Chapter 169: Fine and Well

The ring radiated a new screen, one that belonged to the empty seat.

But when the image came, "What the hell is this?" Moon exclaimed. "Is that a video?" he asked.

"No, this is a live call, not a video," Dorbish elaborated.

"How does that work?" Moon asked.

"Someone uses his own ring to call the owner of another ring; they send their right-now image to the other owner, it goes both ways." Dorbish tried to simplify things for Moon, knowing too well most of the things they live in are new experiences to him.

Moon’s eyebrows fell, his lips pursed together climbing up to his nose. "How does this shit work?"

Dorbish shrugged. "It just works; that’s what we know."

Moon looked at the screen again; a shadowy figure came to present himself, not looking like a person. "That guy is a ghost?" Moon asked, making sure he wouldn’t be surprised again.

A few of them chuckled.

"We’ll be hiding his face and name for now; his identity could be exposed to our enemies," Talia explained softly.

Moon nodded. "That’s a smart thing to do."

The shadowy figure looked at everyone for a moment before his eyes fell on Talia. He bowed his head slightly. "Lady Talia."

"Good to know you’re safe," she nodded.

The shadowy figure’s voice was manly, but almost melodic as well. It was too smooth, but it also had enough depth.

For some reason, the shadowy figure and Moon locked eyes, studying one another for a little too long of a moment.

Moon squinted at him, and for some reason, he felt like the figure’s gaze was only on him.

Talia wasn’t bothered by their staring contest, if it existed at all, for the shadowy figure didn’t have his eyes be part of the shadowy effects.

Talia proceeded to introduce everyone before starting, everyone but the shadowy figure, of course.

"Would you please list down the names and information of the individuals confirmed to be part of the opposing side?" Talia requested.

The figure nodded. "At your command, Lady Talia," he said readily.

The figure started speaking, "I have some connections in every branch, know a few people from each, including the Southern Branch itself, which is why I’ll be starting with the east, north, west, then south Branches in order."

"From the Eastern Branch, the opposing faction’s individuals are..."

An image appeared with three individuals, wearing black, their faces were inside masks that only their eyes could be seen, two guys and one girl. Their clothes were tight and on their back there was a blade.

"Three unnamed individuals from The Shinobis," the shadowy figure introduced.

"These are some cool-looking clothes," Moon commented.

The shadowy figure ignored his comment. "Next comes individuals that are not part of the opposite faction, but also are not yet on our side," he said. The side screen showed a person, the image from multiple views. "Orin of the Church of the Sun."

The new individual looked very normal, short tidy hair, brown eyes and black hair. His clothes were black pants, a white shirt and a black robe that had a round burning ball of fire on the back.

Moon blinked at the image, but a question dropped all of a sudden, snapping his gaze.

"What are his demands to join a side?" Talia asked.

The shadowy figure shook his head. "Nothing, he demands nothing but to see the nature of the Trial, and which side’s path to walk is the one closest to the Church’s creed."

Talia nodded, and a new individual appeared.

A warrior-like figure, muscles perfected under the loose open robes, skin black like obsidian.

Moon leaned forward. "Is that his real skin color?" he asked.

Talia nodded. "It is." Realizing that the new-to-see features are all going to be controversial for him.

The shadowy figure spoke. "Markala of the Third Jungle; he also refused to take a side for now."

"Why the Third Jungle?" Boa asked a cryptic question.

"A dispute came to be; he performed exceptionally," the shadowy figure explained before adding, "Both sides want him now."

Moon didn’t know what they were talking about, but he was busy coming to terms with the new things he was seeing.

The shadowy figure spoke again. "Moving to the next, Northern Branch."

The shadowy figure shook his head. "Sadly, almost everyone in the Branch is on their side now, so I’ll name the important individuals," he said.

An image came: a small, short girl with green hair and eyes, short pointy ears, wearing a green dress. She had a very cute face that seemed to be always smiling.

Sigh~

A sigh escaped Talia’s lips at the sight.

"That’s really bad," Boa couldn’t help adding.

Moon’s eyes scanned everyone, and they all had faces of disappointment and worry. "What’s going on?" he asked.

He looked at her. "I mean, only her ears look weird," he added.

The shadowy figure proceeded. "Lilo of Argent," he said.

Moon squinted. "Argent?" He remembered the name; he had heard it before.

"They’re a very powerful family; they control the money in the Tower," Dorbish explained. "Too powerful, even," he added.

Moon remembered; it was that unpleasant day he got smacked on the head for searching for a mating partner.

He pursed his lips and didn’t say anything else.

The image changed again, a man this time. Beautiful face to say the least. Hair long, too long. Moving from black, gradually to white before becoming transparent like strands of silk.

"What the fuck is this?" Moon leaned closer. "How did he make his hair like this?"

Dorbish shook his head. "They’re born like this," he explained.

The shadowy figure spoke, "Lorian of Spectre."

Boa looked at Moon. "The guy you killed is his fated partner," she explained.

"That’s a good thing, I guess," Moon leaned back and said.

"What are you talking about?" Boa asked, squinting.

Moon looked at Lorian and scratched his head. "I wish I had 9th Bro with me these days," he spoke softly.

"With 9th Bro, I would have run through both of these factions without hindrance; too bad he’s dead though." He shook his head.

He pointed at Lorian. "Too bad for that guy too," he said. "Having them unite is a bad idea we don’t have to deal with," he added.

Moon wanted to say that if 9th Bro was there, they could have become a 3rd faction, just the two of them, but he decided not to say that.

The shadowy figure spoke. "Northern Branch is entirely on their side right now, no noteworthy exceptions or individuals."

He moved on to the next, "Starting with the Western Branch now." His voice turned heavy.

The image that came first was of a face so familiar to Moon.

A face he saw whenever he was angry and closed his eyes, a face he wanted to return to the first floor just to kill him.

His expression broke into a smile, a very wide smile that couldn’t hold back a couple of chuckles.

"That bastard looks fine and well," Moon laughed.

The shadowy figure introduced the new face that wasn’t by any means new to Moon. "Korr of the Ashspawns," he said.

Everyone looked closely now, more focused than ever. For the one they were looking at right now was someone they hated just from hearing of him.

He was also Moon’s mortal enemy.