Gathering Husbands with a System in a Game Like World [BL]

The building Elias eventually stopped in front of looked completely ordinary, it was a narrow three-story structure squeezed between a spice merchant shop and another shop that sold some kind of enchanted navigation equipment, there was no sign, no guards or people around and no indication that anything important happened inside.

Kai looked at Elias, still careful with how he stood.

”Here?”

”Yes.”

”What is this place?”

”You’ll see.”

Elias knocked, three times, paused, two more, a small panel slid open, a pair of eyes appeared.

”Password.”

”Kill the rich” he said plainly and the panel closed, there was a long pause, then the door opened, a middle-aged man stood behind it, his eyes went immediately to Elias, his face changed, not dramatically, just enough, a look of recognition and initial shock.

The man’s gaze moved to Kai then back to Elias.

”You.”

Elias gave him a small smile.

”Hello Old Grump, i see that you are still alive”

The man stared.

”You came back.”

”Apparently.”

The man’s expression hardened.

”After ten years, i was wondering who used the old password”

Elias shrugged.

”I’ve been busy.”

Kai glanced between them, it was an nteresting sight, the man stepped aside without even asking who Kai was.

”Come in, and pray to The heaveans that the chairman doesn’t know you are in the city”

”Oh i fear it might be too late for that”

Kai followed Elias through the doorway, the moment they crossed the threshold the atmosphere changed, the ordinary building disappeared, a staircase descended underground, at the bottom was an entirely different world, Kai’s eyes widened, training rooms stretched through the underground complex, weapon racks lined the walls, rows of knives, swords, crossbows, specialized tools Kai couldn’t even identify, there were tables covered with vials.

And there were people, men, women, young and old wandering around the premises.

Kai immediately understood, this was something like a Criminal hideout.

”What is this?”

Elias didn’t answer immediately, the man who had opened the door did.

”The old Ravenport Assassin’s Hall.”

Kai looked around.

”Assassins?”

”Yes.”

Kai turned slowly toward Elias, turns out it wasn’t a criminal hideout afterall, it was actually something worse. Elias sighed.

”He is right, but don’t make a big deal about it”

”You brought me into an assassin headquarters.”

”You were already aware I was an assassin.”

”That isn’t the point.”

A young man passing nearby glanced at Elias, he stopped, his eyes narrowed, he looked again then walked away, Kai noticed, a few moments later another person looked at Elias, then another, not everyone recognized him, most didn’t even seem interested, but the older ones did.

One elderly man sitting at a table suddenly stood, his chair scraped against the floor.

”Elias?”

The entire nearby section became quiet, Elias looked over.

”Master.”

Kai’s eyebrows rose, Master? The old man approached slowly, he was thin, with white hair and several scars running across his face, he looked Elias up and down.

”You actually survived.”

Elias smiled.

”You underestimate me so much master”

The old man struck him across the back of the head, A simple struck that caused Elias to fall face flat on the floor...Kai’s mouth dropped open.

System, does this person posess infinte strength like i do? ..

[Negative but the individual regarded as ”master” to candidate 004, posesses high skill prowess in different martial arts Field and can be classified as SSS rank]

Elias took one good look at the almost frail old man.

That’s astonishing

[Indeed]

”You disappeared for ten years!” The oldman continued.

Elias rubbed his head and stood up, dusting his cloth.

”I know”

”You were supposed to be dead!”

”Clearly, I am still here sir”

The old assassin stared at him, then his eyes moved to Kai.

”And who is this?”

Elias answered casually.

”My partner.”

Kai immediately turned, catching the way the word ”partner” sounded as if they were together.

”Partner?”

Elias looked at him ”Yes, aren’t we partners?”

The old man looked between them.

”Adventurer partner.”

Kai added quickly, the old man raised an eyebrow.

”Of course.”

There was something about the way he said it that made Kai uncomfortable, Elias coughed.

”We’re here for information.”

The old man’s expression became serious.

”About?”

”Marcell Veyr.”

That name immediately changed the atmosphere, several assassins nearby stopped what they were doing, the old man folded his arms.

”What about him?”

”We’re looking for him.”

”Why?”

Elias smiled.

”Work.”

The old man stared at him for a moment then nodded.

”Follow me.”

They entered a smaller chamber, unlike the training rooms this one was lined with shelves, documents, maps, names, contracts, Kai recognized several symbols from different organizations, the old man walked toward a cabinet.

”You always did prefer difficult targets.”

Elias leaned against the wall.

”Marcell has become difficult?”

”He’s become useful.”

”To whom?”

”Everyone.”

The old man pulled out a file.

”He’s been selling information to merchants, criminal groups and several independent killers.”

He placed the file on the table.

”Recently, he’s been purchasing information from assassins.”

Kai frowned, shifting his weight carefully so the lingering ache wouldn’t show.

”About what?”

”People.”

”Which people?”

The old man looked at Elias.

”You.”

Silence, Kai turned toward Elias, Elias didn’t react.

”Me?”

”Yes”

The old man shook his head.

”Vesper Cain.”

Kai’s eyes narrowed.

”So your identity is already known.”

”Not exactly.”

The old man tapped the file.

”Marcell knows an assassin matching his description is coming to Ravenport.”

Elias smiled faintly.

”He knows.”

”He’s been asking questions.”

”Then he’ll find answers.”

The old man stared at him.

”You’re still arrogant.”

”I’ve improved.”

”No.”

Kai almost laughed, Elias gave him a look, Kai immediately looked away, the old man continued.

”The Black Ledger is meeting tomorrow night.”

Kai’s attention sharpened.

”Where?”

”Underground district. Beneath the old customs quarter.”

”Exact location?”

The old man gave them an address, Elias memorized it instantly, Kai did the same.

”Who will be there?”

”Merchants. Criminals. Information brokers.”

”And Marcell?”

”He has confirmed attendance.”

Kai nodded, finally a real lead.

They were almost at the door when the old man spoke again.

”Elias.”

Elias stopped, Kai looked back, the old man’s expression was different now.

”You shouldn’t have come back.”

Elias said nothing.

”You know what happened the last time.”

”I remember.”

”Then why return?”

Elias looked at him.

”Business.”

The old man laughed bitterly.

”Of course.”

Kai watched the exchange, there was something between them, something old, something neither wanted to explain, as they left the room Kai finally asked, voice low so the residual roughness from earlier wouldn’t show.

”What happened ten years ago?”

Elias continued walking.

”Nothing.”

Kai stared at him.

”That was obviously something.”

”Not important.”

”You obviously did something, tell me”

Elias stopped, Kai nearly walked into him, Elias turned, his expression was strangely calm.

Kai waited.

”What did you do?”

Elias looked at him, for a second the usual amusement disappeared, then he smiled.

”I’ll tell you eventually.”

Kai narrowed his eyes.

”When?”

”When you’re ready.”

”Ready for what?”

”To laugh.”

Kai stared, that answer was somehow worse than silence.

”You are incredibly secretive”

”I’ve been told.”

They continued walking, every step reminded Kai of the alley, the stretch, the heat, the way Elias had taken him against the wall like it was the most natural thing in the world, the numbness was still there, low and constant, and somehow it made the curiosity about Elias’s past burn hotter.

They reached the main chamber again, the old man was standing near the entrance, he watched Elias leave, Kai noticed several older assassins doing the same, nobody followed, nobody stopped them, but the looks were unmistakable, they remembered him.

As Kai stepped outside he glanced back, the door closed, the building looked harmless again, he turned toward Elias, still careful with how he walked.

”My ass burns” he muttered with a wince.