"Come, I'll drop you off. Don't stress out," Ryder told Bastion as he tapped on his shoulders. "Don't worry. You're fine. Everything will be clear soon. You just stay at home until this probe is going on."
Ryder dragged Bastion to his car, who looked a bit shaken, thinking how close he was to his death.
Opening the door of his car, he made Bastion sit down while he walked over to his side of the car. As he was walking around, he accidentally hit the shoulder of a guy who seemed to be passing through in the direction of the burning car.
While Ryder was more concerned about getting inside the car, he didn't notice the man and hit him. The man, on the other hand, was looking intrigued by the burning car, so he didn't see Ryder coming towards him when he was hit.
Despite being hit accidentally, the man didn't lose his footing. He seemed to be quite strong despite not looking like a bodybuilder. Ryder had a strong body because of everything he went through and the help of Janus. The man, however, seemed unphased. It was as if an ant had struck him.
The man was wearing what seemed like reading glasses. His short silver hair was shining brightly under the bright sunlight, making him look even more charming.
"Sorry," Ryder apologized politely.
"It's fine. It's nice to see some polite people in this country. You wouldn't believe how bad the first guy I met was. He was a cab driver but didn't take me to where I wanted to go," the man said as he smiled.
"Ah, you are from Russia? Thanks for not minding. I'm in a hurry. Still, welcome to the states," Ryder said, noticing the Russian accent in the man's voice.
"Yeah," The man replied as he waved his hand and continued on his way.
Ryder stepped inside the car and drove away while the silver-haired man watched the burning car as if he was admiring the beauty of the flames.
On top of a nearby building, a man appeared, dressed in black robes.
Bringing out a picture from his pocket, he looked at it before he looked at the silver-haired man in front of the burning car.
Bringing out his phone, he dialed a number.
"Your Highness, I have found him. I found Adrian Balakin. He's standing in front of a burning car," The man said to the person on the other side of the call.
"Good. Did he start that fire?" The person on the other side of the call asked.
"I don't think he's the cause of that fire. He arrived here when the car was already burning," the black-robed man replied.
"Should I approach him?" He asked the person on the other side of the call.
"No, wait, I'm coming there. Just keep following him. My jet will be landing soon," the person on the other side said sternly.
"Understood. I'll do as ordered," the black-robed man said before he disconnected the call.
The Silver Haired man standing in front of the burning car was someone whose appearance in the States has caused a commiting in all the top echelons of the world. He was Adrian Balakin.
Adrian looked at the flames for a brief second before he frowned and looked back. Raising his head towards the top of a nearby building, he frowned. No one was standing there.
While Adrian was looking in his direction, the black-robed man was lying on the floor, not to be seen. He was surprised when Adrian looked in his direction but reacting faster; he immediately dropped down to the ground to hide himself.
After a few seconds, he raised his head to look at Adrian Balakin; however, he didn't find anyone down.
"Fuck, that guy ran away! I lost him! I need to find him again," The man cursed as he stood up.
"I must say, I'm kind of angry that you think I would run away from you. It feels… Insulting. I wouldn't run even in front of the other Six, let alone you."
While the black-robed man was cursing, a voice appeared from behind him.
The man's face turned pale as he slowly turned back. If one was to see into the man's eyes, they would see a true dear of death, but before he could even see the face of the man who was standing behind him, he dropped down to the ground, dead. His body started rotting.
A silver-haired man could be seen standing behind him. He was the same man who was standing in front of the burning car, Adrian Balakin.
"Sigh, why are people here so rude. Can't they be nice like that, young man?" Adrian muttered as he looked down, once again gazing at the flames burning in the car.
"I wonder how long it will take me before I get what I need. I don't like breaking treaties, but I had to come here myself. It might cause some unseen troubles, but it will be worth it," The man muttered as a longing expression appeared on his face
He looked back at the phone lying near the dead body of the man and picked it up.
Placing the phone in his pocket, he turned back and started walking away.
****
Stopping the car in front of Bastion's mansion-like house, Ryder entered inside with Bastion.
Just as Ryder entered with Bastion, Esmi came downstairs for something.
"Hmm? Bastion? Why are you back home? I thought you were leaving?" Esmi asked Bastion in confusion. She was also surprised to see Ryder here.
"I get it. Did you meet Ryder on the way and cancel your plan?" She inquired as she thought of an excuse for them.
"Not really. It's true that he saw me along the way and stopped to greet me, but that's not all. While we were together, there was a blast in his car. I thought it wasn't right for him to go in these times, so I brought him home in my car," Ryder explained everything.
"Blast? Are you fine?" Esmi asked Bastion with a concerned look on her face.
" I am fine. I didn't even get a scratch. We were far away from the car. Anyway, Ryder already contacted the authorities along the way," Bastion answered.
While Bastion and Esmi were talking about what happened, Ryder was busy thinking who could be the one wanting Bastion dead.
'Could it be them? Are Janus' words coming true? Or was it the work of someone else?' Ryder thought as he glanced at the pictures on the wall.
"Thanks for bringing him back. I know how stubborn he is. I'm sure if you weren't there, he would have continued on his journey after getting a cab," Esmi thanked Ryder, bringing him out of his thoughts.
"Ah, it's nothing. I want him safe, though. It would be better if he doesn't leave in the next few days until the culprit is found. Also, you should probably increase the security of this place. Someone probably targeted him. If they are stubborn, they might try again, and if Bastion doesn't leave, they'll probably target this Place. Both of you are in danger until the culprit is found," Ryder told Esmi as he sighed.
Esmi looked at him briefly as she thought something seriously.
"I can't hide in my house, but I definitely won't let Bastion leave until I find that person. I most certainly will find him even if he's hiding in the depths of hell," Esmi said with a serious look on her face as she refused to listen to Ryder's advice to stay inside. She was really stubborn in that regard.
It was her responsibility to keep Bastion safe here, and for that, she needed to find that person and kill them.
"I won't stay inside either. I'm not going to hide from my enemy. Now that I know that there is someone targeting me, I'll know to protect myself better than if I'm out. Something like this will never happen again," Bastion also protested. He didn't want to be imprisoned inside his house in fear.
"I know that the two of you are brave and that the two of you know how to protect yourself, but still! You can't take your lives lightly. At Least wait for the forensic report to know more about it before you think about what to do. Just stay at home until then!" Ryder said sternly, refusing to let them go anything stupid.
He saw Bastion opening his mouth to say something, but before Bastion could say anything, Ryder continued, "I'm not listening to any excuses! You're either listening to me, or you don't care for me at all, and I don't need to be here!"
"Fine! You don't need to be overdramatic. I'll stay inside the house until the forensic reports come," Bastion snorted as he rolled his eyes. Turning back, he went inside his room that was on the ground floor.
"I don't need to stay inside if he was targeted."
