Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 227 The Art of Bullzhit

"Mission…? What mission?"

Even with the violent blast of wind flowing through the airstrip, the air of confusion persisted between Rhys's group and the people on the helicopter. Even Talia, who was expecting a lot of things to happen in this exchange, was completely taken aback by Rhys's words.

Mission?

Was Rhys actually in Typhon's for a secret mission?

"Yes," Rhys did not seem fazed at all with the confusion and even threw the two corpses he was dragging to the helicopter, causing the people to once again point all of their high-caliber weapons at Rhys, "I would like to report that Operation: Typhon is successful."

"..." Talia's face slightly winced as she heard Rhys's words. But of course, she tried her best not to react at all and just focused on maintaining a neutral expression, just letting Rhys handle whatever it is he was doing.

As for Edissa, her eyes were just as wide as they could be as she stared at the large helicopter; her broken claws, slightly showing themselves as she thought it was some sort of large insect mount.

"Operation… Typhon? Who—Wait, you're Rhys Wilder!" Despite the other people on the helicopter stopping him, one of the men jumped out as soon as he realized who Rhys was, "What… is going on here? And who are these—wait, these are Nobles!"

"Yes," Rhys looked at the headless corpses of Mike and Art, "Michael Curry and Arthur Adams. I would really like to talk to your superior officer, Sir."

"Well…" The man slightly hesitated to speak as he once again stared at the corpses, "...I am the superior officer available, name's Brenson. We are here to deliver the supplies—wait, sorry. Just wait a minute. What the fuck is going on again? And why… is a monster following you?"

"If you are the highest-ranking officer, then I suppose you'll be receiving my report, Sir?" Rhys saluted Brenson, standing straight and his silver eyes filled with respect, causing Brenson to also collect and fix himself, "Shall we talk in the Warden's office?"

"Right… how's the Warden? I was told he was sick by the last people who delivered the supplies. And the damage we saw, does that have something to do with your mission…?" Brenson took in a small gulp. This was obviously very much above his pay-grade, and yet he could not help but get excited since he was being involved in something big.

"Mcconnell's dead," Rhys then nodded his head at the corpses, "Mike assassinated him more than a week ago, as soon as the last supply team left."

"What!?" Brenson once again took in a small gulp as he looked at his team, who just looked even more confused than before they landed, "We need to report this!"

"You should," Rhys agreed without any hesitation, "Also, contact the mayor of Old York — he is the one who gave me the mission. Tell him that Operation: Typhon is successful."

"Mayor of Old York…? You mean Presidential Candidate Smith?"

"...Yes," Rhys was slightly surprised by Brenson's words, but did not make himself obvious as he turned around, "Then, while your people are returning to the island, shall we talk about my mission?"

"That—"

"You don't have to be suspicious about anything, you can bring all of your team if you want to," Rhys let out a small chuckle and shrugged before glancing at Talia,

"If I wanted to do harm, you wouldn't have even been able to land. Talia Talcott would have brought your plane down and put you under the sea. If you want, we can discuss it here, but it would be better for you to come inside so that you can look at the situation yourself. I mean, if you don't want to, then I will have to wait for another superior officer to check on—"

"No, it's fine," Brenson cleared his throat and once again stood up straight as he glanced back at his team, "Allen, you're with me. The rest of you, go back to the bay and report what happened… and also contact Presidential candidate Smith and tell him about Rhys Wilder."

"Are you sure about this, Brenson?"

"Yes," Brenson just nodded, "And Rhys Wilder has a point, we would already be dead if he wanted to. Not… not that you would really kill us, right? You only kill Nobles?"

"I've killed lots of people, Officer Brenson," Rhys answered without any hesitation before gesturing to Brenson to follow him, "But only because I was ordered to."

"What… about Sylas West?" Brenson nervously followed Rhys, once again trying his best not to look nervous in front of him.

"That was not part of my mission," Rhys shook his head, "That's why I'm in prison, Sir."

"R… right, right," Brenson cleared his throat before glancing at Talia and Edissa, "...And why is there a monster following you again?"

"Which one are you talking about, the cenleon or Talia?"

"The cenleon."

"You'll find out soon," Rhys let out a small chuckle. The walk inside the prison was relevantly quiet, but as soon as Brenson saw the corpses scattered everywhere, he and his companion could not help but raise their guards.

"What… what is all of this, Rhys Wilder!?" Try as Brenson and his companion might to escape, it was already too late as they were already inside; the gate to the airstrip, already closed shut behind them.

"There was a riot between two gangs," Rhys explained, "Of course, I instigated it since… it was my mission to assassinate Michael Curry and Arthur Adams."

"You… involved innocent people just for your mission!?" Brenson raised his voice.

"With all due respect, Sir — all of these people are criminals," Rhys shrugged as he pointed at one of the corpses close to them, "That's Nathan Lake, found guilty of murder in 3 accounts. That one is Alicia Locke, found guilty of rape of minor children in 12 accounts."

"That… then what about the monsters? How do you explain that thing?" Brenson nervously glanced at Edissa again.

"You mean them?"

"...Them?" Brenson blinked a couple of times before looking to where Rhys was pointing, only to see several more cenleons neatly arranging the bodies as soon as they passed by one of the prison halls, "What in the—there's more of them!? Are they actually eating the bodies!?"

Brenson and his companion once again raised their guards up, only for Rhys to pat him on the shoulder and gesture to him to relax.

"Don't, they are the only innocent people in this prison," Rhys sighed, "Mike, Michael — the Noble with the dark skin I surrendered to you earlier has been digging a Hole for months now, unbeknownst to Mcconnell and the other staff — they're all dead, by the way."

"What…!?" Brenson and his companion could not help but just carefully approach the hall; their steps, as quiet as they could be as they tried getting closer to the cenleons.

"Hm. I happened to save their pack when Talia and I dove through the Hole and met them, you don't have to worry, they're very… friendly. Just don't get too close."

"R… right."

And as Brenson and his companion were completely perplexed and mesmerized at the situation they suddenly found themselves in, Talia subtly pulled Rhys away to talk to him.

"Operation: Typhon…?" Talia whispered, "Couldn't you come up with a better mission title?"

"As long as they believe it," Rhys just shrugged at Talia as he glanced at her.

"And are you sure we can trust this… Mayor?"

"Who knows," Rhys smiled at Talia, "But he's always used me as a political pawn. So, if he doesn't want to be seen collaborating with a criminal for a massacre…

…then he better make up a good story."

"Heh... You fucking manipulative bastard."