Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 923: Bracelet and the Collar (Part 1)

The can of beer flew across the table ending up in Adamʼs tight grip.

Unlike the dinners at Erikʼs house, the table wasnʼt covered with various, hot dishes. Orel was definitely capable of that considering what position he held.

No matter if it was the Lower Ring or the Upper Ring, K4-Phantom possessed immense wealth and resources either way. Even among ordinary people, there were rich and powerful people everywhere, not to mention K4-Phantom, the frontiers of the First Circle.

But, this was not an official meeting. Adam wasnʼt sure if anyone other than Orel and Risha knew of his presence at the Red Tower.

There were various snacks on the table, as well as beer, lots of beer.

Click.

Orel opened the lighter, igniting a cigarette before exhaling a puff of smoke.

Adam silently opened a can of beer and looked to the right of Orel.

”Whoʼs that?”

He pointed to a girl in a black dress, she had short shoulder-length black hair and calm eyes that knew how to behave in such company.

Orel smirked as he waved his hand towards the girl.

”This is Misa, sheʼs my Operator. Iʼm surprised youʼre curious about this. At the Upper Ring getting an Operator is a lot easier than here, you know?”

ʼHmm...ʼ Adam hummed. ʼMisa, right? Well, I canʼt say she looks like some slave or victim. If I hadnʼt heard so much crap from Risha and those three thugs, Iʼd see her as a regular Operator playing number two in their couple.ʼ

ʼBut...ʼ his eyes twitched to Misaʼs hand. There was a small red bracelet on her wrist, but for some reason, it looked more like a shackle than jewelry.

ʼʼWhat is that? Are the Phantoms of the Lower Ring unable to get their Operator through natural methods?” Adam frowned pointing at the bracelet.

Oddly enough, Orel was not the first to react to his demand.

”Donʼt say that,” Misa uttered sternly, drilling him with a glare. ”You donʼt know how things work around here, especially not how little you know about the way the relationship between Phantoms and Operators functions.”

Misa raised her hand so that everyone could see her bracelet.

”This is proof that Orel has complete trust in me and that we have reached a Harmony. I am happy to be Orelʼs Operator and am pleased with the way he treats me and the way our relationship is progressing. I am well aware that at the Upper Ring, the dynamic between Phantoms and Operators is completely different, but we live in two different worlds.”

Adam and Silvana gulped. Misaʼs voice was serious as if she were in court, and her gaze stern like that of a teacher who taught his stupid students basic things.

To her, Adamʼs reaction and his tone were actually offensive.

”Harmony? No, whatʼs important right now is something else. Why do you need that bracelet? And... How did you reach your point? I mean, did your relationship develop the same way as mine with Silvana? Like most of the Phantoms/Operators at the Upper Ring?” Adam asked, curiosity burning in his eyes.

Crunch.

Orel ate his chips, interrupting their conversation with a loud crunch.

”Well, well, thatʼs a lot of questions. What do you think, Misa, should we answer them?”

Misa smiled, laying her head on Orelʼs shoulder, her hand traveling down his thigh. ”Sure, these two are like lambs fallen into a den of wolves, innocent and clueless.”

”Hah, good comparison, but...” Orelʼs eyes stopped on Adam. ”He doesnʼt look like a lamb at all. If I hadnʼt intervened he would have killed Risha, no doubt about it.”

”Pffft!” Risha snorted, who with a loud pop opened a second can of beer. ”He just caught me off guard. Next time Iʼll win!”

Orelʼs eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint running through. ”Shut up. There wonʼt be a next time - youʼre dead. At least it would happen to any other person in your place.”

Risha growled, but didnʼt say anything; she silently looked away.

Then, Orel leaned back in his chair, drumming on the table.

”Hmm... Where to start?” his eyes darted to Adam and Silvana. ”Well, since youʼre so interested in Misaʼs bracelet, letʼs talk about it and the Operators in general. Misa, would you be so kind and bring the old puzzles we did a while back? Theyʼll help me explain everything.”

”Sure,” she purred as her hands ran down Orelʼs chest.

Saying nothing, Adam focused, going to listen intently to Orel.

”Anyway, like Misa said - the bracelet is a good option.”

Adamʼs eyebrow went up. ”What, the good one? Whatʼs the bad one in that case?”

”Hah, if Rishaʼs Operator were here youʼd see that, although Misa was in the same situation a while back - she wore a collar.”

”C-Collar...? Like a dogʼs?” Adam stammered.

Orel nodded deeply taking a sip.

Silvana gulped. She couldnʼt help but imagine herself in Misaʼs role. In her mindʼs eye, she appeared in a collar, just for a second but it was enough to make her face turn as red as a tomato.

”Yeah, you could say that. I mean, theyʼre special collars, you donʼt buy them at the pet store, but thereʼs not much difference in general. The collar and bracelet have two purposes, one for protection and one for control.”

Orel pointed two fingers before continuing.

”Once you were at the Lower Ring you were immediately attacked. Sure, the most valuable in their eyes was Silvana. Sheʼs a beautiful, young girl so they could definitely sell her to some brothel, maybe some rich freak or even a lonely Phantom looking for a replacement after failing with the last Operator.

”They realized she was an Operator pretty late and the reason isnʼt just because theyʼre idiots, but because they didnʼt see her wearing a collar or bracelet. At the Upper Ring, every Operator has one thing.”

”Hmm?” Adam was puzzled. ”What about the free Operators? Whatʼs the point of them wearing a bracelet, much less a collar?”

An ironic smile showed on Orelʼs face as he shook his head.

”Free Operators? Hah, Adam, those donʼt exist. Here at the Lower Ring, there are far fewer Operators than Phantoms.”