"Huh? The Syndrome has an offer for me? That's surprising, I guess," Ma Feng said as he sipped the wine from the cup in his hand.
The messenger, clad in a black robe, crossed his legs while sitting on the chair, directly facing Ma Feng.
The messenger brought out a letter, which he handed over to Ma Feng. Ma Feng grabbed the letter and dropped the burger he held onto the table. He cleaned his hands before opening the letter to read its content.
"What's this?" Ma Feng asked.
"The Syndrome has given you two options, Ma Feng. This is an invitation letter. Our leader has requested your recruitment into the Syndrome. It seems like he has found good use for you and now wants you," the messenger said.
Ma Feng read the letter and then chuckled out loud. He laughed so hard that he choked on his food before dropping the letter on the table. He picked up his burger and began munching on it again.
"A direct invitation by a powerhouse like the Syndrome. It's quite surprising that I got chosen by the Syndrome without even doing anything. And besides, if I recall, the Syndrome was the one who attacked me," Ma Feng said.
He wore a dark grin on his face while glancing at the messenger with the side of his eyes. This messenger was a student of the Assassin Department—he could tell by his style and demeanor.
"Yes, I'm aware of that. But you should also know that you were at fault," the messenger said.
"I was at fault? Can you enlighten me on how I was the one who was at fault?" Ma Feng asked, continuing to munch on his burger. He licked his lips after devouring the entire thing without hesitation.
"A few nights ago, you ambushed a scouting troop of the Syndrome and went face to face with our leader. That attack was a simple payback for messing with the Syndrome in the first place," the messenger said.
"Oh, now I get it. No wonder that mysterious being was able to escape my time stoppage. He isn't an ordinary being. And if I recall, his name is... what's his name again? I've forgotten," Ma Feng said.
"While this meeting is held... you are forbidden to mention any names!" the messenger said.
"Well, well. You don't have to warn me about that already since I'm also aware of the Underworld. But you should know me—I won't join the Syndrome at all. It's not even my type of society," Ma Feng said.
"You said there are two options involving this meeting. What's the second option? I'm sure it's not the option of facing death once I reject the Syndrome's invitation?" Ma Feng asked as he licked his lips.
"Damn it... this food is too delicious," Ma Feng said with a smile on his face.
"The leader had doubts that you would accept the offer, so he prepared a second option. He wants you to take out one man for him—a man who's hindering the works of the Syndrome in the daylight," the messenger said.
"And who might that be?" Ma Feng asked.
"His name is Jo Jing, Crown Prince of the Marcel Kingdom and the President of the Punishers. The Punishers are the school board opposing complete control by the Underworld—and he must be stopped," the messenger said.
"So your boss wants me to take out the eldest son of the man who adopted me? He's supposed to be my elder brother. That's an impossible option. Your boss should think well next time," Ma Feng said.
He stood up from the chair after dusting his shirt and licking his lips. Ma Feng turned to walk away, then halted as a dagger was positioned near his neck. Ma Feng slowly turned his eyes.
He saw the messenger pointing the dagger at him with a dark smile plastered on his lips as he laughed evilly. Ma Feng could feel the murderous intent in the air and took a deep breath.
"What are you doing? You're forgetting that we're still in school?" Ma Feng asked.
"The Syndrome isn't called the Kingdom of Nightwalkers for no reason. We destroy whoever challenges us, and we crush those who defile us. You rejected both options from my boss—it's better to die now," the messenger said.
"Oh really... is that so?" Ma Feng asked, not showing the slightest sign of fear.
"Yes. You defiled the Syndrome. You must be crushed to oblivion by our might. I'm not only a messenger but one of the Syndrome's best assassins," the messenger said as the dagger slightly glowed.
"Hmph... well the same goes for you. You see, you're standing against me and threatening the leader of the Dragon Knights with a dagger. What would the Dragon Knights do? Would they be happy?"
Ma Feng asked just as the messenger gasped—he had to dodge a knife attack!
