25 Clouding skies.

"Work for m-"

"No."

"..."

"...You do realize, I'm the only one who can truly help you right?" Gerald said. Making Lazaro smile.

" Old man, why isn't anybody here yet?"

"What?"

"I mean, why that Ricon guy left you behind?"

"We were teleported by a broken portal, for all they know we're all dead." Gerald fired back knowing where Lazaro was getting at.

But Lazaro just laughed.

"Earlier Lila contacted her sister. if she could, why can't you? I heard you're one of ten directors, I'm guessing there's a hierarchy there? And it said you just became one. You're the newbie, the guy trying to build a place to stand on."

Lazaro flashed him a cheap smile. "You need to show work, I'm your exhibit A. And to be sincere, having people searching for me, is more of a hassle than a problem. So, I'll ask again, what do you suggest?"

"...."

His eyes threatened to crumble in rage, but not wanting to please Lazaro's cheapness, Gerald just laughed, "Well, young lads these days are quite forthright. You shouldn't be like this, it's bad for future relationships."

"I'm forty-two," Lazaro said.

"..."

Gerald stared at the twenty-something year's young face with inner doubt, Lazaro's aura was showing sincerity, yet it just not seemed possible.

"Well, how about-' He stopped midway as Lazaro had a fed-up smile.

"...I'll appoint you as a teacher in the academy, you'll teach and protect students of my choosing, in turn, you won't be casually bothered, and you'll enjoy professor privileges which is equal to first sergeants and war veterans. Satisfied?"

"..."

Lazaro Looked at him in the eyes, he knew there was more to it, like the fact that what they talk now won't matter much as everything might change inside the city, but at least, the very core of things was there. As long as he worked as a professor on the academy he'd be at a war veteran level position a respected post anywhere in any culture he ever knew.. From there he can move where he wants.

Lazaro nodded.

Gerald extended his hands with a smile. But his hand stayed in the air as Lazaro passed by him.

"Let's go, we're about five kilometers away by Little Sophia's words." He called everyone.

"Don't call me little Sophia!" The teen exclaimed, her eyes showing anger still.

Lazar smirked, "Litte monkey it is then."

"W-What!?"

He didn't give her a chance to rebuke as he led the way ahead.

****

"Tired?" Lazaro asked after five hours of rushed walking pace through the forest.

"If somebody didn't have the hots for that plant lady, I wouldn't be," Lila answered with a snort.

Lazaro only smiled.

Lila eyes him with raise eyebrows. "You won't even deny it, you bastard!?"

"I said I would bring you all with me in safety."

"Nonsense! She's a skilled healer, and the people who took her are her husband's subordinates, do you honestly expect her to be hurt?"

"What kind of husband need to kidnap his wife?"

"Maybe she didn't want us asking her to bring us along, that why she didn't say anything" Lila rebutted.

"...She was crying." Lazaro said.

Lila looked at him frowning with confusion.

"She had despair in her face for a second when you called me. She knew it was coming for her and she didn't want to go."

"...It's not my concern." She averted her eyes away. Hiding her face form him.

"Of course not." Lazaro said with a smile and continued softly beside her "It's not about her, it's about my word, I have to rescue her, do you understand?"

"I-I won't let go, or help you l-look for other women."

"I'll do anything you want..." He whispered in her ear and watched her whole face turn bright red.

"W-Well, s-she did heal me when I was unconscious. I-I guess it's ok."

He leaned in and kissed her cheek.

She snorted and drilled her tongue inside his mouth. She grabbed his collar and pulled him to her height. Wet noises with muffled breathing spread to the stunned surrounding people, who were forced to stop.

Sophia held her hand in her mouth with wide eyes. As silver chuckled and Avilá envied.

Gerald thought of saying something but they were already pretty close so he let go.

Lila let go of him. Her white skin was tomato red, but she put on a brave face. "I'll help you look for her, so I can keep an eye on you."

He kissed her again and smiled. He liked the little girl, she was fun and since the mistake was committed he could only take responsibility.

"W-Would you do the same for me?" Her whole body was red, she crossed her arms and leaned her weigh on her back feet, averting her gaze elsewhere, Faking a tough stance.

He cupped her chin with his hand and smiled.

"If it was you I'de leave these people to die, and rescue as soon as possible, just so I can cup another feel of your bum."

"Humpft" She snorted and they started walking again but she was smiling, not minding the silly joke.

Then, thoughts floated around her mind. She didn't know if he was being truthful, no, in fact, she felt he was lying, who'd do something like that for her? She didn't do anything to deserve it, like he said, maybe it's all about her body and fun to him.

In mere seconds her mood turned down, The despise of others and the disappointment she brought to her family surfaced.

"Stop!"

Lazaro exclaimed taking her mind off it for a second, He was looking to the side, at the bottom of a tree.

Lila opened her eyes wide in happiness

"It's a Drone Hound! They came to rescue us!"

She ran to it.

"I'm Lila Popov, where is the rescue team?"

She spoke to it with a smile.

Lazaro went beside her, looking a the thing with curiosity.

it eye panel shone green letters

[Lila Popov- found, initiating the non-priority mission.]

"Oh, they made a mission about me-"

Rapid shots resounded and cut her words.

The noise startled her, and she looked at Lazaro's widened eyes with bewilderment. 'Where did the noise come from?', she felt a numbing on her chest and looked down.

Blood covered the chest part of her military vest, she touched with her fingertips and didn't understand it.

"Target not down, second barrage-twach!"

She saw Lazaro cutting the drone with a downwards chop, she fleetingly felt the need to scream for him to not do it because his arms would become injured, but then the sky covered her vision. She was on the ground but did not feel the fall.

The pieces of the drone scattered, its head landed by her side.

[Mission failed, sending mission report to rank C hero, Bosco.]

She read the letters on the fading screen [Non- priority mission; Kill Lila Popov.]

Her eyes, tired from walking all night, dazedly gazed at the skies above.

'Bosco... he follows my father's orders... my father...' Her eyes clouded with tears.

'Non-priority? I'm not the first priority even when trying to get rid of me?'

She chuckled as tears stream down to the ground.

"Boar get the fuck here! Silver, you too!" She heard Lazaro's yells fading on her ears, and remembering his silly joke just now was the last thing on her mind as her consciousness faded.