Chapter 19 Recruitment

Chen Fei's sudden statement caused Ichika to go wide-eyed and pull back the knife that he had placed next to Chen Fei's neck. From what Chen Fei could discern, she looked a little bit older than Chen Fei if her height and stature were anything to go by.

Ichika bowed a little before looking slightly apologetic in front of Chen Fei.

"Sorry! With those claws and talons I honestly thought you were a mutated monster or something! I didn't mean to cut you or-".

Chen Fei just shook his head and waved his hand dismissively.

"It's fine", he responded, "Since we were both trying to be recruited as members of the Crooked Blades, going all out on something like this is always a good thing. I'm not the type to hold grudges over minor things. I save my hatred for people who really piss me off".

Letting out a deep breath Chen Fei tucked his arms back into his thick oversized jumper. His massive clawed, Spinosaurus-like feet still remained visible to Ichika, however was much less noticeable in the lack of light.

The eighteen year old girl in front of him showed a slightly confused expression when gazing at Chen Fei's hands and feet, but didn't question it at all. Every Knight, even Copper Knights had their secrets, and it was common sense not to pry into the business of strangers after all.

Both teenagers heard a distinct buzzing sound coming from Ichika's phone laying on the ground several feet away, and the female Knight walked towards it, glancing at the new message before turning towards Chen Fei and gesturing for him to look.

"They say to meet them at the Water Moon College Boys Dorm. My intuition tells me that I should follow considering I have no idea where this place is?".

Chen Fei let out a small sigh before nodding and waving at Ichika for her to follow him.

The two Knights leapt back towards the rooftops, completely disregarding the not-so-small amount of carnage they left behind. Shattered concrete slabs, broken glass and wiring, a fried circuit breaker and even massive holes where Ichika's knives and Chen Fei's claws dug into the concrete.

An reasonable anonymous donation was given to the owner of the apartment a few days later, however, many of the residents didn't even notice the strange dismemberment of their apartment walls and floors.

Back on the rooftops, Chen Fei and Ichika leaped side-by-side one another, the latter can't help but feeling even a little bit curious about the younger boy beside her. Seeing his hands and feet in such a strange form, either Chen Fei was an experiment gone wrong or something allowed him the ability to transform his body partially.

If Ichika knew the full extent of Chen Fei's transformation, she definitely wouldn't call it a 'partial transformation'.

"So..... what's your name?", asked Ichika.

Chen Fei glanced at her before replying.

"Chen Fei. And you?"

"Kendo Ichika. Eighteen years old..... um, this is kind of awkward isn't it?", said Ichika as she scratched the back of her head.

Chen Fei nodded, not bothered to give a proper response.

Considering that the both of them were earnestly trying to kill, or at least fatally injure the other person just few minutes ago, it wasn't that weird that neither of them found the common ground to talk to one another.

If even Chen Fei was a little bit thick-skinned and tried to ignore trying to kill Ichika just a few minutes ago, the latter wasn't necessarily going to respond in earnest.

"..... Wanna just ask each other about business and stuff? Nothing about our personal lives or anything, just purely business?".

By business Ichika meant Knight stuff. Since neither of them were mortals, it seemed more prudent to talk about non-mortal stuff. So anything excluding personal likes and dislikes, family, schooling, wealth and other personal topics.

Chen Fei nodded before scratching his chin with his elongated talon.

"How long have you been a Knight then? Personally its been roughly a week. A pretty rough week if I might add.....", he let out a sigh at the very end there.

"I've been a Knight for a round about two months now. I was pretty picky about my Cultivation Method and combat techniques so I didn't really start cultivating until about a month ago. Haven't accepted any combat requests either. Just Cultivation Method research and combat technique training".

"Is that when you learnt how to use those throwing knives?", asked Chen Fei, "You seemed to have a pretty good handle on them".

Ichika went a little red, knowing what he meant by "good handle" and turned her head sideways avoiding Chen Fei's gaze.

"Y-yeah. I mean, I'm not that good yet. It was hard to find a combat technique that matched my Attribute, but these throwing knives are perfectly compatible with my spiritual power..... What about you? I'm sure you've got a couple tricks up your sleeves Chen Fei?".

Chen Fei just smiled knowing full well what Ichika was referring to.

"It's got to do with my Cultivation Method, and my abilities as a Fossil Knight. These aren't permanent, but right now I can't really reverse the transformation. I will say that they are quite useful in combat though. Perfect for..... well, less than savoury requests if you catch my drift".

Ichika nodded. Nothing more needed to be said about that conversation.

While they were both still considered teenagers, the mindset of those who ascend to Knighthood were a lot more different when it came to normal mortals.

It might've just been social conditioning or some sort, formed after humanity's dependence on Knights, but a certain responsibility and maturity came with Knighthood. Things like the bigger picture came into play, while things like a desire for strength exceeded the desire for wealth or for fame.

Only with strength did people have the capacity to protect themselves. Just then Ichika and Chen Fei got a taste of what strength was. It may have just been staged, but the two of them earnestly tried to injure the other.

If Chen Fei had missed just one knife, he might've died.

And if Ichika didn't turn around in time, her head may have been rolling on the floor by now.

Strength was everything to a Knight. Because usually with strength, came money and fame. Not the other way around.

