Chapter 105: Zyra’s Joint search team.

"What did you say now?" Garon barked in a low tone. He was sure that he had heard the word mayor, but how could a low-born cockroach like this have ties to the mayor? And while the mayor did have people that did his dirty work from all corners of the world, Ocean made it almost sound like they were friends. But that was impossible.

Logan Spegger had one quality he looked out for in all his friends: money.

They had to come from wealthy families, which this man did not.

Ocean didn’t flinch. He looked Garon dead in the eye, his voice remarkably steady for a guy surrounded by people who could crush his skull at the snap of a finger. "Listen, I think you’re a joke. You think you have everything? Go ahead, kill me. But I’m the only one in this room who actually knows what the girl’s map looks like. It is not some drawing on a scroll. If you kill me, you won’t recognize it even if it hits you in the face. And I highly doubt Zyra is going to sit down and explain it to you over tea."

Sheila’s face darkened. "You talk too much for someone within the reach of my knife."

With a slick sound, she drew her dagger. It was the exact same blade she had used to slice Ocean’s face a few hours ago. The thin, silvery edge still held a faint trace of his dried blood. She walked up to him, tapping the flat of the cold steel against his cheek, right over a half-healed cut. "Maybe I should just redesign your face again. Give you a smile that matches your attitude."

Ocean kept his jaw clenched, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a blink, though his pulse was hammering against his ribs.

She didn’t get to make good on her threat. Two crisp, perfectly timed raps hit the wooden door. The entire room went rigid. The casual cruelty vanished from Sheila’s face, replaced by a sudden, pale anxiety.

Fungus, who had been lurking quietly in the corner like a piece of actual mold, scrambled toward the entrance. He unbolted the locks with trembling fingers and pulled the door open.

A man stepped into the room.

Instantly, the scent of expensive and rare floral cologne washed over the cold air, completely wiping out the smell of Garon’s cheap tobacco. The man wore a full set of tactical camouflage gear, but it was made of woven spirit-silk that shimmered faintly under the light. It was reserved for special forces soldiers that took missions with Soul maidens.

Every single guild leader in the room instantly dropped their shoulders, their arrogant postures melting into deep, humble bows. "Your honor!" they echoed in unison, their voices dropping an octave in sheer reverence.

Logan didn’t look at them. He slowly reached up, removing his dark sunglasses, his black breathing mask, and unclasping his heavy, long black trench coat and cape. He tossed them to Fungus without a word. His eyes, cold and sharp as frozen jade, swept the room before locking onto the man in the chair.

"Is this him?" Logan asked. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried the heavy weight of someone who commanded thousands of lives.

Sheila nodded quickly, her dagger already hidden back in her sleeve. "Yes, your honor. The man claims he is the only one who can identify the girl’s map."

Logan looked at Ocean for a long moment, evaluating him like a piece of merchandise. Finally, he gave a slow nod. "In that case, he doesn’t die. Put him on the Zyra joint search team. He goes where you go."

He lifted a single, warning finger, pointing it generally at the guild leaders. The air in the room grew noticeably colder. "But remember one thing. I want the girl alive. Not mostly alive. Not breathing but broken. Alive. If a single hair is missing from her head when she is brought to me, I will personally dissolve your guilds."

Garon swallowed hard, his large Adam’s apple bobbing. "Understood, your honor."

Logan turned back to Ocean, stepping closer. "You spent time with her. Tell me_ does the girl carry anything else other than this map? It was rumored that Zena had more than one unique item. I believe she passed everything to her daughter."

Ocean narrowed his eyes, his brow furrowing into a mask of deep, agonizing concentration. He put the pieces together slowly, linking his kidnapping to the mayor. The man had not been planning to pay a dime more. He had sent these thugs to kidnap and kill him. They would probably transfer back the money he had received and empty all his accounts.

Now was the time to overstate his importance. He rubbed his temples, letting out a slow sigh. "Your honor... I really want to help you, but everything happened so fast. My memory is a bit foggy. There was a lot of running, a lot of shouting...it will take me a while to recall. She did seem to be overprotective of her bag."

Logan kissed his teeth, a sharp sound of irritation. He dismissed Ocean with a glance and looked at the guild leaders. "What is your current plan? You must have come up with something after questioning him or did you just eat expensive food that you expect me to pay."

Garon stepped forward, eager to redeem himself. "The city gates are heavily guarded. The girl couldn’t have gone far. She has to still be hiding somewhere within the borders of Greenwich. She knows we are searching within the wild lands, so she could be hiding in this town or her way to another city."

"Then turn it all upside down," Logan said coldly, facing the large glass window that looked out over the sprawling, misty city. "But do it quietly. I don’t need the anyone getting wind of what we are hunting. Find her."

"Yes, your honor," the leaders chorused.

Logan stared out at the rooftops, his reflection dark against the glass. "One more thing. You won’t be searching alone. One more person will be joining your team."

Sheila blinked, her curiosity breaking through her fear. "Who?"

The question hung in the air, mirroring the unvoiced thoughts of everyone else in the room. Who else did Logan trust with a hunt this critical?

"Ian Scorpion," Logan said flatly.

Ocean’s eyes widened slightly. "The brother?" He had done some research on Zyra before he started his hunt, because he wanted to know who she would run to for shelter.

He received no answer. Logan didn’t waste words on slow people.

Garon, however, looked outraged. "Why him? Your honor, with all due respect, the boy may not know anything. If they were so close, he would have gone with her on the run. There is a possibility that if we find the girl, he might try to help her escape. He could sabotage the entire mission. I don’t agree on this."

"They are twins," Logan replied, his tone leaving absolutely no room for argument. "In the strong bloodlines, twins share a natural soul bond. A telepathy thing, if you will. His instincts will lead you to her faster than any of your useless tracking hounds or broken salamanders." He put his sunglasses back and whirled a bit dramatically. His voice held no room for softness when he gave his last command. "Don’t fail me again."