The Strongest Curse Master

"Move, I have places to be," I said sternly, flying past special agent Sugarmite and heading toward the servant villa, hoping Dee3 would meet me. But knowing her, it will require persuasion. As for her blurting out about me raiding the Base Wulfric, I wasn't mad or disappointed with her. She didn't do it on purpose, and it was me who pressed her for an answer.

Honestly, I never expected her to guard my secret from others for me. The same was true for all my friends and family. I don't want my friends and family to feel burdened with my secrets. I was being genuine when I assured Elinor that I was fine with her ratting me out. No matter how well guarded a secret was, they all have a tendency to come out someday. At least this way, my friends or family won't have to make a liar of themselves because of me.

"Kid, a word of advice, honey catches more bees," Sugarmite said, suppressing her annoyance. She wondered if it was just this boy or if all teenagers had a knack for getting on people's nerves.

"No, old timer, money catches more bees," I said with a chuckle. I could be more humble when dealing with people, but my young age and low curse-tier make it hard for people to take me seriously, let alone respect me. So, I have to earn it the hard way, by challenging and defeating them on their turf.

I don't blame them for it. I, too, wouldn't take a teenager seriously even if he played a pivotal role in killing a Void-tier Curseling. I believed that respect had to be earned, not begged. It was a two-way street.

"Ace, wait up," Lola hurriedly followed after her friend. She had nothing else to do with the situation handled and the training being canceled midway. Besides, her family was at the Landers, who threw an outdoor BBQ with the Lorens and the Martins celebrating that the storm warning was a false alarm. As if Dan needed a reason to start his outdoor grill.

"Madam EAD, do you think I can get a raise this year?" Agent Sugarmite asked her immediate superior sorely, feeling the boy, though annoying, was right about money catching more bees than honey.

"Get in line," EAD Matthews didn't reject Sugarmite. Instead, she told the truth that they're on the same boat. Just a couple days ago, she had to moonlight as a curse exorcist to save up for her daughter's curse core awakening ceremony. Fortunately, she managed to recruit a couple of capable teammates and bag two innate sky-tier curse tools as her share of loot. Otherwise, she would have to use her vacation days to continue the mercenary work to gather the money.

"You guys know you don't have to live like this, right? My family is hiring. With your curse-tier and experience, they will easily give five-times your sum pension as the joining bonus, maybe even more. It's been a while since I have been down there," Delores teased the duo for being poor government dogs. These guys were so loyal to the corrupt system, even dogs were ashamed. One had to know if Delores of all people was mocking you for your blind loyalty, then it was bad.

"Five-times my sum pension!" Agent Sugarmite blurted in shock. Even Matthews appeared to be tempted. They would be lying if they said otherwise. However, they knew more money meant more strings. Not like the government's money was free, but they could live with it. Still, Agent Sugarmite couldn't help but utter, "Ma'am, I could use that kind of money…"

"You and I, Sugarmite. You and I..." EAD Matthews found it hard to brush it off even though this was not the first time someone offered her a big number. She was not here for the money but power, that comes from authority. She can't get it within the McSuile family as they would never share their true inheritance with her. She was sure of this as even those that married into the McSuile family failed to get it.

"Aaaahh!"

A sudden scream jolted the trio from their conversation and towards Ace, who was now covered in brilliant golden light while his screams grew louder and more heart-wrenching with passing second. Without a word, Matthews hurried to secure Lola, who was right next to him. She was her prized horse. If something were to happen to her, her dreams of ever making it to the capital would shatter even before they took off.

…

"Marcus, that was the legendary Dee3, wasn't it?" Agent Marcus's sky-tier partner asked as they headed towards the local C.I.B. branch headquarters to deposit the loot before getting the clearance for the secret facility to check-in the curse terrorist group they caught.

"Was she? Maybe you made a mistake." Marcus was still not willing to acknowledge having seen Dee3.

"I have a curse tool that needs repair. Do you think she wouldn't mind repairing it for old times' sake?" Agent Marcus's partner continued on as if Marcus's words meant different meaning to him.

"No," Agent Marcus answered with exaggerated disbelief, but noticing that his partner still wasn't convinced, he explained, "If she wanted to repair curse tools for free, she would never have left Base Wulfric, risking everything.

"If it were me, I would prefer to be left alone."

"But it's a curse tool with skills that complement my curse abilities. I don't think I can find another one like this—" Agent Marcus's partner still couldn't let it go, causing Marcus to blurt out in annoyance, "Stop being cheap and just give it to Aurelian Eyes."

"At her rates, I can buy a new curse tool," he commented, only for Marcus to remark, "Then, don't think of it as you're repairing your old curse tool but buying a new curse tool similar to your old one. You know she is that good."

"True that—" Agent Marcus's partner abruptly went silent and began to free fall to the ground like a untethered kite. Before Marcus could reacted, he felt a sting on the back of his neck and he too began to fall, unable to move a single muscle or curse energy in his body. From the corner of his eyes he did notice a blood-red hummingbird-shaped Curseling watching them plummet to their death.

However, soon a figure flashed in the sky and collected their descending bodies.