Chapter 292: Onward To Crossbell

As always, Giliath demands your power stones!

*****

"Bye-bye, Naoto.", Tio happily responded to me, waving her hand toward my screen.

"Take care man. You better keep an eye on those things until the Professor looks at them.", Jona said, also saying goodbye to me with a warning.

"Hmph. Do not make me wait long, Naoto. I am a busy man after all.", Professor Schmidt also said to me, returning to his normal demeanor, one that was condescending.

"Says the guy who is going to make us work here all night while he gets to leave...", Jona uttered with a retort.

"Not another word, institute student. Need I remind you that you are still being graded?", Professor Schmidt responded with his usual tone.

"S-Seriously? It's clear we're over now, damn it!", Jona cursed, retorting back at Professor Schmidt.

"...", Tio tried to respond, but didn't find any words to say after hearing Jona retort that.

Instead, Tio just glanced her eyes downward, landing right on the enter key. Reaching her hand out, Jona entered a panicked state.

"W-wait, Tio--!?", Jona tried to speak out to Tio. Tio ignored Jona and just silently waved her hand at me. All of a sudden, the video call was cut off with a press of a button, and the screen vanished from my laptop. We were now left alone again in Princess Alfin's Room.

Just like that, Tio had ended the video call. I couldn't help but chuckle seeing Jona's and Tio's banter. This happened a lot later on when Jona played a more active role with the SSS. They say the more people fight, the closer they are. I am glad Tio was able to make such a friend during her stay inside the Epstein Foundation, though it sounds like Jona's taking a side route, studying at Roer's Institute of Technology under Professor Schmidt's care. He probably goes to the Epstein Foundation from time to time to work on whatever projects or studies they have going on at the time.

As I previously brought up, Jona and Tio shouldn't even be friends right now, let alone having met each other. My interference caused that, and I do think it was for the better. If it did play out like it did in the games, Tio would have been rescued by a person who went by the name, Guy Bannings, not coming into contact with Jona until later down the line. And yes, his name was literally Guy, and pronounced, Guy. Quite a character I must say.

I personally met Guy during my couple of stays in Crossbell City in the past. I even received his assistance as a senior detective, along with many other police officers to locate and destroy the remaining DG Cult bases. That event eventually became what was known as the DG Cult Extermination to the general public.

Back then, Guy was still part of a squad, whose leader went by the name, Sergei Lou. Sergei enrolled at the Crossbell Police Academy ages ago, graduating along with several others. He became a detective just like Guy did, and their squad formed while they worked inside the Crossbell Police Department.

Eventually, they would come across a person called Arios MacLaine who would join the duo, another detective at the time. I had the opportunity to come across their entire squad. Alex Dudley was also present there, who was yet another detective. He, unlike Guy and the rest, worked with CPD's First Division directly. He was the top of the line as far as cop duty went. He took on far more complex cases that others wouldn't dare to touch. That was likely why his attitude was so stern when Lloyd and the others encountered him during their work.

But Guy, man was he a hoot. He was quite expressive in what he did. He knew I was a member of royalty, and didn't treat me any differently to others. That was the charm Guy had. Even if he would have a relaxed manner during his work, which oftentimes pissed Dudley off, he still accomplished his duties. I had the pleasure of working with him during the DG Cult Extermination. Over a year has passed since then.

S1199 was likely a big year for Guy and the rest. If things played out as it did, Arios should have retired from being a cop by now. On top of that, Sergei's squad would get disbanded, only to transfer back to the CPA. And with Guy's accomplishments, he would get promoted to the First Division, getting to work alongside Dudley. At the time, I didn't know that Guy would return to Calvard to celebrate his promotion alongside the coming of the new year with Lloyd and their grandparents.

Eventually, Guy joining the First Division would create a rift with the partners he formed bonds with. This affected Arios more so than others due to what happened to him. That rift is set to happen in one...or two years, If I remember?

It was the event where Guy would succumb to losing his own life.

"Betrayed" by his own allies, no less.

I call it "betrayed", but it was a pretty big story point. I won't go into it in particular, but it's something I don't know will even happen at this point. Going to Crossbell City tomorrow will be a good thing, it should give me the perspective I need to know what is going to happen. First and foremost, I need to see if Arios departed from the CPD. If that is indeed the case, I will be able to take my next steps from there. The only thoughts to remain after that, is if I will go through with my original intentions.

