Chapter 75 Siblings

Alex and V, who is walking few steps away from Alex, traversed the busy streets. The place seemed to have calmed down, or rather, the chaos is on another part of town.

V felt a few eyes gazing down on him, but they disappeared just as quick as they appeared. V followed Alex while keeping an eye on each of his actions.

To the way he walks, to the way he swing his arms, to the way his head is facing, even the way he is breathing. All of these things met V's watchful gaze.

As they continued on walking after a few more minutes, Alex slowly turned around, giving V enough time to react, who took the time to do nothing.

"Mr. V. I would suggest you keep yourself occupied while I go talk to my brother inside that building." Alex politely said before pointing at an unsuspecting building.

V then casually walked to the side of the street before sitting down on a bench inside the shade of a tree. V crossed his arms before giving Alex a little go signal.

Alex let out a little chuckle before saying. "I understand your suspicions, but trust me this time, will you?" After saying that statement, Alex turned around and began walking towards the building.

As soon as Alex entered the building, V immediately stood up from his seat and made his way into an unoccupied second floor that has a clear view of the building Alex entered.

V watched everything that was happening near the building while being wary of his own surroundings.

Meanwhile, inside the building. Alex casually struted inside the building like it was his own home, fidgeting with every furniture he passed.

After making his way past the first room, Alex entered the room adjacent to it, The inside of the room looks to be a bar, with tables and everything, just arranged in bit messier formation like there was a fight recently.

Alex gave the entire room a quick search before he found what he was looking for.

On the bar counter, stood a man with nearly the same features as him.

A tanned, muscular body and more refined features. His greyish-black hair tied with what looks to be a bandana. His pupils the color of sapphire with the surrounding sclera pitch black like the night sky.

As Alex made his way over, the man cleaned up the rest of the bar before he poured himself a drink from one of the bottles.

As he sat down on a bar stool, Alex tried to reach for the cup the man just poured, but was stopped by the man, as he grabbed the mug for himself.

"Aww, come on! I promise it won't be like the last time." Alex said in a playful manner.

The man proceeded to drink the contents of the mug before saying in a low, husky voice. "What do you want, Alex?"

"Is it wrong to visit my favorite brother?"

"Meh..." The man released an unamused grunt before filling the mug again.

Alex tried to reach for the mug again, but the man outsped him and grabbed the mug first.

As he took a sip, the man then said. "You know you have a bad reaction to alcohol, Alex."

"Aww, come on. That was a couple of years back. I, Alex, have grown since then." Alex said, even putting his hand on his chest.

"And yet, you still act like a child."

"Well, everyone has a childlike personality in them, Vincent."

"Hurgh..." Vincent released another grunt as he finished his drink.

As he placed his mug on the counter, Vincent then said. "I'm going to ask again, what are you doing here, Alex?"

Alex placed his chin on the counter as he replied. "I don't know... to chill out with my bro?"

Without a second to spare, Vincent then replied. "I'm your brother, Alex. Don't even try lying to me."

Alex's mouth formed a frown before he took his head off the counter. He crossed his arms as he formed a serious expression.

"I'm here for a couple of questions, Vincent."

"Go on."

"Is 'the informant' still here in the city?"

"Yes."

"Are they where I think they are?"

"I believe so."

"Then, thank you for your time, my best bro." Alex said as he stood up and began making his way towards the exit.

Vincent then said in a loud voice. "Don't do anything stupid, Alex. Pops would get mad if you do."

Alex came to a complete halt before he turned around and said with an extremely guilty expression. "I won't."

"Get your ass back here, Alex."

"Yes..."

Alex then made his way back to the bar before he sat down on a stool near a barrel. Vincent then poured him a glass of water as he took a seat from behind the bar and faced Alex directly.

"I know how you feel, Alex. I also don't like what they're doing."

"But ask yourself this. If Pops can't do anything about them, what can you do?"

Alex took a little time to think before he replied. "Nothing... really benificial."

"Exactly."

"That's why, Alex. I suggest you stop what you're planning on doing and just... I don't know, sleep somewhere that's not here." Vincent said as he poured himself another cup.

As Vincent drank, Alex tapped the counter multiple times before standing up. He walked over to the barrel near him before saying. "I'll definitely take your advice and think about it."

"Hurgh..."

Vincent then placed his cup down onto the counter before he said calmly. "I know you still cling onto the childhood memories the three of us made, Alex..."

Alex visibly froze up after hearing Vincent's words.

"But at some point, you just have to let the past go and grow up. Like me, Barry and everybody else. The past is the past, Alex. Let it rest."

Alex slowly then removed the lid of the barrel without Vincent noticing. He sunk both of his hands into the barrel while saying. "I'll definitely take your advice and think about it."

With a singular swift motion, Alex removed his hands from the barrel and swung them towards Vincent while yelling. "Water attack!!!"

Caught completely unaware, Vincent took a handful of crystal-clear water to the face. He then shouted with an annoyed expression. "God dammit, Alex!"

As the completely awakened Vincent rubbed his eyes that had some water splashed on them, Alex ran out the door laughing with his arms around his stomach. "Hahahahahaha!"

By the time Vincent managed to clear his vision, Alex has already left the room. His expression slowly calmed down as he said with a slight smile. "He never changes."

Vincent placed his legs onto the counter as he laid back on his chair. The silent, nearly destroyed room was then filled with his slow and nearly silent humming.

Meanwhile outside, Alex just exited the door to the building. It took him less than a second to spot what he was looking for.

