up.

Sensing Aiden's disinterest, Rose's tone also became clearer, his eyes narrowed as he said. "The card on your hand contains the missions currently available to agents at your level it'll expire in a few hours so use it quickly."

Hearing this, Aiden removed his identity card from his phone and slid in the card issued by Rose.

As he did this, a new app appeared on his phone, one that he'd never seen before, as he opened this application, he found a black page with a list of words numbered 1 to infinity, after looking for a few minutes he found something that sparked his interest.

[A rift appeared in the slums of South City, but the demon was not found, find and kill this demon without hurting any humans.]

Clicking on this mission, Aiden suddenly received a message from an unknown number, it contained details such as the exact location of the rift appearance, the rewards involved, and how strong the demon was which was Threat level 20.

After doing this, Aiden handed the card back to Rose before nodding at Jonathan who started walking towards the elevator.

Just before Aiden was about to follow, he turned back and took Rose's card from the counter, a smile on his lips as he said. "I'm attending a little get-together at a place called Vin's Parlor tonight at eight."

"That's a little forward," Rose replied immediately, a small blush forming on his face as he responded. "I have work today so I won't be able to make it, but maybe next time."

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(Back at Jonathan's rented room)

Meanwhile, as Aiden finished taking his mission, Mai had just stepped out of the room with her luggage.

Her appearance immediately turned some heads in the busy hallway of the Silence's headquarters.

She looked like some dark queen, sporting a black crop top covered by a black denim jacket with distressed details.

A high-waisted jeans with blank ankle boots, elevated her already impressive height giving her an aura of superiority.

For accessories, she wore high a black leather belt with a matte black buckle, a black stainless steel watch, and sleek black sunglasses for a cohesive, dark-themed ensemble.

As she walked, she scrolled through her phone, furrowing her brows as she observed the jobs available to initiates.

Unlike Aiden who was an Agent already, she was an Initate meaning she couldn't take missions.

What she could take were jobs available in the Silence's headquarters, but upon looking at the poor rewards she furrowed her brows.

[House cleaning 1MP monthly]

[Receptionist 3MP monthly]

[Waitresses 4MP monthly]

There were no jobs that paid higher than four merit points a month, and as an Initate she needed to pay five merit points monthly as taxes.

Letting out a sigh, Mai thought to herself as she removed a strand of hair from her face. "It seems I'll have to rely on Jonathan for the time being."

Jonathan had offered to pay her monthly taxes of five merit points till she earned enough to pay it herself.

The problem was that Mai didn't feel comfortable relying on Jonathan, hell, she didn't feel comfortable relying on anyone till Aiden came along.

Letting out a breath, she moved to put her phone in her bag but just as she did this, Mai noticed something from the corner of her eyes and came to a stop.

"Sorry," a voice suddenly sounded out in front of her, it came from a woman with raven black hair and eyes.

She had almost walked into Mai, fortunately, Mai had noticed this in time and stopped moving.

Mai, feeling a bit startled, chose to ignore this person and continue her day, but just as she paid attention to who it was, she noticed a familiar face.

"Serena," Mai suddenly called out, her head slightly tilted.

Upon hearing her name the dark-haired woman looked up to meet Mai's gaze.

As Mai looked into Serena's eyes, she noticed her troubled expression, her trembling eyes, and balled fists, the woman didn't look okay.

Just as Serena was about to walk away, Mai called out. "Serena, let's chat."

Upon hearing her name being called out again, Serena looked surprised, but she nodded without saying a word.

With that Mai held her hand and dragged her towards the resting area for initiates.