OLD-WORLD EXTRA

Chapter 207: Road Of Blackmail

Chapter 207: Road Of Blackmail

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***

[Kiera, Jake, Sarah, Evan, Hiro, and Leo are alive. A few more of their members as well, but the rest are all dead.]

Emir heard Lyra's report echo through his mind as he put on the NeuroLink headset, still lying down in bed.

[You think she'll blame me?]

[...No, she's smarter than that.]

He let out a chuckle and said:

"NeuroLink Activate."

His eyes, which had previously seen the world's reflection through the headset, now showed a white space with several menu-like options on the side.

Emir's body was no longer physically active; his neural network was linked with the headset, disabling his body's activities.

His body, an 'Icon' in the digital realm clicked on an image that dropped down a list of others. The last option was labeled 'Link Invite.'

[Lyra, send the code.]

[Done.]

Emir's brain was flooded with a series of numbers, letters, and symbols that he transferred to the link invite box.

And soon, his vision changed to that of a dark room.

He easily adjusted to the transfer, only feeling slightly disorientated.

'Where are you, Auric....'

Emir silently glanced around, attempting to identify the space before him.

But the host of this place had seemingly disabled his abilities.

Meaning that even his night vision, which he had grown reliant on, wasn't transferred over to this metaphysical world.

In his struggle to make out his surroundings, he spotted several long table-like structures placed all around him.

An opening was left right in front of him.

An invitation for him to walk through.

'Sure.'

His feet moved across the floor, accepting the invite.

'A podium?'

His eyes soon spotted what appeared to be a wooden stand, smack dab in the middle of the

room.

Emir then walked closer, his every step careful as he approached it.

After a soft step onto the podium, a sound announced itself.

Click!

His back was locked in place as he felt a cold metal surround the structure he stood on.

'So they don't have their abilities either....'

Emir quickly came to the realization, understanding their need for high-security measures. Flash!

A sudden, blinding light materialized right above him, reminiscent of a spotlight in a grand stage show.

'Or maybe they like a theatrical flair to everything they do.'

He inwardly scoffed, rebutting his previous thought.

Emir knew that entertainment came first to most of them.

After all, those who led long lives needed something to spice it up.

'Let's greet them first...'

Now, with the light above him, he could discern his surroundings more clearly.

Around him stood the outlines of four men, their features just visible.

Each side flanking the podium held the leader of an Elite family, distinguished by unique

characteristics he recognized from the novel.

Turning left, he bowed respectfully and spoke:

"Lord Auric of the Goldleaf."

Facing forward, he addressed a fiery-haired man with broad shoulders:

"Lord Ignatius of the Blackwood."

To his right, a man with long gray hair and delicate features:

"Lord Eldritch of the Moonscribe."

And then finally...

Emir turned to his back.

He spoke a name not supposed to be known by anyone except the Elite:

"Lord Isidore of the Ebonfyre."

The black-haired man, shorter than most, acknowledged him with a nod.

"Thank you all for accepting my invitation to talk."

Emir added as he bowed deeper, his hand near his second heart.

A show of respect.

Then a friendly but serious voice came from what was once his left and now his right:

"I have done as you asked, chosen one... Now, might you tell us what you gathered us here

for?"

"Yeah! What the fuck do you want, you pipsqueak?" Ignatius said, his tone as wild as his red

hair.

"Why do you know of Isidore's name?" Asked Eldritch, his voice as soft as his son.

"..." The man himself sat quietly, appearing to enjoy the ongoing event.

'The novel didn't lie about their surface personalities, at least...'

"Please. Show me respect as I do to you, Lords. And I shall answer you now...."

"Regarding my knowing of Isidore's name, I am the chosen one, am I not? Then isn't it obvious how?"

A hard slam resounded at Emir's left, and soon came Ignatius's booming voice:

"Who cares about that?! I asked you, what the fuck do you want?!"

Emir let out a sigh.

"...There's no need for such theatrics, Lord of the Blackwood. I know you to be a good-hearted man, so I believe that such a front is unneeded."

||||

After a long period of silence, Ignatius's laugh echoed through the space, shaking Emir's

eardrums to the core.

"Ugh..."

'Fucker's about to pop my ears.'

"....Lord."

Ignatius understood Emir's call and quietened his laugh.

"You're way more interesting than I thought, young man... Isidore should get a team upgrade

soon!"

Emir let out a chuckle and said:

"That's fine. Even with the Lord's best, getting past Amanda's barriers would be an obsolete

task."

