Redstone: Sanctuaries
Chapter 6: The Unspoken

Blake looked at Jose closely, able to read what the man meant. It is true that Lucy can tell whether someone is lying or being honest. If fully concentrated, the girl would catch a faint grunt in her head as one spoke; a sound that only appeared above the voice of someone lying.

Lucy's ability is Blake's ace in all negotiations. Lucy used to make a sign, telling them whether or not their interlocutors were lying, and Blake set the pace based on that information.

If Jose was smart enough to pick up on the faint cues Lucy made, that man must have had other intentions of his foolish feigning attitude from the start.

“What do you know about Ghost Relics?” Blake probed.

“That you were asked to bring the ancient relics into the underground auction?” Jose smile. “Abysmal has many members, spread out almost in half of Redstone. It is easy for you to hide and move such small items everywhere. But if I were you, I'd refuse that offer. The danger is not worth it.”

Blake still maintained a faint smile. “Thank you for the suggestion, but I didn't come for a job consultation, sir. If you have never heard the name Devon, I'm really sorry to interrupt.” He patted Lucy's arm briefly. “Devon is Lucy's sister, as well as my colleague. Last time, Lucy saw you along with Devon. But it must have just been a misview.”

“Happy we can understand each other.” Jose opened both of his hands with a gesture of acceptance. “Is there anything else I can help you with?”

Blake shook his head, then said goodbye politely. Lucy seems to object, but the girl follows Blake without making any comment.

Once outside the manor gate, Lucy returned to her voice. “She lied about not knowing Devon, but she did not hold him.”

Blake looked back, seeing that the waiter who was escorting them had gone a long way. He put his black pet hat back on. “Yes, she still insists on not knowing him despite guessing that you know he's lying for one purpose.”

“What?”

The scent of boiled beans and fries spread as the two made their way down the main road in Redstone. Blake grabbed Lucy's arm, keeping it from being separated in the human crowd. “We are suspicious of him because Devon disappeared on the Golden Path. We're on the Golden Road for stalking his chariot. By pretending to be stupid, he wants to trap us to urge him, so that we can reveal why he's suspected—which is the same as admitting that we intend to rob him of his gold."

“But the golden ducat is a lie!”

“Indeed. But that's not the problem."

Devon's been missing since yesterday. As he and Lucy move past the Golden Path, Blake believes Devon is still behind them. But after several meters of walking, he no longer felt the air of Devon's existence. Suddenly, the man disappeared.

He and Lucy immediately turn around to make sure, looking, but Devon is not there. Despite waiting all night, Devon did not come home either. The man was swallowed by the earth.

Lucy insists on assuming that Jose is somehow holding Devon back. Blake has refuted that assumption. There was no reason for Jose to arrest Devon, and there was no clue there. Lucy doesn't want to know. He intended to go alone this morning to question Jose and hear the truth right out of his mouth.

Lucy's ability is a weapon. Unfortunately, the girl was often too dependent on her ears and failed to get a feeling. Jose can't possibly meet Lucy who's nobody. That's why Blake accompanied.

“Sebentar.” Lucy stopped her steps on the side of the road. His eyes were staring around to make sure no one around them could steal a listen. “So Lord Redstone fishing Devon. And then Devon disappeared. Then he pretended not to know her because he wanted to make us miss talking? What's that complicated for?”

“It's just a game, Luce.” Blake shook his hands impatiently. “We all pretend. He pretends not to know us, we pretend never tried to rob him. We have reason to pretend, but you know what about him? All back to his original goal why he lured Devon with that bullshit about the golden ducat.”

“What is the goal?” Lucy doesn't understand.

“Exhibit strength,” tukas Blake cooler. “He knew Devon would report to me. What he wants is to show that he can destroy us whenever he wants and tell us to stay away from him. That's what he's done since he came to Redstone: show off.”

Blake took a breath. “We will find it.” Must, he added inwardly. “People can't disappear without a trace. There must always be a hint.”

***

Jose looked behind his shoulder and called out, "Mary, you're there, right?"

A few moments quiet. Then the brunettes head peered inward from the door opening. A timid smile puffed up thinly on his lips. "When did you know I was here?"

"Must. You hear everything?"

"I don't mean to eavesdrop" said Maria as she walked over. His face looks sorry. "I was just wondering what their faces were like, but they were hunting. That's why I can't show myself."

"This is your home" said Jose. "Of course you deserve to know whatever's going on here. Don't feel guilty." He patted the spot on his side, asking Mary to sit down.

"What is Ghost Relic? Are we having trouble with ghosts?"

Jose laughs. "The name is indeed the Ghost Relic, but it has nothing to do with real ghosts. It is so called because the relics were taken from the graves of the dead. Grave robbery."

"Whose tomb?"

"Old kings, their graves dismantled and robbed. Redstone is a hive of takers and a dark auction." Jose pondered, thinking about where to clear up all the problems. "Abysmal is one of the driving wheels. I was gonna bend Mr. Krucher fished it out using the gold ducat info. But Devon's missing. Maybe that's why the bait wasn't eaten."

"You want to recruit Blake, but you also want to destroy his little syndicate. That's kind of ... contradictory, right?"

"Of course not. I want Mr.'s brain. Krucher, his charisma, not his parasitic gang."

Maria watched Jose for a long time. "As for the girl just now, she can actually read your mind?"

Jose thought about Lucy for a few seconds. His expression, the girl's surprise, his reaction. "Obviously he could tell if I was lying or not. Somehow. Maybe I'm off guard."

"Then about Devon? You don't want to look for him?"

"Well, I offered to help, but they refused. My bargaining position would be low if I showed interest in helping them. Let's see how it goes next." He patted Mary's arm briefly, sinking the soft fingers in his hand. "Later to go for a walk?"

"Yourselves?" Maria curled one eyebrow high. "certain. Walk in what order?"

Jose smiled knot. "Hunting."

***