Three knives were thrown at the messenger as he evaded them. Rose dashed out of the darkness, her face partially covered, and launched a swift kick. The messenger blocked, but groaned as he staggered back.
He reached to grab Rose by the leg, but she disappeared immediately and landed on the ground. The messenger turned just in time to evade another dagger strike from Rose.
He crashed to the ground after tanking a destructive kick launched against him by Rose. She landed like a freaking ninja and showcased her two daggers—her deadly artifacts—while dressed in the Dragon Knights uniform.
"You are not an ordinary girl. Who are you?" the messenger asked as he staggered back. He rose to his feet, wiping the blood gushing from his nose, and looked up at Rose.
"The Savage Queen of the Dragon Knights. How dare you threaten my... our leader!" Rose answered as the runes on her artifacts glowed. She was using a copied version of her artifacts.
The copied version came to be after she fought Ma Feng back in the Marcel Kingdom during the outing. She then realized how powerful and destructive Ma Feng truly was—but he had been hiding his strength.
"The Dragon Knights? I haven't heard of such a name before," the messenger said.
"That's right. You haven't heard of such a name because we are a new organization—an organization that will balance the power between the Light and the Darkness of this academy. We are the Dragon Knights," Ma Feng said.
He smirked evilly while chuckling softly. The messenger was stunned to see how skilled and mighty little Rose was. Ma Feng stood behind Rose as the messenger roared and gripped his dagger firmly.
He charged at Ma Feng, aiming for his neck, but Ma Feng ducked the attack. With his hands in his pockets, Ma Feng did a backflip and kicked the dagger out of the messenger's hand.
The messenger roared again and supersped, aiming to launch a destructive punch at Ma Feng—when Xi Jing caught the punch mid-air. He stopped the attack before it could land, and Ma Feng giggled.
"You were late... she was already here," Ma Feng said.
Xi Jing frowned and then broke the messenger's bone before sending him crashing to the ground with a forceful kick to the ribs. The messenger coughed out blood.
"You sky fox... you left me alone on the sports field, huh?" Romeo asked as he walked into the cafeteria with a smile on his face.
Ma Feng smiled back and turned to see the messenger wailing on the ground.
"Bro, you're welcome—and as you can see... we were busy," Ma Feng said.
"Oh really? That was the target?" Romeo asked, just as the messenger struggled to stand back on his feet. He was about to make a move when a slight strike to his neck stopped him immediately, and he collapsed to the ground.
"What just happened now? What did you do to me?" the messenger asked, his body numb.
Jude appeared beside the messenger, who was now lying on his back. Jude folded his arms.
"I disrupted the blood flow in your neck area. You should stay calm if you want to survive," Jude warned as they began approaching the messenger, all dressed in their Dragon Knights outfits.
"Greetings, Mr. Messenger. Your presence here and everything else has already been calculated by my tactician. We would love to send out a message to the rest of the dark societies located in the Underworld."
"We, the Dragon Knights, are here to crush them all," Ma Feng said.
"The Dragon Knights? Crushing the entire world of the Underworld? You guys must be dreamers. And besides, who gave out the information that the Syndrome would be sending me to negotiate with you, Ma Feng?" the messenger asked, groaning in pain.
"I did. And it wasn't much of a secret since I could detail how everything would be planned. I made a bet that this would be the action taken by the Syndrome—since Ma Feng would be useful to them," a feminine voice echoed.
The door opened as Beatrice walked into the cafeteria, dressed in the Dragon Knights uniform. Only Romeo was stunned, as he had no clue how Ma Feng managed to recruit her.
Upon seeing Romeo, Beatrice smirked and began to catwalk into the scene.
"Let me go, you dimwits... You just declared war against the Syndrome! You'll surely pay for this!" the messenger screamed, coughing out blood from his mouth.
Jude stared down at him.
"Of course, we will be setting you free—since we have a special mission for you. You still don't get it. The Dragon Knights will be crushing the top ten secret societies and limiting their control over the world of Light."
"This is a declaration of war!" Ma Feng said with pride.