371 Athena and Guardians

In the lawn of a mansion, a stout middle-aged man stood in front of dozens of men and women dressed in red and black clothes. Their

Each of them auras that could've killed any normal resident.

Their killing intent was worse. It could scare away their peers into fleeing.

Cosa Brotherhood. Just like the shark tattoo on their cheeks, they ripped apart anyone and anyone in their paths.

Their current path needed not killing, but kidnapping.

"This is the last mission. Things will go well and we'll buy the Siloy Potion." Barbaroza addressed the senior members of Cosa brotherhood.

"As expected of leader. If not for your vision, this would've been impossible." His confidante praised him, setting a precedent.

"Yes. If boss isn't here to protect us, the Viper gang won't let us live. They're too overbearing." Another loyal supporter said.

His words caused the the expressions of others to change drastically.

A few days ago, Gnuc gang was obliterated by the Soprana gang. The enmity of these gangs was shorter than Viper and Cosa's.

Yet, they didn't leave behind a single gangster alive.

This was the result if their enemies got the Siloy potion and they didn't.

That's why…

"Yes, boss! Under your guidance, we'll get the potion and destroy the Viper gang."

"Long live Cosa Brotherhood!"

"Valos is ours! Boss will lead us to a golden age."

One by one, they started praising him and the gang.

Barbaroza's lips curled up and he raised his hand, signaling them to pause.

"Remember, we burnt our pockets to deal with the space awakener. No mistakes allowed. Or I'll kill the culprit's entire family by myself." His eyes glowed with intense killing intent.

"Y-Yes!"

"No worries. We've been preparing for weeks, there will be no mishaps." A long haired man stepped forward and said with a confident voice.

Beside him were two woman with piercings and tattoos all over their faces.

The three of them exuded the aura of level 7 and belonged to the top-echelon of the brotherhood.

"I'll leave it to you." Barbaroza was relieved.

But deep inside, he felt a growing sense of unease.

*** *** ***

In one of the slums of Valos, few men and women gathered.

They looked like your regular civilians and had no outstanding features about them whatsover.

However, their regulated breathing, standard posture, cautious stance and readiness to fight indicated they were anything but normal.

They didn't even sit as it might hinder their escape.

These not so ordinary people were divided into two camps.

A woman with purple hair and too ordinary face was standing on one side. Behind her were the members of the group. Clearly, she was the leader.

On the other side, the members lined up uniformly, but there was no one leading them.

"Info." A fat man from the opposite side answered and shut up.

"…." Violet didn't ask anymore. She knew exactly that people in their line of profession spoke only what could be spoken and skipped the rest.

Fifty seconds passed since the agreed time and the members of Violet group were getting impatient.

"With this discipline, do you want to you call yourself 'Shadow Guardians'? Discipline is everything!" An old man said with rage.

Disciple, ah! Evander must be proud.

"And you call yourself Athena group but can't even tackle this mission by yourself! Bah! You guys are not only useless, but also shameless. Madam Athena must be disappointed in you." The fat man cursed without mercy.

The expressions of the Athena agents contorted as they glared daggers at the fat man.

"Do you really think we need you?" The old man growled.

"You need us, and we need you. Everyone knows this. Yet you are spouting nonsense. Quit living in denial or even when your wife cucks you, you'll keep denying it." Fat man's mouth was like a machine gun. He showed absolutely no respect to elderly.

"Y-You! H-How did you know?" The old man's face paled and he nearly coughed out blood.

"Ah?! It's true? Hahaha!" The fat man was surprised at first, then burst out laughing.

The Shadow Guardians covered their mouths and held in their laughter. They didn't want to aggravate the situation.

"…" Violet glared at the fat man causing him to stop.

"It's not like I'm afraid of you or anything. Your attitude didn't piss me off, that's why." He didn't forget to emphasize that he was fearless.

"…Fatty, one of the days, you'll die." A sonorous voice sounded causing fat man to laugh again.

"Me dying? Pfft! Who's that bastard? I'll show you what's dea—." As he turned around, the fat man's face froze.

Then without hesitation, he bowed 90 degrees. "Welcome, boss! They've slandered you and cursed you with words I dare not repeat. I've risked my life and defended you."

Raising his head, the fat man began to cry. Rubbing the tears off his face, he pointed to the old man. "T-That old fellow, he is using his age as an excuse to oppress the weak me. Boss, please help me get justice."

"…."

"Boss?" The fat man raised his head and was slapped on his head. "Ouch."

"Your acting needs improvement. Use them properly." The bald man said with a serious expression.

"Yes, yes."

"Why are you late?" Violet asked offhandedly.

"Assisted on the planetoid." He said indifferently. He could help out the army anonymously. He had the contacts. "Sequoia flowers came up again. 1,653 level 6s died."

Violet's expression turned heavy.

"Did you find anything useful about them? Their origins? Or where they are stored at?" She asked eagerly.

"Nope." Seth shook his head in disappointment. "I've had people check up even asteroids until the Abyssal patrol range. We have no clues."

"…Let's talk about this mission." Violet crossed her arms and said. "The Siloy potion will be sold. Violence is already on the rise due to the potion."

Seth's expression changed only lightly upon hearing the potion.

Siloy potion could help one advance in their level. Even high awakeners could progress at least one sub-level.

As a dual awakener with two peak level 8s, this potion should've been very temping to him.

If it was the old him, he would've done everything in his power to get his hand son it.

But after joining Shadow Guardians and learning of the 'Miracle potion' created by a mysterious person in Shadow Guardians, he had no interest in Siloy potion.

Not to mention, it was made by Abyssals themselves. There's no way he could trust it.

Taking a deep breath, Seth addressed everyone.

"We're very close to finding out why they're selling such dangerous, yet precious potion. This might be a huge conspiracy. So, fellow humans, regardless of our organization, we must work together.

Now, the plan is…"