On the Road Ahead, Part 4

Lucas couldn't help but wonder aloud, "Why are they fighting?" as he observed a gigantic man wielding a double-bladed axe and a woman with her palm resting on the handle of her wondrous saber, nestling within the scabbard wrapped around her hip. Her muscles were all tightened up, ready to act.

A sigh escaped from my mouth as I approached them.

"Just stop being so childish already—" the beast tamer wanted to ask.

But before I could even finish, both, Logan and Maria shot their heads toward me and barked at the same time.

"Don't butt in, brat."

"Stay out of this, Gray. This muscle-head needs to be thought some manners!"

Lucas only gave me a suspicious gaze as he repeated my name: "Gray, huh?"

I gave him an apologetic smile and returned my attention to the two troublemakers in ahead of me.

"You know there are cameras around, right?" I had to giggle their memory. That was the only way to break them apart. Receiving a fine because of their actions was the last thing either of them wanted to happen. I mean, Ava would tear Logan apart if that were to happen.

"Fine, whatever," Logan said, throwing an elbow over my shoulder, revealing his irking grin while scratching his beard with the knuckles of the hand he grasped the axe with. It should've been quite heavy, but the barbarian managed to wield such a weapon with ease. Or so I thought as his eyes landed on the companion beside me. "Now then, who's your buddy over here?"

"Right, Gray," said Mara, circling us with an equally annoying, almost vicious smile on her lips. She pressed her chin on my shoulder and whispered: "Is this the friend you were talking to while we were in the van?"

That notion seemed to have surprised even Lucas. Yes, although the insinuation was disrespectful, I do have friends, if that's what you're wondering. Two of them, I dare add. After all, those siblings arrived in a package. Almost three if we take Dylan into account. Now wipe that bewildered expression off your face, beast tamer. I'm not a social outcast.

"No," I denied as I shook my head. "Meeting here was purely coincidental. I never expected I might run into him—"

Ever again, but that's better left unspoken.

Logan just clicked his tongue and turned away, straight toward the slender guy approaching us with a sour glare beneath his glasses, as if something unpleasant had happened.

"Oliver's not coming," Edward said, his gaze fixed on the phone's light, which reflected off his lenses. How could he possibly see? I couldn't help but wonder.

The first to complain was the barbarian: "Oh, come on!"

"For fuck's sake," Mara growled, her jaw clenched as he peered at the ground. "Couldn't he have told us sooner?"

Which meant I wouldn't be able to enter the 4th District due to the lack of numbers our party currently has. Or so I initially believed as my gaze was drawn to the beast tamer beside me.

Reading my mind, and albeit reluctantly, he offered: "I could fill in the spot."

"You?" Edward rose an eyebrow, his focus fixed on him. "Who are you?"

"I'm Dou—Gray's—" he stuttered.

And he nearly blew it... From that moment onward, I knew it was up to me to make sure everything went accordingly. I had to use my brain a bit and address the situation at hand, otherwise, it would be too late for any other concerns.

"He's my friend," I told them, taking the initiative. "He's a mercenary too, in case you're wondering. If he wants to join us, there shouldn't be any problems."

Everything. All the dirty stuff I've done up to this point would have been a waste if we backed down now when we were so close. I had to do something, even it if meant taking this aggressive stance.

Edward simply crossed his arms and continued his grilling: "You? A mercenary? If Gray doesn't have a license, I find it hard to believe you do."

As if to counter, he withdrew his license from his wallet and said: "This should be proof enough."

"Even then," Edward went on. "Working with someone I had never even spoke to before is bound to cause some troubles, eventually."

Following Mara's earlier explanation, since Lucas wasn't someone he had previously worked it, Edward must've found it difficult to trust him all of a sudden. Coordination was essential in every team. Oliver's sudden absence must have added further to his anxiety. He was the type of man that hated it when things got out of control. More so than me, I could argue.

In comparison to me, a porter who shouldn't become involved in fighting until the situation genuinely deteriorates, Lucas would most likely be at the front, dealing with creatures coming from all directions alongside Logan and Mara.

Since Edward was at the back with the crossbow, and if any monsters breached in through the first line of defense, then his life would be on the line, followed shortly by mine. All of his concerns were right to have. It went on to show his capability as the one that often comes up with ideas on how we should operate, despite not being the official leader of the party.

Unfortunately, at the end of the day, the call wasn't his to make.

"Stop being such a worrywart," Logan declared, slapping his back with his thick hand. Edward's entire body was propelled forward by the impact. I kinda pitied him in that regard, since I had experienced the power this barbarian was capable of producing myself. "He's Gray's friend and we lack a member, right? There should be no problems since he vouched for him."

"Even if you don't trust our junior here, you can trust Gray's judgment," said Mara, then I felt some weight on my shoulder. She grabbed us both in the same manner Logan previously had, leaning her entire weight onto me and Lucas. "Coming all the way here would've been a waste if we simply ran home with our tails between our legs the second we encountered a problem."

All Edward could do was let out a long sigh, shake his head, and mutter: "Fine, let's go talk with the guard then."

Not even our glassed companion was enough to get in our way this time.

At the end of the day, showing a united upfront was enough to draw to our side even the most sarcastic man out of the party.

Things finally seemed to be steering in the right direction.