One Hour Earlier
"So, how long do we have to stay here?"
"As long as we need to. Now fuck off, goth bitch."
Bella shot the words over her shoulder without breaking stride. Marcy bristled, lips curling into a sneer as she opened her mouth to fire back—but her phone buzzed sharply in her pocket.
The notification cut through the tension like a knife. Marcy glanced at the screen, her expression shifting. Bella kept walking, already dismissing her.
Marcy however rolled her eyes hard enough to strain sothing.
"Up yours, tramp. I'm gone anyways."
Bella didn't bother responding. She just kept moving down the corridor.
Half a step later, though, she tilted her head slightly without turning around.
"Honestly, that one is gonna be the first I kill when I beco matriarch. Anyway—I've got business here too."
Bella said with both her hands folded as she walked towards her destination.
"That old monster should be around here sowhere."
Said Bella more to herself than anything else.
With that, Bella continued up the hall toward her destination, while Marcy turned on her heel and headed back toward the car. Their paths diverged here—different goals, sa building.
Bella arrived at the spot she had been aiming for: a heavy door marked in clean, authoritative lettering.
Vice Captains Office
Before her knuckles could even graze the wood, a deep, familiar voice ca through from the other side, as if they already knew Bella was here.
"Co in, Bella."
'As expected from teacher, as old as he is, his senses are terrifyingly sharp.'
She didn't hesitate.
Pushing the door open, she stepped inside.
There he was.
A towering light skin muscular old man who was built like he had been carved from like a Greek statue. His full-body battle suit hugged every line of his fra, sleek and tactical, much like Lex's, except his was sleeveless, leaving thick, scarred arms bare.
A stylized dragon coiled across the chest in stark white against matte black. His hair was a wild, lion-like mane of blond that spilled down his back, untad and bright.
A black eyepatch covered one eye, that being the right; the remaining one—pure gold—fixed on her with calm, unreadable indifference.
Deep scars crisscrossed the exposed skin of his arms, old but vicious, like deep claw or sword marks—and failed—to tear him apart.
He studied her for a long mont, gaze dropping pointedly to her outfit.
"So tell ."
He said, voice low and gravelly.
"Why the hell is my prized disciple dressed like a whore? For God's sake, Bella—your entire right ass cheek is hanging out."
Bella didn't flinch.
"My attire is none of your business, old man. That aside—I didn't co here to say hi. Honestly, I wasn't planning on showing up at all. But sothing ca up, and I couldn't ignore it. And since I'm already here… this is a good opportunity."
She t his gold eye directly.
"Old man. I need a favor."
The Vice Captain of the Lunaris City Hero Association—the Martial demon, Movado Heavensent—leaned back in his chair. A slow, amused huff escaped him.
"A favor, huh? Heh. Bella, I love you like my own daughter, but you know I can't just bend the rules for you just because you as-”
"I found him."
The words landed like a thrown blade.
Movado's expression didn't change, but the air in the room shifted—sharper, heavier. His single golden eye narrowed slightly.
Bella held his gaze, unflinching, as she repeated herself.
"I found him."
Bella said, taking her teacher by surprise as Movado's single golden eye narrowed further, the faintest flicker of curiosity breaking through his usual stone-faced calm.
"You found him."
He repeated slowly, letting the words settle. Then a low, rumbling chuckle escaped him.
"So… does this an you've finally found a worthy husband candidate, one that you actually like."
Bella's lips curved into a slow, confident smile, as she replied.
"Yes."
She leaned one hip against the edge of his desk, crossing her arms under her chest in a way that accentuated the scandalous cut of her outfit.
"And that is exactly why I am dressed like this. I need to seduce him properly. I can't have him slipping away again."
"Again."
"Long story, you have no idea the trouble I went through, and the enemies I went ahead and made just to get close to him."
Movado let out a long, weary sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose with two scarred fingers, as he said.
"The tradition of your family is sothing else I swear, but that aside that outfit is too much, Bella. Even for you. But…”
He dropped his hand and t her gaze again, resigned.
"I won't try to deter you. You've always done exactly what you wanted anyway. Still—your current fiancé candidate won't like this one bit. And despite your family sitting comfortably in the top three of the royal ranks, the Losmosa clan won't just roll over and let you walk away from the arrangent."
At the ntion of her betrothed, Bella's expression darkened instantly. Anger flared hot and bright behind her eyes.
"I am not marrying that monkey."
Her voice ca out low, and venomous.
Movado raised a brow but didn't interrupt.
Bella took a steadying breath, forcing the fury back under control.
"That aside I am not threatened, old man. The man I chose isn't simple either. He is obscenely rich, for one. More importantly—he is a collector. But that not why I have high hopes for him, after watching him myself, and also doing a background check with the help of mother."
Movado leaned forward slightly, elbows on the desk.
"Money and trinkets won't be enough to stand against the Losmosa family, girl. You know that... So unless this secret identity or standing is a powerful one it won't amount to anything, you know that right."
"I do. But he will win the Trial Gas for my hand, if things still goes as plans of course."
Movado blinked once—genuine surprise flickering across his features for the first ti.
"Are you seriously putting your hopes in a man you just t, well you know best, still are you seriously confident in this guy's skill and power, just how strong is he?"
"I am dead serious as I am confident in his capabilities."
Bella's smile returned, sharper now.
"My mother already confird it. Nier is a Warlock."
The word landed like a hamr strike.
Movado went very still. His golden eye widened fractionally.
"A Warlock."
He echoed back, his voice quieter than before.
"A modern day one, or do you an one from that era?"
Bella tilted her head, smile turning sly.
"I am not entirely sure yet. But from the background checks I've run—his mother was definitely soone from that era. Figuring out exactly which mythological being she was… that's proven harder. The records are buried deep, and half of them are contradictory, you know what the ans right."
"She was soone strong enough to hide or manipulate her information in the city history archive that has all the information of everyone in the FAA even dating back thirty thousand years ago."
Movado stared at her for a long mont.
Then he threw his head back and laughed—a deep, genuine bark of amusent that filled the office.
"Isn't that interesting. I know so of the old ones where hiding in the modern era like your mother and father, but to think I would co across one like this."
He shook his head, still chuckling as he leaned back in his chair.
"Alright. You've got my attention. So what exactly is the favor you want? Consider it an early wedding gift—from your grumpy old master."
Bella straightened, the playful edge fading from her expression. She looked him directly in the eye—serious, and unflinching as she said.
"I want to borrow your Cursed Eye."
The laughter died instantly.
Movado's face went blank. For several long seconds, the only sound in the room was the faint hum of the ventilation system.
Then he spoke, his voice low and indifferent as he said.
"You, can't be serious right!?"
"No, I am dead serious master, for my plans to work, I need to borrow Ares eyes."
"I heard you, but that's not an easy request."
"Why!?"
"Only one of my family can use Ares eye."
"I know that, but with my power utilizing it would be easy if it temporarily add it to my hive."
"Don't be ignorant child, the War Gods Eye isn't a normal eye, this is an eye that can literally destroy the universe if I wasn't human but a god instead. But it is because I am only a human, I can't do that, however with this eye making an army to destroy the world would be easy, and even then that would take a lot out of , because with every use of this curse eye I permanently lose a bit of my rationality, followed by imnse pain for as long as it active. Do you really think you can handle sothing like that?"
"I am begging you master, please just for one year no six, no two months."
"Sigh, a request like that is like courting death, but fine I will lend you this eye, however not for two month, as you know we have a serious mimick problem, and I will need it if I am going to help the commander with the expedition that is coming up soon."
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