Chapter 24: Jericho's Diner

"What did you say?!" The man shouted. His initial drowsiness was nowhere to be seen.

The two Commanders on the other side flinched. They could clearly see the man who was on the screen in front of them explode. Nikolos's father might not be strong, but he has a lot of connections. He could make them disappear if he wanted to.

The Commanders breathed for a bit but the silence only infuriated the father even more. Rowan Krimz, the CEO of Kellar Core Traders shouted, "You two are Commander stage powerhouses! How can there be anyone who would commit something like that there?! Was it our competitors?"

One of the Commanders explained. "S- sir the young master had a party last night. He, he invited a lot of important people so he sent the Elites to pick them up. But before they could return, a man wearing red-robes came and attacked. Not really attacked but had the intention of kidnapping the young master. We instantly moved as we were on high alert. But in the end, he was still able to get the young master into his clutches. He didn't state his reason, sir."

Rowan Krimz, a short, chubby man who looked to be around his early forties and had bushy brows with a long nose was pacing around his room. His wife at the side was listening to the conversation while crying.

Rowan was corrupt. He did a lot of things under the table for money, more and more money. But he had always been loyal to his wife. Rowan seldom wondered where the boy got his attitude of violating women.

"The red-robed man? Do you mean the one that suddenly sprung up in Levi City? What did he want? Money?" Rowan stopped.

The two Commanders looked at each other. They remembered that the young master had asked the red-robed man if he wanted money, but he didn't respond.

One of them answered. "He didn't mention anything about money sir. The red-robed man didn't even speak. He was clearly only here for the young master."

Rowan stomped his feet. "Useless scums of society! Find him! Cooperate with the police. Search every single spot in the city. I don't care how you do it!"

"Yes sir!" The two said in unison.

In the mansion of the Krimz family.

Rowan went to his wife and hugged her.

"Will they find him?" Asked his wife.

Rowan stayed silent for a while. "Yes, I asked them to cooperate with the police and they will surely be able to find him. Plus I'll also send people there to help. Once I get my hands on the person who kidnapped him, he's going to pay!"

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Marcus, Nexus, and Eva walked into the hotel lobby.

Marcus wore his same outfit. Nexus wore a shirt and shorts. He still has to shop.

Eva wore a white sweatshirt and tight jeans with her hair tied to a bun. Her round eyes were sparkling and her sweet smile dazzled the people at the side.

The receptionist saw her. Well, the receptionist that subbed her because she was absent again today saw her and called out "Eva! Where have you been?! Do you know that they are talking about firing you? You didn't even call or send a notice that you would be absent yesterday."

Eva smiled. "I'm actually here to resign."

"Resign? You want to resign? Are you crazy? I thought you lived on the Eastside? How are you going to afford rent?" Asked the receptionist.

Eva chuckled. "You don't have to worry about that."

Without waiting for the receptionist to reply, Eva went directly into the office leaving the two boys to stand idle in the lobby talking and arguing about whatever comes into their minds.

Normally you would need a resignation letter but since they were already talking about firing her, then why not just stroll in and ask to resign. She won't need a job anymore anyway.

She bumped into Ben, the manager.

Ben looked at her and thought she looked a lot more beautiful. His eyes stared at her flawless skin. It changed its target and was now on her boobs. He had always imagined touching them.

Eva coughed which brought him back from the clouds.

"Eva? Where were you? Do you even know how much trouble I had to get into just to get you a job here? And that's how you pe--" Ben was suddenly cut off.

"I quit. I resign. It's been nice working with you!" Eva went back to the entrance but she suddenly stopped.

"Let me take that back. It wasn't nice working with you. I know how you look at my boobs every day. Your sexual comments that you aim at me and all those accidental bumps. Mark my words I will come back. When I do, you better hide." Eva glared as she spoke. If Nexus heard this, the guy in front of Eva would probably be his second patient roommates.

Ben was shocked. She remembered that this woman didn't really talk much to people unless necessary. It seems like she changed somehow. But as Eva walked away he just stared at her butt.

Eva only remained a quiet woman because she knew she had to. She was only an employee with no backing whatsoever. But she wasn't as innocent as she seemed. A girl who lived in the Eastside for quite some time, how can she be innocent?

