Chapter 12 To the Southern Lands

Miya and the others traveled for a couple of hours to the point that it started turning from day to dusk. On their journey, Miya told Amber and Rose how she met Chrys. When she finished the story, both of them glared at Chrys, who was in the driver's seat.

Letting out a long sigh, Chrys asked without taking his eyes off the front. "What do you guys want?"

"Hmm, there are too many holes in that story." I don't believe someone like you can be captured in the first place. What happened? " Amber asked while giving Chrys a doubtful glare.

"You don't have to know," Chrys replied, disregarding her question entirely.

"Actually, why are we heading towards the south?" Rose asked.

"I'm regrouping with my comrades," Chrys responded.

"Wait? We are? " Amber asked in a surprised tone.

"Why are you so surprised?" Chrys asked her.

Why do you think I'm surprised? You are dangerous enough by yourself, and now you want to go and meet more dangerous people? What are you planning to do to take down an entire country? " Amber asked in rapid succession.

"Depends on your definition of a country," Chrys replied.

"I think we are going to Titan," Miya interjected, seeming unsure of what she had just said.

Amber and Rose looked at Miya with faces full of shock as they yelled. "Wait, you're attacking Titan?!?"

"No, we are not attacking Titan... It's just a lead. " Chrys said.

"Oops, sorry. I don't know anything about Titan. " Miya apologized for causing a ruckus.

"Wait, you don't know about Titan?! What are you living underneath a rock? " Amber asked, surprised by Miya's ignorance. Her voice was still high from shock.

"I'm sorry, I don't know anything," Miya said as she lowered her head.

"Wa-wait, I'm sorry for yelling at you..." You know what, we'll teach you what we know, to make up for it, okay? " Amber said she was trying to cheer Miya up, who didn't even respond.

"Uh, Rose, help me out here. You're always up and about on Titan, you should know more than me. " Amber asked to share the responsibility of cheering Miya up. Rose was surprised by the sudden burden she carried.

"Wait?! Don't just leave your job to me. You're the one who caused this in the first place. " Rose said as she refused to take Amber's responsibility.

Miya let out a long sigh in a defeated tone. Rose and Amber saw it and behaved themselves.

"Fine, I'll tell you about Titan if that will cheer you up," Rose said as she finally caved in.

"Hold that thought, we've got people up ahead," Chrys called out from upfront.

"W-what do we do?" Miya asked him.

"Hmm, tie those two up with the rope back there, and stay quiet," Chrys ordered.

"Wait, what do you mean tie up?" Amber asked, beginning to panic.

"We are going to pretend you two are my prisoners, with Miya as an assistant," Chrys answered.

Rose and Amber nodded at each other before letting their hands get tied up.

"Wait, I still have your gun," Rose said as she took Chrys' gun from a makeshift holster.

"No time, they are about to see us." Give it to Miya. " Chrys hurried them up.

She sat down after Miya finished tying them up. She looked down at the gun in her hand. I can't help but feel a sense of hatred towards it.' Miya thought as she continued to look at it.

They are now in front of a tunnel that goes through a mountain range. About 20 people are blocking the entrance to the tunnel. Chrys stopped at the makeshift barricade.

Well, well, well, look who it is, isn't it, Ajax?" So said the man wearing a bandana on his head.

"It's been a while, Josh since we are good pals. Why don't you let us pass?" "Crys," Chrys said to the man wearing a bandana.

"Well, I can't have that or it will ruin my business here," Josh replied.

"I assume you guys have a business permit then." With a friendly smile, Chrys said.

"Hahaha, nice joke. It looks like you've still got it. " Josh laughed. Some of the people around us laughed as well.

"Now back to the topic, pay up." "Yes," Josh said in a serious tone, not a hint of the joy from earlier.

"Fine, the cargo is two girls from Viridis." With a sigh, Chrys said.

"Ooh, from Viridis, you say." "Mind if we take a look?" Josh asked.

Chrys waved his hand. Josh took it as a sign of approval and walked towards the back of the truck.

"Oh, I thought you said two girls, but I count three." "Josh he said as he took a look at Miya and the others.

"Hmm, Oh, the one with the black hair and grey eyes is with me, the other two are the ones from Viridis," Chrys advised that the situation be resolved.

Okay, hmm, two girls in nice condition too. How did you get them? " Josh asked.

"With the help of the girl over there," People are less suspicious of a little girl than of an adult. Don't spread the technique; it's a business secret. " Chrys said, with a mischievous grin.

"Oh, that's a nice trick you got there." For business'' sake, we've got to keep it down. Josh returned the same mischievous grin. Amber seemed displeased by their actions. This attracted Josh's attention.

