Balance of Light and Shadow (By Chandrea) novel Chapter 198

Chapter 198

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Conrad POV

Once I shifted back, we started talking. We explained what we knew about Malik. We discussed earlier about leaving out the information about the shadows, deciding that an introduction to werewolves might be enough for one day. At the end, we just look at Agent Carter, trying to read his thoughts.

He pauses before addressing us. “So what is it you want from the agency?“.

I speak to him very bluntly. “We want to know what you know about him so we can kill him. We might also need some media support to flush him out“.

He ponders this for a moment. “We know that Malik Streling is a bit of a slippery snake who keeps reinventing himself to avoid detection. The Malik is always the same, but he changes surnames, so it has been difficult to link his crimes and follow the traditional legal system. Especially as there are no photos or concrete evidence confirming his identity on any system“.

Lewana speaks up as she is clearly thinking about something. “It sounds like you want to work with us, but that there is a catch to your offer“.

Agent Carter takes a deep breath before looking at us both. “Firstly, we want more information on your kind. Locations, numbers, strengths, power. We already have plenty of information on Conrad Strongerheart, but not a lot on your mate. She seems to have appeared overnight somehow. We need the full connection“.

I sigh. “You said firstly. What else?“.

“We want Nightstalker“.

I burst out laughing. “You are never going to get him. He hates government agencies and prefers freelance work. And if you mean you want to detain him, good luck finding a fixed location“.

“We don’t want to detain him. We want to hire him. We have been monitoring him for a while and know what he can do. We know he only does freelance work, so we want to keep him on retainer. We just need his phone number“.

I contemplate this for a moment, knowing that if I don’t leverage this deal correctly, I.could lose Nightstalker’s trust.

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Chapter 198

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“Here’s the deal, Agent Carter. You help us with Malik, and in exchange, I will call Nightstalker from my phone, and you can talk to him for two minutes. Any choices he makes are up to him.

He jumps at this. “Deal“.

I take out my phone and dial his number. As usual, he doesn’t speak when he picks up, so I quickly

explain.

“It’s Conrad. Government agency will help us with the Malik situation as long as they can talk to you about an offer for two minutes“.

The phone is silent as we wait. “Starting timer“.

Agent Carter starts talking calmly like a car salesman who is sure of the deal he is about to close. “Can I confirm I am talking with Nightstalker?“.

“No. 110 seconds left“.

A flash of frustration crosses his face before he returns to bargaining. “If I can’t confirm your identity, then there is no deal for Malik“.

“Not my problem. 100 seconds“.

He tries to change tactics. “The agency has a deal for Nightstalker, which would be very lucrative“.

“Don’t care. 80 seconds“.

Agent Carter looks me in the eyes as if willing me to help him with this, and I give him the same smug smirk he has been giving me.

He tries one last time, as he knows he is wasting time.

“One million US dollars retainer a year into any offshore account of your choosing, with the proviso that you complete at least three projects for us a year for additional payment. Agree to these terms and tell Conrad to give us your phone number“.

The line is silent for ten seconds, and I can see Agent Carter getting more desperate waiting for the response, even though he is trying to hide it.

With ten seconds left, he speaks. “Conrad. Get his e–mail and I will contact him if I feel like it“.

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Chapter 198

Then the line went dead.

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I smile at Agent Carter. “Well, I lived up to my end of the deal“.

That smug grin came back. “Not all of it. We also want all the information on wolves. Remember“.

Lewana steps forward on this one. “We won’t give you that, as we don’t think you know what you are asking. But you will have access to Conrad and me as needed, and we can handle any issues that come up relating to our kind“.

Agent Cater starts talking to her in an almost mocking tone. “What makes you think we will ever need your help?“.

This upsets her. “Because you have no idea what you are really up against. To prove it, I want to introduce you to someone“.

I can see that she is mindlinking someone, but I am not sure what she is up to. I know by now to trust her, though.

After 20 minutes, the door swung open, and a familiar face walked in, surrounded by guards, and greeted her with a large smile.

“Master. You summoned…….“. He looks around and starts growling and partially shifts. “Humans“.

Agent Carter is taken aback, and you can sense the fear in the room. “What is the meaning of this?“.

Lewana looks at him directly in his eyes. “This is a demonstration, one to show the agency and stop any ideas forming about controlling, regulating, or using our kind“. She turns and looks at the rogue. “Care to explain what you have been taught about humans?“.

He keeps growling in a menacing tone with his teeth flashing, but he remains respectful and loyal to his Luna Queen. He is clearly waiting on the order to unleash.

“Humans are nothing but rats to be exterminated. We are the superior race, and they should be grovelling at our feet. We are to rip their throats out on sight and bathe in the blood to show the others their rightful place“.

She starts petting him on the head and sends a calming aura through him. He calms instantly as he hasn’t felt one in so long, and he suddenly looks like he is trying to stay awake. It shocks me even more when he starts purring.

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Chapter 198

“We freed him and three others recently. Malik has 4000 wolves like this. Possibly more if other packs get involved. There are packs all over the world, and in total, they probably make about 200,000. How do you think you would fare against 200,000 blood thirsty wolves, Agent Carter? Are you ready for it? Or do you think you would need us to guide them like I’m doing right now to keep the peace? Your choice is simpler than you are making it. Unnecessary human bloodshed or

collaboration“.

He looks around the room for mere seconds before making his choice

“Tell us exactly what you need“.

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