Chapter 674: Interesting
Sylas stood lost in thought for a while. He didn't take the jealousy very seriously, nor did he waste any time on it.
"Who wrote these articles?" Sylas finally asked. "Do they have a public-facing persona?"
Olivia blinked. "You... why are you asking that?"
She half expected that Sylas wanted to find them and kill them. Although this might be a little annoying, it wasn't worth killing someone over, right? She wouldn't want what was ultimately just a little joke on her part to end so badly for someone clearly just trying to make a living.
This was the era of the Summoning and there was no longer so-called "freedom of the press." And Sylas had certainly made his stance on such things quite clear. He wouldn't mind killing if it suited him.
But that didn't mean that she would feel any less comfortable.
Sylas ignored Olivia's question and looked to Cassarae, whose own expression had already changed into something more serious.
"No one knows." She replied.
"These sensationalized headlines, are they only about me?"
"No, there've been others."
"How many? For how long? And what about?"
"Many things, but mostly about the hidden families like the Grimblades."
Sylas nodded. He had thought as much since they kept calling him by his last name. Clearly, there was a pattern here that this "journalist" was using.
"In that case, this person is almost certainly from the governments. Let me see the other headlines."
Cassarae obliged and soon Sylas was seeing things about anything from affairs to more bland topics like critiquing fashion choices.
But there was one thing that lined up with them all...
All of this alluded to information that shouldn't even be remotely possible to gather given the current circumstances of the world. This was more than just a red flag, it was a blaring warning siren.
And Sylas had a feeling that whoever was on the other side wanted to hide their cards and play them too.
This was a silent warning. They were informing the powers that be that they were watching and they were capable. At the same time, they were dulling the halo effect that these hidden powers had over the world.
And that obviously benefited one power the most...
The government.
The people had to know who the top dog was, and even if it was just subconsciously, the more they saw these headlines, the less seriously they would take these hidden powers, treating the likes of Sylas and the others like mere celebrities.
This would concentrate the power and authority back into the hands of the government.
It was a fascinating chess move, but more importantly than that... it required a shockingly powerful Profession to pull off.
"What are you thinking?" Cassarae asked.
"Pay attention to these headlines. They'll be useful."
Olivia looked back and forth between these two and felt like she had become a third wheel again. The only good news was that everyone else seemed lost as well.
These two were impossible to read. One would think they had the ability to read one another's mind.
And then that illusion shattered.
"Oh, so you're saying these headlines actually have some validity to them, huh?" Cassarae asked with a dangerous smile.
"Somewhat, but not for the reasons you're thinking." Sylas replied in a casual tone.
"Is that so? What am I thinking, then?"
Sylas looked up from his thoughts and into Cassarae's eyes. "You look nice today."
"Is that your way of trying to distract me?"
"I'd say you're the one distracting me instead."
"Fuck, you really have been two-timing me. You were never such a smooth talker."
"I think we both know that's a lie. Also, two-timing?" Sylas questioned with an arch of his eyebrow. He took a step forward and loomed over Cassarae, his gaze jumping between her eyes. "Isn't that something I could only do if you said yes?"
As usual, Cassarae had no intention of backing down. She crossed her arms over her chest, glaring up at him.
"Don't get lost in your little fantasies."
"Then how am I two-timing you?"
"If I say you're doing it, then you are. You can't even keep it in your pants for long enough to pursue me properly."
"Those sound like the words a wife would use. The position is open."
"You're such an arrogant bastard."
"And you're gorgeous. I would say when you're angry, but when are you ever not?"
"Unbelievable."
Cassarae was rendered speechless once more. When Sylas decided that he wanted to be shameless, she really couldn't do much to him.
She turned on her heel and walked away. Sylas casually followed after as though it was only natural he do so.
A silence was left hanging in the air after the two disappeared, most not knowing what to make of the situation.
Olivia looked over toward Morgan, who seemed fascinated by what he had just seen as well.
"First time?" Olivia asked.
Morgan blinked, looking over in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Olivia patted his shoulder. "You'll get used to it."
Morgan was still confused, but Olivia had already moved onto the family of three.
"Oh look, who brought this adorable kid?"
Jake suddenly didn't know where to look. Kid? He was 17 years old!
Olivia giggled. Finally, someone she could tease. Sylas was too insufferable, and everyone
else was too old and mature. They were no fun at all.
"Alright, come, come. We have accommodations. I assume the two annoying lovebirds forgot that they have work to do and left me to do all the heavy lifting again."
Olivia took charge of the situation and began to lead them toward their accommodations. Morgan, though, still seemed lost in his thoughts, endlessly fascinated by the interaction he had just seen. Sylas was truly an anomaly the likes of which he couldn't quite wrap his mind around despite all his experience.
Yet, oddly enough, Cassarae, who was so unlike him they couldn't even be called direct opposites, seemed completely in tune with his thought process.
There was something very interesting going on here...