Chapter 38- Plan

"A ball?" Malice raised an eyebrow. "You mean, a bouncy ball?"

For a moment, he was completely confused as to why Cipher suddenly mentioned a ball. After all, it had nothing to do with the conversation at all.

"No, not a ball that bounces. I am talking about a dancing event."

"... No. I've never heard of that in my life." Malcie replied.

"Figured. Well, a ball is as I said, a dancing event where all the rich and influential individuals gather, to mainly socialize and create new connections. 'The Grey Moon Ball' is perhaps the most important one held in this city." Cipher explained as he sat down with a glare on his face.

"The Grey Moon Ball?" Malice muttered the name.

"Have you ever heard of the Grey family?" Cipher asked.

'The Grey family… Wait, isn't that?' It took a few seconds for Malice to remember where he heard that name before. 

"Isn't that the name of the richest family in Neo Nexus?"

The Grey family were quite popular, even amongst people like Malice who didn't bother with the news of the rich that much. However, even he knew that name very well. After all, that family was notorious for being extremely wealthy, owning countless companies, and reigning control over the entirety of Neo Nexus.

However, the main reason why it was popular amongst slum dwellers, was because this family was also one of the biggest suppliers of Mindworm in the world… Not even in Neo Nexus alone.

They were singlehandedly responsible for supplying millions of addicted wretches with that drug on a daily basis.

"You seem to have heard of them," Cipher said with a sigh. "Well, those people hold the Grey Moon Ball every single year, at a different time each year, when the moon is full, and with the light of the city reflecting on it, it appears grey hence the name."

"... Why are you telling me this, though?" Malice blinked.

"Sigh, let's cut to the chase, I need to go, and considering the current situation, I cannot let you stay here that evening or something will happen, one way or another."

"Something? What is it?" 

"You don't have to know yet. But, you should be aware of the trouble lying ahead since you heard the conversation from last night." Cipher squinted his eyes coldly.

Malice's expression took a moment to change. "I didn't…"

"I felt your presence, you don't need to hide that. I don't mind that you eavesdropped. In any case, keeping you here is already a little bit of an annoying predicament. However, it is a predicament that I am willing to take on."

"Why though? Wouldn't you get in trouble?" Malice pursed his lips. He had been thinking about what he heard yesterday for the better part of the night. After all, this is a situation that was not only threatening to him but also to his benefactor.

Whether he liked it or not, Cipher had given him a huge favor by taking him in, a disgusting slum rat with no future and no hope. Malice didn't want to be the reason this man faced a threat, simply because he existed.

He already had enough of that.

"I answered that before, didn't I? Our meeting was fate, and fate is very ironic in the way it worked. Perhaps me helping you now will be a huge help for me in the future. After all, I never give favors without taking them back." Cipher grinned coldly.

That made the boy look down for a moment, taking everything he said. He was indeed aware that Cipher had seen something in him, and was ready to risk it just to see what that potential would lead to.

In other words, Cipher believed in Malice very much. It felt rather odd when he thought about it that way, but, it still made him feel… happy?

'I'm feeling happy?' He asked himself when he realized what he was thinking. It was certainly a new feeling, and he liked it. 'Ugh, this isn't the time for that, I need to focus.'

"So, what should we do?"

"Although they aren't aware of your existence nor of my business, they certainly are going to try and discover what I have been doing the past few years, that includes you, of course. The ball is going to be a perfect place for that. That's, why you and I are going to attend this ball."

"..."

Silence took over the room for a good few seconds as the two stared at each other.

"... What?" Eventually, Malice snapped out of it and asked, all confused.

"We are going to attend it."

"... How does that make any sense?"

'If every single person that you don't want to meet are there, why are you going? And why am I going too?' Malice mused with a frown.

The Grey family seemed to be related to Cipher in some way. Malice didn't forget how that woman Cera addressed him as 'Cipher The Grey' yesterday which meant that he was most likely a part of that family, or used to be a part of that family, at least.

Yet, he was still going to attend, and put himself at risk and Malice too? That wasn't logical.

"Of course, it is very dangerous. But, aside from the fact that I have to attend so that I don't cast more suspicion on me, you also have to follow me. Most likely, the moment I leave this condo, some unwanted eyes will try and take a peek inside. While I can make it impossible for those fools to get in here, I cannot guarantee that they wouldn't recognize you."

"Oh, that does… make sense." Malice said.

"Besides, you aren't going in your current appearance. A few tweaks should go a long way in hiding your identity."

"How are you going to do that?"

"As they say 'If you want to hide a tree, put it in a forest'. I am going to turn you into a proper-looking individual. Someone that would appear in such a grand event and nobody would really suspect anything."

"You're going to turn me into a Marked Noble?"

Somehow, just saying that put a bitter taste in Malice's mouth. After all, these were the same people who had caused him the most pain and suffering in his life, turning into one of them, even as a disguise, was just unpleasant. However, he wasn't going to refuse.

When safety is at stake, everything else moves to the side.

"If that's the plan, then I'm in." He finally took a deep breath and said.

"Good, you have no other choice if you want to survive this. It is as dangerous for me as it is for you. But, some smart planning should go a long way. Those fools are as rich as they are stupid when it comes to me." Cipher snorted mockingly.

'He really hates them, huh.' 

Even when he didn't show much in his expression, Malice could see the seething hatred he has for these people purely from the way he talked about them.

"For now, you don't have to think about that. The Ball is two days from now. Focus on your training, and tomorrow, we will work on changing your shabby appearance."

'Thanks for the flattery.' Sighing, Malice finally looked at his hand. 'Well, here is another reason on the list of 'Why I should get stronger fast'. The list is getting pretty long for my taste.'

The more Malice seemed to get stronger, the more trouble was piling up for him. It was as if the world wanted him to gradually submerge himself in the World Beyond and everything related to it.

Even though the boy himself wished not to really go deep, it seemed things were far out of his control for him to actually have a choice in this matter. Whether he was destined to leave before things got worse, or whether he was going to be a pivotal point in this cursed world… Only time will tell.

'Time to learn this goddamn fire.'