"Don't try anything that you will regret later on Asher. Or your family will have to pay the price." Andrew warned as he started to walk away towards the exit. Realizing that Andrew may have uncovered what he was up to, he brandished a gun and pointed it towards Andrew's head.
"Well isn't this a ballsy move on your end but you will achieve nothing by pulling the trigger."
...
Ashley on the other hand was casually leaning on the guard rail as she held onto a glass of wine, churning it as she saw the city below. Hearing a set of footsteps, she didn't bother looking back as she already knew who it was.
"Star Queen, is there anything that I may assist you with?" She asked still not giving Star Queen a glance. "I can help you free your father if you are willing to cooperate." Ashley remained her aloof expression and continued to look at the city.
Millions of people, unaware of the dangers and opportunities that lay in the vast worlds above and below. She realized how weak and pathetic they all were and the power dynamics insufferable. 'Maybe that's why Andrew never bothered to govern anything?'
She realized that it would only waste her time. At first she wondered why Andrew wouldn't bother taking any territories but with her vast knowledge that she possessed, she realized that it would be a drag.
"What are you expecting me to tell you? A weakness of his perhaps? How he got so strong or something else? What is it?" She pointed out. The Star Queen pressed on. "I would like to ask you whether you know how he got so strong."
Ashley finally looked at the Star Queen. The Star Queen could feel a cold and otherworldly glare within those eyes. They didn't look anything that of a human, feeling stripped naked ad bare in front of them.
She diverted her eyes back to the city. "I cannot answer your questions that you may have for me. I'll just say that it's a miracle that he hasn't killed all of you yet." She chuckled softly as she stood up straight.
"But what about your father?" She asked. "What makes you think that I can't save him myself?" She pointed out as she handed over her half empty glass at Star Queen before leaving. Standing there alone under the stars, the Star Queen felt despaired. A similar air around Andrew was the same around Ashley.
She looked at the glass before handing it to a waiter and heading back in. Going back in, she found Andrew seated as he was casually scrolling through his phone before his eyes landed back in Ashley.
"So how was the conversation?" Andrew asked as he pulled his phone away. "Just like you said. I'm getting kind of bored." Ashley said as she sat down. "We could go and meet her after she's done with her guests." Andrew replied.
Rose who was deeply engrossed in a conversation with her guests received a notification from her system straight from Andrew. She looked in his direction before excusing herself off from the group surrounding her.
Shortly after she made her way to his table. "I'm quite glad that you could make it, Andrew." She said warmly. "It's okay however my interest is slowly waning and I have other places to be. Can we get a much more private conversation somewhere else?"
"I'm so sorry that you're not having a good time. It's a shame that you're not having a good time. A lot of people wanted to talk with you but oh well. Follow me." She finished off as she led the way.
The two followed her as they made their way to a much more secluded area at the back. It had less people and more security but they were all ignored till they went into a room. Lavish and opulent spike volumes by a mere glance.
They made themselves comfortable. "So what is it exactly did you want to talk about?" Rose asked with a hint of curiosity. Andrew clasped his hands together with his fingers interlocking with each other as he sank deeper into his seat.
A contemplative look appeared on his face. "I'm not really the one who wanted to talk to you." He finished off as he poured himself a glass of wine. Rose them proceeded to look at Ashley who was casually seated next to him.
As her eyes scanned all over her figure, she internally admitted that she was extremely stunning considering her unnatural hair which made her stand out more and complementing her beauty even more.
Tempted to probing her even further, an ominous force blocked her out serving as an indication to make her to pause it. For Andrew, she sensed nothing off about him but with her, she was being blocked which meant that she was stronger than her.
"You must be Ashley, it's nice to meet you." She started off. Ashley who had been scrutinizing Rose with her eyes was shocked by her level.
"132!!How is your level so high? You really didn't play the game to get that level, did you?" She inquired. Rose was shocked to realize that Ashley could perceive her level. "I got a little help from Andrew." She smiled it off.
Ashley looked disgruntled as her eyes darted towards back to Andrew. 'Why didn't you help me like that? Why do I have to work while she immediately bolsters up the ranks like that?!' Andrew who was swirling his glass replied, 'Because you have a skill that is so potent that you should be dead by now.'
'If it's so potent then why is there a cool down to it?' She complained. 'Fine! I'll remove it if you stop complaining.'
[{Cool down on skill Devouring has been removed}]
[{Host can now devour to their content because of disturbing Andrew}]
She was both pleased and annoyed as she saw this. 'Does that mean that I can devour endlessly?'
