Chapter 260. Catching the kiss.

Aiden stood up. He took out his phone and made a video call.

It rang at the other end.

A few moments later, someone picked up.

Desmonda’s pretty face appeared largely on the screen.

"Hello..." She said, "Why is he not responding? And why is his face not showing when he’s the one who called via video chat? I should really change this phone. Or could it be the network?"

She muttered to herself.

Aiden chuckled.

"Des... you didn’t actually give me a chance to respond. Also, my hand slipped. The video button at my end went off."

"Oh, I can see your face now," Desmonda said. She grinned and hung her two hands forward in an eerie manner as if she was pulling some invisible strings. She had an expression of pure feigned nonchalance in her eyes.

"If it isn’t the Ghost Strategist himself?"

Aiden looked at her for a moment and sighed.

"Is that what they are calling me these days? Seriously, where do people get these names from? First the Crimson Reaper, then the Lodgekeeper, then this?"

Desmonda rolled her eyes as she lay on their bed in some pajamas.

She held the phone upwards.

"Dude, what else are you expecting them to call you? Aiden, you have no idea how terrifying you are. Because of how you think and process things, and how clinical you are in your methods, you view things from the lens of pragmatism. But the world sees things differently."

Desmonda rubbed her forehead.

"You just destroyed four ancient reclusive sects owned by four legendary rank 4 warriors without getting yourself even punched in the nose. The four legendary rank 4 warriors died in the end too. Everyone is talking about the Ghost Machination. Not only that, you are now ranked 4,999 on the Tyrant Fate Rankings. Your actions caused Brown Giggs to retire from the Cyrenthia Empire military as the Grand Marshal because he doesn’t want to be involved with you. Because of that, the Cyrenthia Empire became weak. The Drax Empire destroyed the Cyrenthia Empire’s royal family and absorbed the empire into theirs.

Also, 70 percent of the industries and assassin organizations in the Eldorath Empire that wanted you dead have self-annihilated themselves in fear of you. The remainder are quiet, hoping you forget about them and let them off.

For the past few days, everything has been about you. Fan pages, memes of your apologies for the ruckus, gentlemen landing before ruined Halberd and Adams Vomor, among other insane feats are all over the place. Some of the people from the Kahra Desert are even being interviewed about your feats there. One guy called Dickinson is all over the news because he spent a few months with you when you were posing as Alex Turner.

I know I’m talking too much, but the point is... people have every right to call you these names."

Aiden chuckled.

"What do you really want to say, Des? You hardly ramble on for this long."

"I miss you, babe," she said with a cute face.

Aiden shook his head and chuckled.

"Miss you too," Aiden replied warmly. "How are the others doing?"

"They are fine. Everyone is currently training hard. I actually just got back from a high-difficulty mission. Tomorrow, I’m entering a rank 2 pocket world with Asmodeus, Seraphina, Candice, and Luke," Desmonda said.

"That’s good," Aiden replied. "What about the old men and women?"

"Oh, they are fine. Cosmo, Pamela, Arica, my parents, and the parents of the others are actually headed to Took Ancient Town at the moment. Something about a mission related to a ruin discovered in some ocean. According to the mission, they have to secure many cultivation manuals of the ancient sect on this expedition. They will hand 20 percent to the university and keep the rest.

Though they have access to free university resources at the moment, this is also an opportunity they can’t pass up," Desmonda said. "We were hoping we could tag along, but they are saying only rank 3 warriors are permitted to come there or something because of the dangers in the ocean."

"Oh," Aiden was quite surprised. "I’m actually in Took Ancient Town at the moment. I will also be exploring the ruins of the ancient sect tomorrow. I should contact them and meet up with them when they arrive tomorrow morning then. As for the cultivation manuals, we will make sure to secure some for you guys."

"That’s nice," Desmonda said. "How’s the town?"

"It’s serene here. They have this really cool festival," Aiden replied as he sat down on the bench. "And the food here is very nice. Maybe we can take a vacation here someday."

"I’ll be looking forward to that," Desmonda replied.

"But... you owe me something special when you return," Desmonda revealed with a naughty expression on her face.

"What kind of man would I be if I forgot my responsibilities?" Aiden replied with a playful wink.

"Heh... you smooth talker." Desmonda’s cheeks were red. "When did you get this shameless?"

"Are you any better?" Aiden shook his head.

"You..." Desmonda laughed... "Anyway, the assassination attempts on our lives have stopped completely. We killed some legendary rank 3 assassins and expert rank 3 assassins with poisons, but the numbers kept increasing. However, after your Ghost Machination feat, the assassination attempts have ceased."

"Looks like the plan worked perfectly. Weaponising fear at the right time is helpful," Aiden thought.

"That’s good," he said. "But, the Order is getting desperate most likely. They are the only ones who will be daring enough to send assassins after me and my loved ones.

I will reach out to senior sister Vandaport and senior brother Ashbourne this evening. I heard they are in the Serma Empire at the moment. I will talk to them so that they protect you guys from the shadows for a while when you return from the pocket world mission, if they are not too occupied. The Order will most likely send beginner rank 4 assassins after me and you guys."

"Alright," Desmonda nodded. "But don’t worry too much about us."

"I know. I trust your strength and that of everyone. But, we can’t be too careful. The Order is unpredictable," Aiden said.

"What about you? If they send beginner rank 4 assassins after you and the others tomorrow during the exploration, what will you do?" Desmonda asked.

"Don’t worry about that. The ocean environment is something we are all unfamiliar with. If there’s one thing you guys know I’m good at, it’s scouting and high environmental awareness. We will use that to our advantage," Aiden said calmly. Desmonda knew he was not boasting, neither was he being egotistical. He was just being clinical and stating facts.

"Alright. Take care, babe." Desmonda smiled and blew Aiden a kiss.

"You too. Love you," Aiden replied.

"Love you too," Desmonda said. She looked at Aiden weirdly.

"What... wait, are you expecting me to catch the kiss you blew?" Aiden was shocked.

Desmonda was still silent.

"Okay, okay," Aiden shook his head.

He made a gesture and caught the kiss, then threw it into his heart.

Then, he playfully fell on the bench.

Desmonda chuckled.

"Hehhe..."

"Happy now?"

"Yeah?"

"Alright."

Aiden shook his head and hung up.

"Women..." He sighed and stood up.

Suddenly, Aiden saw two people standing near a streetlight.

"Junior brother. To think the Ghost Strategist himself will be hiding in this rundown town."

"Hehe. Seriously. You are a monster on another level. We were just in town for some local barbecue. We heard some rumors that the Ghost Strategist is in town too."

Aiden smiled.

It was Vandaport and Ashbourne.