"This is the place", said Chen Fei.

The Copper Knight pair ascended to the roof at exactly the same time, noting that three other individuals were standing on the roof in front of them.

Chen Fei recognised the features of Crooked Jack standing on the right, while Ichika seemed to recognise the man she called Crooked George standing on the left.

The man, or the cloaked figure standing in between Crooked Jack and Crooked George had a mask on which possess three distinct blood red claw marks, running downwards on it. They were painted on of course, but something about them sent shivers up both Chen Fei and Ichika's spines.

The masked figure spoke first.

"It seems you've picked up quite the oddity Jack. While George has found something of a diamond in the rough, it very much seems as though you've found us a monster. At least physically speaking".

Chen Fei frowned but didn't say anything. If just the feeling this masked man let off was anything to go by, no-one on this roof would be able to escape with their lives if he decided to act.

Jack just shrugged before shaking her head strangely.

"Kid's may look weird I'll give him that. But he has connections to Kim Baek Hyeon, Crooked Red. From what I could salvage before he left, Baek Hyeon managed to finish his "Adam". And yes, this kid is it".

Chen Fei unconsciously straightened his back an furrowed his brows the moment Crooked Jack mentioned Kim Baek Hyeon. Since the tone wasn't a pleasant one, Chen Fei assumed that they weren't on good terms.

However, that didn't save him from getting a queer stare from both Crooked George, Crooked Red and Ichika.

"Baek Hyeon's "Adam", huh? That is something worth noting. Have you figured out how he did it?".

Crooked Jack nodded before handing Crooked Red a small storage device. It wasn't the one Chen Fei had in his room so he let out a slight breath of relief.

"He used some Lord-Tier mutated monster and demonic beast blood. From what I could tell though, the kid is something special. He had a 92% comparability rate with the blood. That's over double anything Baek Hyeon even got close to in the-".

Crooked Red raised his hand and Jack immediately went silent. It was obvious she was about to say something that she shouldn't of.

The masked figure just chuckled slightly before his entire body flashed appearing behind Chen Fei. The speed at which he moved exceeded that of anything Chen Fei had ever seen before. Even Ichika, who was standing next to Chen Fei didn't even feel so much as a breeze from the masked man.

His speed and movement technique were otherworldly. Several tiers above anything that Ichika had ever seen before.

"..... I'd say his Physique Transformation is about one-fourth or one-fifth of the way complete. However, he's definitely not dead so I'd say that Kim Baek Hyeon has completed his "Adam".... Crazy bastard....".

The masked man scratched the point on his mark where his chin would be before his figure flashed back towards the place in between Crooked George and Crooked Jack, nodding somewhat happily with this turn of events.

He turned to George and then to Ichika.

"Kendo Ichika. Eighteen years old. Lava and Ice Dual Attributes. Currently at the peak of the Copper Human Knight Rank. Has shown an aptitude towards combat techniques relating to knives and a spiritual power with the strength and density exceeding those at the same Rank. With your performance earlier, I can say that you have an adequate understanding of the weak points on the body, and will commend you on your ability to identity your opponents characteristics, and to keep a distance between you and Chen Fei".

"Your talent alone is rare within the Crooked Blades, so I can see why Crooked George recommended your so highly..... You will start tomorrow as a new recruit. You will not be able to tell anyone about your position as a member of the Crooked Blades, your friends, family, loved ones. If you do, we will disavow all actions. And if you spread our secrets, well-".

Crooked Jack made a cut-throat gesture and the masked man nodded not needing to elaborate on that blatant example.

Ichika nodded back crossing her arm over her chest. Her voice was relatively quite considering where she was, but her tone was proud, almost patriotic from the sound of it.

"I will graciously accept my position as a member of the Crooked Blades! Thank you sir!".

Crooked Red nodded before turning to Jack and then to Chen Fei.

"Chen Fei. Fifteen years old. Low Copper Fossil Knight Rank. Water and Wind Dual Attributes. Not as good as Ichika, however more than adequate to say the least. As someone who has personally met the creator of your Cultivation Method, I'm sure nothing needs to be said about your physical abilities. Claws and talons similar in shape and form to a Mist-Seeking Rain Wyrm or a Spinosaurus. Has shown a keen intellect through the use of his environment and his physical advantages over his opponent. Displayed a talent for assassinations and information gathering. I know that your haven't learnt a combat technique, however you've been a Knight for only about a day now so I'll let it slide".

"As "Adam", you have been brought into the fold of something much bigger than yourself. You may not know what that means right now, nor do you have the privilege to know such information. However, as Chen Fei, we are extending an invitation towards you, to become a member of the Crooked Blades. Perhaps then, you may be worthy of such information. Will you accept?".

Crooked George, Ichika, Crooked Jack and Crooked Red all gazed towards Chen Fei, awaiting his answer eagerly. Ichika seemed to have some sort of camaraderie between her and Chen Fei, since they were both being inducted at the same time, while Crooked Jack just winked at Chen Fei causing him to roll his eyes at the woman.

It wasn't much of a decision really. If he didn't want to join the Crooked Blades, he would've just ran away instead of fighting Ichika earlier. And besides, he didn't want to take any chances with Jack considering he knew her identity.

Women were dangerous, that was one of the last things his father told him before he died.

He smiled.

"I accept".