[{Yes. Though I would advise you to save that for last but if don't want to then its fine as well. However with the skills that you'll learn overtime, you just might even forget it.}]
She brushed the comment off and focused on Rose. "So about the currency-" Rose immediately raised her hand. "Of course you'll be receiving it at half the cost. Andrew's orders." She said.
Her cheeks were tinted red as she once again looked at Andrew. 'You already have a lot of money not to mention Khan should be keeping you in touch along with Rose.' He reported putting his glass down.
"I'm sure that you have a lot of people waiting to have a conversation with you so I'll end it here. Thanks for your time." She finished it off. Rose beamed a smile as she stood up. "It was a pleasure getting to know you, Ashley. Andrew, we'll talk later."
[{Your offer ends by midnight of hiring me as an assassin so I'd capitalize it as much as I can}]
She received this notification as he stood up. "It was a pleasant night. We'll talk later Rose." He said as he stood up and the two walked out of the room. "What do you mean by 'talking later?'" Andrew had a small smile on face.
"I still have to consider so as to ensure that the offset of buying currency doesn't crash the in-game economy. There is still much more to revise on." He said as the two continued to walk down the hall. There wasn't anything for them to do back in the hall so they were already heading for the exit.
Just as they were leaving, their car parked by the valet who had retrieved it, they were interrupted by a voice from behind. Ashley was already in the car while Andrew was about to get it. Looking at the voice, it was a person Andrew hadn't expected to see at such a place.
"Commander. It is a shock to see you here." He said flatly with no hint of enthusiasm to continue to continue the conversation. He was donned in a sharp dark suit with his hair well slung back.
"Andrei was sent here-" Andrew simply raised his hand. "I would be lying if I said that I care so I'll leave. But maybe we'll meet some other time." He said as he hopped into the car and drove off.
...
As he brought the car to a stop back at his mansion, Ashley meditated in the car, hesitating to come out. "It's okay. You have me." Andrew comforted her. A small smile came across her face which faded shortly after. Andrew helped her out of the car and the two shortly after found themselves in the lobby.
There was a man who was bagged but other than that, he seemed unscathed as he was dressed in a regular clothing. Ashley was hesitant on taking it off but after some reassurance from Andrew, she mustered the courage to take it off.
Looking at his father who at first seemed startled with hue surroundings as his eyes tried to adjust to the lighting but after that, he was shocked to see Ashley standing in front of him.
He was chained onto a chair to which he was set free by Ashley. For the past couple of days, he had been exposed to all kinds of torture so as to come clean about his daughter and possibly Andrew but since he was just as oblivious, it was nothing short than pure pain and torture.
He seemed rather finicky and shook but he settled down upon realizing that Ashley was real as his hand settled on her cheek. The two shortly embraced each other in a warm hug before breaking apart.
Before he could say anything else, his eyes landed in Andrew, the reason for his pain and suffering. "You! Get away from me and my daughter!" He warned as he tried to shield Ashley away from him.
Andrew just looked at him like a confused child. With a neutral look on his face. "It is because of your daughter that you're here to begin with. It not you would be dead by now." He said coldly with Gus eyes digging into his eyes.
Seeing Andrew's eyes peer into his, a bad premonition rose in his heart. He knew that he couldn't fight him but that didn't mean that he wouldn't at least put up a fight event if it meant that he would die. "Dad! Wait! He actually helped me reunite with you again. Just calm down."
Ashley tried to diffuse the situation but it yielded no results. "How did I fail as a father? I knew that I should have done something the moment I laid my eyes on you." He mumbled beneath his breathe but everyone heard it perfectly.
Ashley gave out a defeated sigh as he realized that it was unfolding as Andrew had predicted it. "Dad I think that we should continue with this after you rest. I understand that you have gone through hell therefore we'll continue after you've rest up."
Ashley tried to calm him down but seeing his reaction, that result wasn't being achieved. She had a lot of options which weren't pretty but she was hoping that she wouldn't be forced to enact them.
*Knack*
With a swift motion of her hands, she was able to knock out her own father as he fell back onto the couch. She gave out an exasperated sigh looking at his unconscious figure. Andrew was waiting what option she would take so he waited.
He took the body to another room. "I understand if this is hard for you." He said as he put down the body in one of the guest rooms. She wrapped her arms around his body as he reciprocated back with his right hand landed in her head patting it softly.
For him, he could sever his attachments with his skills bit to mention after the rebirth that he was forced to endure in the white void, he questioned whether he could feel at all. He knew what he felt was nothing short of pity.