"We got a piece of information that Mykel Alester has landed in Moscow. Whatever heâs doing there, I think heâs planning something behind our back," Johan said as he stared out the window and looked at the beautiful garden behind the castle.
"What do you think heâs doing there? I donât think he understands whatâs in there and why we havenât tried to take that country over the past two decades. Whatever heâs doing there, I think heâs just interested in that woman and trying to recruit her," Alfredo answered as he tapped his fingers on the desk.
"What if heâs there not for that woman? Also, He knows about our existence, why are you still doing business with him?" Johan asked as he glanced at Alfredo behind him.
"Does it even matter now? So far thereâs no problem with doing business with him. We got a lot of benefits with nothing to sacrifice. We have collected thousands of demon bodies, and one greater demon. We can summon a Duke and this time he doesnât have to be placed inside a human body, like you or Agares and the others," Alfredo answered and explained as he turned around to look at Johan. "Letâs just watch because right now we have the upper hand. No matter how strong he is, heâs not going to be able to kill a Duke," Alfredo continued.
"We have lost Eligos, and she holds a lot of legions. We should summon her again, and this time in her true form. As long as sheâs here with us, we will be unstoppable," Johan said. "Iâm asking you to be more careful around him. Heâs too powerful to be underestimated," Johan continued and walked away.
Alfredo bowed his head and kept it down until Johan left his office. He then looked at the TV and listened to the speech that Lazarus gave. He then turned it off because he started to see that Mykel might have used the opportunity that Alfredo gave him and used it for his own benefit.
Mykel and the others left the airport, but then they realized there were so many armored cars parked outside. The soldiers were protecting the airport from demons, and it seemed that the capital city was still unsafe for them. Suddenly a luxury sedan came and parked right in front of where Mykel was, and then a man in a uniform came out with a lot of badges and medals on his attire.
The man was ordering the soldiers around and suddenly all of them walked toward the entrance and pointed their guns at Mykel and the others. It surprised them, but they found it funny for those soldiers to threaten them with guns.
"This is first," Aurea said as she looked at the twenty-six soldiers around her.
"Mykel Alester, whatâs your business here?" The man asked.
"Business," Mykel answered.
"We donât do business here, Mykel Alester. I suggest you leave this country now or you will be shot on the spot," The man said as he raised his left hand.
All the soldiers removed the safety on their guns and pointed them at Mykelâs and the othersâ heads. Before Mykel could do something about it, a limo came and parked right behind the manâs car. It surprised the man when he saw the badge on the carâs hood, and he looked annoyed by it.
A woman in an all-white dress came out with her long braided brown hair. She looked at how the soldiers pointed their guns at Mykel, and then she raised her hand with her index finger out. A barrier protected Mykel and the others, and then the barrier expanded and sent the soldiers and the man away.
"Please come with me if you want to feel safe," The woman said. "That man has a few screws loose in his head. He thinks that everyone from the United States is a spy," she continued.
"Thatâs a bit too perfect timing. Are you perhaps doing some kind of a play here? Good guy bad guy?" Mykel asked since he found the whole situation suspicious. "I have to admit that your acting is so good that we almost believed you," Mykel continued.
The woman suddenly smiled and lowered her hand as the barrier slowly disappeared around Mykel. She looked at the soldiers and the man, and then they all stood up as if they werenât hurt in the first place.
"Looks like our information about you is spot on. Youâre quite sharp. My name is Kseniya Ivanova, the vice leader of the Pantheon Guild. I believe none of you have heard about us, but I can assure you that we are the only guild in Russia," Kseniya said and explained. "We are just testing you, and we arenât trying to harm any of you," Kseniya pointed out.
"Where are you going to take us?" Jeanne asked.
"Youâll see," Kseniya smiled.
They decided to follow Kseniya and entered the limos as the soldiers escorted them in their armored cars. The city looked safe, and it turned out Russia had taken care of all the demons in the country. One thing that took Mykelâs interest was that Moscow had been turned into a giant military base.
"We are here," Kseniya said as the giant gate opened in front of the limo.
Everyone looked out the windows and saw a giant palace, three times bigger than Alfredoâs castle. The security was tighter than in the White House, and there were so many Awakeners walking around or chilling in the garden. They all lived like nobles and enjoyed their time as if they owned the palace.
"You said that this country only has one guild?" Jeanne asked.
"Yes, every Awakener and Chosen One is a part of the guild," Kseniya answered as she nodded her head.
"Howâs that possible? So youâve monopolized the whole country?" Rozan asked.
"Itâs because our president is also a Chosen One, and heâs the leader of the Pantheon Guild at the same time," Kseniya answered. "So, yes, we monopolized the whole country and we reward everyone who has shown their great contribution to the country and the guild. With that being said, those who donât contribute at all will be punished," Kseniya explained.
"That sounds so bad as if they have no freedom at all," Jeanne said as she looked at Kseniya.
"We never had freedom in the first place. Unlike your leader who gave fake freedom to their people and made them weak mentally," Kseniya said as she walked out of the limo. "We have been living through hell even before the demon invades. This is just a normal day in Russia," Kseniya pointed out.
Mykel scoffed as he walked out of the limo since he found it fascinating. He realized why Alfredo couldnât get Russia on his side, and the reason was that the people were living in fear. He couldnât get the Russians to go against their leader because he was a tyrant.
They all then followed Kseniya into the palace, and the people around them judgingly stared at them. When they entered the palace, they were welcomed by the maids and servants which was similar to when they were in Alfredoâs castle.
"Heâs waiting for you upstairs. He will guide you there, and Iâll stay here and accompany your friends over here. You donât have to worry, we wonât hurt them," Kseniya said as she pointed at the servant standing next to her.
"Iâm not worried about that. Nobody can hurt them even if you guys tried to," Mykel replied. "But we are a guest here, so watch your manners," Mykel said to Aurea and the others.
They all nodded their heads with understanding and watched Mykel leave on his own.
Mykel entered the throne room and saw a man sitting on the throne like a king. He was resting his head on his fist and stared Mykel in the eye with a serious expression. The servant immediately left and closed the door in front of him to give Mykel and the man privacy.
"I heard youâre here for business. What kind of business for someone like you to come all the way here?" The man asked as he kept staring at Mykel.
"Do you know who Alfredo Redshield is?" Mykel asked as he kept standing in front of the door.
"Thatâs the last thing I want to hear, that name. What do you want?" The man asked.
"Your cooperation," Mykel answered as he slowly walked toward the man.
"My cooperation? Thatâs quite bold of you to ask me that, but knowing who you are, I believe you have prepared something in exchange for the cooperation," The man said as he fixed his seating.
"Whatever you want, and I can give them to you," Mykel answered.
"Whatever I want?" The man asked with his eyebrows raised.
"Yes, I can give you Redshieldâs wealth, power, and perhaps Alfredoâs head as well if you want," Mykel nodded his head.
"Have a seat, and then we can talk," The man said.