Extra's Descent

Arriving back in the human domain, Brandon headed home with Belle first. Along with him was Carl.

Amelia held Aurelia's hand, and they bid farewell, taking a taxi.

For the rest of the officers, they gave Belle some time off to spend with her brother—taking the deceased's body for further inspection, and to follow up a report to the Imperial Army.

Brandon gazed up. The sun was about to rise.

Despite being indifferent about everything, relief washed over him.

He had survived this encounter, saving Belle, and killing Lumian in the process.

"Not bad."

Is all he could say for himself.

But he knew it wasn't the end of it.

Regardless, a win's a win.

Brandon and Belle called for a taxi and got in.

Brandon rested his head on his hand, taking in the view of the city.

He knew what Belle wanted to talk about.

But before Belle could speak, Brandon nudged his chin at the taxi driver.

Belle seemed to understand what he was trying to say.

'Anyone in the city could be part of the syndicate.'

They had to be careful.

And so, silence filled the taxi until they got home.

They arrived at the apartment, the early morning darkness still present.

Belle flicked the switch, and light filled the surroundings.

It was quiet. It seems like their mother was still asleep. After all, it was still 5 AM.

Brandon walked towards the couch and slumped down.

Belle filled her glass with water and gulped it down.

Then, she put the glass down and looked at Brandon.

She opened her mouth.

"Care to explain?"

"I was just about to."

Brandon began to elaborate.

"First of all, if you think what I'm doing is dangerous, I'll say that it is."

"Then why—"

"Because I'm the son of the late Field Marshal Omar Locke."

"...."

Technically, he was.

He seemed to have gotten his point across. After all, he knew Belle the best.

Belle was as much of a risk taker as her father.

Brandon took that opportunity to mention their late father's name.

Belle gently bit her lip and breathed out a deep sigh.

"Haaa…. What am I gonna do with you?"

Brandon shrugged his shoulders.

"So, what are you planning then?"

This was the first step.

He had to reveal it.

No more lies.

Belle would always be on his side.

In all the timelines, the other Brandon had failed.

And so, he had to do things differently.

Before he responded, Brandon stood up and approached his bag, pretending to get something inside.

Then, he pulled away and revealed the item for Belle to see.

"This."

"....A mask?"

It was the Mirage Mask.

"Belle, I know it might sound crazy, but…."

He paused, allowing the tension to sink in.

Belle's eyes narrowed and thoroughly scanned the mask.

Brandon continued.

"I'm Moriarty."

Brandon began to explain. At first, Belle was in disbelief. However, as Brandon explained his side of the story, Belle listened attentively.

"So this whole time…."

"Yeah."

"And that mask can seal your identity?"

"Only if you hadn't seen me holding it."

"Ah. But… Okay, first of all. What the hell have you been doing?"

Of course, he omitted the part about him stealing it. Belle didn't need to know that.

However, Belle was still his sister. Of course she would be worried.

"I'm still alive. The Moriarty moniker had died down, and because of my actions, the Wraithbound known as Francis Osborn was dead."

"...."

"I did it all for this country. Are you gonna berate me for that?"

"No, but…."

"Belle, I'm strong. You know that. I may be your younger brother, but I'm also my own person. Are you gonna keep on treating me like a child?"

"...."

"Have some faith in me."

Belle hesitated. It seemed to have been too much for her at the moment.

"So your father's blood really runs inside of you."

A voice suddenly cut through. The two siblings flicked their heads towards the source of the voice. There, they could see their mother—who had just woken up from her slumber, leaning on the doorframe.

"I understand where you're coming from, Brandon. You seemed to have matured a lot."

Then, Brianna walked towards him and held his shoulders firmly.

She continued.

"I won't stop you. But please promise me one thing…."

"Mom!"

Belle suddenly screamed.

Brianna looked at Belle and opened her mouth.

"He's a year younger than you, Belle. And look at you. You've been putting yourself in danger this whole time. Are you really in a position to scold him?"

"...."

"I know we've just lost your father. And to be honest, it pains me to see my two children walking in the same path as him. But you see, your father's tenacity… It was the reason I fell for him."

"...."

"It was unfortunate. But that comes with the pride of a military man. I knew what I was getting into when I married him. I haven't moved on, honestly. But still…."

"Okay, Mom."

Belle seemed to understand what their mother was getting to.

The family continued their conversation. By the time they finished, the sun had fully come up.

And so, they enjoyed their breakfast.

"You're moving out, right?"

Brianna—who had just finished her toast, said.

"Have you found a place to stay?"

"Yeah."

Brandon nodded.

"Do you need any money?"

"No, it's okay mom. I have my ways."

"Ah, right. That company you've invested in. That's amazing, you know? I've heard how expensive Deus Company's stocks are. To think you've invested in such a company before it boomed."

"Actually…. I'm its CEO now."

"...."

"...."

He dropped a bombshell.

"Yeah, so we don't have to worry about any financial matters."

Ever since Brandon had given the blueprints for the shiftporter, Charles Deus had fully relinquished his position as the CEO.

Deus was only the CEO in name.

The real CEO…..

"Is me."

*

Belle and Brianna continued their meal. Brandon walked towards the balcony and retrieved his phone.

He called a number.

The call connected, and Brandon opened his mouth.

"Yo, Deus."

—Haha. I knew it…! You're alive…!

"Did Zed tell you?"

—No. But I had an idea.

"Alright."

Brandon began to debrief on their next course of action.

"I'll need you to lay low for a while. The two of us will finally infiltrate the syndicate."

—Why do you need me?

"I'll be infiltrating under the Moriarty moniker. I'll need you to come with me to back up my credentials."

—Ah.

After all, Charles Deus was quite known in the syndicate by now.

"I'll start preparing today. Do so as well on your side. We'll start the operation next week."

—Understood, Sir Locke.

"Alright."

The call ended there.

Then, he called another number.

"Zed."

—Is it time?

"It is."

Brandon began to explain the entire time to Zed.

—Are you sure this will succeed?

"Trust me."

—Alright. But it's not easy to get the attention of the other heads. However, there's an auction that's about to take place in two weeks. All of the heads will be attending, and that includes me.

"I see."

An auction.

How interesting.

They then agreed that Brandon and Deus would participate in the auction, invited by Zed.

After conversing for a while, the call ended.

It was time for his next course of action.

"Moving out."

…..And living with Amelia for the time being.