The office was nice, one wall was filled with bookcases with all sorts of books from pre and post 2100. I left the older books alone and focused on the books that were focused on the Towers of Tribution and the Labyrinth. There were a ton of theories out there about both, as there were references to them from humanity's oldest civilizations dating back nearly five thousand years.

  Sadly, the references were obscure, to say the least, and what little scientists could transte didn't agree on anything. Yet I thought it was all craze as some of it referenced Atntis, which hadn't ever been proven as even real in any way.

  Either way, I thought finding the origins of both was important to revealing how and why they were here. The Dungeon Rifts were linked to the growing amount of ambient Mana that was slowly building up around the world. As this had never happened in recorded history, they had no clue if the Dungeon Rifts were just the start or just the result of the towers and Labyrinth appearing.

  According to one study, the number and difficulty of Dungeon Rifts increased as time passed. They thought this indicated the rifts were just a precursor for something else that was coming, but the scientists had no clue what that was or when it would happen. "You annoyed Yuki st night!" Serafina stated as she walked into the office.

  I shrugged my shoulders, "I warned her that I was probably going to fall asleep, not like I had a choice in the matter." I had practically fallen asleep at the table after I finished eating.

  I honestly wasn't sure how I had gotten back to my room or in bed, but I had managed to do it with help I assumed, "Well you need to speak to her, she had real interest in starting something with you, but she wants to make sure there are ground rules before anything serious starts to happen." I nodded my head and retrieved my phone.

  I stared at her expectantly until Sara smiled and rattled off her number, I quickly added it to my contacts and sent her a quick, short, message. "We are leaving in thirty minutes, if you want to take a shower before we do I suggest you get going," Sara commented before turning and started to leave.

  I stopped her with my comment, "What is your retionship with Yuki? Friends? Something more?" I prodded her as I put the books I had taken out, away.

  Sara frowned, "Friends certainly and occasional fuck buddies, but nothing serious as I pn to move back to New York after my contract is up with Marcus. It's one of the reasons why I am trying to see if you two can work something out, or not. Before you ask about Adriana, I doubt she is looking for anything long-term as she is on a contract as well and I have heard from her that she pns to move closer to home in two years." Serafina stated before leaving.

  I shook my head, I knew I was expected to have a bunch of women around me because of my increased libido, but that didn't mean I was going to fuck every woman I found attractive. I could interact with them without trying to have sex with them. I headed for my bathroom and enjoyed the shower; it was very nice with all the various showerheads and plenty of hot water.

  I noted that Yuki had texted me back, we had a short and quick conversation covering a few things with a promise of a longer conversation when we stopped to pick her up at the university on the way home. "Suite, not informal wear," Sara advised as I looked at my new wardrobe.

  I frowned as I looked at her but did as she advised and added a red and bck striped tie to go with the suit. "Happy?" I asked her as I donned my new shoes, that I was still breaking in.

  Never thought I would own more than one pair of high-end shoes, but I now did, "Yes, now you look professional, and how it's expected for someone of your station." I snorted and shook my head.

  "The money I have and my new biology and phycology, don't change me at my core, I am still the man who chooses to go through Intergration. Sure, it was for a chance at more revenge, but beyond that, power and wealth mean very little to me." I told her as my phone rang.

  I checked the screen and smiled, "Hey Sam, what's going on?" I asked my old friend.

  "Elizabeth reached out to me trying to get ahold of you, what do you want me to do?" Sam quickly reported.

  I couldn't stop myself from whistling, I hadn't spoken to my adoptive sister in years, not since just after I married my ex, and st, I heard she was busy abroad researching the Dungeon Rifts. We had a lot of personal history, and it had ended badly for multiple reasons, "Sure why not, I am already hip-deep in the shit, might as well pile it on. Give her my number, but make sure she doesn't expect any favors from me." I told him my position.

  Sam knew the story somewhat and chuckled, "Understood, did the associate from Dals reach out?" I smiled as I followed Sara out of my room and towards the stairs.

  "Yeah, one Alice Baker reached out and took all the information down and told me it would take a few days to get everything rolling and also told me she would have to inform the senior partners of the new development with my account," I told him.

  Sam grunted, "True, being what you are now you have a steady income that will probably only increase over the coming years. That means that senior leadership for the firm will want you happy and will more than likely want a face-to-face sooner rather than ter." he quickly informed me.

  I frowned as I walked through the front door, "Why would they want to meet me?" I asked him, earning Sara's attention as the small convoy pulled away from the main house. I sighed and tapped the button, "You are on speaker Sam, if you need to tell me anything private, let me know." I quickly updated him.

