Chapter 844 Hunting for Shade (1)  

The following day, early in the morning, Erik received a call from Rebecca.

She asked him to meet at the building's cafeteria. Based on what she said, it was impossible to get lost or be late.

Erik and June made their way to the agreed-upon meeting place without wasting time. They couldn't leave a bad impression, could they?

The two arrived, not knowing what to expect by that meeting, but eager to know what the Fierce Lioness took from her magical hat.

Rebecca was waiting for them, her expression a mixture of earnestness and a hint of nervousness, which seemed out of place for someone who had faced as much as she had.

Alongside her were two people, and it was clear she was nervous because of the duo.

Erik and June settled into their seats at the table, which was spread with an assortment of sweets and beverages for breakfast.

The array before them was a delightful sight, featuring freshly baked croissants that exuded a warm, buttery aroma, bowls brimming with vibrant, fresh fruit, and pastries dusted with powdered sugar.

Alongside these treats stood carafes of freshly squeezed orange juice and steaming pots of coffee.

Before the conversation could even take a turn towards the first topic, June, unable to restrain his enthusiasm at the sight of the feast, reached out.

<He wasn't happy about yesterday, yet it looks easy for him to act like a fool. >

With little regard for formalities, he began sampling the spread with a gusto that was both infectious and comical. He tore into a croissant, its flaky layers crumbling delightfully with each bite, then followed it with a handful of berries.

June's eagerness was clear in his wide eyes and the pleased hums he made as he moved from one item to the next.

Erik and the others watched with a bemused smile playing on his lips at June's enthusiasm.

"Thank you for coming," Rebecca stepped aside to introduce two individuals Erik had not encountered before.

"These are Ramon and Camille. You didn't get the chance to meet them when the Heniate attacked New Alexandria, but they were there."

"Ah, a pleasure to meet you." Ramon nodded while Camille smiled.

"I heard a great deal about you, Erik Romano."

"Were those rumors good or bad?"

Camille smiled even more. "It depends. If you are on the receiving end, it's definitely bad."

"Ah. You heard THOSE rumors, I get it," Erik observed the woman.

Camille, despite her youth, carried an air of intensity about her. She was in her early thirties, with sharp, discerning eyes that seemed to miss nothing.

Her hair was a wild cascade of curls, framing her face in a way that stressed her sharp features and the slight, almost imperceptible smirk that hinted at her confidence.

Her posture was relaxed, but there was an underlying tension, like a coiled spring, suggesting that her calm demeanor belied a ferocious nature.

"A pleasure," she grinned while giving a handshake to Erik.

Ramon, instead, was an older man, his age clear in the lines etched into his face and the silver threads running through his once blond hair.

He stood with a dignified bearing, his eyes reflecting years of experience and a calm that had likely been hard-earned.

He too extended a hand to Erik, his grip firm. "Good to meet you."

"Camille and Ramon will collaborate with us on this investigation," Rebecca said, her gaze shifting between Erik and the eager June.

The announcement brought a momentary pause to the meal. "The two works together, but it's actually Ramon that will help us in finding Shade."

"That's cool and everything, but I need to get a better grasp on this situation. What kind of help can he offer?" Erik asked.

"Well… he…" Rebecca was interrupted by the man himself.

"Let me take care of that," Ramon said, his gaze meeting Erik's.

He then turned to include June in the conversation, ensuring both men understood the situation.

"I was a thug when I was young. In my years in the underworld," Ramon said, his voice steady with the weight of memories.

"I operated as a low-level thug, a peripheral figure among the ranks of one of the many criminal organizations that thrived in Etrium. Despite my limited role, I possessed a significant skill in observation and remembering details that many overlooked."

Ramon paused, reflecting on the path that had led him here.

"This ability, while it never elevated me beyond my subordinate status, allowed me to accumulate a vast and detailed knowledge of the internal dynamics of the underworld, which I still remember today."

His explanation provided Erik and June with insight into his qualifications, and made it clear that Ramon's knowledge might be beneficial to locate their target.

"The boss told me you are searching for Shade," Ramon said.

"You believe in his existence?" Erik asked.

"I do. My belief stems not from rumors, but because of something I heard in the past, and saw with my own eyes the transformations that the underworld underwent when rumors about him started. But let's not delve into this for now. The point is that I know a place where we could start our investigation."

"What's this place supposed to be?" Erik asked.

"It's an old warehouse near the slums," Ramon said, his voice carrying a tone of solemnity as he delved into the memories of a dark chapter of the criminal underworld's intricate network at Nokisi Point.

"Back in my days within the underworld, the warehouse served as a distribution point for contraband and a meeting place for transactions among various criminal factions. It was a den of illegal activities, well-known to the bad guys but off the grid for the authorities."

Ramon's eyes reflected a blend of nostalgia and regret. Though they did well to convey the significance of this place in the past.

"This warehouse represents more than just a physical structure; it's a symbol of the underworld's complex operations before Shade took power. It thrived for a long time, making it a vital part of our operations back then."