Fate Online: Shadow

Chapter 517: Shocking News!

One rainy morning.

Michael alongside his girlfriend, Amanda are currently inside a cafe called Midnight Summer.

An establishment run and owned by Amanda and ever since the short scuffle that happened here between Amanda and Jin, the former had employed two security guards from the Security Company run by Jenny's family.

"Why are we having negotiations here of all places? My cafe is too public, people would certainly overhear the contents of our conversation" Amanda asked Michael in a soft voice.

"It's nothing too important. We'll just discuss the division of profits and if possible, a slot for our guild's participation if their Quest hopefully bears fruit to something we all wanted" Michael answered while he took a sip of his iced americano.

"But they're really taking their time huh?" Amanda said, noticing that the appointed time for their meeting is quickly approaching.

Michael said nothing and soon both started talking about common topics while they waited.

Five minutes before the agreed time.

"I finally managed to earn 10 Gold Coins. I'll exchange it for cash later" a young teenage girl cheerfully said to her friend sitting opposite of hers.

"Then you gotta treat me to a…hey look" her friend's words were cut short when she suddenly saw something behind her and gestured for her friend to turn around.

Though puzzled, her friend slowly turned around and was just in time to see two noticeable men in a suit enter the cafe, one especially among the two attracted the attention of not only them but also the other women hanging out inside the establishment as they enjoyed the ambient atmosphere amidst the rainy weather.

"Whoa, I've been seeing a lot of good looking men lately. Is there an event or something that will be held soon?"

"Yeah, he's really handsome. There's also that guy sitting with…Oh! It seems they know each other"

The two teenage girls continued their chatter in hushed tones. This time, instead of talking about the game they were playing recently, their topic has now shifted to good looking men.

"You guys really took your time"

"Yeah, sorry about that. There was traffic on the road, I think something might have happened. Well, I don't know, but I apologize for almost being late"

Michael immediately stood up and welcomed the two with a handshake followed by Amanda doing the same. Maverick just smiled at his comment and explained the situation earlier while his companion, Dylan, just smiled at his friends and awkwardly shook their hands.

"It's cool, as long as you two arrived safely in time. Come, have a seat. We'll have a lot to talk about and why are you two dressed to the nines?"

Michael smiled in understanding and gestured for both of them to sit down. On the other hand, Amanda gestured for someone behind the counter, who also quickly nodded back at her in acknowledgement as the woman quickly made her way at the back.

"Well, we're talking business. So shouldn't we look the part?" Maverick chuckled as he took a seat.

"Well, I'm sure everyone's time is precious. Shall we start right away?" Michael just shrugged his shoulders and immediately went straight to the point as he didn't want to waste anymore time as he still had a lot to do in Fate Online after this.

Dylan and Maverick looked at each other, and the latter gave a slight nod to Dylan, who took a small piece of paper from inside his chest pocket and handed it to MIchael.

"What's this?"

A little confused, Michael received the paper with a scrutinizing gaze towards his best friend. Dylan smiled and gestured for him to open it.

Michael looked at Maverick who also answered him a nod, and only then did he slowly open up the folded piece of paper and read it with Amanda.

As time went on, his expression changed from confusion to utter seriousness while reading the contents of the paper. Amanda also has the same expression as she can't believe the shocking information she had just read.

"Is this real? Does anyone know this other than us?"

After he finished reading the letter, Michael took a deep breath to calm his nerves before asking them for affirmation while he folded the paper back.

"Well, other-"

"Excuse me, your orders are here"

Maverick's reply was cut short with the arrival of the food that Amanda had prepared for today's meeting.

"Well, as I was saying earlier. Now including you two, it's only the guild executives who know it since we all decided to keep this news on lockdown for now. We haven't even shared it to the guild yet"

In a hushed tone, Maverick resumed what he wanted to say earlier shortly after the employees left.

Michael looked at the two men sitting opposite them and tilted his head in amazement, "You...I never thought…No one would believe that it's actually you guys that got it first!"

"So when do we start?" Amanda followed up with a question she had been wanting to ask, eager to do something now that she knows what they are dealing with.

"We can start immediately as soon as we wrap up this talk since the longer we drag this on, the higher the chances of the news leaking" He observed his surroundings first before Maverick replied, it was quite fortunate that Michael at least had the sense to choose an isolated spot for today's agenda.

When Dylan heard him, he raised an eyebrow. He slightly leaned his head back and turned to face him and said, "What do you mean by that? You don't trust the Guild Elders?"

"I don't mean that, it's just we can't easily trust the human's heart. We don't know when one of them suddenly has the urge to be greedy and sell this information out.

This is the reason why my cousin hurriedly arranged for this meeting with Michael since our guild is closer to them, and it's also a bonus considering your close relationship with him" Maverick calmly explained since he didn't want him to get the wrong idea.

'Though I wouldn't be surprised if we suddenly hear that one of them had sold us out'

What he didn't mention though is that they had already prepared for a possible betrayal since they had even secretly placed their guild elders under watchful eyes. Where they would be immediately notified if there were any suspicious actions from them.