"It's done" Eva walked towards the boys while smiling.

Nexus went beside her and said. "That was quick."

There was still a bit of a barrier between them but they did get a bit closer. Only a tiny bit. Eva is still adjusting to her new life and Nexus didn't wanna rush in.

They also don't talk about that stuff much and only focus on things like magic, alchemy, and other things that are related to advancing in power.

Marcus and the gang went towards the restaurant that Eva kept praising.

It was no fancy restaurant. On top of the entrance, a board was hung that said 'Jericho's Diner'.

The trio went in and Marcus asked "Isn't this place what you humans call retro?"

Eva had a wry smile on her face as she heard his question. Not because of the question itself but the ending part of it. She still wasn't used to them saying 'You humans'.

Eva nodded. It didn't bother her, it just felt weird.

They sat in one of the booths with red-colored chairs. Soon a waiter came and took their order.

"Three of your chicken nuggets, cola, and fries," Eva said.

"Is that all?" Asked the waiter.

Eva nodded.

"So what's with all the mystery? Are their nuggets really that good or is it their fries?" Marcus asked.

"Don't worry, your Big Sister hyped it, so that means it's that amazing!" Eva smiled.

"I just hope my first taste of human food in this form is good," Nexus said.

Marcus suddenly remembered something. He made sure that no one was listening to them. After that, he looked at Nexus and said in a low voice. "Last night when the two Commanders threw different kinds of spells at me, I destroyed them."

Nexus weirdly looked at him, "Are you bragging? I mean, if you plan on bragging you could at least make it sound cool."

Eva chuckled.

"No, you dumb cat. Listen, Their spells were coming at me and the stone suddenly started reacting, and then I felt my whole aura changed. Every punch I threw destroyed their spells."

They already told Eva about the Stone of Destruction. Eva both felt weird and touched that they trusted her that much. The stone alone was already a big secret and the things inside.

"Little bro, does that mean you could destroy spells with just your fists?" Eva asked, obviously surprised.

"I don't really know how it works yet but what I do know is that it took a big bit off my mana every time I use it," Marcus said.

"Marcus look at me, right here." Nexus pointed both his index and middle fingers to his eyes and then pointed them to Nexus' eyes.

"Let's start with the stone name, Destrucstone--" Nexus started to explain but was cut off.

"Stone of Destruction, continue." Marcus took a sip of water.

"As I was saying, the Destrucstone, from the name itself we can get the word 'destroy', will allow you to destroy spells. Well, you do have a price to pay a price for it. You use up mana depending on how powerful the spell is. Though technically it's not the stone." Nexus completed his explanation.

"That's awesome!" Eva exclaimed.

Marcus grinned. "Holy nuggets, that means I could destroy spells as long as I have the mana. But I'm guessing there is more to it right?"

"You guessed it. But it is best to tell you once the stone is already one with your soul as it would be easier to explain." Nexus said.

Their food finally arrived.

Marcus picked up the chicken nugget. "The moment we've been waiting for."

Nexus also picked one up and raised it. "Cheers!"

"Wait" Eva stopped them. "Dip it in this sauce first. It's actually their sauce that makes it taste really good. Go try it."

Both the boys stopped. They dipped it and then began eating.

Nexus' eyes lit up "It's actually a lot better than I expected. The sauce! I could just drink the sauce alone. Wait, no, the chicken nugget needs to be there too."

Nexus didn't really have much expectation since it's human food. But it was a lot better than he expected.

"Big Sis, it's delicious. I have to agree with Nexus, I thought you were just overselling it, but the sauce is actually driving me insane, in a good way. I just wanna lock up the one who made this and let him make this all day. Why isn't this place on the map yet?" Marcus munched.

Eva grinned after hearing their reactions. "See! you should never doubt a native." She was glad that they liked it.

Eva continued "Actually you could see that this isn't really the place where people in this era go. It looks old so not everyone would be willing to eat here."

"So they're judging based on what they see? Damn" Nexus commented.

The boys were eating like crazy. Eva had to reprimand them and remind them of table manners.