CH 2: A NEW STEP (2)

The atmosphere becomes somber without any trace of previous merry atmosphere. It wasn't that their relationship was fake, but, there was a line between work and personal matters.

"So, When was I supposed to know that something like that happened in our Japanese branch?"

Dulio sighed while scratching his head, this situation was really uncomfortable but he had to say it.

"I am the one who ordered the silence."

The pressure in the room become heavier at those words,

"...Why?"

"I know your personality. I knew that once you learned about this, you would rush in Japan head first."

Az nearly snapped, he had to give his all to not scream,

"Shouldn't I? The Japanese branch handled this matter poorly. Why did they have to kill him? Simply because he fell in love with a devil? They could have simply imprisoned him in order to verify if he was under brainwashing or not."

Dulio didn't answer and simply looked aside. Griselda sighed, she knew that Dulio was sometimes too kind for his own good, his kindness sadly could also be hurtful.

She decided to smooth the situation before it got out of hand. Seeing people she was close to beginning to dispute wasn't pleasant. She advanced toward the boy before smiling apologetically,

"We are very sorry if you feel left out. We simply didn't wish you to rush in a situation of danger. Japan is a country where our influence is rather weak while the devil and yokai are thriving there."

Az looked deeply at Griselda before turning his gaze toward Dulio, after a while, he simply said with a serious tone,

"I understand your worry. But I refuse to be a flower growing in a greenhouse. I know you guys think that I am sometimes too Naive for my own good, but it doesn't matter. Even though I will listen to any advice, I have my own view of the world and I will never compromise on it."

Once he finished speaking, he gave his back to them and began to walk away. But, once he reached the door, he stopped and began to talk once again

"I may not say it enough, but, every day I pray to thank God for making people like you, my friends. I am very grateful to have people like you by my side. Still," He took a deep breath as he continued, "I need to learn, I need to see more of the world. My ideal will never be realized with simply beautiful words and imagination. I need to work hard in order to reach my dream...Dulio?"

"...Yes?"

"...One of the perpetrators, Touji Shidou was it? I wish to meet him. As such, after three days I will take a plane to Japan. Call him and tell him I am coming. But don't tell him who I am."

"...I understand."

Once he received Dulio's answer, Az simply resumed his steps and left the room without turning back.

He had many things to prepare. He also needed to finish the account.

Let's just hope that once I come back I don't see that we are in the red.

He couldn't help but have a headache at this thought. Those guys were really so tiring. How could they let a 14 years old have responsibility over something so important? No. The worse was how a 14 years could redress the situation and make it less stressful while the adults were useless.

Well, right now I should go and train with Xenovia. This girl is seriously gifted. She might enter the annals of history like teacher if she harnesses her talent well.

He smiled, there was nothing he liked more than seeing talented people work hard towards their dreams no matter what obstacles stood in his way. They were a source of inspiration for him.

---

Now that Dulio and Griselda were alone, she couldn't help but let out a wry smile as she slightly lowered her head,

"Well, this did not go well. I wonder if it would have been better if we told him the whole truth? At least he wouldn't be angry at the two of us right?"

Dulio raised himself from his seated position before *Crunch* taking another chips. Once he swallowed he looked around before saying,

"No. It's good like that. After all, you know his personality. He might be calm usually but when angered he becomes crazy. if he knew it was his father who gave the order to not speak, he might have become even angrier. Though I am really sad to have to lie to him, I don't want their shaky relationship to deteriorate even more."

Griselda lowered her head and mulled in silence. She didn't like lying, even more so to a young kid as kind as little Az. But she knew Dulio was right.

His relationship with his father was flimsy at best. If they ever told him what really happened, this relationship might completely snap and with how stubborn those two were it might never repair.

She couldn't help but pinch her eyebrows in annoyance, it was really stressful to be in such a situation, she decided to changes subject

"Do you think we should send someone to protect him during his stay in Japan."

Dulio stopped to think. Frankly, he was under a dilemma. Normally, he would have wished for nothing more than to send an army of exorcists to protect him. But doing so would make Az even more unhappy. Finally, he sighed and said,

"Let's talk to teacher. Anyway Kuo town isn't the territory of the five clans or Grigori, and we are clear about what happened to the previous devil overseeing that territory. As such, as long as he doesn't go dig in place he shouldn't, he should be alright."

Griselda nodded and said,

"You're right. As long as he doesn't meet an Ultimate class devil or an equivalent there shouldn't be any problem."

Griselda would come to learn that Murphy was a true bastard who loved to show us how absurd life could be sometimes.