"Lyra you mean? Your AI companion?" Eldritch asked quietly.

"...Yes, Lord. I believe you asking Isidore would confirm it, as he has long since known about

her. Same for Lord Auric."

"True." Auric added from the side.

"..."

Isidore remained quiet as usual, creepily locking eyes with Emir.

Emir shook his head and turned around, his gaze sweeping over the rest until he stopped at

the Moonscribe's head.

"I have come here today to ask you all a simple thing...."

"A court retrial for the injustice that chanced my family a few days back."

".... You think I'm responsible?"

'This guy asks a lot of questions, doesn't he?'

Emir scoffed at Eldritch.

"Who else but you, Lord?" "Having not involved yourself doesn't distance you from the crime that occurred right under

your nose."

"Corruption to the highest degree."

"Not even accounting for the fact that your son was kicked out... No longer considered

family."

Eldritch raised his hand, subtly commanding Emir to pause.

"I've nothing to say over what transpired."

"....However! I shall vote for the retrial, not just to mend my family's mistakes but to also

thank you for taking care of my son."

'So he wants me to owe him to make sure that I take care of Elijah, huh....'

'Don't worry, mate. He'll be useful; I'll train him well.' He inwardly added with a snicker.

"I thank you, Lord." Emir said with a small bow.

After clapping his hands twice, the Moonscribe's head said:

"For those in agreement, say aye!"

|| ||

11

No one responded.

'As expected, I have to show my cards early.'

"My lords, I have come here today not only to ask you but to also warn you."

A loud cackle resounded as Ignatius spoke:

"And what might that be, young man?"

"Some in this room aren't loyal to UEF, and I have evidence to prove it." Emir answered.

Bang!

Both Ignatius and Auric smashed their hands down on their tables.

"WE'VE GOT TRAITORS?!"

"Quite now! Don't talk any further!"

'It isn't about the bomb, money bags, don't worry.'

Emir aired the baffled lord and greedy piggy bank and then looked back at Eldritch.

"...Are you threatening us, boy?"

"A threat? No... Just a piece of advice. If you all want to continue operating, then I must

inform you of the consequences of this event."

"WHO IS THE FUCKING TRAITOR, EMIR?!"

"I SAID STOP-"

Both of their voices were immediately snuffed out as the quiet man, Isidore, stood up from

his seat.

He then spoke, his voice low and dangerous, like a snake dripping with the most dangerous of

venoms:

"Quiet."

Auric, Ignatius, and Eldritch scoffed, relaxing in their seats.

Emir turned towards him.

"What do you think, Lord Isidore? Doesn't the saying, you can't have your cake and eat it too,

fit this situation quite nicely?"

"Quiet."

After letting out a soft chuckle, Emir shrugged his shoulders.

"Sure."

"Answer only when you are spoken to."

"Yes, Lord."

"Dirty laundry shouldn't be publicly aired out, don't you think?"

"Unless necessary, yes, Lord."

"The fact that my friend Ignatius had yet to know of any traitors shows something, does it

not?"

"It shows that the Elite and the UEF work under a very delicate balance and that a single wild knot like me could turn Earth upside down."

"Right... It's really unfortunate that you're smart; I never wished that my reports were wrong

before today."

"I have pride in myself, Lord."

'Too bad for you and your bastard child, my friend....'

"State your threat."

"As I said, Lord, I consider it advice-"

"Don't play with me, boy! I've dealt with many subjects before you... Don't think that you're

special!"

"But I am Lord... and you know that."

Isidore chuckled.

"...But the others don't, especially you, Ignatius; this big guy in front of you knows of

something that you didn't in the many years you stood as head!"

"A FUCKING EMBARRASSMENT!"

The scolded man stomped hard on the ground and stood up to defend himself, but Isidore's

words didn't stop:

"ALL YOU KNOW OF IS BATTLE! YET LOOK AT YOUR HOUSE! A DISGRACE!"

Isidore walked forward, stepping into the Moonscribe's domain.

"And you... ELDRITCH!"

"Will you scold your 'elders' too?" The man asked with a snicker.

"YES, I WILL!"

"You gave this fucker a nuke! I warned you, but you never listened... Now look at where it

brought us."

"He might be lying—"

"You know that he isn't! Now stay quiet!"

'This guy loves cutting people off.'

Emir inwardly commented while watching Isidore's silhouette walk past Auric, only leaving

him a tap on his shoulders as he returned to his domain.

"Now I say this for the last time..."

"State your threat!"