Infinite Classes in the Apocalypse

Chapter 78: Thieves, Relics, and Unspoken Alliances

As the sharp sound of heels clicking against the wooden floor approached him from behind, Damon smelled a familiar sweet scent, the same one he had smelled on a motorcycle on his drive toward the Central Hospital.

But he had no time to dwell on that scent as a pair of slender arms wrapped around him from behind.

"...Eve."

"Oh? You can already tell by touch," her lips curved into a playful smile as she leaned closer to his ear. "I must’ve left quite an impression."

"Yeah," he replied, his voice cold. "I don’t forget thieves."

The girl chuckled softly as she pulled the empty chair beside him and sat down, her legs brushing against his. Not by accident.

"You’re late," Torren said, and though his voice was flat, Damon noticed an annoyance in his tone.

"I was busy," she waved him off without turning her eyes away from Damon, her gaze fixed on him with an intensity that made the air between them feel heavier.

At the same time, the room had grown quieter since her arrival.

Theodore watched her with a quiet intrigue while Torren’s previously calm demeanour changed into a visible irritation at how close she seemed to Damon.

Victor, on the other hand, had his usual apologetic look on his face, while Ivy’s expression had hardened into something unreadable, her hand clenching the armrest of her seat a little too hard.

"I do have a little request..." Eve suddenly began, glancing around the table for only a moment before her attention returned to Damon. "I’d like to join Damon’s group during the siege."

A flicker of surprise flashed across everyone’s face. Torren especially looked surprised at the request, making it clear he had no idea about it. But before any of them could question her intentions, Damon’s voice cut coldly through the room.

"I refuse."

There was no hesitation in his words. Playing any of her games never ended well for anyone, and Damon wasn’t about to become somebody’s pawn.

A faint pout flashed across her face at the straightforward refusal. She paused for a moment, as if looking for a good way to convince him, but before she could find any, everyone at the table began to rise.

"Meeting’s over. We meet outside the station at midnight as planned." Ivy’s voice carried the weight of finality.

Torren was the first to leave, casting a confused look at Eve before heading out. Theodore followed, giving Damon a heavy tap on the shoulder and telling him how much he looked forward to seeing him in action.

The next person to leave was Victor. The exhaustion weighing on his body was very apparent, and he quickly excused himself to rest, practically stumbling toward the door.

Ivy lingered a moment longer, noticing how both Damon and Eve were still seated. Despite her own exhaustion, she didn’t feel like leaving them alone together.

The two women exchanged a couple of glances at one another, some unspoken communication passing between them. Their meaning was not something Damon could even begin to understand.

Then, Eve broke the silence.

"Here," she said, sliding an item across the desk.

It was a silver ring, unmistakably a relic, but not the same one she had taken from him weeks ago.

"It’s not the same one." She stated proudly. "I still need vitality for my..." She paused, taking a small glance at Ivy before shaking the thought away. "Anyways, I think you’ll like it."

Damon hesitated for a moment before picking it up.

[You have received a Relic: Strength Ring]

[Stat: +15 Strength]

He raised a brow. ’Is she actually paying me back?’

Eve suddenly stood up, straightening her red mini dress, which had ridden up a bit too high. "I’m not your enemy, Damon," she said before turning away and leaving the room, her heels clicking against the floor in a slow rhythm.

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving Damon and Ivy in the silence of the room.

That silence, however, didn’t last long as Ivy’s gaze suddenly shifted away from the door and toward Damon.

"...Don’t tell me you trust her because of some ring," there was a hint of irritation in her voice Damon had not heard before.

"Of course not," he replied, slipping the relic on his finger and immedietally feeling the boost in strength. "But it might be safer for everyone if I keep an eye on her."

"..."

Ivy didn’t respond right away, her expression remained flat until Damon changed the subject.

"What about Torren? Do you think we can trust him?"

"Not sure. Everyone from his group avoids talking to anyone who’s with us, so it’s impossible to pry any information out of them."

Damon nodded.

Both parties seemed similarly wary of one another, which made sense in their current situation.

Ivy’s face suddenly changed with her next question, something resembling doubt finding its way across her face. "Do you think we stand a chance?"

He couldn’t blame her doubts, the way he described the citadel left no room for wishful thinking. There was no sugarcoating how dangerous the siege was going to be.

And yet, for some reason, instead of feeling worry or doubt like everyone else, Damon felt something closer to anticipation.

"We do. Tomorrow we’ll capture the citadel."

His statement seemed to return the confidence in her eyes. The spark that had usually been there returned to its rightful place. Her chair scraped against the wooden flooring as she stood up and moved across the room.

"After the siege, there’s something I need to tell you." She paused her walk for only a moment beside him before suddenly turning toward the door.

Damon raised a brow "Tell me something?"

But his curiosity would have no answer as the girl was already gone, the door opening and shutting for the second time.

"... I guess I should head back too."

Moments later, Damon was already back in his room.

As he entered, he saw Kitsune still in her fox form lying on the bed in a deep trance of refining mana.

He chose not to disturb her. She mentioned how close she was to being done, and he would much rather have her recovered for tomorrow.

Besides, with the plan already set in motion, there wasn’t anything left for him to do.

A faint smile crossed his face as he found his way onto the bed, enjoying the softness of the mattress as for the first time in a long time, he allowed himself to get proper sleep.