Chapter 409: Gabriel Joins
"Meet the boss?" Gabriel felt a small surge of excitement. He wondered what kind of person led the Shadow Generals.
"That's right. The boss has been waiting for you for a long time," Eddie said. He had been receiving constant telepathic prompts from Rei.
Among the Shadow Generals, communication could be handled through thought alone, much like the Shadow Ninjas. However, this required the General to have awakened their memories; otherwise, it was impossible. This was exactly why Rei had sent Eddie to check in person—if Gabriel hadn't been ready, telepathy wouldn't have worked.
"Waiting for me for a long time?" Gabriel was startled. It seemed they had been watching him constantly.
"Let's go, then." Gabriel harbored high expectations for this leader.
"Alright." Eddie quickly opened the path to the Shadow Kingdom and led Gabriel inside.
The Shadow Kingdom
As Gabriel stepped into the dimension, he saw several strange figures. First to catch his eye was a long conference table. The head seat was currently empty, but the other seats were occupied.
There was a strange little girl, a serious-looking man, a middle-aged man holding a scepter, and an incredibly massive, muscular brute. There was also a man in black tossing a mask into the air, his eyes glowing red—clearly not a normal human.
Eddie whispered to Gabriel, "Pick any seat except the head one. The boss will be here shortly." Eddie then took a seat next to Jenny.
"Uncle Eddie, is he the newcomer Rei was looking for?" Jenny stopped playing with the shadow ninja in her lap and looked at Gabriel curiously.
"Yes, this is the Shadow General the boss wanted," Eddie replied cautiously. He had no desire to provoke this little girl; the memory of being slammed around by her was something he'd never forget.
Gabriel scanned the room. At first, he thought the massive brute (Kingpin) was the boss, but that didn't seem to be the case now. Since he only knew Eddie, Gabriel naturally sat in the empty chair next to him.
"Hi~ Are you the new Shadow General?" Jenny greeted him with an innocent smile.
"I am. And you're a General too, little sister? That's impressive." Gabriel figured anyone in this room had to be a General.
"Yep! What's your Shadow Corps' ability?" Jenny asked.
Eddie, caught in the middle, decided to stay silent. He didn't want to risk Jenny's temper. As for Gabriel, he was on his own.
"My corps isn't much; they just have bat wings and can fly," Gabriel smiled. He thought the girl was quite cute.
"Whoa~ Really? No one here can do that! Can you take me flying later?" Jenny's eyes lit up. She had never experienced flight. Her Eater Ninjas only knew how to grow bigger by eating.
"Of course. Flying is easy," Gabriel agreed. It was a simple request to him.
Across the table, Kingpin watched Gabriel. "What do you think of him?" the man next to him, Underworld Mike, asked with a chuckle.
"Based on his aura, he's a General who only recently awakened. I'm not sure about his specific capabilities yet," Kingpin said, rubbing the ring on his thumb. He was curious, as every General's power was unique.
"I like the kid. I feel he has great potential," Mike smiled.
"General of the Bat Corps. He possesses the power of flight," John suddenly interjected.
"Flight? That's quite useful. It seems he's the only one of us who can," Kingpin raised an eyebrow. It was an excellent ability for mobility or a quick escape.
"Just flight?" Mike asked.
John shook his head. "No, there are other abilities, but I'm not entirely clear on the details."
Tap... tap... tap...
The conversations died down instantly as Rei entered the room and naturally took the head seat. All the Shadow Generals fell silent. Gabriel looked up, stunned. The leader of the Shadow Generals was a cold, elegant woman with a perfect figure?
"You are the new Shadow General?" Rei turned her gaze toward Gabriel.
"I am," Gabriel said, snapping out of his daze.
"What is your ability?" Rei's cool eyes locked onto him.
"Huh?" Gabriel was taken aback. Why was the first question about his power?
"What? Is it something you can't share?" Rei's tone was ice-cold, her demeanor projecting a clear "do not approach" vibe.
"No... not at all." Gabriel shook his head and gave a concise summary of his powers.
The others' eyes lit up. Flight combined with various energy attacks—Gabriel was a versatile asset.
"Good abilities. I look forward to your growth." A small smile finally played on Rei's lips, like a sudden sunbeam melting a glacier.
"Thank you..." Gabriel noticed that the way the others were looking at him now felt a bit like wolves circling a lamb.
"Tell me about your current identity," Rei commanded.
Gabriel complied, explaining who he was. Rei nodded; the information matched her intelligence. Gabriel wasn't playing games.
"Very well, Gabriel. I understand your situation. Welcome to the Shadow Generals. Our organization has no restrictions; a General may do as they wish. The only rule is that you must obey my orders and the orders of the Shadow Master."
"Shadow Master?" Gabriel frowned. Because he had only recently awakened, Silas's subconscious influence hadn't fully taken hold yet. But the more he used his power, the more central Silas would become to his psyche.
"What? Do you have an objection?" Rei's hand drifted toward the hilt of the blade at her waist. If Gabriel disagreed, his head would roll immediately.
"No, no objection," Gabriel shook his head quickly. He didn't know who this Master was, but he clearly outranked the boss.
"Good." Rei stood up. "I will notify you when there is a mission. Dismissed."
"Understood!" everyone chorused. Rei turned and left the hall.
"Uncle Gabriel, take me flying!" Jenny cheered.
"Uh... sure. And Jenny, please call me 'Big Brother'." Gabriel was only twenty; "Uncle" felt a bit too old.
"Mmhmm! Okay, Uncle Gabriel!" Jenny smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescents.
"Fine, I won't argue with a child. Let's go experience flight!" Gabriel led Jenny out.
"Finally gone. Jenny gives me the creeps," Eddie sighed, slumping onto the table.
"She is not human," Venom added from within.
On the other side of the room, Kingpin and Little Black left without a word. However, as Underworld Mike was about to leave, John called out to him.
"Wait! Mike... you look like someone I used to know." John wanted to confirm his suspicion.
"Hmph~" Mike's lips curled into a smirk. He tilted his hat and laughed. "It's been a long time, John."
"It really is you... Mike!" John smiled. Mike hadn't died after all!
"In a stroke of luck, the Shadow Master placed a mask on me and brought me back," Mike explained.
"You bastard!" John laughed, punching Mike lightly in the chest. "But why does your face look like... that?"
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