Rune System: The Crimson Knight

CHAPTER TWENTY

“Begin the transmission.”

The software program beeped once as it recognized Michael Craig’s instructions. Then, enveloping the dark room with blue lasers from tiny projectors in the ceiling, it started a holographic sequence right in the middle of the billionaire’s office.

“Connecting…” the program droned a moment later in a soft, feminine tone. “Recipients reached. Call initiated.”

Michael had painstakingly perfected his software and code design to a point far above most people in his field of work. So much so that when three holograms appeared before him, they seemed very realistic and even tangible. Alas, he had no time to bask in the glory of his brilliant invention—there were more urgent matters at hand.

“Judgeman, present,” declared a man with a large, dark, hooded cloak that shrouded his identity.

“Black Pearl, present,” the second hologram followed, standing taller and also wearing a flowing hooded outfit to hide his features.

“Hi, there,” Valeria Salazar simply said, throwing in a cheerful wave for good measure. Unlike the others and their heavy, discreet clothing, she appeared in a revealing, silk nightdress that did nothing to hide her voluptuous figure.

Michael’s eyes shifted from hologram to hologram, then he placed his head in his hands as he groaned.

“I’ve told you countless times that this communication channel is completely inaccessible,” he said, his tone exasperated. “No one can decode or hack the safety measures and firewalls I’ve put in place. So there’s no need for the silly code names or the ambiguous outfits.”

“And yet, one can never be too careful,” Judgeman countered. His voice, clear and nasal, seemed authoritative despite slightly succumbing to aging. “Or do you think, Sea Snake, that you’re the only one who’s gifted in the control of technology?”

Michael rolled his eyes. “Even so, it’ll take several years before anyone can knock down a fraction of—” He stopped himself as a frown took over his features. “Hold on. Sea Snake? That’s my code name? Why the hell is that my code name?”

“I like it,” Valeria remarked as she took a seat, crossing her slender legs and showing off an enticing amount of her thighs. “It suits your nature perfectly. I motion for permanence.”

“I second that motion,” Black Pearl approved with a deep, steely tone and a sharp African accent. “Sea Snake is now very much official.”

“I wasn’t even allowed to pick a name,” Michael complained with another groan. He turned to Valeria, who beamed sweetly at him. “And what the hell do you mean by that?”

“By what, love?”

“‘It suits your nature’, you said. What’s that supposed to mean?”

“What do you think?” she asked, returning the question to him. “It’s the exact reason this meeting’s being summoned in the first place, thanks to your slithering, sneaky ways.”

“That’s absurd, Valeria.”

“Moon Goddess,” Judgeman corrected firmly. “You will address her as such. There’ll be no mentioning of actual names during this meeting.”

Michael was beginning to lose his mind. “First off, that’s an outrageous code name. Even for her. Secondly, enough with the unnecessary secrecy already. She isn’t even trying to hide her identity like the rest of you, for crying out loud.”

“The Moon Goddess has her ways to worm out of suspicion if caught,” Black Pearl reminded. “With her power of Compulsion, she can simply deny being part of this gathering and no one would question her any further. The rest of us lack that privilege.”

“Yeah, no shit.” Michael faced Valeria with a grimace. “Speaking of which, how’d the party go? Did you manage to squeeze out every penny from those poor guests of yours like always?”

Valeria chuckled. “Those sorry bastards are anything but poor, and you know that. Also, yes, it went pretty well. My Compulsion worked much better than I expected. You should attend the next one, you know. I can’t wait to see how much I can squeeze from your oversized pockets.”

“Oh, go to hell.”

“Enough frolicking,” Judgeman snapped, cutting in before Valeria could respond. “That’s not why this meeting was called. We’re here to address more significant issues, like the one the Sea Snake has kept from us.”

Michael sighed as he rose from his chair behind his elaborate glass desk, loosening his tie and folding his sleeves in the process. “I didn’t keep the Crimson Knight’s return a secret. I mean, I was going to tell you all eventually.”

“Of course,” Valeria supplied sarcastically. “After you single-handedly help him to retrieve his artifacts. So that you alone will get all the glory when he frees the Dark Queen.”

“Again, Val—” he cleared his throat, “Moon Goddess, that’s absurd. Besides, he sought me out. He found me first. Doesn’t that mean something?”

“It means you should’ve immediately informed the Order,” Black Pearl said, his tone expressing disappointment. “Together, we would’ve arranged for his arrival. Instead, you took matters into your hands and even attempted to purchase Moon Goddess’s hotel at the last minute, just to accommodate him.”

“The sly, sly thing,” Valeria drawled with a cunning smile. “Luckily, I arrived just in time to whisk His Handsomeness away.”

Michael frowned in confusion. “What do you mean? Isn’t he in the grand suite?”

“Of course not. I couldn’t leave a deliciously beautiful man like that by himself. I brought him home with me, to my mansion on the coast.”

