Meanwhile, Noel was home in Yonkers, New York. She got most of her work done and decided to watch a movie in the living room that afternoon.

Suddenly, her smartphone rings, and she answers it, “It is a new and beautiful afternoon at the Imperatoris De Neque Estate; may I ask who is calling?”

“Noel, do you have to say that every time somebody calls?” Bĕhēmōṯ responded.

Recognizing Imperatoris De Neque’s voice, Noel became delighted, “Your Majesty, you’re awake at this hour!”

“Yes, I couldn’t sleep, yet Fate sleeps like a log… Rosa and I started binge-watching on pro wrestling shows. I heard you talked to Anderson a few days ago in London, claiming you wanted to recruit her…” Bĕhēmōṯ said.

“But?” Noel contradicted.

“I don’t think it’s something that she wants to do at all,” Bĕhēmōṯ admitted. “And I don’t want to force anybody to change their mind on my account.”

“It’s best we all find our own way. Who knows, with one-way crosses another, you will meet each other again,” Noel comforted.

“Maybe it does… maybe it doesn’t…” Bĕhēmōṯ wavered. “I just came back from Buckingham Palace. I see you have taken Lizzie’s airship out for a spin! I just got off the phone with her grandson and his wife.”

“And I see you were looking very fashionable yourself on Harry’s Instagram,” Noel teased. Bĕhēmōṯ was never really a man of fashion, due to his size.

Naturally, he was a bit embarrassed by his new style of dressing, “I-I stick out like a sore thumb, to begin with, Noel! I wanted to stay low-key…”

“No, your Majesty, you look very distinguishable,” Noel commented. “So, I take it you are done backpacking your way all through Europe, and your meeting with several world leaders was a success. You two are heading back to New York City, your Majesty?”

His Majesty cleared his throat as he regained his composure, “I successfully had talks with the European monarchs in the Royal Nephalem Order and elected officials alike without incident. There are so many things that I was so blind and deaf to for so many years, only to finally see the world with a clear vision and to listen with clear hearing…”

Reminiscing about the past, his royal advisor briefly reported on what has happened so far, “During your departure, Adrian Eichner and her dementors tried tirelessly to keep their old way of life when the United Nations stepped in. Out of desperation, the United Nations aided the help with the long past defected Apex Predators to make that wouldn’t happen. They did more than their fair share of supporting the United Nations to fulfill their own agenda.”

“Didn’t work?” Bĕhēmōṯ questioned.

“Shockingly, it did. Things have been a bit of a stalemate between everyone since Natalia Silvestri went missing. Dolph’s rumored rebranding of the syndicate was a shock to many and not because of the name. It seems they are changing their whole entire culture as well.”

Bĕhēmōṯ sighs deeply at the thought, “He is really trying to go through with it… You know, try to start over. Which is okay, to an extent… But those four young Diaras along with Alpha Crucis… They really did a number on them and completely outclassed the entire syndicate, didn’t they?”

Noel shrugged her shoulders at the thought, “it was bound to happen sooner or later, your Majesty. Poor hindsight on their part, thinking they are invincible. Even now, most of Adrian’s minions and some of her own inner circle are not entirely on board of this new ‘change’ if you would call it that.”

“People are always looking for dramatic events to shake them out of one’s apathetic/stagnant way of thinking and back in the day couldn’t remotely accomplish that even if they tried by giving them another 100 years. And, no. It wasn’t just Natalia. I have come to the realization that she was a tool, a figurehead to push one’s perversion of dominance.” Bĕhēmōṯ lectured.

This intrigued Noel, “What did you think was wrong, Your Majesty?”

“They just accepted their fate,” Bĕhēmōṯ answered. “Change is inevitable. You must redesign and rebuild, and they didn’t do that. Somebody else ended up claiming what was theirs, and in the end, even if they do try to redesign and rebuild, they can never reclaim what was taken from them. They won’t. They will try their hardest to keep it from them. Although, it was handed to them on a silver platter by their grandmaster.”

“These people who have claimed what the Nether Elite was; it’s only going to be a matter of time when they are going to test the waters and see if these competitors are ready, willing, and able to keep up,” Noel stated as this made her Majesty chuckle.

“Are you worried about Zayne and the others?”

Noel playfully scoffed, “Quite frankly, I’m actually worried about anyone who is going to one on one with Mordechai. They should be worried about him.”

This made Bĕhēmōṯ snort with laughter, “I guess, everyone is wondering when Alastair Copeland is going to come out of hiding.”

Noel, being the bearer of bad news, “I don’t know the legal ramifications of being somebody back from the dead, but--”

“Dead?” Bĕhēmōṯ shockingly questioned as Noel explained herself.

“Yes. I mean, Alastair Copeland has been gone for five years after the fire that burned down the headquarters. More like Dolph declared him dead to scare off anybody who wants to hunt down the whereabouts of their disenfranchised jackal boy. Him being ‘dead’ was the best way to protect Alastair from so many people who wanted to kill him out of revenge, if he was still alive. I mean, at one time, your little ‘friend’ issued a $200 million bounty for him to be brought back alive. Of course, Adrian didn’t say what she wanted to do with him, but we didn’t have to go through any specifics…” Noel explained.

The dejected Bĕhēmōṯ have shuttered to think, “Well, is a good thing you never did take up on her offer.”

Noel giggled at the thought, “Indeed, your Majesty. Even if that old hag wanted $200 million for your “engorged nut sack,” as she called it, Lady Testament was still a cheapskate about it.”

Bĕhēmōṯ laughed a bit as he brought up their current topic, “I am not very surprised that the Apex Predators are an being independent squad. Those four were deemed as a bunch of psychos, but they were right about everything.”

Noel nodded in agreement, “Indeed, especially that Thomasina girl. She really is a card.”

Bĕhēmōṯ shakes her head, “All have their little quirks and imperfections.”

“Yes, we can’t have perfect people walking among us. If that would ever happen, who would we ever inspire to hate?” Noel lectured. “I just want you to be optimistic in your new position. Just like the new Memento,” Noel boasted.

Bĕhēmōṯ scoffed at the idea, “Yeah. I find it quite ironic that he and I started our new journeys at the same time.”

“As I said before: with one-way crosses another, it’s destined to happen. Many things are intended to occur. No matter how hard you try to avoid something or someone. Destiny will always intervene and bring those together,” Noel lectured as this puzzled Bĕhēmōṯ a little bit.

“Yeah, I guess…”

“I believe I didn’t tell you how I ended up in Navarasa’s care.”

This was a touchy subject for Bĕhēmōṯ, “I’ve always thought you were always like Navarasa.”

“Oh, no. To be honest, I was a bit of a ruffian in my home country. I was in pretty horrible shape,” Noel admitted.

“Noel…”

“It’s fine now. I believe you earned this story… My story,” Noel insisted.