Departure(3)

"Hahaha, what an intriguing choice!" Vesta burst into laughter upon hearing Bastian's refusal, his hands clapping together. Surprisingly, he didn't show any signs of anger but rather amusement.

"Such a shame that I can't recruit a formidable soldier like you into my squad," Vesta remarked, his face betraying a hint of disappointment as he shifted his gaze towards Desmond.

Sensing the tension in the air, Desmond grew alert, prepared for any unexpected moves. Unlike before, when Vesta had suddenly challenged him head-on, he had regained some of his energy and was ready to satisfy the Guardian's curiosity.

Simultaneously, he gritted his teeth, finding Vesta's behavior immensely frustrating. At the very least, listen to someone's explanation first, Desmond snapped inwardly.