  Sam cleared his throat, "I have done my research since we st talked, of the Awakened about three percent are Vampires and about five percent of them are Purebloods. While not everything is spelled out, if you read between the lines you are going to be important in the long run, if you survive the coming days." the wyer commented.

  "Is that why, I assume, the leadership of the firm you work for will want to speak to Mr. Bck?" Serafina inquired.

  I quickly introduced the two, "To put simply, yes. Aaron was well off even after the firm received its cut of the profits, and now he is not only an Adventurer but Awakened of some importance of your community. It will draw their attention and make them interested to see if you will survive long term or not. Don't be surprised if they start throwing stuff at you to keep your money and legal representation with Adrian, Cartwright, and Jones." I blinked, surprised while Sara chuckled.

  I sighed, "You and your people did me a real solid and went to bat for me when everything had turned to shit, I won't forget it and that will carry a lot of weight with me. That doesn't mean I will give them carte bnche to be maniputive shits with me. As long as they are honest with me and do their jobs as best as they can, I don't expect anything else." I told him.

  Sam chuckled, "Well when the meeting happens, try to be reserved and not be as open as you are with me. They will think it makes you weak and less likely to survive the politics you find yourself in." he advised before we signed off. I leaned back in my chair, "Yet another thing I am in over my head with...Has the world gone crazy or is it me?" I asked Sara.

  Sara smiled and patted my thigh, "Neither the world nor you have gone crazy, you have just dipped your toe into a very deep pool and got pulled in by what you have become." Sara tried to assure me.

  Adriana chuckled, "No kidding, I thought it was bad enough when I became a Tiger-Kin, but all I had to worry about were some human supremacist, you got to worry about them, the religious types, Vampire, and other Purebloods." I frowned at her.

  Sara cleared her throat, drawing the Brazilian woman's attention and causing her to blush. "Yes, I have entered a very dangerous world I didn't know about. My eyes are opened now, and I am going to do the best I can to stay alive and thrive." I told them as our small convoy wound our way through downtown Dals.

  It was the middle of the afternoon, so traffic had lessened somewhat. "When we get out, do what I say. I don't expect any problems, but if any of the other Matriarchs and Patriarchs from this area are going to take a shot at you, it will be here." Adriana informed me as she did her check of her equipment.

  I studied her in silence for a few moments before seeking the mental void as we slowed to a stop in front of a rge pza, "I will listen Adriana." I told her and the Brazilian nodded her head as she opened the door and exited the vehicle I checked the area myself as I went over the lessons from my csses.

  The mental void allowed my mind to focus on my senses and filter out everything through my enhanced senses. The number one lesson the instructors had given us, after our Intergration was to listen to our instincts. Humans had them and the Intergration amplified them somewhat to help increase our chances at survival, and only the arrogant and stupid ignored them.

  I tried to avoid both as I wanted to live for the foreseeable future, I couldn't have my revenge if I was dead, so I focused on those instincts that had been honed carefully over the st three years. As I stepped out of the SUV after Adriana opened the door, I began noting things as one of the other security guards took point and led us across the pza.

  I mentally noted a few carts and people working, eating, and interacting, as well as the fountain and statues in the middle of the pza. I started evaluating the people and discounting them as threats, I was about halfway across the pza when I felt it. While I had grown accustomed to the studious stares of the security personnel while out and about, the familiar instincts of being hunted made me almost smile.

  I quickly checked the conditions as I continued to eliminate possible threats until only unseen ones remained as I varied my pace. It drew Sara and Adriana's attention almost instantly, but I shook my head slightly. I noted Adriana speaking into her mike as we crossed the distance I noted based on the conditions that whoever was hunting me couldn't be ahead of me, but either to the side or behind.

  I studied the building in front of us and made my choice as we neared the entrance, which would bottleneck and slow us down. I cut to the side and pointed in the distance, like I was showing Serafina something, as soon as the rge pilr obscured us, I pinned Sara against it as I slowly peeked around it and I scanned the building on the opposite side of the pza.

  The only warning I got was a reflection of light, the world seemed to slow down around me as I moved. I felt a slight burning against my cheek and a loud crash as I turned, putting the pilr at my back as Adriana started to react. She was moving too slow in my opinion, and I reached out grabbed the Tiger-Kin by her vest, and yanked her behind the pilr as everything sped back up I noticed my Mana gauge had emptied and I had a sudden and vicious headache.

  Screaming and the sound of crashing gss filled the air as Adriana began barking orders, but didn't try to fight my restraining arms as I held her against my body. "South side, grey-bck building, red sign hanging in the front. The sniper is on the roof!" I called out to her as the four other security guys scrambled to get behind the cover while yelling at the crowd to get down.