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Garovel gave an echoing snort. 'Y'know, maybe you could share some of these freaky new powers with yours truly, hmm?'

'Wha?'

'I mean, I share my powers with you all the time, don't I? It'd only be fair, right?'

'And how exactly would I do that for you?'

'I dunno. But I also don't know how you do half the other shit you do, so. Is it really such a crazy thing to ask? Maybe it's just a matter of applying yourself.'

'Uh-huh...'

'Hector, what I'm saying is, it's actually YOUR fault that I'm not a godlike powerhouse, wreathed in pure majesty and wonder. So I'd appreciate it if you would stop being so lazy and get on that, please. Thanks in advance.'

'Man, they really weren't kidding when they said that reapers are power hungry, huh?'

'Yeah, well, what's the use in hiding it, anymore? Might as well just let it fly and see how the chips fall, eh?'

He could still tell from the reaper's aura that he was mostly kidding.

'Mostly' being the keyword.

Hector didn't mind, though. In fact, that kernel of truth in there might've been making it even funnier to him, somehow, and he couldn't help snickering under his breath.

'Oh, good, you could tell I was joking, still. I was a little worried that bit went too far, and you'd start to think I'm a genuine lunatic.'

'I mean, you ARE a genuine lunatic, though.'

'Okay, yeah. But. Like. In a good way, right?'

'Of course.' Hector allowed a beat to pass. 'But I know a small part of you wasn't joking.'

'Alright, relax, pal. My ego can only handle so many beatings in a single conversation.'

That pulled another laugh out of him, this time loud enough to draw attention from the others in their group.

Naturally, Voreese was not too shy to address it. 'Somethin' funny?'

"Just Garovel being Garovel."

'Ah. Well, I hate to be the party pooper, but now's not exactly a good time to be getting distracted, y'know?'

She wasn't wrong to be concerned, Hector knew, but he also wasn't about to try and explain how he still had two entire thought processes that were fully on task.

Instead, he just pointed and started walking. "This way," he said.

Of all the auras he could sense, there were several that stuck out to him. The Basilica was clearly housing multiple of them, but he wanted to investigate the others first, if only a little bit.

Page 4091

And worse still, if Abbas couldn't even tell how incredible the Amir-22 already was, then what did that mean? Was he just that out of touch? Too deep into his work? Or did he simply have much crazier plans already in mind that would make this pale in comparison?

Hector was fairly confident that it was the latter. He didn't want to imagine that their trip down memory lane together might have been for naught. Abbas knew the importance of not getting too detached. He had to.

All of these thoughts were stewing around in background thought processes.

His foremost concern remained on the mission at hand. Finding one of these senators. From the way "Prince David" had described it, Hector had a suspicion that aura would be his best bet in tracking them. Presumably, these important leaders would be in some way more noticeable than the rest.

He tried to reach out with his senses as he steered the group down toward the center of the district, aiming for a spot near the entrance of the big castle that he was honestly still drooling over in the back of his mind, even now.

He could just take them onto the castle grounds directly, but somehow, that felt like a bad idea. Better to approach more carefully.

Already, he could sense a noticeable difference in this district. No one was on the street, but he could sense auras everywhere, inside the buildings.

And as he laid eyes on the big castle walls from this fresh perspective on the ground, he felt compelled to consult his reaper.

'Garovel, do you know what this place is called?' asked Hector.

'Oh, this? Yeah, it's the Basilica of the Heavenly Ending. It's the third largest church in the world. Quite a big deal.'

'Wow.' He was tempted to ask what the other two were, but Garovel kept talking before he could make up his mind.

'I'm surprised you needed me to tell you, now that you're such a know-it-all.'

'I'm sensing a bit of resentment, Garovel.'

'Oh, is your fancy aura-reading telling you that?'

'Actually, it's your tone of voice. Your aura is telling me you're just joking and not upset at all.'

'Okay, well, now THAT is kind of upsetting. How am I supposed to mess with your head when you can just cheat and see right through me like that?'

'I'm sure you'll find a way.'

Next page on the 10th

Sorry, guys. Thanks for reading, though.