The Strongest Curse Master

Up in the sky, the Nazir hovered with a frown, observing the dust from the mountain cave-in and hill, down below, settling. Trying his best to confirm if the surviving C.I.B. Agent died in the explosion or used the explosion as cover for his escape. Unless he found the latter's pipe wrench innate curse tool in the debris, he couldn't be sure.

"What happened?"

"Where is Egger?"

David, Banner, and their captain rushed over to Nazir's side and asked in concern, unable to find Egger in the surroundings. The Nazir ignored them and began to perform a few hand signs. Soon, his shadow began to take shape behind him in midair under a sunny sky. Next, it expanded into a 17ft wide, 27ft high dark gate. Then, a huge hairy worm with a segmented body, lacking eyes, with a massive mouth featuring a three-lobed maw lined with rows of sharp, crystalline teeth, swam out of the dark gate.

Without a proper foothold to stand on, the worm-shaped Curseling simply dove into the collapsed hill down below once out of the dark gate. In a fraction of a second, its 190ft long body vanished into the ground below as if it never existed. However, one could sense occasional tremors as it moved around in the ground.

Seeing this, the grim expressions of the other curse terrorists turned grave, knowing that something unexpected had happened. Their expressions only worsened as they sensed stronger curse energy signatures heading their way.

"What now?" David asked Banner, disregarding their captain and the Nazir.

Banner's stern glance moved from their captain to the Nazir, before he declared, "We switch to the old-school methods; we torture and kill every curse user in that town until we find the one who stole from us, even if we risk dying in the process. Let us start with the ones heading our way."

Listening to Banner, the terrorist group's captain's expression turned fanatic. Agreeing with Banner's plan. He already planned to massacre the entire town to get back at them for the torture they put him through. With Banner getting others on board, he overlooked the former ignoring the hierarchy and making the decision.

Banner then turned to lock eyes with the Nazir to check with the latter if he agreed with his plan. Not only was he the highest-ranking member among the four of them but also the strongest. If he cooperated with them, then the chance of them completing their botched mission and heading back alive would increase significantly.

However, he also knew that the Nazir wasn't supposed to be here on their mission. One of their organization's elders had sent him over to act as a protector of his nephew from the shadows. Meaning, the Nazir wouldn't like to be seen anywhere near this mission, but then he would have to show himself when their captain was in trouble.

Therefore, he hoped the Nazir was willing to assist them from the very beginning. This way they could avoid unnecessary casualties and finish the mission in record time before the enemy curse users called for reinforcement. Otherwise, it would be hard for them to complete this mission despite sacrificing themselves. Making their deaths meaningless, which scared them more than death itself.

Seeing the Nazir show no sign of going into hiding, but wait with them for the hostiles to arrive, Banner's eyes beamed as he turned to signal David and his Captain to prepare for a battle. Gaining the Nazir's cooperation, the team's morale increased sharply, and their resolve to complete this mission no matter what hardened.

"Where are you hiding my Agents?" EAD Matthews yelled as soon as Delores came to a halt a couple hundred yards from the curse terrorist group's lineup.

Normally, Matthews would have activated her curse dominion to trap them and kill them one by one. However, right now her priority was securing her subordinates. Unless she made sure about their whereabouts and well being she wouldn't recklessly lock herself away with curse terrorists in her dominion. That would be irresponsible on her part. Her agents could be dying and need assistance. She wasn't on a hunting mission but on a rescue mission.

"They are safe and sound in the orb's sub-space. Don't be rash. You might be fast, but I bet his hand is faster than you; little force and your agents will forever be lost in the void, wandering in its darkness with no way back. Eventually, dying a horrible death that I wouldn't wish on anyone," Banner bluffed, as the Nazir held up the orb.

EAD Matthews and Delores frowned listening to the curse terrorists threat. They weren't naïve enough to believe them. They used their senses to explore the collapsed hill down below, trying to figure out what went on here and why the curse caster was missing. Was Lola's deduction correct? Did the curse caster really die? Or was he alive, conducting a curse ritual somewhere around here, and these guys were stalling for time?

After a brief moment, EAD Matthews sternly asked, "Speak, what is it that you guys want? I am sure you didn't say all that just to fight to your deaths anyways."

Just then, Evil Eyes and Sugarmite finally caught up and joined them, making up for the lacking numbers. Seeing this, the curse terrorist group's captain frowned. He believed they should have used their numbers to kill the two hostiles that arrived first and then proceed to kill the other two that arrived just now. Instead of trying to bluff and negotiate with them. This wasn't what they agreed on.

However, the curse terrorist group's captain did not act out, because revenge can wait for later, until after he made it out of here alive. Now he was beginning to understand why his mother didn't want him joining his uncle's organization. He regretted going against his mother's warning and joining his uncle's organization anyways.

Banner nodded, listening to Matthews, and proposed, "You want your agents, and we want to know who stole from us. I am sure we can work something out."

EAD Matthews, Delores, Evil Eyes, and Agent Sugarmite eyes widened learning these guys were after Ace because he stole from them, but as far as they knew, Ace never left their state let alone their country. So how could he steal from a foreign organization? However, soon it dawned on them, maybe this was the secret to Ace's immense wealth.

Noticing the change in their expression, the Nazir, Banner, and David realized that these people not only knew what they were talking about but appeared to know exactly who stole from them. Therefore, Banner stuck when the iron was hot, offering, "We just need a name and then not only will we return your agents but we will be out of your hair."

Listening to Banner, seven pairs of gazes landed on EAD Matthews, waiting for her decision. The gazes belonging to the curse terrorists were especially eager, while gazes belonging to the allies were complicated. The former wanted to be done with this as soon as possible to decrease the chances of the latter calling their bluff and go home, while the latter were in an ethical dilemma. Should they give up on a teenager that they swore to protect for the lives of two of their own? Or should they execute their duty as the law dictated?

EAD Matthew was in a bind, unable to make a decision. Regardless of what the laws dedicated, as the senior agent on the field, it was up to her to choose to follow them or improvise based on the situation. She could explain herself later during the hearing. As long as she managed to justify her actions, she would be safe and even rewarded based on the success. But sticking to the law would make her life easier.

However, she didn't think she could get over the fact that she could have saved her agents but didn't. Regardless of their workplace competition, Matthews couldn't help but show compassion for Marcus and Berry's situation. What if it were her in their place? She would want them to do everything in their power to help her continue to be in the lives of her willful daughter and loving husband.

"So, what is it going to be?" Banner hurried Matthews, seeing the latter lost in thought trying to decide.

Matthew's internal struggle took longer than it should have. As a professional, she should have made her choice by now, but this situation hit so close to home that she couldn't decide until the decision was made for her as a streak of lightning across the sky awakened her from her contemplation.