V, sitting on the bench in the shade, right where he left him. Alex let out a little chuckle before he walked over to V.

"Hello, Mr. V. Did you enjoy yourself while I was gone?"

"I had more fun reading a dictionary. Now, do you have information on our man?"

"Yes, of course, Mr. V."

Before Alex said anything else, he did a quick search on his surroundings. Then suddenly, something caught his eye.

It was a group of three Immortals, and they are casually walking towards their direction.

Alex then hurriedly stated. "Mr. V. Listen, those three younger brothers of mine are incredibly violent. They'll try to fight anyone who they deem as alive."

"I suggest you follow me since you might fit that description. Come on, hurry!"

After saying that, Alex immediately ran into an alleyway. V gave the three Immortals a quick glance before quickly following Alex.

As V disappeared into the alleyway, a cat with horns on it's head crossed the three Immortals' path. They then screamed while pointing at it. "Oh shit! It's a cat!"

One then bent down as the cat faced them. He extended his hand towards the cat, who then proceeded to lick it.

The Immortal then suddenly fell onto his back, held his arm that was licked while yelling. "Aah! It bit me!"

This spooked the cat away.

The two immediately bent over and grabbed the man in the shoulders before they too, fell to the ground as they screamed. "Aaah! It's poisonous!"

As the three Immortals writhed in 'pain', V turned a corner inside the alleyway while following Alex.

But when he turned the corner, he no longer saw Alex, only a dead end. V let out a sigh as he said to himself. "I have been had."

Alex, who was behind him and are now currently pointing his Lucile-infused fist directly into the back of V's head, replied in a calm voice. "Yes, you have been had."

"You sure you want to do this?" V asked as slowly readied himself.

"Any other time, I wouldn't mind. But currently, no. I have something else in mind, Chaos Herald."

V raised an eyebrow after hearing Alex's words.

Alex formed a smug smile, almost as if he can see V's expression. Alex then stated. "Yes, I know who you are."

"What I said earlier, was a lie."

"I didn't approached you because I wanted to help you. I approached you because I recognised you and that black-haired lady, who I presume is the one called Origami. Don't recognise the other one though."

"I presume you told your siblings about us?" V nonchalantly asked.

"You presume wrong, Mr. V. I didn't tell anyone about you. I just have a few questions for you, if you don't mind answering them of course?"

"What makes you think I'll answer?"

Alex let out a little chuckle before he saying. "Do you want to find out how many of my siblings are within an earshot?"

"All it takes is a single shout from me before you have at least one-hundred and fifty Immortals on you. We have orders to attack you, you know?"

V didn't reply, but he was listening to every word Alex says, etching them to his memory.

"So, do feel like answering now?" Alex said with a daunting aura around him.

"Meh, go on."

"About two to three years ago, you and your group, the Silhouettes, attacked one of our settlements. I was there when it happened, along with a couple of my siblings of course."

"While your group fled, you took something from us. One of our siblings."

"My first question, where is Celine?"

V took a moment to ponder before responding. "Would you believe me if I told you, she died in a ditch somewhere?"

Alex let out a long laughter before saying. "The Celine I know is incredibly stubborn. I'm pretty sure she'll destroy that ditch before dying."

After hearing Alex's statement, V couldn't help but agree with him. He then said. "Fine. Celine's with us currently. She is with another group looking for the man I talked about."

"Hmm... Just for your information, the man you're looking for isn't in this town."

"..."

"Second question. How would like a gift?"

"A gift?"

"Yes, a gift."

Alex took a deep breath, seemingly deliberating, he then said in a straight and clear voice. "Inside the second tallest tower in town, is where you'll find your gift."

"Is this gift perhaps an ambush?" V nonchalantly asked.

Alex then proceeded to let out a laughter before saying. "I don't need an ambush to take you down."

"But beside that, I'm pretty sure you'll like my 'gift'."

V couldn't help but feel annoyed at Alex's behavior.

"You know what? Since my sister seems fine in your care, I'll give you a little hint on what the gift is."

Alex's demenour then changed. From a friendly, cheerful tone to a hostile and angry one, like something pissed him off.

"Inside the second tallest tower is a man. A messenger if you will."

"And this messenger is one of 'them'. The one you are thinking about right now."

Even though Alex was being cryptic, V knows exactly what he is talking about.

"Why are you telling me this?" V asked, clearly interested on the 'gift'.

"Why you ask?"

"It's because I don't like them, and the things they're doing to my family." Alex continued, his voice filled with sheer anger.

V could clearly feel the sincerity in Alex's voice, clearing away any doubt that this is a ploy for an ambush.

Alex then continued. "From the information I gathered, mostly from them, you and your group are going against them. That's why they told us to hunt you if we can."

"We aren't going out of our way to fight them, you know? They're just in the way of our goals." V stated.

Alex shook his head before saying. "I don't care about your relationship with 'them'. I only care about the fact that you are going against them, am I wrong in assuming that?"

"You are correct, we are fighting against them."

"Then you see, them getting defeated is most benificial for me and my family. Personally, I'm rooting for you guys, since you and your group are much more... 'manageable'."

"So what do you say, Mr. V, or do you prefer your alias, Chaos Herald? Are you going to take my 'gift'?"

"Mr. V is just fine. And as for your 'gift', I'll think about it."

"You act like you have a choice."

After saying that, Alex's presense disappeared.

V turned around to make sure he left. He then scratched the back of his head while saying. "What a pain."