[Jevan Perspective]

I opened my eyes to find myself lying on a bed in a room. It took me several minutes to process that I had returned once more to the room in Vensen's shop. I sat on the edge of the bed, rubbed my face with my hand, then spread my fingers away from my eyes.

That's when I saw them the spirits waiting for me. A wide interlocked ring of crimson specters. Some were somewhat familiar. We hadn't exactly had a friendly relationship, since technically I was the one who killed them and to be honest, they had deserved it. Either way, they still floated around me, though at least they no longer screamed inside my head like before. It seemed they really had abided by the agreement. Astonishing, all of them had.

I could understand some of them desiring the destruction of the Lower District gangs after all, their souls were once under the control of the former leader of one. But what I couldn't understand was why even the spirits of Claw gang members I had killed had kept to the deal.

Not that it mattered. Honestly, none of that mattered. Whatever their motives, I would fulfill their wish. I would wipe out the Claw gang and maybe most of the Lower District gangs, if not all. How? I didn't know yet. But I had time, plenty of time. At least two years I'd be stuck in this damned place because of their war, maybe more. They were the reason I remained here, so they would have to suffer my wrath.

I thought of little Jevan. For a moment I felt a flicker of concern for him, but quickly pushed it aside. Since I was here now, that meant he was safe. He'd stay safe until the time came for me to seize his body. Either way, Valeric would be there. I'd asked him to look after the boy, and I believed he would have done so regardless.

But why had Valeric fought those two witches? What secret lay behind it? I was sure he had a reason… or maybe he didn't. There was still much I didn't know about this world. But that was fine. The stranger the powers hidden in this world, the better my chances of finding a way back to my own.

I rose from the bed, stretched, then walked toward the window. I pushed aside the old brown curtain.

Sunlight flooded in and filled the room. I raised my hand to shield my eyes, then smirked bitterly as I looked down at the city.

"Good morning, wretched city. Did you miss me?"

I closed the curtain again, then reached for the cloak and mask resting on the table. I slipped on the cloak torn at the edges and stained with patches of dried blood. Its smell was a mix of blood and dust. I reached for the mask but before I could touch it, Raghu appeared in front of me. He stretched and yawned as if just waking from sleep, his eyes half closed. Why did he look like he'd just woken up? Do ghosts sleep, too? Either way, I didn't care.

I raised the mask and placed it over my face. Raghu vanished instantly, and the spirits around him disappeared with him. It seemed the mask had regained its full power.

I adjusted my weapons on a leather belt I had taken from the corpse of some random thug from the group of thugs who had stormed the restaurant. I arranged several daggers on it, strapped in two swords, and tossed the rest under the bed. Carrying so many wouldn't be practical. Then I opened the door only to find Corvin standing right at the threshold. His hair was a wild mess, his clothes no better. It looked like he'd been about to knock. He stepped back the moment he saw me, but after a second he returned to his spot. He seemed like he wanted to say something, but swallowed the words when his eyes met mine.

I asked directly:

"What do you want?"

He gulped, then finally said:

"My boss wants to meet you."

I gave him a half sarcastic smile, though he couldn't see it under the mask.

"Your boss? Which gang are you working with, Corvin?"

His eyes widened in shock. I patted his shoulder lightly.

"Why so surprised? Isn't it obvious you couldn't smuggle people out of the Lower District and forge fake identities all on your own?"

A faint, unreadable expression crossed his face.

"Yes… you're right."

I pulled my hand back from his shoulder and adjusted the cloak across mine.

"Anyway, what does your boss want from me?"

"I don't know exactly."

"Lead the way, then. I don't think you want to keep him waiting, do you?"

He shook his head quickly.

"No… wait here a moment, I'll go tell him you agreed to meet."

Corvin immediately ran off, leaving me alone at the door.

I wasn't convinced this invitation was innocent, but it was a good opportunity for me as well. I needed to build some connections. Not like I had a better option. If I tried to run, I might make even more enemies and I already had enough of those, thanks to little Jevan.

And if it was a trap? Then the trap would probably succeed if they planned to capture me rather than kill me. But honestly, the chance of it being a trap was slim.

Why would Corvin go to all that trouble just to trick me? Last night I'd been in a pathetic state. If he'd wanted to kill me in my sleep, or capture me, I wouldn't have been able to resist.

So I decided to accept the invitation, reluctantly.

I mean, what's the worst that could happen?

End of the chapter 30: Return to the Present

End of the chapter 30: Return to the Present

End of the chapter 30: Return to the Present

End of the chapter 30: Return to the Present

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