Chapter 13

"Understood, Young Master Charles," Tanaka acknowledged, putting down his Vox. He lowered his peaked cap and followed them from a couple dozen meters away.

Ajax, unaware of the target that had been set on him, led Alana to the bakery and bought four toasts.

"So you wanted to bring me here to eat this?" Alana squeezed the toast and looked at Ajax like a fool. It was as hard as a brick, she swore she could bash someone over the head with it and knock them out. She intended to treat Ajax to a nice dinner, but he insisted on treating her, claiming to be rich, and bought this for her.

"It's just-hmm, so fucking delicious," Ajax munched on the toast with relish.

Alana could only helplessly bite along, praying it didn't kill her.

Alana followed Ajax around throughout the afternoon. Thankfully, Kent wasn't in the factory; he had gone drinking somewhere else, allowing them to easily sneak into the maintenance room.

Ajax had a lot of work to do, repairing the continuously incoming broken mechas. Alana assisted him by passing him his tools. As he worked, Ajax explained various structural aspects of mechas and shared insights on their assembling with Alana, who was more serious about learning than in class. The employees, who usually excluded Ajax, looked sideways, seeing him unusually close with such a beautiful girl.

As the day progressed, Alana's casual clothes were stained with engine oil and grease stains. They had a casual dinner in the factory, making Ajax feel embarrassed, while Alana enjoyed the experience.

At ten o'clock at night, after Ajax finished work, the two left the repair shop and walked on a quiet path.

"Are you still going to work tomorrow?" Alana asked with light steps.

"I have to work every day. I just asked for leave yesterday and was only able to do so because the boss was in a good mood."

"Eh? That's it. Then I'll wait for you at the school gate tomorrow."

"You want to come again? Are you addicted to my job?" Ajax asked Alana with a hint of surprise.

He prayed for a day off while Alana, on the other hand, wanted him to work so that she could accompany him. 

"We're on vacation right now and have nothing to do. Why don't we follow you and learn about mechs? Is that not allowed or something?" Alana glared at Ajax.

"Well, as long as you don't complain about being dirty and tired," Ajax said with a chuckle.

"Do you intend to continue working here?" Alana's expression became serious again.

"What's wrong with working here? I like it here. I get to touch and work on different mechas every day. Everything I learned about mechas I learned right here." Ajax replied seriously.

Despite the serious expression on Alana's face, Ajax could sense her emotional changes. He didn't know what to say, and the two kept walking forward as the atmosphere turned awkward.

A few minutes later, Ajax pointed to the old garage he rented, saying, "I'm basically home."

"Oh, then I'll head back home." Alana turned and walked away.

"Get home safe. I'll buy you another toast tomorrow, I know you liked them." Ajax hesitated before choking out this sentence.

"Pfft..." Ajax's toast amused Alana. She didn't want to try eat such a thing ever again, but she nodded and said: "Okay, see you tomorrow then."

Looking at Alana's back, Ajax breathed a sigh of relief. After she was gone, he took out the key and opened the old iron door. Suddenly, he heard a rush of footsteps and turned his head. Seven or eight people were standing five meters behind him. Although the lights were dim, he could recognize Charles as the leader.

Ajax realized something was off and tried to enter his house and lock the door. However, his movements were slow, and Charles rushed over, kicking him hard from behind, flinging him forward nearly a meter. Before Ajax could stand up, the people following Charles rushed in, grabbed Ajax's hands, pressed his head to the ground, and skillfully restrained him.

"GET THE FUCK OFF ME!" Ajax screamed, struggling crazily, kicking at the person trying to grab his feet.

But someone put him in a chokehold, making it difficult for him to breathe, let alone resist.

"Not so tough now you little shit." Charles sneered, squatted down, and looked Ajax in the eyes before raising his right hand and punching him in the face twice. "What happened to all that shit you were talking yesterday? Huh? Try that shit again you bitch!" Charles said as he kept on punching the restrained Ajax.

*TN: Would you look at that, a bitch that needs help restraining him before throwing punches is calling our dear MC a bitch*

After the beating, Charles stood up slowly, looked around Ajax's house, and kicked a box under his feet. "Such a loudmouth lives in this shitty place? Those who don't know any better might confuse it for a garbage dump."

At this time, Tanaka also came in, glanced at Ajax on the ground, then turned to Charles. "Young Master Charles, everything's clear outside; this place is quite remote. But why did you wait for that woman to leave just now?"

They had been following Ajax since noon but Charles insisted on waiting for Alana to leave before finally taking action, something which puzzled Tanaka.

"Okay, since we have time to kill." Charles stroked his blond hair, flamboyantly flicked it to the left, smiled, and continued, "That girl has a strong background. We couldn't make a move with her around, or else my father would have me killed. But don't worry, that fucking slut will be mine sooner or later, she's going to become my toy until I break her or she dies!"

He had seen the actions of Alana and Ajax in the past two days, and they were driving him insane. After all, he had been chasing Alana for several years without even getting as much as a side glance, while Ajax had just shown up out of the blue, talked to Alana for a few days, and became closer to her than he had ever been.

What did he, the third heir of the majestic Aoshi Group, lack, that this poor son of a bitch had?