My Gluttony System: I Devour God-Tier Talents-Chapter 35: The legacy!

The Safehouse was quiet as usual when Negan arrived.

He entered to find Kyrie on the couch with the sitting area cleaned up and the scent of something rather familiar in the air.

He was a casanova in his own right so he would know.

Kyrie had noticed Negan entering the vicinity of the safehouse in the periphery of his thoughts even as his hand still caressed the pendant. The significance that came with it still weighed on him.

" You okay? "

Negan asked while he moved closer to Kyrie.

"Yeah, just overfed " he responded.

Negan chuckled.

"A day with Edwin can do that to you,–by the way, White suits you "

He remarked while he moved to the kitchen and picked up a snack.

"The driver is gone. We’re switching vehicles."

Kyrie stood.

"Why?"

"Can’t be too careful. Saul agreed to the terms, but that doesn’t mean everyone in his organization got the memo."

Negan turned back to him. "Different car, different route. Simple precaution."

He took a bite off the cake as he gestured for Kyrie to follow.

There was a new vehicle waiting outside. It was alot sleeker than the carriage and less conspicuous.

Kyrie followed Negan down, and within minutes they were moving through Strevus’s streets.

As they drove Kyrie only smirk as this was the time of day in Strevus he was most familiar with.

This was the time where danger began to reel its ugly head and chaos stirred its pot.

The gas lamps along the streets were slowly flickering to life even as the crowds on the streets thinned up considerably.

The day shift was indeed over and the night shifts were slowly coming to life. The city transformed once again.

Kyrie watched it all pass by, knowing he wouldn’t see this city again for a long time. Maybe ever.

"Where are we going?" he asked finally.

Negan glanced at him. "To get you some proper clothes."

Kyrie looked at his outfit.

"What’s wrong with my clothes?"

Negan’s eyes went back to the road as he chuckled.

"Can’t have you arrive in Astria looking like a street fighter now— can we ?"

Kyrie looked at his clothes again, straightening up his weary coat as he rolled his eyes.

"Astria."

Kyrie spoke the word slowly. He’d read about it in the newspaper that morning, but hearing Negan say it made it real.

"The capital" Negan said

"---or at least that’s what the public thinks"

"One of the largest cities in the Strian Republic and a different world compared to Strevus"

"How far is it ?"

"Two days by normal transport."

"Though you’ll be taking an airship. Cuts the time to a day at most"

Kyrie’s eyes twinkled. An airship. He’d seen them in Strevus.

They were massive, floating contraptions that hung in the sky like brass whales. He’d never been on one yet.

And he was actually looking forward to it now.

"There’s someone there," Negan continued, his tone shifting.

"Someone I trust. The only other person in this world besides you."

Kyrie looked at him sharply. "Who?"

"She’ll be your guardian and help you navigate everything."

Negan’s gaze stayed forward, watching the road.

"I’ve known her since before you were born. We served together. We went through hell together. She saved my life more times than I can count. I’ve saved her when it mattered most."

"What’s her name?" Kyrie asked, quite curious now.

"You’ll meet her when you arrive. Some things are better experienced than said "

Kyrie frowned but he didn’t push further.

Negan wouldn’t budge on this—he could tell.

"You trust her completely then?" Kyrie asked instead.

"With my life and with yours."

Negan’s voice was firm and definite.

"She’s quite powerful, Kyrie and she’ll keep you safe— just don’t do anything I wouldn’t "

He smirked at the latter part of his statement.

As he continued quietly.

"This isn’t exile, don’t think of it that way. It’s an opportunity. A chance to grow"

He paused, his voice and expression more focused.

"--- Truly grow "

Kyrie nodded slowly.

"I understand."

"Good." Negan’s expression softened slightly.

"You’ll be fine."

The vehicle suddenly turned down a side street.

They pulled to a stop outside a modest but well-maintained establishment.

A brass sign hung above the door:

Harvey & Sons, Tailors since before steam.

"Best tailor in lower Strevus and discreet "

Negan said, stepping out of the car.

"Come on."

Elsewhere in Strevus...

The room was dim.

Even as machines beeped in the shadows with steady but slow rhythms.

Somewhere in the shadows, Hissing and clicking would be heard as what sounded like pressured air, fizzling in the background.

Blue dull eyes peered in the darkness as Rudolf lay still, his head wrapped in bandages.

He’d been awake for hours. Maybe even a day and the only sign of life he had saw so far was the food trays left at his door and the nurses that came to check on him.

Suddenly the door opened.

As a figure stepped inside—he looked tall with a well-built physique.

His face was obscured by the room’s dim light.

He moved closer to the bed, a lamplight caught the edge of his left arm.

It was made of metal and segmented joints. Gears could be seen beneath brass platings.

A prosthetic from elbow to fingertip.

The man approached the bedside table and set down three items.

An envelope. Sealed, unmarked.

A combat knife. Plain steel. Used but clean.

Lastly was a pistol. It seemed modified with brass gears integrated into the grip with a glowing barrel.

The man delivered the items without ceremony. Turned toward the door before he paused.

His voice was low, thick and blood curdling.

"Read it. If you want to live."

Immediately after, he disappeared like he wasn’t there in the first place.

Rudolf’s hands trembled with visible scars.

