Chapter 9: Soul Stones (updated)

The sunlight, barely past its zenith, streamed through the restaurant windows, bathing the tables in a soft, golden haze. It was then that Ye Fan spotted Li Chen, a sight as unexpected as it was. Li Chen, notorious for his lazy tendencies even as a child, had always been more at home under the covers than under the sun. Yet, here he was, clad in the Shadow Eclipse Society's black uniform, a friendly grin splitting his sun-kissed face. His sleek, black hair framed his features, drawing the eye to his tall, lean figure as he slid into the seat opposite Ye Fan.

"Hey Boss!" Li Chen's voice was a touch too loud for the intimate setting, but the genuine surprise in his eyes was hard to miss. "I finally caught up, I thought I was the only one kidnapped by the society, but later I found your details for a friend I made recently. How is it boss, are you an awakener now?"

Ye Fan leaned back in his chair, the question catching him off guard. The warm sunlight seemed to intensify for a moment, highlighting the dust motes dancing in the air. He studied Li Chen for a beat, the playful glint in his eyes hinting at both curiosity and perhaps a touch of skepticism.

"An awakener, huh?" Ye Fan murmured, tapping his fingers against the tabletop, and spoke slowly. "Yes." The confirmation was quiet, almost swallowed by the hum of conversation in the restaurant.

Li Chen's eyes widened, the playful glint replaced with a mixture of awe and something deeper, a flicker of uncertainty. He leaned forward, the air crackling with unspoken questions. "But... how?" he breathed, his voice barely a whisper. "Didn't they say it was impossible?"

"It's all thanks to the Mind Shadow Parasite; it played a crucial role in completing my gene optimization," Ye Fan responded, and a careful hush settled between them at the mention of the parasite, one rumored to manipulate and consume minds.

"The Mind Shadow Parasite, huh?" Li Chen's voice dropped to a somber tone, his thoughts drifting into a realm of melancholy.

Observing Li Chen's reaction to the term "Mind Shadow Parasite," Ye Fan sensed that it resonated with him as well. Seizing the opportunity, he inquired, "Did they subject you to the same process?"

"Yes Boss, I'm also an awakener now." Li Chen's response hung in the air, heavy with unspoken hesitation. "But..." he trailed off, his gaze flickering away from Ye Fan's. The shadows in the restaurant seemed to twist and dance, mirroring the turmoil in his eyes.

"It's okay, Li Chen," Ye Fan said softly, his voice devoid of judgment. "If you're not comfortable talking about it now, that's fine. Just know that you're not alone in this. We're in this together, whatever your experience has been."

His words seemed to crack open a dam within Li Chen. He took a shuddering breath, his jaw clenching and unclenching. "It's just... the parasite," he began, his voice barely a whisper. "It feels like a whisper in the corners of my mind, always urging me, pushing me towards... things I don't fully understand."

"We'll figure this out together," Ye Fan assured, offering a reassuring smile and a firm grip on Li Chen's arm. He knows how hard it is when they realize that now their life and death are in the hands of someone else. Li Chen, the son of Uncle Li who served under Ye Fan's father, had been acquainted with Ye Fan since childhood. Always trailing behind him and addressing him as "boss," their connection ran deep.

Unlike Ye Fan, Li Chen, a few years younger, possessed remarkable talent and was on the cusp of becoming an awakener. However, the society had opted for an unconventional route, utilizing the Mind Shadow Parasite to expedite his awakening, albeit at the cost of consuming his life force.

"Alright, spill it, Chen," Ye Fan leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "What intel did you manage to snag about our little mission tomorrow?"

Li Chen leaned in slightly, making sure their conversation remained private. "First off, the Shadow Eclipse Society ain't one big ol' happy family. We're split into branches, each with their own hidden agendas, and the competition is fierce."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "Our branch stuck out here on the eastern front where the ocean meets the land, we're the seventh amongst these island rats. Our main hustle? Digging up this mineral called Soul Stones."

As they delved into the complexities of the society's objectives, the restaurant door swung open, ushering in a wave of savory smoke and the mouthwatering aroma of black pig roast. The tantalizing scent, laced with the tang of herbs and the char of coals, immediately snagged their attention. Ye Fan's stomach growled audibly, a stark counterpoint to the hushed intensity of their conversation.

Li Chen chuckled, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Looks like our intel gathering session will have to wait," he teased, nudging Ye Fan playfully. "Duty calls, Boss. And in this case, duty smells like roasted perfection."

Ye Fan grinned, the tension of their conversation momentarily dissipating. The sight of the black pig roast, glistening with golden fat and adorned with fresh herbs, was all the persuasion he needed. "You're right, Chen. Let's continue our discussion while we eat," he said, raising an eyebrow suggestively.

The roast served on a massive wooden platter, the charred skin crackled like crackling fire, encasing succulent, juicy meat within. Aromatic vegetables roasted alongside the pig, bathed in the rich drippings, while bowls of creamy garlic sauce and tangy chimichurri promised additional bursts of flavor.

A shared silence descended as they dug into the feast, each bite was a revelation, the smoky, herbal flavors exploding on their palates. As their hunger subsided, Ye Fan leaned back, wiping his grease-stained fingers with a satisfied sigh. "That was a masterpiece," he declared, nodding to the platter. "Almost makes me forget about the whole Soul Stone mess for a moment. Do you know what this stone is for?"

Li Chen stopped eating listened to his question and spoke "This is a very rare mineral found in nearby Islands, mainly used for creating different types of devices, vehicles, and mostly many kinds of weapons. this mineral consists of rare characteristics of responding to mental fluctuations like our SkyDrive. Shadow Society's been digging for this gem for the last 70 to 80 years, but they are at war with aboriginals of these huge islands causing a setback in mining. This is the also reason why they brought us here and used every means to control us, we are just cannon fodders on the battlefield with Aboriginals."

Li Chen's words painted a clearer picture of the Shadow Eclipse Society's activities and objectives, and Ye Fan couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease. The realization that they were essentially being used as pawns in a larger conflict was unsettling. The society's pursuit of the rare Soul Stone mineral was driven by a need to gain a strategic advantage in their ongoing war with the aboriginals of the islands.

Ye Fan leaned in, spoke in a hushed tone, "Do you have any idea why they are so desperate to obtain this Soul Stone? Is it because of its unique properties, or is there something else driving them in this war?"