Chapter 9- Meeting

Monday night. The moonlight shone on the street and grasses. The pale light dripped down from the sky like a sweet honey.

The forest near Hiewbard gave the feeling of dread to every mundane human. The wind passed through the trees and carried a scent of salt and flesh leaves.

Near the mountain, there was a man coming out from the ground. He arrived at the ground and closed the door beneath him.

Phantom tightened up his necktie and checked himself. He wore a purple suit with a black necktie, mirroring the white mask he wore. He also attached the black cloak, not too long or short. 

Phantom nodded. I have outdone myself.

He smiled and was satisfied with his fits. He called upon Syith, the black snake. He asked Syith to carry him to the university. He had ordered a personal taxi near the university.

And he called Emma early in the morning about the meeting. At first, she was scared of going to the meeting but Phantom assured her that she will be safe

Syith arrived at the university. Phantom jumped down from Syith with a grace as if there was no such thing as gravity.

Syith vanished behind him. Phantom was outside of the university. The street had a lamp light but they were dimmed and not many of them provided light to the dark street.

Phantom slowly walked on the edge of the road. He stopped his steps as he noticed the car waiting under the streetlamp. He walked toward the car and tapped the black window.

The window rolled down and revealed a pale white male in a formal suit. He didn't speak or spare a look at Phantom. Instead, he opened the back door.

Phantom looked at the back and saw Emma sitting. She looked at him with delight in her movement. 

Phantom nodded at her and opened the back door. Emma moved and let him sit down.

" Am I late?" Phantom asked, tusking his cloak to the side.

" Not late." Emma said. " But I come early so I have been waiting for you for about thirty minutes."

" Oh." Phantom said.

" How is my look?" Emma asked. She wore a half mask covering her eyes and forehead. She tied her long hair into a bum and stuck a golden needle into it.

She put on a red color on her lip drawing Phantom's eyes in.

" I must say your choice for a mask is quite interesting. Unfortunately, your disguise is obvious. I bet the driver can find your identity within thirty minutes." Phantom tilted his head at the driver.

" Twenty minutes, sir." The driver finally spoke. 

Phantom chuckled. " See. Now, let's go to the meeting shall we."

The car started and turned the u circle. It drove at a moderate speed. 

Phantom rolled down the window to let the air in. He felt suffocated with all the perfume Emma put on.

Agh… My nose.

Sometimes he felt blessed by his ability. Others felt like he was tortured by the ability.

He remembered something and turned to talk to Emma.

" Almost forgot. What is your nickname?"

Emma smiled at his answer. "Needle."

" Just Needle. That is an unusual nickname." Phantom commented.

" I researched your page and found that you used a large needle as your weapon a lot. So as your sidekick, I feel like that name was appropriate." Emma explained.

" If you use words like that, the name is not bad. I am sure the news will eat up with the story." Phantom said.

" So how many villains we are going to meet." Needle asked. 

" About Twelfth, including myself. All Rank A. I will tell you their names." Phantom said.

" I thought there were only seventh Rank A Villains In Hiewbard according to the government statement."

" Some remained hidden and worked as a shadow. Underground Lord , Drug distribution and many bad things were led by them." Phantom explained. 

" Well, you will see when we arrive at the meeting."

Needle nodded. " Anything I should know about the meeting?"

" Nothing. But put on a bit of an alert near them or me." Phantom said. " And try to say their name when mentioning them. Villains at the higher level are prideful beings."

" I am good with memorizing stuff." Needle sighed.

" Don't worry. Just tonight. The next meeting will reduce half of those guys." Phantom stared outside, listening to the people around him.

Needle was about to ask a question but Phantom stopped her. He told without looking. " Not now. Not now. Just goes with the flow, Needle. You are not qualified to play against the higher being. You are just a hostage for me."

Phantom shut her off. " For now, listen to the surroundings."

From that moment , the car drove in silence. The only sound it produced was the rhythm of the engine and the surrounding street noises.

They drove to the River side region of Hiewbard. The meeting was done inside that region because the River region was ruled by gangs.

Police usually patrolled outside the region and only the heavy Hero stayed inside fighting the crimes. Even they didn't touch the gangs conflict. 

The view of Phantom suddenly changed. Earlier he was seeing the neo-light and the busy streets of the city filled with people going shopping or eating out. Or just having regular days. 

Now, it was as if the color of the world was bleached by the sins this region committed. The light was dimmed and the streets were cold. People in these regions didn't smile or act. They walked like a mindless machine or puppets controlled by the Rules.

He saw many children waiting in the small street looking out for targets to pickpockets. A horrible smell forced its way to Phantom's sense as the car passed the garbage dump on the street corner.

He looked up and saw a glimpse of someone jumping through the buildings. He shook his head.

Too obvious. Must be someone who awakened their ability a month ago.

The car stopped in front of a coffee shop. The sign board showed the name.

Riverbank Cafe.

The area around the cafe was clean unlike the general look of the region. And despite the fancier look of the interior, there were only a few people inside the cafe. They all wore masks.

After all, the Theme of the cafe was Mask wearing.

Phantom opened the door and stepped outside the car. He held the door for Needle who carried her dress with her hand. Slowly she walked out in style.

Great adaptive skill. Phantom noted down her behavior. She was rather strange in his eyes like Formless. Something about her intrigued his curiosity.

It only happened when they met in the cemetery. He couldn't explain the feeling.

Phantom ignored his strange feeling and headed inside the cafe. The waiter bowed at the two and guided them inside the back room.

The waiter walked soundless like Phantom when he entered Mngwa's spirit state. Of course, both of the walks were not the same.

Phantom soundless state happened because of spirit magic ability and the waiter soundless walk happened because of his skill.

The waiter opened the secret door on the back and smiled at him.

" Inside Sir Phantom. And what drink would you prefer?" 

" A warm milk." Phantom answered.

The waiter nodded and walked back to the front.

Phantom turned around and looked at Needle. " Too bad he didn't ask for you. Stay behind my seat. Got it?"

Needle nodded, clenching her hands into the dress which created a crease.

Phantom smiled seeing her nervousness.

At least, she knew how to react to uncertainty. 

He entered the room.

The room where the meeting was held was bright. On the walls were numbers of famous paintings. They were all trash dumped by the meeting participants. 

In the middle of the room was a round table.

There were twelfth seats on the table. Only four of the seats were occupied. And behind the four seats were four people standing still like robots from outside space.

Villains and sidekicks.