Brother

Maximus for the first time felt her voice didn't contain the usual assurance and composure it did. Very much curious about it, and seeing how she divulged the topic herself, he asked,

"What happened that one time?"

She sighed a little, exasperated about explaining about her shortcomings herself,

"The leader of Gardeners; we thought he wasn't that much of a threat considering how he couldn't catch us and also not effectively use the manpower under him. It could also be that it wasn't his forte but anyway, he couldn't catch us. But I was wrong, partially, he couldn't catch us but his brother sure could.

"I am sure there would've been worse consequences if he was present here in San Francisco but apparently he was not. It was he, who lived far away, connected the pieces of information he had on us, and caught us precisely. Their forces were already present when we got to the location. But instead of attacking us, all they asked for was for me to have a video call with their leader's brother.

"When I talked to him, I felt like he could read me even from afar, I don't even know if it was an ability but it sure didn't feel like one. Well, I can't expose the conversation according to the terms of contract but I was convinced enough to accept that it was a great deal.

"But that doesn't mean I can't lead you to it. Just remember, that organization was one of the very first who caught on to the awakening of supernatural beings. Their history extends far back to the beginning of mankind, don't underestimate what hidden cards they might have."

As soon as he heard the latter half of the sentence, he remembered about the six kingdoms he read about. Cautiously, he spoke into the phone in a low voice, "The six kingdoms? Is it one of them?"

"You're smart. Alright, now then, what topic were we on? Yes, we will gather today and set off for that place where all the high ranking people are gathering. We need to be careful though, it's almost a certainty that there would be supernatural beings nearby to protect them. Meet me near the safe house closest to the Golden Gate in two hours. Bye."

Maximus looked at his phone and heaved a huge sigh as he plopped down on the ground where he stood. It was a huge load of information he got all at once. He mentally arranged them in his mind in the form of bullet points, amazed by his memory for a brief second. It wasn't this good when he last remembered, from the looks of it, even Maximus didn't have this good of a memory. Well, looks like a thing for another time.

He took out the phone given by the organization and switched it on, ready to move on to the second task he had assigned himself for the night. He waited as it switched on, apparently being an older model of the phone as it nearly took about thirty seconds.

There were only two tabs when the screen lit up,

1. Missions

2. Contact

Recalling his conversation with the person from the organization, he knew that the second option was to contact them at emergency times or some urgent work. The first obviously being for missions.

He didn't have anything against the Gardeners at the moment, and seeing how he was basically working with them, he looked at what the missions were, tempted to see if they would continue to give him the money once he completed it. He could try if they weren't too difficult.

He clicked on the first option and was greeted by three tabs, contrary to the two he thought would be there.

1. Protect Secretary of the Nature's club in Nevada

2. Assassinate the general of the private army of the Stellar Industries

3. Scout a region we'll transport you to and survive. Extra rewards if important information is brought back.

'Makes sense, assuming that Gardeners has been set up here, any problems cropping up here in San Francisco or California as a whole would be immediately solved. That brings people like me to the neighboring states. Does that mean they don't have an organization for these growing supernatural beings? Quite unlucky I'd say.'

Only now did Maximus realize the weight of the proclamation Gardeners made about being one of the first few to form an organization. He also reaped the fruits of his labor, of extensively gathering information, however little after looking at the second mission.

He remembered one of the questions he had when he transmigrated here. The various private and government, however small or big, were allowed to train or hire people to form their own private army.

Recalling information about how the six kingdoms went into shadows, one of the few methods they would be able to continue maintaining their army would be through this method.

Various members of the ruling and administrative families, or the people they trusted could be appointed to one of the positions of a head of some corporations who would then be able to have an army under their command. It was an elaborate scheme but a question still plagued his mind,

'Why go through so much hassle? Why did they go into hiding?'

After diverting his mind off those new concerns, he thought about the final point.

'Scout a region we'll transport you to and survive. That's what it says doesn't it? This mission looks awfully familiar to the one which Gardeners is recruiting the gang members with. Does it mean the supernatural beings would be transported to a more dangerous area? Dangerous even by the standards of supernatural beings, else they wouldn't have mentioned it. Why, though? Since we are more powerful? Or…the Gardeners are lying to the gang members? That would make sense too, the people simply won't go into such dangerous areas unless threatened or desperate, and the results of such forced expedition wouldn't be good either. Could Seraphina be taking us there? Could it be a place where mana crystals are found?

Maximus looked at the missions at hand with deep contemplation. The third mission was likely one with a time limit which he didn't know. Could Seraphina be taking us there? Through some methods? Or through the Gardeners? Would they even allow such a thing? Or would we be simply scouting today?

In any case, choosing the third would be unwise, even if he wanted to go, going into an unfamiliar dangerous area even by the standards of supernatural beings was better if they went in groups. The first and second missions though, were something which would keep on being replaced and he didn't know if the later ones would be something along the same lines.

'Now, which one do I choose? the first or second one?'

*****

Author's note: Guys, I need you to tell me, by discord or by comments if you understand what's going on or if you find something confusing, or if you find some moments forced. Because, by the point of view of an author, I write scenes, dialogues, plot and basically everything knowing what would happen and what is GOING TO HAPPEN. I also know the backstory and hidden agendas of why certain things are that way. Some are not meant to be said because of course, it would be spoilers. But some are meant for you guys to understand and get the gist of, which I might fail to do because I already know it, so I might forget to write the 'hint' in this case. If you don't understand such things, do hit me up so I can tell you if it has a spoiler behind it or I forgot to write it (in which I case I'll update the chapter). Or, lastly, if it is simply what it is, in which case I'll tell that to you as well.

I am very grateful for everyone who is reading this novel and this message. Thank You!