Outside the cog shack, the night sky was becoming dominant. The evening settled over Strevus as Kyrie followed Negan to the car still clutching the food that was handed to him by Edwin.
Negan entered the car alongside Kyrie, starting the engine that coughed with a wobble and they pulled into the street.
" Where are we going? " Kyrie asked while unwrapping the beef. "The Tangles" Negan responded while guiding the car through narrower streets.
The Industrial district on the east side. Factories, warehouses, workers' tenements. The kind of place people avoid after dark if they can help it.".
Kyrie took a bite of the beef again, watching as the city changed all around them.
The buildings grew darker and closer with gas lamps becoming more sparse with each turn.
Ding!
The familiar sound was followed by texts.
[ Daily Quest Complete!]
[Reward: +250 EXP, +1 Intelligence, +1 Fortitude]
Then another screen appeared alongside the former.
[New Quest Available]
[ MISSION UNLOCKED]
[Main Objective : Accompany Negan on the collection job without drawing attention]
[Alt Objective: Use Empath Sense to assess the situation.]
[ Reward: +1000 EXP, +2 Stats to be assigned ]
Kyrie saw the new mission prompt and nearly choked but was able to recover quickly, adjusting himself to the screens only he could see.
They continued driving and at this point the streets were nearly empty. Only a handful of workers hurried along with heads down.
The factories they passed were silent. There were no nighttime shifts here, just shadows and the random clatters of metal falling here and there.
"Why's it so quiet?" Kyrie asked.
"Most factories shut down at dusk here. There are not enough workers willing to stay after dark."
Negan turned the wheel again, guiding them down a very tight alley, the car was barely able to fit through.
"There have been rumors. Missing workers. Rogue psions. Infighting amongst gangs. True or not, it didn't matter. The fear keeps people away."
The car inevitably rolled to a stop in front of a very cramped apartment building. The smell of wet brick and rusted metal filled the air.
Everything felt dark and gloomy other than some flicker of light presumably candles lit on the upper floors of the building.
"Stay close," Negan said, stepping out. "I'll do the talking. Keep your goggles on. And pay attention."
Kyrie nodded, dragging his goggles down and over his eyes and followed him toward the building's entrance.
His heart had begun thumping in his chest again. He was unsure if he was nervous or at this point or just excited.
The debtor they were after lived on the second floor. A man named Hall, according to Negan. The information claimed he worked at one of the textile mills.
Negan moved stealthily and in due time arrived at the exact apartment. He knocked twice on the door. Firm taps, but nothing aggressive.
The door slowly opened. A nervous face peeped out– pale white skin, sleep bags under his eyes, beads of sweat on his forehead despite the cool air that came with the silence of this place.
"Mr. Shaw," Hall said, voice shaking. "I–I wasn't expecting you tonight."
"That's what a surprise visit is all about, " Negan replied smoothly. "May we come in?"
Hall hesitated slightly, then stepped back. "Of course. Yes. Come in."
The apartment was small. One room, barely enough furniture. A bed at the corner, a small table and a stove that looked like it hadn't been used in months. The smell of oil and sweat polluting the air.
Kyrie stayed near the door, keeping his Empath Sense active. He'd been using it sparingly all day, but now felt like the perfect time.
Hall squeezed his hands, eyes darting, interchanging between Negan and Kyrie. "I have the money, Mr. Shaw. I swear. I was going to bring it over tomorrow."
Negan's expression all this while didn't falter for a moment. "Tomorrow's three weeks late, Hall. My employer's patience isn't infinite."
"I know, I know. Just let me get it. It's right over there " Hall pointed towards a corner of the room and moved toward a cabinet near the wall at the back, his hands visibly trembling.
Kyrie focused on Hall's emotions. He was definitely afraid and seemed quite desperate but underneath these emotions.
He seemed to be anticipating something, there was the sense of expectation that Kyrie couldn't figure out yet.
Kyrie's eyes scanned the room. Nothing looked out of place. But the feeling remained.
His skill and eyes still focused on Hall witnessed him glancing to his left. Just for a heartbeat. Toward empty space near the corner.
Kyrie's eyes squinted in that direction as he expanded Empath Sense fully, extending it outward. And there—from the corner, he felt it. Malice. Focus and a wavering killing intent. it seemingly came from open space unlike anything he had felt before.
Someone was there. Unseen but Kyrie was certain.
"Negan," Kyrie said sharply, pointing at the empty corner. " Your Left side. Someone's there."
Negan moved instantly. No hesitation. No questions.
