Chapter 37 - Thinking Before the Last Day (1)

"Where is Mr. Eclipse?"

The moment James stepped outside, he was comically surrounded by security guards. The exit was blockaded as if they were catching a criminal. From the clothes they were wearing, it was easy to see why they were here.

Well, they were pretty fast. He was caught before the end of the day, which was actually normal. He was an outright kidnapper, after all. But it was funny that instead of a police force surrounding him, he was surrounded by men from Eclipse.

It made him think that there was inadequate security throughout the city, which was also normal. After all, who did they need to prepare extra security against when everyone was a vestal? Who would defy authority for a few simple animals? Was there any need to pay attention to them?

Well, James was sure that the intermediate authorities outside the Crown had such thoughts. And even if they did, none of them would lift a finger unless ordered to do so or publicly shouted that we were the Resistance. As he was thinking, one of the security men approached.

"Did you not hear my question, where is Mr. Eclipse?"

James finally came out of his train of thought as he pointed the Shock Baton dangerously in his hand. A smile appeared on his face and he stepped slightly to the side, giving them enough distance to pass through the door:

"He's in there talking to the boss. Why don't you go and see?"

The security guards looked at each other. All the while, the crowd outside and everyone in the restaurant was watching intently. Awareness of this prevented them from taking any extreme action.

If they even attempted to take extreme action, it would have created a bad image. They could go from being right to being wrong in the eyes of the public and they knew that their boss, Mr. Eclipse, would not let such a thing go unpunished.

The vestals inside and outside were excitedly looking for a recording, as they would not see such a sight very often.

They didn't know what to do at this awkward moment when a voice was heard from behind James.

"Where have you been?"

Turning to the voice like a grumpy grandfather, Victor was seen walking angrily. The security guards looked at each other in surprise. Victor, with obvious anger, walked past James and stood in front of the guards.

He pointed his finger at James and spoke:

"I was kidnapped in front of you by this guy and you couldn't even react. And now you're coming to 'save' me, you failures?"

At that moment, the security guards felt like they had been wronged. They had really done their best. It wasn't like they could do much at that moment. They couldn't even react to James' absurd speed, like something out of Looney Tunes.

Still, they didn't dare say anything. Speaking out against an employer was tantamount to asking for resignation. Especially if he was a curmudgeon like Victor, it was almost certain.

James was grinning thirty-two teeth at the sight. He found it quite funny.

But then someone grabbed him by the scruff of the neck. It was a soft, cold hand. It startled him, but he couldn't say anything as he heard the voice that followed.

"My dear waiter, don't you think we should have a little talk?"

Although she sounded gentle and calm, he could clearly feel Lucy's anger. He tried to explain himself in a frightened voice as he broke out in the sweat of his brow.

"Uh... Boss. Explaining myself... when everyone is looking... is a bit of a problem."

Meanwhile, Victor looked around with a scowl, in stark contrast to the system notification.

He said afterwards:

"Anyway, let's get out of here. Make way!"

As the security guards gave way without a peep, Victor started to walk away, Victor in front and the guards behind.

James, meanwhile, was being dragged by Lucy. Yes, even though he had so much speed and power, he was being dragged by Lucy in a funny way because he was not resisting it.

On the other hand, Lucy instantly announced that the restaurant was closed for the day and James could imagine that he was going to be scolded about it.

Did he deserve it? Yes, he did. But… did he regret it? Absolutely not.

However, contrary to expectations, Lucy breathed a sigh of relief and looked at James strangely as they went into one of the rooms.

James, ready to be scolded like a child, looked back.

They looked at each other like that. James, contrary to her earlier demeanor, didn't see any anger. It was as if she didn't know what to say. She seemed to be thinking about what to say as she played with the bunches of her hair in the front.

James looked at Lucy with a puzzled expression. After a short silence, he asked curiously:

"Aren't you going to be angry?"

Lucy sighed.

"What do you expect me to say when it's so obvious from your face that you don't regret it?"

James was surprised by the strange answer. Lucy ignored his shock and continued.

"You're old enough to realize the absurdity of what you did. Still... Normally, of course, I should be angry, but..."

He smiled gratefully. He spoke as he stroked James' head:

"But… thank you."

James, whose head had been stroked, remained where he was, not knowing what to say. He just looked into Lucy's eyes.

It was clear that Lucy was uncomfortable with the intervention of an outsider. Yet there was a smile on her face that she could no longer hide. The burden of all that time must have dissipated after their conversation with Victor.

James wasn't thinking about that, though. He was relieved that this woman's hand had made his messy hair even messier. He looked at Lucy and smiled.

Lucy's blue eyes were as mesmerizing as James's sparkling ones were terrifying. But when they looked at each other, there was neither a flinch nor an admiration. They looked at each other like older sister and younger brother.

How sad it was that in the end, all of this would perhaps lose its meaning.