Michael narrowed his eyes slightly, his brows jumped downward.
"We have serious problems. Grey is back," Michael said.
Lucien jerked up from the bed. The wound had closed, but the sharp, burning pain remained.
"The same Grey Duskcrend? Then he needs something again," Lucien replied, holding the injury with his hand.
Michael stood up from the chair and began pacing the room, hands behind his back.
"I met him at the port while completing a mission," Michael said.
"Yes. The last time he appeared, the organization was on strings. A rare lunatic, one of a kind," Michael continued.
Lucien tried to stand again, but every attempt ended in failure.
"Damn… Thanks for helping. By the way, where did that demon go?"
Michael stopped. His face showed surprise:
"What demon? When I came in, it was empty. No people, no demons. Only Lily crying, holding you on her knees."
Lucien lowered his head and smiled with closed eyes.
[Organization Leader's Office]
Wolbus' gaze was fixed on another line of the new book.
Suddenly, a man with black hair and beard in a fully black suit interrupted the silence:
"Respected Mr. Duskcrend, with your permission, I report that the target 'Ripper' has been successfully removed. Lucien Graves — former member of the organization — handled the elimination."
To Wolbus' right, on the sofa that had been empty seconds ago, a voice spoke:
"The well-known Lucien Graves. Talent that's hard to find. One could say the strongest exorcist. Am I wrong, father?" Grey said, slowly turning his gaze to Wolbus.
Grey looked very strange. He wore unfamiliar clothes: a gray pants, a white T-shirt, and a sleeveless coat of the same gray shade. On his head — a white hat with a gray ribbon around it. White hair slightly escaped from under the hat, and his eyes glowed bright green.
A burst of thoughts flared in the man's mind:
Did he move? Seconds ago, the sofa was empty. How did he even enter? We set up a barrier against demons… But he's no human. Demonic energy pours out of him.
He lunged forward, blade in hand, to eliminate the visitor.
The blade almost reached the stranger's body — and the stranger vanished, leaving only shadow.
Where did he go?
Before Michael could even exhale, Wolbus felt a palm on his head.
"STOP, GREY! DON'T DO IT!" Wolbus cried, reaching out.
"You have one last chance," Grey replied, retracting his hand from Wolbus' head.
"Ohh, father. I missed you so much. JUST KIDDING!" Grey returned to the sofa, as before. Hands on sofa back, legs on small table. His gaze pinned to Wolbus.
"You know why I'm here. My goal hasn't changed. But now I'm closer to accomplishing it than ever before," he said.
He bent forward and continued:
"I heard the same ancient demons are in the city again. Only they know the secret of immortality."
Wolbus jolted up from his seat, voice firm:
"You're a fool! Immortality is not a blessing. It is a curse!"
Grey was beside him once more, face almost touching, whispering:
"For some… It is not."
Grey was again on the sofa, as one-armed, when he said:
"And Alaric, father? You remember him?"
Wolbus sighed and declared:
"Of course I remember. You used to be inseparable. Best friends… Until you turned into nothing."
Wolbus said nothing further.
"Yes," Wolbus said, staring down.
Grey leapt forward again — white thread at his fingertips, sharp like any blade.
The messenger blinked — but his body didn't react.
Grey's thread was sharper as he said:
"Only try to move, I'll cut you in half. You'll never break the rules I set. Am I clear?" Georgiy's voice broke silence.
"I think you won't kill him, I'm correct?" Mr. Viria said, seeing reeds with unnatural energy.
Grey burst laughing:
"Hah-hah-hah. And you're interesting! What's your name? Do you want to join demons?"
A surge of seriousness filled Georgiy's essence. He hated demons who destroyed his life.
"BASTARD," Georgiy hissed through clenched teeth.
His second hand darted back, blade in hand, lightning seeping through the steel.
Swing.
Grey ducked backward, smoothly dodging, blade almost grazing his nose.
"That was close," Grey said.
He vanished again — without touching the ground.
[Wolbus and Georgiy Interaction]
"Georgiy, stop. You cannot catch him. And you definitely cannot chase him," Wolbus said.
He motioned Georgiy toward couch. Georgiy accepted and sat with him.
"You know already," Georgiy said.
"Yes. Fiyuki died in battle with the Ripper. I came to report it," he added.
Wolbus spoke, restrained:
"Sadly… Yes."
Leaving the office, Georgiy found a thought:
Now I have a new goal.
[Inn Room — Hackney District]
"I must stop him," Lucien said.
"Yes. The last time we couldn't… He was stronger. But now everything has changed," Michael nodded, clenching fists.
Suddenly, Lily rushed in the room:
"Why did you take so long?" she asked.
Lucien walked toward her. Hands on shoulders, voice warm:
"We're leaving. We must return home. Urgently."
Thank you for reading the chapter. I'll be glad for every comment and will gladly answer your questions. You can learn more on the Discord server. I'm really looking forward to seeing each of you there.