"So, you want us to recover a magic artefact that no one had heard about?" Ashton asked as soon as E was done putting in her request.


    "That''s the gist of it." She replied, "Only someone from the direct lineage of Lilith can recover the artefact. Since my family is the only pureblood subi family in the gxy, the Metal Sharks targeted me to force me to get to Lilith''s staff."


    It was all news to Ashton. The rumour about E offending the metal shark was a hoax she used to hide the real reason behind their relentless attacks.


    Even Ashton found it hard to believe that a gxy-wide criminal organisation was targeting a pop star just because of a stupid remark, and his instincts proved to be correct this time as well.


    However, he couldn''t me E. If what she said was true, then thousands, even hundreds of thousands of people, wouldn''t stop at anything to get their hands on the artefact.


    ''What do you think, Astaroth?''


    [Well, E''s tale seems too farfetched to me. An artefact that can give immortality to its wielder? It sounds like something from a c-grade action movie.]


    ''And a walking zompirewolf doesn''t?''


    [No, because a ton of hybrids were already roaming the gxy. It was only a matter of time before a tribrid joined in. But then again, the subi and incubi were known to take their secrets to the grave... so it might be possible, unlikely, but possible.]


    While Ashton was busy discussing everything under the stars with Astaroth, Anna asked the most obvious questions that Ashton did not seem to care about.


    "Correct me if I''m wrong, but you''re not putting in a request with the association as you don''t want to spread the information, right?"


    E nodded.


    "Then what makes you think you can trust us?" Anna asked with her arms crossed in front of her mounds, "For all you know, we''re mercenaries. The only thing we are loyal to is money, not people."


    E smiled as if she had expected the question to be hurled at her. She looked Anna straight in the eyes and said, "Neither you nor Mr Reaper is that kind of person."


    She continued, "Thisst month, I have had the pleasure of working with Mr Reaper, and I know someone of his character wouldn''t betray a client for money. Also, considering the high regard he holds you in, you''re not someone like that. Am I wrong?"


    Anna didn''t speak at all, knowing E had more to say.


    "Also, I''m not telling you to recover the staff for me, but yourself."


    Anna raised an eyebrow when she heard that. E was not only handing them such priceless intel, but she didn''t want to artefact either. What kinds of things have this subus been sucking on?


    "Are you serious?" Anna questioned her while trying to get E''s true intentions out of her.


    "Completely." E replied, "At first, I wanted the artefact to myself for safekeeping, but now I have realised someone like yourself deserves it more. Not to mention, even if I get the artefact, I wouldn''t be able to bring out its true power. But maybe you can."


    Anna was surprised, but she still had her suspicions. Devotion could be blinding; she knew about that. However, she refused to believe that E''s intentions were pure.


    ''It could be that she wants the Metal Sharks to leave her alone, and by having me take the artefact, she would get rid of the threat looming over her head.'' Anna thought.


    The two subi were too involved in their talks that none of them saw Ashton exit the room. He had hoped Astaroth would be able to shed light on E''s words, but the fact that he couldn''t, meant one thing.


    The artefact itself predates the Xyrans.


    That was the only exnation Ashton coulde up with, and if it was true, then only one person could confirm or deny the existence of such an artefact.


    "Master! I have a question!" Ashton eximed while kicking Vulcan''s doors in, "Did the Precursors- ouch!"


    "Who the hell do you think I am, your friend?" Vulcan barked back and pped Ashton in the head.


    Watching his master get pped, Aegis immediately jumped off the bed and loudly barked at Vulcan. Even though Vulcan was his primary caregiver, Aegis still loved Ashton more than anyone else in the entire universe.


    "What do you want now?" Vulcan sighed and turned around, allowing Ashton aplete view of his room.


    "Damn, old man, did you decide to open an armoury here or something?" Ashton mumbled.


    No matter where Ashton looked, weapons or armour were scattered all over the ce. Even now, Vulcan was carrying a sword in his hands.


    "Damn, did youe here to ask stupid questions?" Vulcan imitated Ashton''s voice, "And here I thought maybe you got a useful brain cell in your head for once."


    ''Useful brain cell while this Xyran cancer lives within me? Impossible!''


    [What the fuck did I do now!?]


    ''I heard you sniggering a moment ago.''


    [Bitch.]


    "What are you here for?" Vulcan dropped the sword he had been polishing and got serious.


    "I wanted to know if your kind ever created a device that could grant eternal life to someone?"


    The look on Vulcan''s face was terrifying. Even Ashton couldn''t help but subconsciously take a couple of steps back while Aegis ran and hid behind Ashton''s legs for the first time in his life.


    "E told you, didn''t she?" Vulcan mumbled while shaking his head, "That girl would get herself into trouble one of these days."


    Suddenly, it all clicked in Ashton''s head. He always found it weird why Vulcan stuck to E''s family for centuries when he could have ruled over the gxy or something.


    But now, everything made sense. Despite his ims, Vulcan was there to protect E and her family, and by doing so, he would indirectly help preserve the artefact.


    "Stay away from the Staff of Eden," Vulcan sternly warned Ashton, "You might be the chosen one or some shit, but even you can''t tame the staff. No one can."