Child of Destiny

...

Zero was currently sitting on the edge on top of a tall tower while looking down at the whole city.

A few moments later, Seven suddenly arrived and quickly bowed a few meters behind Zero. "I've returned, young master."

Tsk!

Zero clicked his tongue when he heard those words before saying. "I already told you many times before that you don't have to address me like that. We are not even in the real world."

"What is the point of me using a disguise inside the game if you keep on broadcasting that I am your clan's young master?" he added with an annoyed tone.

He then took a brief pause before continuing with a quiet voice. "What's more, I am not even the legitimate heir of the clan. Have you forgotten already why I choose to travel with my father despite my mother's pleas?"

Seven continued to lower his head and didn't immediately reply. But based on the slight tremble of his body after hearing the last phrase that Zero had said, it was pretty clear that it had some effect on him.

After that, he further lowered his head before apologizing. "I am very sorry. It is just my habit. I will make sure to fix it as soon as possible."

Zero just waved his head said without turning Seven. "It is fine. You don't have to take it too seriously. You should know that I am always getting workup when it comes to matters concerning the clan."

"Anyway, enough that already. Just report what you've got this time," he said to change the topic.

Seven inhaled deeply before standing up straight and giving his report. "Just like what we have heard, the war between the HeadHunter Guild and the Wing's Alliance is still ongoing. And from the looks of it, both sides are planning to prolong the war."

Zero slightly knitted his eyebrows and quickly said. "It is not strange for the Wing's Alliance since they have the advantage at prolonging the war, especially with the home advantage. But it is the same for the HeadHunter Guild? That is something suspicious."

"Indeed, that is why I take a closer look in this matter," responded Seven in an instant before opening a virtual screen and sharing it with Zero. "These are the information that I've gathered after taking a trip in the Assassin Union."

"From the looks of it, the HeadHunter Guild found a supplier that can assist them in prolonging the war. I am not sure which group it is but it looks that they wanted this war to last for a long as possible."

He then took a brief pause to open another virtual screen before continuing. "As for the side of the Wing's Alliance, it seems like the internal conflict within their guild become serious. I even heard that that Alliance Leader is starting to show some signs of getting involved."

Zero slightly knitted his eyebrows when he heard that before asking. "But their main base of operation is pretty far from here, so how it is related to the ongoing war?"

Seven did a series of quick taps on the virtual screen and showed a couple of photos before answering. "Because the opposition within their guild is planning to use this war to get rid of the other side. Or at least weaken their forces for as much as possible."

"Tsk! Politics! This is the reason why being in an organization is troublesome," commented Zero.

Then he took a quick look at the photos projected in the virtual screen before knitting his brow. "Strange, why did the Slaying Feathers got involved?"

"Even the Assassin Union find it strange. Unfortunately, they also couldn't figure out the reason," answered Seven in an instant.

Zero was silent for a moment before continuing. "What about the other matter that I ask you to do? Did you find any traces of their group?"

Seven couldn't reply when he heard the quest but he immediately picked up himself and quickly answered. "I am sorry. But I can find any trace of that group. But from the information that the Assassin Union have provided, they seemed to be moving to clear another high-ranking quest."

"Unfortunately, that is all they know. It seems like the whole team suddenly disappeared out of nowhere," he added with a slight frown.

"Is that so? Too bad, I want to spar a bit with those two before looking for the next piece of [Excalibur] that appeared," muttered Zero to himself with a clear disappointment.

Seven hesitated for a moment before adding with an unwilling tone. "Though, I heard from Assassin Union that a couple of their members are last spotted in the Maple Cloud City."

"Oh~! Is that so? Then let's head over there right away!" said Zero as he stood up front where he was sitting.

'I knew it!' though Seven with a sigh before asking. "Are you sure about that? Are you really not going to check the shops around? It seems like there are a lot of good things and top-quality equips to check there."

Unfortunately for him, Zero seemed to not show any interest in what he just said. "I don't need to. My gears are still perfect for the current stage of the game, so there is no need to change them yet."

The corner of Seven's mouth suddenly twitched when he heard those words before. 'Of course, you are going to say that. But how about me? I still need to find a set of equipment that will suit me perfectly.'

"You can look around if want. There is no need for you to accompany me anyway," said Zero as if he could read what was running inside Seven's mind. And before the latter could even say anything, the Sword God disappeared from his spot alongside wind.

Sigh~!

With a helpless sigh, Seven lowered his head and shook his head in a helpless manner. "That battle junkie. If not hunting a powerful monster or pursuing those people from the 'Pandemonium Descendants', he is looking for someone to spar with him."

"Well, I can't do anything to stop him anyway, so what is the point of preventing him from doing anything?" he added with a dejected tone.

But immediately after that, the expression on his face changed all of a sudden before clenching his hands. "On the other hand, it is a rare chance for me to relax! I will look around for a good piece of equipment this time!"

***********

"This is the same direction where I can feel the piece of the broken [Excalibur]," muttered Zero as he walked around the Maple Cloud City.

He was trying to look for some clues that could point him where the members of the Empyrean Talons were spotted in this place. Unfortunately, he couldn't find any of them despite his effort.

Though, he also saw a couple of suspicious places where most of the players were being restricted.

He wanted to take a look at them. But after seeing the emblem of the players guarding those places had, he had no choice but to drop that matter instantly.

After walking around without any positive result, Zero decided to head over to the place where the broken [Excalibur] was pointing at. But before he could even get far enough from the city, he was suddenly blocked by an unexpected player.

"What do you think are you doing, Frost Goddess?" asked Zero with a solemn tone.

Shiella, or rather Snow White inside the game, was currently standing in front of Zero and blocking his way. She smirked a little with the latter's question before replying. "I should be the one asking you that question, Sword God. 'What' are you doing here?"

"I am afraid that it is none of your business," answered Zero back.

Snow White giggles a little when she heard the hostility from Zero's tone before refuting. "Well, that is true if you are an ordinary independent player. Unfortunately, that is not the case."

"Do you realize what have you done?" asked with a sharp tone.

Zero knitted his brow in confusion when he heard those words before asking with uncertainty. "What are you talking about?"

Snow White sighed for a moment before answering. "Because of you, the meticulous plan that we prepared is ruined. Since you take a 'casual stroll' on the Maple Cloud City, those powers that are keeping an eye on you will now cast their attention on that place."

Zero was frozen stiff when he heard those words as he immediately realized what she was trying to say. He remembered the places that were being guarded within Maple Cloud City.

"I am sorry about. Let me compensate your losses later when I am done with my current task," he said before trying to dodge Shiella.

Swoosh!

But before he could even take a step forward, an ice shard suddenly stabbed the ground in front of him, preventing him from moving forward.

"Who said that you can just leave like that? What's more, I also doubt that you are able to compensate our losses in this matter. Do you even have any idea how troublesome is the problem that you are giving us with that 'casual stroll' or yours?" said Snow White with a cold tone.

'Tsk! Looks like I can avoid this fight. Well, this works out as well. I am looking for a suitable sparring partner anyway,' thought Zero before putting his hands on the hilt of his swords. "I hope that you will not regret your actions."

Hearing that, Snow White couldn't help but smirk before replying back. "That is the exact words that I want to say."

...…