Chapter 379: A rogue? [2/2]
I never really paid attention to such things before. The enlistment was only important for those who were just starting out. Since I was already a Reaper, the results of future enlistments would not have been my concern.
But things were different now. For one, Vincent Deryck and his family had become my responsibility. As his handler, I refused to let such a talent die in vain. Since no answers came to mind, I simply asked.
"Delroy, Pixie. How did you two make it through enlistment?"
The young girl looked at me while keeping her arms around her guardian. Although she said she was sixteen, Pixie looked no older than twelve to me.
When she acted like this, the difference between her and Robyn became even more apparent.
"I never went," she said gloomily.
"You're a rogue?" I asked in surprise.
She nodded and made a face as she continued.
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"I was half a descendant. I was beaten to death for stealing on Earth. I suddenly found myself on the battlefront when I woke up."
"Then how did you activate your {Fate} in the first place?"
"I don't know, my lord. All I remember is that I wanted to find someone I could trust. Someone who would be my family. I felt something pointing me to Arcus Kiss and I ran towards it."
"And that pointed you to D?" I guessed.
"Yes. Everything I knew I learned from him and the other people in Arcus Kiss. Most of them were like me, half-descendants who suddenly appeared on the battlefront. One of the girls said it was called Isekai or something. "
I see. How unfortunate. It seemed that half-descendants had their own rules. Unlike the first generation of Reapers, they didn't need the enlistment. And when the bastards in the red light district knew the newcomers were rogues, instead of turning them in, they were made into slaves.
"That explains why the majority of the people didn't know how to fight. What about you, Delroy? Come to think of it, I don't even know your {Fate}."
Ever since I heard Isolde's story, I refrained from using my {Kismet} to expose people. For one thing, it was incredibly rude, and it had its own can of worms. I was a simple guy, anything I didn't need, I didn't even need to know.
This simplicity kept me ignorant of most things, but it made things easier for me. However, I still do so when the need arises. Aki and Lilly probably figured me out. So even when we found spies in Terence and Van's groups, they took responsibility for it.
"My {Fate} be called {Advent}, I can see the memories of the undead. I be like a pixie, except that I be summoned outside the battlefront. Luckily, I was protected by illegal recruiters, and I awakened my {Fate} after killing my first zombie."
What the hell? Hearing his {Fate} revealed his deepest regret. How sad it must be to want to hear the voice of the dead. But what caught my attention was the term "illegal recruiter".
"Go on..."
"The zombie I killed was an illegal recruiter. From my memories, I learned that they came to Earth, created rouges, and processed them."
"Processed?"
"If the reapers {fate} be useful, they be sedated and drained of their blood. To be sold in the marketplace. If the {fate} be useless, for women they be turned to prostitutes. For men they be sold as slaves. Them recruiters be evil."
"..."
Unconsciously, the more I learned, the more my rage began to boil. What they were doing was clearly wrong, but unfortunately, I could understand it.
I recently learned about the {Fate} marketplace in the graveyard. The earnings for {Fates} were considerable when they were useful.
Not to mention the fact that they could help real reapers. This incentive might be the reason why Administration left them alone.
Since the Battlefront only cared about those registered in their system, they wouldn't have even known about the Rogues. At least the women were turned into Phantoms, the men were nothing more than forced labor as usual.
"How did you escape?"
"From the recruiter's memories I found out a man the recruiters avoided. That man be Carlyle. I bolted the first chance I got and ran towards him. Turns out Carlyle's wife be under hostage of the recruiters. So he be trying to fight them."
"..."
'So even that slimy bastard had his own reasons huh?'
The more I heard, the more I wanted to kill them all. Who would be able to fight the undead under such circumstances? No wonder the people here had no ambition.
However, one must remember that even if they were given Reaper blood without regret, they would only die as humans.
A regret greater than death had to be within them first. Given what I knew of the circumstances of the battlefront, I could understand the numerous benefits of allowing these people to roam free.
The advantages outweighed the negatives. And they had plausible deniability. If they could get souls for all these slaves, it was a win-win situation, even if none of them lifted a finger.
'This must be how the savior managed to gather hundreds of them. They were already here.'
"Do you know who is at the head of the recruiters? Why did Carlyle keep you around?" I asked as I pondered.
"I don't, all I know he be a Specter. A high ranking one. Carlyle though I knew something. He lost interest when I didn't. But he did keep me around as a form of revenge."
Their sad stories aside, these two had extremely useful {Fates}, just like Connie. They had the ability to gather information that you couldn't get otherwise. I made up my mind and raised my hand to them.
"Pixie, Delroy. Join me as my {Vassals} and I will be your handler. In return, you will take up arms and become stronger. When I ask for your help in the future, answer my call."
Both Pixie and her Jamaican dropped their jaws in surprise. As slaves, they probably understood my offer better than I did.
Apart from {Day by Day}, the debt they owed me was slowly accumulating. Even Pixie's lessons were not worth 5,000 souls for Delroy.
However, the Reapers knew that {Vassals} were just below {Kindred}. Unlike those in a Death Seeker's army or squad, {Vassals} couldn't be fired. This group, much like {Kindreds}, were permanent. It was basically the non-romantic version of marriage.
The reason was simple. Pixie could find anything she wanted or needed with {Compass}. Delroy could retrieve memories from the dead with {Advent}.
For someone like me who had too little information to work with. These two were treasures I couldn't pass up. And unlike the Bakers, who were stronger than me, these two would benefit greatly from my protection.
Delroy immediately bowed and grasped my outstretched hand.
"Delroy Baxter accepts Limitless as his lord."
Pixie quickly mimicked her guardian and tried to wipe away her tears.
"Pixie Richards accepts Limitless as her lord."
Similar to the Bakers, I felt a soft soul connection to both of them. This meant that our agreement was complete. I then motioned for them to follow me as we walked back.
I needed Phillip to get these two registered as soon as possible, otherwise they could be terminated for being rogues. As for the evil I learned today, I will face it another time. I was no hero; I couldn't save everyone even if I wanted to.
As we walked back, I heard Pixie whisper to her Jamaican.
"D...D...isn't this a really good thing? Handlers are a good thing, right? The customers of Arcus always wish for them."
"Ya, you can think of it as an adopted Pix. Brutha here will be our boss and protector."
"Wow! That's great! D, I'm so happy. Let's do our best, okay?"
"Mmm. Of course. I will get stronger to protect you, Pix."
'I'm about to get diabetes,' I complained silently.