Michael’s eyes widened as realization made his stomach lurch. “You slept with the Crimson Knight?!”

Valeria waved her hand lazily with a scoff. “Come on, now. Reel in your imaginations, Sea Snake. That’s crazy. Actually, he slept with me, and it was absolutely glorious.”

Just as Michael looked like he was about to ram his head into a wall, Judgeman carried on with an indifferent tone.

“Moon Goddess is old enough to know when she’s playing with literal fire, so I have nothing to contribute in that regard.”

“Indeed,” Black Pearl agreed. “At least, we know where he is at the moment. Meanwhile, since he’s already in Peru, we can assume he has begun his quest.”

“Or he’s about to,” Michael pointed out. “By the way, why can’t we just bring all the artifacts to him? I mean, we know what they are, where they are. It’ll save time and energy, wouldn’t you all agree?”

Judgeman released a deep sigh. “Despite being the newest member of the Order, you’ve been part of us for twelve years, Sea Snake. And, just like the rest of us, you should know why we can’t do that.”

“I think his brain needs a little rewiring,” Valeria joked, placing a finger on her temple for emphasis. “Too many loose connections and short circuits up there.”

Without giving her a glance, Michael displayed a middle finger in Valeria’s direction as a response. It was Black Pearl who decided to take up the mantle of explaining.

“It is the Crimson Knight’s given duty—his chosen destiny—to free the Dark Queen. It’s right there in the prophecy, we’ve all seen it, and it never stated that anyone should make his quest easier. As adherents of the Queen’s doctrine, we can only assist whenever necessary. But only he can successfully retrieve the items.”

“Our form of assistance,” Judgeman added, “is to smoothen his path in this realm. Grant him access to the crucial resources and information he may need for his mission.”

“Oh, our friend here has been ahead of us in that regard as well,” Valeria quipped as she waved a card between her fingers. “He already gave the general the black card of the Order. And it nearly caused a ruckus in my hotel.”

“Hmm.” One could presume Judgeman wore a scowl underneath his hood. “We will address your transgressions later, Sea Snake. For now, let’s focus on the artifacts.”

“That’s easy,” Valeria said with a bored yawn. “The Blood Amulet has been underneath the Larco Museum in Pueblo Libre, in a hidden cave system that is brimming with ancient magic. I’ve been keeping an eye on the place ever since I moved here, but that isn’t what worries me.”

Still keeping his head down, Judgeman turned to Valeria. “Then what worries you?”

“The Crimson Knight,” she replied. “If the legends are to be believed, then the original herald died centuries ago. This one’s clearly a different man who was basically given the powers of a war god. I’m not so sure he’s ready for this yet.”

“The legends are to be believed,” Judgeman said with conviction. “And the Queen must have a solid reason for choosing him. So we must not doubt her decision, but support it. He will be ready.”

He turned to Black Pearl on his left. “After the Crimson Knight recovers the amulet, he should be heading to West Africa for the Dragon Armor. Any news on that?”

“Last I heard,” Black Pearl began, “was that the armor had ended up in the hands of a revolutionary leader in southern Nigeria. Because of the vow we’ve made, I can’t interfere and retrieve it from the mad man. And even if I wanted to, reports reaching me claim he’s mastered the powers of the armor now, which would make things very difficult.”

“Then he’d make a good opponent for the general,” Judgeman concluded. “Let him handle that. For now, you must go back home to prepare for his arrival.”

“Of course. I will do just that.”

Judgeman placed his gloved hands behind him as he continued, “As for the Scarlet Blade, the royal family in Cambodia had been in possession of the sword for the past century or so. Until recently, that is, when a Swiss multi-millionaire bought the weapon to keep as a collection in his private bunker.”

“I’m pretty sure I would’ve outbidded him if I were there,” Michael mumbled.

Judgeman ignored him. “In the meantime, I’ll send my nephew to our manor in Switzerland, where he can monitor the sword, as well as begin preparations for the Crimson Knight’s incoming.”

“Well, then. Seems like everyone has their role,” Michael noted, rubbing his hands together. “What’s mine?”

A chill ran down his spine as Judgeman finally faced him, tilting his head upward slightly to reveal a gray beard, a pointed nose, and glowing green irises. “You’ve already done your part, Sea Snake. And we thank you for receiving the Queen’s herald when he came to you. But your offense remains glaring, and you cannot go unpunished for it. Therefore, you are temporarily suspended from the Order with immediate effect, until further notice.”

“Seconded,” Black Pearl contributed promptly.

“Sorry, darling,” Valeria offered, hardly apologetic. “It’s nothing personal, but you had this one coming. I agree with the verdict.”

“Motion carried, then,” Judgeman finalized. “This meeting is over.”

As the three holograms instantly shimmered out of existence, Michael was left standing alone with his hands deep in his pockets, staring in space for a while.

“You will regret this,” he finally muttered, neon-blue eyes radiating with rage. “I’ll make sure you all will regret this.”