That is, to save Guy Bannings in the same manner as I did for my mother, and Emma's mother. I have not found a suitable time to utilize the two souls of them I have saved, Roselia is still keeping their souls locked away inside a special container that can house them. Mostly because I don't have what I need for them, the Gnomes' homunculus technology. The alchemists of old did steal that technology from the Gnomes to use for themselves, and eventually created KeA with it, but I don't have a direct channel leading to them. I am in contact with my father now as well, who is in collaboration with the Gnomes, and since I have him investigating AI KeA's origins, it will likely be an easier path to take. That is, heading to the Black Workshop to potentially create bodies for Kasia and Isola.

That is not on my immediate horizon, I first want to check out how Crossbell City currently is doing. And more importantly, meet up with Tio again. No doubt she is expecting me to head her way the first moment I have after arriving, haha!

And boy, was I surprised to learn that Elie returned to Crossbell too. I don't know the exact time she returned, but that likely meant she finished her studies in Arteria. I haven't seen Elie in over seven or eight years. I can't believe a lot of time has passed since the events took place on Nemeth Island...

As I thought that, I felt two soft hands wrap around my neck, only to see Princess Alfin lean my way.

"Teehee, I see that look in your eyes, Big Brother. You're really looking forward to going to Crossbell tomorrow, right?", Princess Alfin said to me as she giggled. Hearing that caused me to laugh.

"Heh, you know it. Claire already purchased my flight tickets, and I have my visa with me so securing passage shouldn't be an issue. It's a bit different for members of royalty. It's not like we can just head anywhere, unless we disguise ourselves. For my intent and purpose of tomorrow's visit, I will be heading there as Liberl's Crown Prince. I just hope they don't make a big deal of it.", I responded.

"I know, right? It can get so stuffy sometimes, especially if I want to go to a boutique store that I like to shop for clothes. It's easier when I'm in school uniform since many people recognize me like that, but father always has his secret service in the shadows to protect me in times of need. It must be harder for you right, Big Brother? You're all the way out here in Heimdallr. No one is here to protect you, like they do me. Isn't Grancel worried?", Princess Alfin responded with a hint of worry in her eyes.

"That's a good premise to worry about, but you needn't worry, Alfin. I notified everyone ahead of time that I would be staying here in Heimdallr for a period of time. I should have brought a couple of guards with me, but they do know I can defend myself. And well, with how things progressed so far, I'm no longer alone, right?", I said, looking back at the scarlet-haired boy in front of me.

"You know it, Your Highness. You can be rest assured, miss princess. Your new 'fiance' is safe in my hands. We'll be like two peas in a pod!", Lechter said as he looked at Princess Alfin. Yet hearing that, my eyes twitched slightly.

"Uh-uh. Why do I get the feeling you aren't putting heart in your words, Lechter?", I retorted him.

"Hey, man. Last thing I want is a whole country turning on me. Is that high enough profile for ya?", Lechter retorted back.

"Haha, fair. If something happened to me, blood would get spilled, wherever that would be. Lechter knows his way around in a fight.", I responded, proceeding to ruffle Princess Alfin's hair.

"Umu. I will also be with you, so no need to worry.", Roselia suddenly said, jumping off the bed she was lazing around on. As I heard that, my eyes raised.

"You're coming with me to Crossbell?", I replied with interest.

"But of course. I have a personal matter to attend to there, might as well.", Roselia responded with a nod of her head.

'She must be referring to Zeit then. Maybe taking some time to check in on him?', I wondered for a moment.

"You're just looking to get a free ride, aren'tcha?", Lechter said to Roselia.

"What'd you just say, punk?", Roselia retorted back.

"Oh, nothing.", Lechter replied with a playful grin, only to place his hands behind his hand as he stood back up. A lazy look appeared in his eyes. "Anywho, that was a fun lecture about orbal energy and all, but I think it's time to hit the hay. I think the prince and princess need their alone time. Wanna come with, kid?", Lechter said to Roselia. Clear anger appeared in Roselia's the moment Lechter said that.

"I dare you call me that again, brat. I can head out on my own. Hmph.", Roselia retorted back at him again. Disregarding him completely, we all saw Roselia start heading toward the exit. As she did, I yelled out to her.

"Be sure to be at the airport by 7AM, Rose.", I shouted at her. She waved her hand at me and vanished from sight. Lechter just blinked his eyes seeing Roselia suddenly do this, before turning my way.

"Was it something I said?", Lechter responded, confused.

"She's like, over a thousand years old, dude.", I simply replied. Lechter's eyes turned wide in shock.

"O-OVER A THOUSAND!?", Lechter yelled out, not expecting me to answer him, dropping Roselia's true age on him.