Ryder stood in front of Luke. A gun was tucked behind him in his pants, away from the man's sight. 

"Who are you? And why are you after Alice?" Ryder asked straight away. 

He had come to kill Luke initially, but as he was told about Luke finding his arrival so easily, he realized that things were not so simple. 

With that, he started thinking about it deeper. Why was Luke here? Why was he after his sister? Moreover, was he the one who was after her? Or was he just a pawn? If Luke was Pawn, then who was the mastermind? If he killed Luke without finding the truth, he was going to have trouble later on. 

That was why he decided to change his plan and handle things a little bit differently. 

"Who am I?" Luke asked with an amused smile on his face. 

"A man who wears the mask of another man is asking me for my identity? Is this really how stupid a person can be?" he further asked. 

He turned his back towards Ryder as he walked back to the window. 

He placed his right hand over the window as he said, "You don't have to tell me your identity, though. I already know your identity. You really think making your voice heavier; I won't recognize you? Master Ryder Flynn? The guardian of Alice?" 

Ryder's face twitched unwillingly as he realized that he was exposed. It was strange. His voice was nothing like his normal voice, yet he was found out? It seemed strange. 

'Is he bluffing?' he thought as he frowned. 

"If you're thinking that I'm bluffing, you should think again. I have no doubt in my mind that you're Ryder, and I'm not bluffing. As for the gun that's behind you, I'd suggest you not even touch the gun," Luke replied as if he was able to read Ryder's thoughts. 

"I was told to be a gentleman on my trip. I've been trying not to kill people on this journey. That's why the people who own this house are kept as a hostage even though it was easier to kill them. So it would be good if you don't force me to kill you. I won't know how to explain to him that I killed the guardian of Alice," he added. 

"Him? Who are you talking about?" Ryder asked as his frown deepened. He was right? There was actually someone behind this guy?

Who was that person? This man had strange talents, which made Ryder think that he was from the uprising. But if this were the case, this man would be after him, not after Alice.

Still, he decided to make sure. 

"Are you from the uprising?" Ryder asked.

"Uprising? Oh, that thing I was told about. The small try group of Aluren? Don't worry. Even on the worst day, I won't join things like those. It would be an embarrassment worthy of death to work for things like those," Luke answered. 

"Who do you work for then?" Ryder inquired. 

"Sure. It's not like his name is embarrassing to tell. But it does feel strange talking to a mask. Take that mask off, and I'll talk. Don't worry, that mask isn't going you any favors," Luke answered as he rolled his eyes.

Ryder took a deep breath before he placed his hand over his mask and slid it down. There was a possibility that the man was bluffing, but he had his own ideas at the moment. He removed the mask slowly. 

His handsome face was revealed before the enemy, who had already seen him previously. 

"This is better," Luke acknowledged as he walked back to the chair. 

He gestured for Ryder to sit as well while pointing towards a nearby chair, "Have a seat." 

Ryder walked, stepped forward, and sat on the chair. When he had decided to come here, he had thought of many possibilities about how it can go. Unfortunately, he never expected to be discussing things with Luke like it was a meeting. 

*****

In another part of the country, many helicopters flew into the air. The members of the Uprising were inside the helicopter along with the Third King, The Seventh King, and the Eighth Ling, who were personally coming to take care of Ryder. 

Not only them but even the Second King was coming with the team against all expectations. He was sitting in a different helicopter, though. 

Five helicopters flew straight towards Shu's Estate.

"Finally, I'll get to see how strong this masked hero is. My blood has been boiling a lot to face a strong opponent," the Seventh King let out as he grinned. 

"Don't get overconfident. That guy had managed to kill the Fourth King. He's quite strong, and we still don't know what his abilities are," the Eighth King explained with a concerned look on his face. 

"Meh, you know our numbers aren't decided based on strength but by the order of us joining the organization. Why should I care that the Fourth King was killed? I was stronger than him after all," The Seventh King let out as he rolled his eyes. 

Silence ensued as the Eighth King stopped speaking. He understood that whatever he said wasn't going to penetrate the thick skull of the Seventh King. 

"Now tell me who you are?" Ryder asked Luke.

"I already told you who I am. My name is Luke, and I came from Russia to take Alice with me," Luke answered lazily. 

"Why are you after her? She doesn't want to study in Russia. Why do you still insist? What will you get if she goes with you, and what will you lose if she doesn't go with you?" Ryder asked as he frowned. 

"Hah, so many questions. Alright. I'll answer them all. It's better to talk to you directly in any case. You're her guardian. She'll definitely come with me if you tell her. I saw the respect in her eyes for you. So convincing you is better," Luke alluded as he nodded.

"First, why am I after her? It's not because I wish to have her study in Russia. It's because someone I work for wants her to study there," Luke answered. 

"What will I get if she studies there? I'll get satisfaction from getting the wishes of that person completed. What will I lose if I fail to take her? I might lose my life and my respect for failing such a simple mission," he further added. 

"Alright. Who is the person that you work for? Why does he want Alice specifically?" Ryder asked curiously. 

" My boss read her application for admission. He is very impressed by her answers. You can think of it as him falling in love with Alice because of her thinking. My boss is the ruler of Russia. He's a god! Let your sister come with me. She'll be happy like a queen," Luke told Ryder. 

"He's a god?" Ryder inquired as he rolled his eyes. He didn't take his words seriously. Many people called humans as gods just because they were stronger.

Some citizens of monarchies also called their emperors as gods. So he thought it to be the same thing. He didn't think he was actually referring to god. 

"Even if he's an actual god, so what? He has a crush on Alice, and he thinks he can force her? Is he even a man? He couldn't even come himself instead of sending you? What God, even humans would be more courageous," Ryder let out as he rolled his eyes. 

"Oho? You do know that I can kill you for your disrespect, right? If you weren't the Guardian of Alice, your head would be rolling on the groom at the moment," Luke answered as his gaze sharpened like it was a sword capable of cutting Ryder's neck. 

"My head, huh," Ryder muttered as he lowered his gaze.

'This guy does have some arrogance,' he thought as he smiled. 

"You're not strong enough to kill me," he told Luke as he placed one of his legs above the other while sitting more comfortably. 

He blinked for a moment, only to be shocked as he saw Luke disappear. 

Luke disappeared from his chair and appeared in front of Ryder as he grabbed Ryder by his neck. He raised Ryder up in the air as he tightened his grip. 

"Would you care to repeat what you just said? I hear a little slow sometimes. I thought you said that I'm not capable enough to kill you. It's not what you did, right? Obviously, you won't be so careless," Luke told Ryder in a grim tone. 

"I said you aren't strong enough to kill me. Let alone you; even your god, won't be able to kill me. I'm not sure if I should be happy for that or sad," Ryder let out as he rolled his eyes. 

The immortality he received from the bracelet of immortality was a double-edged sword. It did make him Immortal, but it also brought him at an odds-against real gods. 

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