Cyberpunk: Ultimate Cyborg System-Chapter 493: Lobster.

[Dante,] Just as he was about to walk over to the table, his resident AI spoke up. [There are a few things you should know about this place.] 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

’Go on,’

[First, I am detecting Aether signatures from those three.] A red line washed over the pastor and his guards. [It is very likely that they are Aeterians.]

’Sorcerers?’

[Yes,] Volcan said. [The second thing I would like you to be aware of...]

As he listened to his resident AI, the frown Dante was trying to suppress quickly took over his face. That seemed to finally catch the attention of the pastor. Putting down his chopsticks, he took a napkin and wiped his mouth.

"So, you are the one," he said. "The Red Demon who crushed Riot. The Cyberpunk."

"And you are the Pope?" Dante replied. "Never thought the day I see a Junhean pastor would come."

"The Sacred Word is for all of humanity. One only needs to open their hearts and listen."

"Yeah, not a big fan of religion,"

Dante walked over to the table, pulled a chair, and sat down. He grabbed the menu that was in front of him and looked at it in silence for a while.

"Is the lobster good?" He asked.

"As good as it gets." The pastor replied.

"Then I will have that."

A couple of minutes later, a woman dressed in traditional Junhean clothes entered the room, placed a tray in front of Dante, then left with the cart she had come in with. The tray had a simple boiled lobster served on Romaine lettuce. I came with a small bowl of sauce and a sliced lemon. It had been some time since he had it, so Dante chose to order the cooked sea creature with its shell, wanting to enjoy it the traditional way.

The pastor was graceful enough to keep his silence as Dante took the first bite, but it looked like he planned on talking while they ate.

"I was told that you wanted to talk to me."

"Hm? Oh, yeah," Dante bit on the tender meat hanging from the pincer he had just plucked. Pulling it out with his teeth, he quickly chewed before swallowing. "Did they tell you what happened?"

"I heard most of the story." Said the pastor.

"Then you should understand why I’m upset." Dante pulled on the other pincer of the rest of the lobster. "No one wants to be shot at while out on a walk. I don’t even remember having beef with your people."

The pastor listened intently, chewing on the dumpling he had just dipped in the dark brown sauce. He spoke shortly after Dante turned his focus to the steaming pinkish-white meat.

"We also have no... beef with you in particular," he said. "Our problem is with Riot and Red Rage. Since you took over, isn’t it only natural that you would inherit those problems?"

"I guess you have a point."

Dante said nonchalantly, then returned his focus to the lobster meat. He was a gang boss now, and that gang is looking to control a contested territory. Bone Crown was far from the only rival he had, and if he didn’t get his act together, his people would be the ones to suffer.

"Well, you might have a problem with me, but I don’t really have one with you," Dante cracked the shell of the lobster’s tail. "I will pretend that today didn’t happen, so let’s not escalate this more than it should."

One of the tall guards came forward and cleared out the plates the pastor had emptied. Right after, the other one came forward with a tea set and poured a cup. The pastor picked it up, blew the steam away, and took a sip.

[His Aether is stirring,] Volcan said. [I believe he is in the process of activating a spell.]

Dante’s hand stopped, and his eyes shifted, narrowing as he looked at the old man in clergy attire.

"I came here to talk after your people attacked me. I like to think I’m a patient man, but if you try anything here," Dante said, snapping what remained of the lobster’s shell. "I won’t hold back."

The old pastor raised an eyebrow, making his right eye visible. A moment later, he let out a chuckle.

"Youngsters these days," he said. "You get a taste of power, and suddenly you think you can take on the world."

"And as always, elders never see the end until it’s already too late,"

The comment brought a frown to the pastor’s face, and the two glared at each other for a very long second. The guards in the back tensed up, their muscles high-strung. As if none of that mattered, Dante went back to his food, dipping the pinkish meat into the buttery sauce.

"Well, do as you like," Dante said. "If you’re still around after today, I will handle you myself."

He began chewing again, as if he hadn’t just delivered a massive threat. Confusion flashed on the old pastor’s face, and a moment later, the room’s door slammed open.

"Boss! We’re-"

The building trembled. Something exploded on the first floor, and from the looks of it, the same happened on the ones above as well. The pastor looked up at the ceiling, then his gaze whipped in Dante’s direction.

Without a care in the world, Dante focused on his food, taking his time enjoying every bite. Something seemed to catch the pastor’s attention the next moment, and his head turned to the right. A shadow fell on the window, and glass shattered the next instant. Something crashed into the room—something large, white, and covered in fur.

The pastor leaped back, and the two tall guards moved forward to protect him. Spears fell from the ceiling and into their hands, and they quickly took fighting stances. Nevertheless, none of that mattered.

The white creature came at them with a speed they couldn’t react to, and with just two blows, their weapons shattered, and they were sent flying into the walls. The table rattled, and the tray in front of Dante bounced. Thankfully, he had picked the sauce bowl beforehand, avoiding it being spilled.

For a moment there, Dante thought that the chaos would resume right away, but seconds passed with nothing happening. Just as he thought to raise his head and check-

"It’s you..."

The voice was far from familiar, but it brought back the strange discomfort he felt when driving to the district. What’s strange was the hint of recognition it carried. Wanting to clear the confusion, Dante looked up. When he saw the fur-covered face looking down at him, a flood of memories came back to him, and his face was instantly warped with disgust.