He had seen his fair share in the last few days and for some reason, this didn’t scare him as much as one would expect.

He reached for the envelope. His fingers opened the seal, as he pulled out a single sheet of paper out. A shadow still lingering within.

His eyes moved from left to right as they suddenly widened.

For a long time, he didn’t move. It felt like he was underwater, holding his breath.

Then his hand moved to the knife, and something sinister flashed across his face.

His eyes now recovered their glow.

—-

The interior of the shop was exactly what Kyrie expected.

It was organized and had a traditional smell of fabric and wood polish.

They were rows of clothes lined in the walls sorted by color and material.

There was also a large mirror that dominated a portion of the room surrounded by measuring tapes and chalk.

An old man emerged from the back, their entry alerting him.

He saw Negan and smiled warmly.

"Mr Shaw. It’s been too long."

"Harvey."

Negan clasped the man’s hand firmly with a sense of familiarity.

"I need your help. My son’s traveling to Astria. He needs a proper wardrobe"

Harvey’s eyes shifted to Kyrie, assessing with professional interest.

He gestured toward the mirror.

"Come, let’s see what we’re working with."

Kyrie stepped forward, and Harvey began pulling fabrics from the shelves—holding them up against Kyrie’s frame.

He seem to be muttering something to himself all they while.

"So what do you fancy?"

Harvey asked.

"Flashy? Or subtlety like your old man?"

Kyrie glanced at the more elaborate options– They were a bit too over reaching.

He looked a little longer before he pointed to simpler designs.

"Quality, but less colours. I don’t plan to look like a fucking peacock."

Negan nodded in approval while he sat on a stool in the corner.

Harvey nodded as well.

"Practical. I like that."

He pulled several options.

"Let’s start with these.--- He raised some clothes.

–Charcoal black, navy, brown. There were versatile three-piece suits with proper cuts."

He placed them on Kyrie’s body as if his eyes had the ability to just determine if they would fit.

"You’ll look respectable without screaming wealth."

Wealth ? Kyrie mocked inwardly. I don’t have a penny to my name.

The next twenty minutes were a blur of measurements—Harvey working his magic.

Negan watched quietly from the side.

Right now, all he was craving was the complimentary biscuits but he had a cake earlier... so he had to steel his temptations.

"Young man’s filled out," Harvey commented as he worked.

"Seems he has been training?"

"He has," Negan replied, a sense of pride in his voice.

"It shows." Harvey said while stepping back seemingly satisfied.

"He’ll wear these well. He already has the frame. Good posture and the suits will fit majestically."

Kyrie actually found it weird that the men were checking him out but remained silent.

Once the measurements were done, Harvey began selecting some pieces.

Shirts in white and cream, trousers in complementary darks, a good pair of boots, and a coat for travel.

"Astria gets cold," Harvey explained.

"Especially if you get to the city of wonders. You’ll want layers for the cold "

Kyrie nodded, watching as the pile of clothing grew.

It was still crazy when he thought about it.

He was preparing for a journey to a place he’d never seen, to meet someone that he couldn’t point out if they even sat across from him.

Harvey finished packing the selections, then paused.

"Anything else? Accessories? Scarves, perhaps?"

Kyrie glanced at the display of scarves.

"Might need one, Extra layer..."

He reached for a dark gray one, as his fingers rubbed the fabric slowly.

"Wait."

Negan’s voice stopped him.

Kyrie turned as Negan reached up and unwound the scarf from around his neck.

It was a black silk blend, worn but maintained.

It was something Kyrie had seen Negan wear constantly, in every memory the original Kyrie possessed even till this moment.

Negan folded it carefully and extended it toward him.

"Take mine."

Kyrie stared in confusion.

"What? No, I can’t"

"You can. I’m giving it to you." Negan reassured.

"But you wear this everywhere. It’s yours."

"And now I’m giving it to you "

Negan’s tone was firm as if no one could change his mind.

"Consider it a reminder."

"Of what?" Kyrie said, narrowing his eyes.

Negan paused, his electric blue eyes meeting Kyrie’s crimson.

"That you’re not alone. You’re never alone."

Kyrie took the scarf slowly, feeling the silk between his fingers. It was softer than he expected and it definitely carried weight, not physically, but symbolically.

This meant something, not just to him but Negan.

He might not be able to read his emotions with his power but he knew in his heart that this held more value than he could tell.

" Whose was it ? " He managed to ask.

"It’s the last thing I have from my mother."

Negan said quietly as his expression for the first time was distant.

"I’ve worn it ever since. Through every fight, every job, every close call. It’s been with me longer than almost anything else."

Kyrie’s throat tightened. It was like a lump had materialised in there.

"Then I definitely can’t—" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"You can. You will."

Negan’s voice was final.

" I want you to have it"

Kyrie slowly wrapped the scarf around his neck awkwardly.

Negan stepped forward, adjusting it slightly on him. A smile on his face.

He stepped back, assessing him and then nodded.

"Good. Now you look ready."

[Make meaningful connections (3/3)] - COMPLETE

Three connections. Edwin, Elaine, and Negan. The people who mattered most.

"Thank you," Kyrie said quietly.

"For everything."

Negan’s hand rested briefly on his shoulder.

"You’re my son," he said simply.

"This is what fathers do."