Planning

HM?!

HMM??!!

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM?????!!!!!!

What'd this guy just say? Artelick is "Ivan"?? Say sike right now! Wait, actually don't! Nea? What reaction does she have?

...

I shouldn't have turned...

DON'T LAUGH FOR GOD'S SAKE! This indiscriminate mutt! Why is your face all red and blown up? You are too obvious! Don't laugh!! I repeat! Do. Not. Laugh!

"Ah, um, what? How could Artelick?" I collected myself in time and spoke in a terrified tone so that they don't look at Nea. Dennis and Casey turned towards me with very soft faces.

Casey placed a hand on my shoulder and looked at me with compassion. "It must be tough, but you are safe now. Leave this to us. We will bring that man to justice."

"You are lucky you were with Alice this time. Her being a mage stopped them from doing anything to you. Don't let her go, buddy."

The two consoled me like one would console a kid. Their reactions make me proud of my acting ability, but I am still pissed! Don't treat me like that!

"But they haven't been acting like that at all! They are bureaucrats!" I snapped back.

"This is not the first time he has hidden his identity. Do you remember the bank robbery in the capital a few years ago? Ivan pulled that off by pretending to be the bank's founder!"

Oh yeah, I did that. That was when I shoved Dmitri inside a safe and locked him. Good times.

These two clowns are also people of the trade, except they are from a group of people that think they are heroes of justice. They especially go after people who have a hit on them. Simply put, they are plain old hypocrites.

"Oh my, that's horrible!" I said, my thoughts the exact opposite of my words.

"I understand where you come from, but how can I trust you? What if you are that shitty, petty, characterless, scumbag you are talking about?" Oh, looks like Nea had collected herself. A question completely within her character... Wait again! Just how much do you want me to tsukkomi?!

Dennis looked at her with a slightly confused face thanks to her embellished description for a moment. He then removed an identity card from his pockets and handed it to us. Ah, we really look foolish enough to believe something like this, eh?

"As you can see. We are both people trying to stop criminals, like Ivan, from having their way."

"Let's say I believe you for a moment. Why would you tell us all this?" Nea continued.

"To properly ensure that everyone is safe, we will need your help..."

.

.

.

**

Clang~

Nea closed the door after the Barr couple left. She turned towards me, lying on the bed, and looked straight into my eyes. I stared right back into her deep, rosy eyes. Time stood still for a few seconds when...

"Pfft!"

"Ahhahaha~"

... We both broke into an unstoppable fit of laughter. He just spewed out the greatest bullshit in the name of a plan I had heard in my short but experienced life.

"Whahaah, wh, what do you... think?" Nea asked.

"Ahaha, it's perfect! Just perfect!"

"Do you have a plan already?"

"Of course! With this, the Illychs are already in our palms." Well, you will only ever know half the plan. I am going to get rid of the Barrs and the 'Children of the Lost' all at once. "First things first, I will talk to the Illychs. We will need their co-operation."

**

"Artelick! It's me, Sirius!" A loud thud reached my ears before the door was creaked open by a towel-clad Artelick. Hah~ young people "Sirius! What's up, my friend? All good?" he asked.

"Not really. I need to tell you something important." Noticing the seriousness in my voice, the slightly pissed young man, Artelick, softened his expression and let me in.

Jane gave me a small wave from under the blankets. She, too, had a slightly pissed smile. Hah~ young people.

"Dennis and Casey... they are also after your lives..." Their pissed faces were immediately replaced with shock.

"W... What? Again?"

"You're kidding! How is that possible?"

"It must be shocking, but they just asked us to lure you guys towards them. They even offered us some money..." I consoled them.

"No way?! What did you do? Did you take it?"

Then would I be here, you dead brain? Can we really leave this country in this guy's hands?

"Calm down, honey. He wouldn't be here if he did." Why doesn't the president adopt you instead? Ah, she is his daughter-in-law now. I guess we can leave this country in her hands.

"As she said. I wouldn't be here if I did. But I accepted his offer."

"WHAT?!"

I was wrong, sorry.

"Listen first," I sighed. "It was the only way to handle the situation. They would've killed us too."

"You are right, sorry for doubting you..." said Artelick.

"Don't mind it. I and Alice won't let anything happen to you guys. But you will have to help us help you." Artelick's eyes started sparkling again. What a simple guy.

"Thank you very much, Sirius. We can never repay you."

"As she said. We will do whatever you need."

"Don't worry about it. We are friends, after all... Their plan is simple, they want us to..."

**

Morning. 5th day of our week-long journey on the train. Today, the train will make a stop at 8 AM, exactly 20 minutes from now. It's time to leave this train, it seems.