Seeing Hugo turn away, Zaatsu Master Hannah Campbell crossed her arms. She was one of Hugo's old teachers from the academy.
"I'm afraid the White Bolt has become Ambris Ferrer reincarnated," she said, paused, then added, "We cannot allow another war like the '90s, Hugo. And you should be even more worried. We lost our good friend and your team leader during the war just like so many others."
Hugo understood the reference – Marion. He chuckled and dropped his head but did not reply.
"Unbelievable," said Faris. "That boy has nothing! Derek has the remnants. In fact, there is every chance he has all of the stolen ones. He should have half the Diamond by now and that may just give him the means to wipe you off the face of the Earth!"
Renekom put his hand out. "Don't let emotions cloud your judgment, Faris. The Alchemist can try, but he cannot succeed."
Hugo sighed. 'There goes diplomacy,' he thought. 'He's gonna torch another bridge.'
"Fuck emotions!" Faris's eyes narrowed, a cold anger flashed behind them like a knife's edge. With flared nostrils and curled upper lip, the Mystic lashed out at the Seear. "You've wasted resources in places where there is no need! You've reprimanded innocents creating needless enemies! And now you're trying to mar an honest man's reputation?!"
"Oh, so White Bolt is honest now?"
"No, you idiot!" With a finger pointing at him, Faris yelled, "Hugo Baylis! You hung him out to dry in the forest, no backup, empty outpost, who the hell are you trying to fool? You just want to go after the bounty hunter to sway the public's opinion! You think we'd fall for that too?!"
Renekom did not answer. Crossing Faris in public would win no allies and cost too many. Even a Seear knew better than to make an enemy of a legend. Reverence still clung to the disciples of Mustaqeem, and to defy one was to defy the Eye's own history.
A few onlookers shifted uneasily; one young operative dropped his file but did not dare pick it up.
Suddenly, Neil moved a step ahead saying, "Calm down, Master Naji."
Faris stopped. It felt as if someone had frozen him still. His gaze widened; he slowly turned his face towards the young Zaatsu. Most of the others shook their heads or closed their eyes.
"I know your daddy's dead and you hate your brother, Poindexter," the freelance Mystic said, in a near-whisper. "But if no one taught you manners, then let me remind you." His finger now pointed at Neil. "When elders are talking, young'uns need to shut the fuck up. You hearing me right now, boy?"
The entire place fell into silence. People in the background stopped and stared, intimidated.
"Do you know who this is?" Faris pointed at Hugo. He looked at the Seear and others and once again asked, "Do you know who this is? Warren hand-picked him as a disciple, Marion hand-picked him as a partner, and you hand-picked him as the Zaatsu to take care of the outposts after the fallout of the '90s. Disrespect him again and I'll rip your guts out through your throats!" Leaning back, he added, "You wanna waste resources? Fine. But don't try to blame a great operative for your own oversights."
As Faris spoke, defiant yet composed, Erina felt a flicker of awe. 'He carries truth like a torch,' she thought. 'And doesn't flinch when it sets the world alight.'
Renekom was smiling. "If you didn't have that potty mouth, Faris, you'd be one of our greatest assets right now."
Mystic Master Jessy Cardoso, Faris's contemporary and academy friend, explained, "Our resources are stuck dealing with Cultist skirmishes, capturing fugitives, and addressing the wounds of the past, as I am sure you will be well aware of, Faris. And don't tell me that all that is wasted effort. After fifty years of turbulence in the arcane world, Master Mujin has finally achieved stability with his uncompromising decisions and austere policies."
"Besides, the Alchemist has only stolen eleven remnants – that's half of the Diamond," said Obadiah. "We have several remnants right here with us, thanks to Hugo. Therefore, we need the Palace to be strongly guarded at all times." He chuckled, saying, "Please think rationally. We don't want to be divided right now."
Faris paused and stared. In a calm, controlled voice, he slowly asked, "Do you know what an Alchemist can do with just eleven remnants?"
"Do you?" the Seear asked.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Somewhere in the back, a Sokidu coughed – too loud – and was promptly hushed.
"No one knows, Master Naji." Renekom looked away. "Now knock it off. We're not wasting any more time. What he can or cannot do, what he may or may not do, it doesn't matter. We'll deal with him later. Right now, the White Bolt is our priority number one. No more questions or discussions. Hugo..."
Hugo finally looked up. "Hmm?"
"Take your team, son. And take our angry Mystic and the Seredums as well. We need all the resources we can get. Infiltrate the black markets and see if you can't find a clue about the bounty hunter's whereabouts. Understood?"
"Yes sir. We'll move out right away."
The two groups gathered in two circles thereafter. While Obadiah led the teleportation spell in his group, Erina stopped Hugo saying, "Please, allow me…"
For a brief moment, as the teleportation light gathered, the entire courtyard shimmered – a constellation of Ki energy flared and vanished into nothing. The Seear's team was away.
Then the Seredums created a Ki bubble engulfing them, the Zeta Squad, and Faris. To the viewers nearby, it looked as though the bubble caved in leaving only a residue of dust on the ground. In the blink of an eye, the group had arrived near the Spanish outpost of the Eye. It was still night out in the forest, just an hour past midnight.
"My apologies, Master," said Erina. "Your group may move on from here, but we must find the Alchemist. Whether he attacked our Lord Keeper or not, he most certainly knows who did. So, we must find him."
Hugo nodded. "Sure."
Then he asked his team to form the teleportation circle again.
"Master Baylis," said Erina.
"Yes?"
"Can you spare the Mystic? Our spirituality is an extension of Mysticism. His strength will be most beneficial for us in our search."
Hugo looked at Faris, who shrugged saying, "Yeah. Makes sense. I wanted to find that bastard anyway."
As he walked out of the teleportation circle, Ella moved a step closer to her captain and asked, "Can I go, please? I'm a Mystic too…"
The Zaatsu looked at the Seredums who nodded. "Sure," he said. "You can go."
"Where'll you go?" Faris asked, looking over. "Are you actually gonna listen to that old geezer?"
Hugo giggled. "I'm afraid so. Gotta go to a black market." He sighed. "I think I'll start with the moving one…"
"Oh, so that's why…" The freelance Mystic smiled, shaking his head. "You jerk. You should've said something earlier."
Camille leaned closer to Hugo and asked, "What's the moving one?"
Smiling, her elder brother replied, "Buckle up… we're heading to the Moving Bazaar."