High Priest

A man covered in dirty bandages, with a brown overcoat, sat on the couch crosslegged.

"I knew you would come, Hunter." The man spoke.

Alex raised a brow. "You know me?"

"Of course, after all, those in the western district can't stop talking about how you rescued them."

"... You don't sound too happy about that."

"Should I be?" The man dropped his leg as he leaned forward. "The western district is a very important piece of a puzzle I'm trying hard to solve… so imagine how I would feel when someone tries to take it from me?"

"Take?"

"Hah, forgive my manners. Before anything else, I would like to introduce myself. I am Basar, High Priest and leader of the Evil Eye brotherhood as well as soon to be savior of mankind."

"Evil Eye brotherhood?" Alex was intrigued but remained casual about it.

"Indeed. Nice to meet you."

Alex shook his head. "The pleasure isn't mine."

Completely ignoring Alex's statement, Basar remarked. "Tell me something… what exactly do you plan to accomplish with what you are doing?"

"... Do you expect me to answer that?" Alex chose to take on a more lofty persona upon realizing that although the man before him was quite strong, he seemed apprehensive as well.

'If anything, he doesn't seem like someone that can overwhelm me.'

Of course, this was a preliminary understanding after a simple examination.

Basar sighed. "I don't but I wish you'd answer."

"... Hmm."

Basar met Alex's gaze or at least it seemed like he did and for a moment, no words were spoken.

For some inexplicable reason, Alex felt as though the latter was currently using some means to try and read him.

However, he wasn't too bothered by it.

'I don't think you would know more than a dragon.'

He was willing to make that bet, however…

"This…" Basar shuddered as he retracted his 'gaze'.

With quaking fingers, he muttered in a somewhat frightened tone. "It's you."

Alex immediately frowned. 'He knows me?'

Without actually wanting to, his aura began to take on a sharp killing intent.

However, Basar's terror only lasted for a moment before he relaxed his nerves.

Chuckling nervously, he muttered. "So that's how it is."

"What are you talking about?" Alex questioned.

Basar didn't immediately respond as he slowly got to his feet.

Taking a moment to ponder, he remarked. "You are just like me."

"I don't think so."

"Oh?... But I do. You can try to hide it but my eyes can see through all deception and bring out the truth." Basar said. "That is the Grace handed to me by the one who sent me.

"… I can see the boundless darkness residing behind you and can say with certainty that just like me… you are an Apostle."

"Apostle?"

"However unlike me, you are backed by an actual Evil god while my master is but a misunderstood deity."

Alex swallowed the urge to ask him what the hell he was on about but chose to keep his aloof stance instead.

In any case, he didn't think the latter would answer.

Basar chuckled. "Are you stunned that I discovered your identity so easily?"

"... Why are you here?" Not bothering to feed the fool's ego, Alex chose to change the subject.

Of course, he was rather surprised that Basar was able to see his connection with Nyx.

It meant that his capabilities were not low at all.

Putting his guard down for a second could lead to terrible consequences.

Basar paused in his tracks as he pondered Alex's question.

"I felt annoyed that an unknown chess piece was trying to come into the game that I was close to winning. I planned to see you and then after gauging your capabilities, choose to either dispose of you or recruit you."

"How did you find me?"

"It's simple actually. I 'saw' you would be here and came before time to await your arrival."

Alex frowned underneath his mask. 'This guy… what exactly is the range of his seeing?'

Glancing at Melvin, he asked. "What did you do to him?"

"Nothing too serious." Basar replied.

At this point, it would seem like a normal conversation between acquaintances but it was anything but that as the tension between the two slowly rose.

Alex remained silent prompting Basar to continue.

"He hates peasants so much so I have shown him the life of a peasant and the life of a noble. If he is smart, he will survive the sights… if not, I won't be surprised if he dies."

"Did you do the same to every other person in the building?"

"You are quick to catch on," Basar muttered.

His previous terror was all but gone prompting Alex to wonder if he was just acting.

However, if it was an act, he had done it quite well since Alex could still sense the latter's apprehensive state as he spoke.

Just as he pondered on his next course of action since his original plan had fallen apart, Basar spoke up.

"Previously, I thought about killing you or making you a subordinate."

"Oh… so what have you decided?"

"Join me."

Alex turned to Basar.

Judging from his tone of voice, the latter didn't seem to be joking.

"We are both Apostles trying to fulfill the goals of our masters. Pointlessly fighting would allow the enemy to get in our way so join me and just as you would help me achieve my goal… I would help you achieve yours."

Alex chuckled at the proposal. "And if our goals don't align?... What then?"

"I'm sure we can come to a compromise if we sit and talk."

'This guy… he wants to avoid a fight with me.' Alex accurately noted this.

Taking a moment to ponder, he shook his head. "I don't require your help."

"Even if your refusal of my proposal would place us at loggerheads?"

"You amuse me, Priest."

"Oh, how so?"

"You speak about peace when you have already declared war… Do you take me for a fool?"