Second Genesis

Grey walked out of the underground teleportation chamber in chains.

His wrists were bound together, another length dropping from them to connect to the restraints around his ankles, forcing him to shorten his stride just enough to be annoying.

They had clearly gone through the trouble of finding something that could hold someone of his strength, but the smile on Grey’s face hadn’t faded in the slightest. He could tell what the chains were made of, roughly how they had been forged, and after spending so much time learning about materials lately, he could already think of three ways to break them.

So, really, they were decorative.

Grey stepped into the open and found quite the welcoming committee waiting for him. Apollo stood there with his two brothers, and not far from them was a certain Imperial Princess Grey would have happily gone the rest of his life without seeing again.

However, none of them held his attention for long because there was another man standing at the center of them all.

Duke Valdi.

Grey had seen enough powerful people by now to recognize the difference immediately. Apollo and his brothers carried themselves like nobles because they had been raised to believe the world belonged beneath their feet, but their father didn’t need to posture at all. The Dominion Class pressure rolling from him was faint and controlled, his posture regal, his expression unreadable as his sharp gaze landed on Grey.

Grey tilted his head. "You constipated?"

Petri nearly stumbled.

Duke Valdi’s expression didn’t change, although Apollo’s certainly did. His jaw clenched immediately, while one of his brothers took half a step forward before apparently remembering that Grey was currently surrounded by enough monks and nuns to start their own small religion.

"Keep moving," Petri said quickly, grabbing Grey by the shoulder and practically shoving him along.

"Alright, alright, damn." Grey shuffled forward, the chains around his ankles clinking against the stone. "I was just worried about the guy. He looks like he hasn’t shit since his last wife left him."

"Grey."

"I’m moving."

Petri increased his pace anyway, clearly hoping distance would solve the problem before Grey’s mouth created another one. Unfortunately, he had apparently forgotten who he was escorting.

Grey looked over his shoulder. "Oh, Duke!"

Petri closed his eyes, sighing inwardly.

Duke Valdi continued staring at him.

"Don’t worry," Grey called. "Your time’s about as limited as your son’s."

This time, there was a crack. It was barely anything, just the slightest tightening around Duke Valdi’s eyes, but Grey caught it and his grin widened before Petri finally dragged him away.

There was nothing the man could do here. Not with so many eyes on them and certainly not while Grey was officially in the Church’s custody.

That made it all the more fun.

**

Some time later, Grey found himself standing before the Pope again.

The old man sat in the same place with much the same expression, while Grey stood several meters away still wearing his chains. He looked far less like a prisoner than someone who had gotten bored waiting in line at the DMV, picking at his ear with his pinky before inspecting whatever he found.

Well, he didn’t really know anything about the DMV. He was Canadian and from the country, so his driver’s "license" had been forged by the number of bitches he fucked in his beat up car’s back seat. So you could say that he was quite minted. An expert, really.

"Grey Temolt," the Pope began, "I will ask you plainly. Did you have anything to do with the disappearance of The Relentless?"

Grey sighed. "Why are we doing this song and dance again?"

The Pope’s brows furrowed.

"We already went through this once before with the Old One you inaugurated in as a Bishop, remember? Maybe some self relfection, huh? If you think I did it, you think I did it. If you don’t, you don’t. Just show me the Instance and let’s get this shit over with."

Silence fell.

The Pope slowly looked toward Petri.

Petri suddenly became very interested in a stained-glass window.

Grey looked between the two of them, then snorted. "Oh, don’t look at him like that. He didn’t tell me anything. Scout’s honor."

Grey held up his chained hands in a salute. He found it only funnier because it wouldn’t take very long at all for the Pope to realize that Petri had, in fact, told him everything.

But the fact Petri only looked guiltier now gave Grey a certain guilty pleasure about it all.

The Pope rubbed at his temple before releasing a long sigh. "You will not be entering alone."

Grey raised an eyebrow.

"The disappearance of a Guardian is not a matter we can treat lightly. This matter will be revisited at a later date. As for the Instance, the other Guardian disciples will enter alongside you, as will chosen disciples of the monasteries and convents. My personal disciple will accompany the group as well."

Grey’s eyebrow rose higher.

The Pope continued. "Several members of the Imperial Family have also requested participation. Imperial Princesses among them."

"Several?" Grey asked. "Damn. You guys really don’t trust me."

"It is precisely because we do not know what happened that such precautions are necessary."

Grey smiled slowly. "Right."

The Pope watched him.

Grey rocked back on his heels, making the chains jingle. "You know, it’s cute how hard you’re trying not to say it."

The Pope’s expression remained steady. "Say what?"

"That I’m your best option."

A few of the monks standing along the walls frowned, but Grey didn’t care. "Come on, old man. If you really thought one of your people could handle whatever was in that Instance, you’d have already sent them in. Instead, you had people waiting around the transportation hub like a couple of children waiting for daddy to get home. Really, I’m flattered."

No one interrupted him, and that told Grey more than any answer could have.

He grinned.

The disciples might still need convincing. Apollo and the others could hate him as much as they wanted, and the Church could dress this up in whatever language made them comfortable.

But the people actually making the decisions already knew.

Grey was their strongest pawn. He was undoubtedly the strongest expert beneath Command Class the entire Holy City had.

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