章節 43: Interloper

After Indra voiced his reasons for refusal, the room fell into another tense silence.

At least it did for a moment, before the loud laughter of a man suddenly echoed throughout the room.

Keran, Indra, and Enyo all whirled around looking for the source while Ayame let out a frustrated growl as she cracked her throne's armrest with her hands.

"The little vampire has quite the backbone! Oh I'd forgotten just how resolute your kind can be!"

No matter how much Indra searched, he could not discover where the voice of the man was coming from.

"I didn't think he would still be alive..." Enyo muttered.

"You know him?" Indra asked.

The bewitching poltergeist nodded, and Ayame finally took it upon herself to name the mysterious intruder.

"Ja'Zaki! Will you finally cease your spying only after I have pulled your spine from your back?!"

Suddenly, the shadows at Ayame's feet rose up to reveal a very tall dark elf man.

His skin was a light grey color, while his hair was a silvery white that was tied into a short ponytail.

He wore a simple black tactical outfit that consisted of a sleeveless black shirt that was adorned with various small blades on the sides.

The dark elf's golden eyes shined with a humorous light as he stared back into the seething eyes of Ayame.

"You don't enjoy my surprise visits? I had thought you would have long come to enjoy my presence."

"I enjoy them like a whore enjoys pregnancy."She replied pointedly.

Ja'Zaki merely rolled his eyes before turning around to stand in front of Indra.

"By the dark gods... You really are alive, brat."

Indra's eyes became unfriendly and the man in front of him merely laughed.

"You're Dhalia's child alright! You have that same unfriendly glare on your face that she used to wear so proudly!"

"Why does that not move me in the slightest...?"

"Ha! And you have your father's tongue as well!"

Finally, Enyo took it upon herself to make introductions. "Indra, this is Lord Ja'Zaki Ssri, he is ruler of the dark elves and was your mother's master."

Unsurprisingly, that new information did nothing to lessen Indra's annoyance, yet Ja'Zaki seemed to like this turn of events even more.

"How many times have I told you not to spy on me!? Do you not have your own lands to rule!?"

The dark elf shrugged, clearly unbothered by Ayame's fury. "It's a good thing I did decide to come today, or you would have blundered something monumental."

He began to circle Indra and a smile armed across his face to indicate that he liked what he was seeing.

"He's not like you, or even Alucard for that matter. He is not meant to serve an army or even lead one, he's liable to leave all of his men for dead!"

Indra didn't want to admit it, but that was a fairly astute observation.

If he was left in charge of others that he did not value, he would undoubtedly leave them all behind to save himself.

'Would you leave me behind, Indra?' Enyo suddenly asked.

'If you continue to ask silly questions, I just might.'

Enyo rolled her eyes as she tried to put on a displeased expression.

Indra payed her no mind as he was certain that Enyo already knew that he would not leave her no matter what.

She had already long become an existence that he simply could not do without.

Ja'Zaki suddenly stopped circling Indra and looked him directly in his eyes.

"You're like me, and like your mother. You shine the brightest when you're alone in the dark, and are free to act however you see fit."

Ayame finally realized what was going on and she immediately stood up from her throne. "Wait a minute, bastard! He is betrothed to my daughter so don't even think of-"

"Or what?"

Ja'Zaki's tone suddenly became terribly unfriendly and he released a bit of his aura, making the air 100 times heavier and giving off the feeling of a promised death.

'Quasi god realm...!'

Indra realized that the man who'd been rambling around madly was actually much more powerful than he'd initially thought.

Ayame who was only at the sovereign realm could do nothing but gnash her teeth as she came face to face with the aura of a superior predator.

"I like you pup, I really do. But make no mistake, this man is practically family. Should you attempt to come between us again, you will not have to worry about being hunted by the humans."

Ja'Zaki did not finish his threat but he hardly needed to.

Ayame was so insulted she was trembling and her face had long become an unhealthy shade of red.

But despite her anger, she did not dare to say another word.

Satisfied, Ja'Zaki turned back to Indra who had been silently observing this entire spectacle.

"Come with me, vampire. Anyone with brains can see that you are a born assassin, and there is no better teacher than I to show you how to hone such talent."

"But make no mistake..." Ja'Zaki suddenly said.

"Just like you, I also have no problem cutting people loose when they become troublesome. I am offering guidance not a safe haven. The minute I feel as though your prowess is lacking, or you one into one of the heroes before you're ready, I will let you die without a second thought."

Suddenly, the dark elf retracted all of his pressure and his bubbly and friendly demeanor returned.

"So what do you think? Are you interested?"

For once, Indra's face showed a small calculating smile.