[SHADOW SLAVE] / Clash With Fate

Sunny pressed his arms against the capsule, then lifted himself and looked at Nephis with a nervous smile. Nephis was also looking at him, her eyes casting white flames.

"Ah, I think we have dinner with the others. We shouldn't be late."

Sunny jumped out of the capsule and moved toward Nephis to take the suit. But she grabbed him by the shoulder firmly, and when their gazes met, she spoke.

"You have to explain yourself to Cassie, Kai, and Effie. You're hours late."

"Don't worry, they'll understand. By the way, are we going to talk to them about our plan or not? They're very trustworthy—I can even guarantee it."

"We'll see after dinner."

Nephis' expression softened, and with a smile, she handed him the suit and left the basement. Sunny wore a white shirt with small embroideries and decorations, then put on the black pinstriped suit over it.

When he went up to the ground floor, he saw Cassie, Kai, and Effie sitting in the guest room, drinking tea that Nephis had prepared for them to wait for Sunny. Sunny smiled awkwardly when he saw them. Cassie raised her head before the others, then spoke even before they sensed Sunny.

"Sunny, why are you late?"

Effie lifted her head from the food she was eating, while Kai looked at the door without any change in his expression, except that his eyes were joyful.

"Nothing, I just went to hunt a Fallen Tyrant. But the bastard was tougher than I expected—which is actually a very good thing. But it made me late searching for him, and the fight took some time, and the way back was somewhat long, so I pushed myself to the limit to reach the sanctuary and return to the waking world."

"And why did you go to the Dream Realm in the first place? You'd have spent at least eight hours there before you could come back."

"Leave Dofus alone, Cassie. He's crazy from the start—why bother tiring ourselves talking to him? We'd better just go eat now!"

Cassie tried to refute Effie's words, but Kai stood up from the couch, and Effie followed him with her wheelchair. Sunny followed them with a smile on his face and started chatting with Kai.

Neph followed them, shaking her shoulders in disappointment with them, and Cassie followed, muttering something about despair and stupidity. After they left Sunny's house, they passed through the garden and then outside.

Ahead of them was a modern PTV vehicle standing there. Kai headed to the front seats where the steering wheel was, and Sunny sat beside him. Cassie, Nephis, and Effie sat in the back. Effie began talking with Cassie, while Nephis remained silent.

"So, Kai, you have True name, don't you, Nightingale?"

"You know then? Honestly, it feels like the Spell was mocking me by giving me that name… Do you know that Effie has one too?"

"Yes, I know—raised by wolves. What a scary name, fitting for a savage like her."

Kai and Sunny laughed while they continued moving toward their destination. They passed through houses, upscale neighborhoods, and high skyscrapers that served as headquarters for companies, government offices, or Legacy clans. Then, at one corner of these skyscrapers, they found what they were looking for.

It was a small gray building with a luxurious feel. Its glass windows were tinted, letting out only a dim yellow light, and soothing music rose from inside.

"Is this our destination?"

Kai looked at him with a suggestive smile.

"It's a very upscale restaurant. Even a high-ranking citizen can't afford the cost of a meal here—but for Awakened, they can eat here whenever they want. This restaurant isn't only distinguished for its luxury; it's also very good for couples."

"You don't mean?!"

"Yes, exactly what you're thinking, Sunny. Honestly, you should be bolder. Nephis isn't going to take the initiative—you have to."

Sunny stared at Kai in shock. He couldn't remember his gentle friend being like this. It felt very different, as if he was trying to repay a debt or something similar.

"You're my best friend, Kai!"

The group got out of the vehicle and began moving toward the small restaurant. In front of the restaurant, a young man wearing a waiter's jacket welcomed them, and after giving him their reservation, he led them to one of the round tables and pointed to the screens placed on it, which displayed what the restaurant offered.

"Whoa, that's a lot! Okay, I want this and this—or wait, hold on. Give me everything!"

"You're such a glutton, you cow, for someone your size."

"Dofus, do you know what else I'm gluttonous for?"

Sunny threw Effie a deadly glare, which made the huntress tense up, but she didn't let it show on her face. Sunny lowered his eyes and focused on the menu. There were all kinds of food—meat and vegetables—even though they were synthetic or recycled using various technologies, they still had the flavor and taste of the real thing.

After ordering the food, the five of them continued chatting and joking happily until Sunny spoke.

"Right, Cass. What's the news about the unit I tasked Gemma and Tessai with gathering the Awakened that survived from Forgotten Shore?"

"Oh, we're working on it. About three hundred Awakened have joined us so far, but there's a possibility for larger numbers to join if we convince them with special perks, although I think this number is sufficient."

"The number is fine—but the more people we have, the better."

Kai asked the question that he and Effie were harboring in their hearts.

"Why do you want to establish a unit in the first place? Do you guys want to create a clan or something like that?"

"Kind of."

"Who are you going to marry, Dofus, to make her the Lady of the Clan? Oh wait! You don't even have to look far!"

Sunny stood up from his seat and threw a salt shaker at Effie, but it simply bounced off her body and shattered. The huntress laughed joyfully while Nephis looked around, not understanding what was going on.

Sunny sat down, and a waiter came with their food. It consisted of long rice soaked in meat broth, roasted vegetables, steaming meats, and several different salads. There was also a kind of bread stuffed with cheeses, meats, or vegetables. It was truly a diverse feast.

Effie lunged at the food as if she'd been starved for days. The others took a portion of each dish, leaving the rest for Effie. And in the middle of Sunny eating his food, he felt a heavy gaze settle on his shoulder, then disappear.

And when one of his shadows turned its head, he saw a young man in his twenties with dark brown skin and a long face, with distinct lines around his eyes. A small scar rested on his right cheek, and his hair was completely black. His build was slender but athletic. When his shadow looked at the young man, the young man looked back at him and gave a gentle smile, showing his white teeth.

The young man moved and sat at one of the tables and began ordering food. His table was far from theirs, but Sunny could tell that he could sense them. In fact, he was looking at them now.

"At least a Master—and a very dangerous one at that!"