"S— So, did you get the Arctic Core?" Ice questioned Silas with a trembling voice. She'd wasted a lot of energy, and if he turned on her now, she wouldn't be able to defend herself.
"Oh, that?" Silas sighed, turning around and revealing the orb he hid in his pockets. As he showed it, Ice's eyes watered up as she staggered forward, "But, don't be in such a rush."
Ice stepped forward and plunged herself into his arms, sobbing in his chest. Silas stared as he awkwardly patted her back, returning the Arctic Core back into his hidden inventory.
"I didn't think it was possible, but I'm glad you managed to get it." Ice, relaxed from the breakdown after she picked up her pieces, spoke to Silas who stared at her condescendingly.
She stepped back confused, her pupils trembling seeing Silas scoff and avert his gaze, an icy gleam forming in her eyes, "I— Is there a problem? Wh—What's with that face of yours?"
"I nearly lost my life trying to steal this core," Silas chuckled, watching as Luke climbed down the stairs with Selena in his hands, "Why would I hand it to you, who I barely know?"
Ice was at a loss for words, staring at Silas who had turned away from her. She tried to calm herself, her chest heaving, as Silas turned his back to leave with Luke, "Please, wait!"
Silas paused, turning around to give Ice an expectant gaze. She clenched her fists as he stared with his nonchalant expression, "If the agreed amount isn't enough, I will double it."
Ice stressed each wore of that sentence, and Silas raised a brow. He shook his head, and chuckled, saying in a content tone, "I wanted to keep the orb, but sacrifices must be made,"
"Remember, you didn't hire a hero. I work for my own benefits," Silas continued with a colder tone, and Ice who stood with her head bowed and face twisted with rage, weakened.
"I'll complete the payment now," Ice said with a small voice, it was like a bucket of cold water got splashed all over her body. Seeing that, Silas nodded and turned around to leave.
He waited out the door with Luke and a submissive Selena, waiting as Ice returned back to him with two briefcases. He raised a brow staring at the two briefcases, "Good business."
She unlocked the both of them with a bronze key, and his eyes popped seeing stacks of a silver coloured paper currency. He considered killing her and taking both items for himself.
[Ice Kept Her Part Of The Deal , Would You Keep Yours?]
[Pick a Choice,]
[Choice A — Hand Her The Arctic Core]
—Rewards:
[Ice's Trust +15%]
[Skill, Telekinesis]
[Choice B — Kill Ice]
—Rewards:
[Skill, Frost Explosion]
[Skill, Absolute Calm]
[Choice C — Run Away]
—Rewards:
[(5) Gacha Coins]
After a brief second of thought, Silas handed the orb to Ice then took his money. Ice will attract the attention of those guys once she uses the orb, and he'd be able to shake them off.
The money would go a long way, and Ice was not completely worthless to him. After the briefcases were safely in his hands, Silas turned his attention somewhere else, "Show stats,"
—Streamer, "Silas Hazel"
Current Views - 87
Peak Views - 102
Followers - 28
Reach - 0.2%
[Respect]
Luke — 15%
Ice — 30%
Selena — 5%
[Reverence]
(None)
[Immortalise]
(None)
Silas frowned after reading the "Streamer Information" area of his "Stream Interface", noticing that Ice's respect level was over that of Luke, and wondered how much that was.
"So, where are we going next?" Ice asked, turning to Silas who stared at her with his brows knitted in confusion. She blinked, "I am still too weak to try anything on my own."
"You want to be one of my henchmen?" Silas asked her, but Ice shook her head. Silas narrowed his gaze seeing this, taking note, 'So she doesn't lose all her brain cells from it.'
"I believe that we can work together to bring down the Frost leadership," Ice said in a calm tone, spreading her hands, "and in return, I will form an alliance with your factions."
Silas turned to Luke, whose eyes were shining. Silas wondered if it was alright for the villains to form groups that required trust, when their moral standings weren't grounded.
Then again, she probably trusts him enough to follow him with something that he had expressed desire for— enough to believe he wouldn't rip her throat the second she relaxed.
"My Lord, you could the Frost clan's resources to develop a faction of your own." Luke explained to the pondering Silas, "Without Persus, you could claim my clan for your uses."
Silas' pupils narrowed hearing that. Of course, with a major head dead, there will be a lot of power struggles to decide who gets the bigger slice of the pie. He had the advantage.
"I am not the type to get ambitious," Silas spoke in a humble voice, but his heart raced in his chest. He turned to Ice who'd stayed quiet all this while, "I'll take good care of you."
Ice's eyes brightened hearing that. She knew that there was no way she could keep the orb to herself if what Silas said was true. Ice was ready to do anything to achieve her goal.
Silas on the other hand, turned to Selena who had her gaze cast to the ground, then he frowned, "Ice, do you know where we can all stay for the meantime? Far from the heroes,"
"We can move out the Metropolis, and into Order City." Ice advised with a calm gleam in her eyes, holding her chin, "Out of the four cities of the Oasis' South West, it's the best."
Order City was out of the Hero Associations' reach, as it was one of the cities that was managed by the government. The heroes had no power to monitor their movements there.
"I see," Silas nodded his head, turning his back to Ice's house, then looking into the far distance. He knitted his brows and asked, "What are you goring to do about your house?"
Ice turned to the building with a mixed expression, "I can't stay here anymore. Since that man found me, this location has been compromised. I'll be targeted if I remain here."
Silas nodded his head at her reasoning. It was because of this reason he was run— no, leaving the Metropolis. Lilia must be scouring the city searching for him along with Tiger.