He dashed towards the corner, dropping into a quick low stance with his fist balled up, he shot out faster than Kyrie or Hall could follow.
Wham
The punch connected with something solid.
A quick gasp was heard, a surprised,pained man stumbled backward.
A split second later, the empty space revealed an outline: dark clothes and a knife raised mid-swing.
Negan didn't stop there. A second punch followed just as fast, aimed at the now-visible chest of the man.
This time, Kyrie saw it, a flicker of blue light dancing along Negan's knuckles, gone as quickly as it was registered.
The invisible psion collapsed, obviously choked, his body spasmed twice before going limp.
The invisibility had dropped completely, revealing a young man with orange hair, unconscious, knife rolling to the floor escaping his grip.
Hall went pale. He backed against the wall seemingly at the speed of light, hands raised in surrender.
"It wasn't my idea I swear! Montes said he could handle you, I didn't wanna do it I swear " He pleaded.
Negan turned to face him, and his expression was completely cold now. He oozed danger and walked like a predator approaching his cornered prey.
"To think you'll hire a psion to ambush me. This changes things, Hall."
"Please, I'll pay double, I swear"
"Double?" Negan who was much closer said. "You think money is enough?"
He grabbed Hall by the collar, lifting him slightly off his feet instantly like a ragdoll.
"I'm going to explain something to you once. If you ever try something like this ever again. if I even hear that you thought about it. I will pluck out your eyes and feed them to you. Do you understand me?"
Hall nodded frantically, like his head was about to fall off, tears streaming down his face.
"Yes. Yes. I understand."
Negan held him there for another moment, his electric blue eyes peering into his soul and then released him. Hall crumpled to the floor.
"The payment's due tomorrow. In the morning you'll bring it to the Crown Casino yourself.
If you don't show. Well I need not explain what's going to happen to you. Be sure next time, I won't be this polite."
Polite? For the first time through the entire ordeal, Kyrie gave mental commentary.
Hall nodded again, still sobbing like a child.
Negan turned toward the door, gesturing for Kyrie to follow. He looked at slumped montes on the side and simply shook his head in disappointment.
" Let's go! " He said.
Outside, the cool and refreshing evening air felt very much like relief after the cramped and tense apartment.
Kyrie followed Negan back to the car, his mind racing.
"You knew?" Kyrie asked as they climbed in."Or you simply trusted me."
Negan started the engine while speaking. "You said someone was there. That was enough."
"But you didn't even question it."
"No point." Negan pulled the car back onto the cramped streets. "Your instincts have kept you alive through worse. I trust them."
Kyrie leaned back in his seat, processing that. Then another thought hit him.
"Your punch. I saw... something. A blue light."
Negan glanced at him, a faint smirk returning. "Did you now?"
"What was it?"
"Old habits I guess." Negan answered simply.
"Don't worry about it " he concluded.
Kyrie closed his eyes for a moment, replaying the encounter again in his mind. The invisible psion. Montes. The way his presence had felt not just malicious,but different. Like his ability left an imprint Kyrie could still follow.
A notification suddenly appeared afore him.
[Mission Complete]
[ Main Objective: Accompany Negan without drawing attention - SUCCESS]
[Secondary Objective: Assess hostility - SUCCESS]
[Reward:+1000 EXP +2 to be assigned]
[Extra Reward: New Skill Unlocked: Menace (Passive)]
[BONUS: Ability Detected]
[Psychic Invisibility - Adept ]
[Status: Stored in Archive]
[Unlock Requirement: 1000 EXP + Skill Practice]
[Note: Host can replicate observed abilities after meeting requirements]
Kyrie's eyes widened. He could store abilities? Copy them? This was part of that Sovereignty,he thought.
He stared at the notification.
"You alright?" Negan asked, glancing over.
"Yeah," Kyrie said quietly. "Yeah… Just processing."
Negan nodded, steering them back toward the brighter parts of Strevus. "You did good tonight, K-Y. Real good. Saved me a scar."
"What happens to Montes?"
"He is gonna wake up with a headache and a lesson. Hall will make the payment and word will spread that trying to ambush me is a stupid idea."
Negan's smirk returned. "All in all, a successful night."
Kyrie looked out the window, watching the Tangles fade behind them.
The quiet factories, extremely compact alleys, The fear that hung over the district.
His first real taste of danger. And he'd survived it.
But more than that, he had proven himself to Negan and definitely to himself.
And now he had a new ability waiting to be unlocked.
The city's dangers were real. But so was his potential.