"Hmm, oh, that's a surprise. A Beastfolk, huh? " Josh commented when he saw Amber's cat ears. Amber trembled a bit when she realized she had forgotten to cover them up.

What are you going to do with her? Are you going to sell her to those rich bastards in the Sun Region? " Josh asked Chrys.

Hopefully, some may say their love for them has gone too far, but I say it's just right. If you know what I mean. " Chrys let out another grin.

"Haha, you get it, Ajax." Now about this redhead, hmm, what's this? " Josh noticed a hump in Rose's back. He grabbed her nape and dragged her closer to him. He lifted her jacket and saw the metal attachment on her back.

"Whoa! You got a peacekeeper too, and a new one at that! How did you get her? " "Josh he said as his hand still grabbed Rose's nape. Rose smacked Josh with her tied-up hands, making him drop her back to the seat.

"Wow, she's still got some spin left in her." "Josh he said as he wiped the blood off his nose.

"Hey, keep your hands off." You know the demand for even a single peacekeeper, right? " "Chrys Josh said warning.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, but you still didn't answer my question. Where did you get her? " Josh asked in a serious tone as he placed his hand on his weapon.

The rest of the people touched their weapons as well.

"There was a battle at Viridis against the Beastfolks. The Beastfolks had these powerful weapons that threatened Viridis, so Titan moved their peacekeepers. I got her amidst the chaos. Chrys casually said this without a bit of fear.

"Oh! A right place, right time scenario, huh? When did this happen? " Josh asked, clearly curious about the battle.

If you hurry, you might be able to find some battle leftovers."Chrys replied.

"Hahaha, this is why we are best friends, Ajax." You know what I want instantly. "Hahaha, let them pass, boys, they paid enough," Josh ordered his goons.

They moved the barriers away. Chrys drove passed peacefully. They kept driving until they could no longer see the men blocking the road. Chrys waved his hand at the girls to signal they were clear.

"Haaaa, that was quite intense," Miya commented

"Are you okay?" He grabbed you pretty harshly. " Amber asked Rose, looking concerned.

I'm fine, it's just that he reminds me of... never mind." Rose said, giving Amber a reassuring smile. Rose saw how she made the atmosphere gloomy.

"Um, actually, what did he mean we paid enough?" We didn't pay him at all. " Rose asked a question to try and remove the gloomy atmosphere.

"Probably because you're thinking about money." Here in the lands where no government exists. Information is worth more than gold. " Chrys answered with a bored face. His smile from earlier was gone without a trace.

"But some of the things you said to him are lies," Rose asked him with a friendly smile.

"Here's a lesson for you, anything you hear from anyone in this world that means everybody, take it with a grain of salt," Chrys said without taking his eyes off the road.

"Hah, you and that guy, Josh, seem close." Are the two of you brothers or something? " "Amber said" in an insulting way.

She gives off the feeling she doesn't like being taught, or maybe she just doesn't like Chrys.

"No, we are not brothers." I wouldn't say he's a friend either. I'd say he's closer to being an enemy. If he becomes too much to handle, I'll deal with him. " Chrys said.

"Wow, it got hotter all of a sudden," Rose commented on the weather as she took her jacket off, revealing the metal attachment on her back.

Now that she said that, Amber and Miya felt that it got hotter. The once green plains turned into sand and dry dirt. The winds are hot as well. Once they passed through that tunnel, it seemed like they were in a different world.

"Um, Rose, can I ask a question?" Miya asked.

"Huh? Sure thing. let's continue our conversation from earlier about Titan. Is that what you want to talk about? " Rose said with a bright smile.

"Um, yeah. My question is actually about that thing on your back. If you don't mind, of course. " Miya asked, waiting for her reaction.

"Oh, this little thing, it's a sign that I am a 3rd generation peacekeeper." It's permanently implanted on my back. On the upside, it gives me the ability to fly, a very sought-after ability. " Rose said, with a bit of a pained expression in her smile.

"Uh, okay, thank you for answering my question." Miya thanked her.

"No problem, now back to Titan. The scientists of Titan are the ones who attached this thing to my back. They are the leading brains of Titan. " Rose said.

"Titan has a militaristic approach to basically everything. They have the most powerful military of the nine superpowers. They have this huge wall surrounding their territory. which cannot be breached... or escaped except from that one time... " Rose continued, but it quickly turned sour when the conversation came towards the huge wall.

"I think we should end it here."

"Y-yeah, let's end it there." I'm sorry if it reminded you of bad memories. I'm sorry. " Miya bowed her head towards Rose.

"Wa-wait No need to apologize, I'm fine, I promise. " Rose let out a bright smile.

Amber began to pat Rose's head, while Miya sat on her chair in silence, looking around at their surroundings. Meanwhile, Chrys is still silently driving in front.