A myriad of questions came my way as soon as I took a seat.

  Or, more like, an endless loud ranting after I answered a couple of said questions.

  “Easy there, Bke. We really don’t want the others to hear you cursing their leader and butt in.” I finally interrupt her as I check the door with caution. I don’t really believe those guys would be glued to the door trying to hear our conversation, but I still wouldn’t want this to be public.

  It is the Cat girl’s turn to stop and gaze at the door with scrutiny before clicking her tongue. “I know but… ugh, how could she? I warned her to not try anything, and she still did!”

  Now I can guess Sienna might have acted out of spite.

  “Bke, honestly? I’m more concerned about how she knocked me out and dropped me in Vale’s slums. I saw nothing or nobody. It’s a terrifying thought.” I wince at the memory. “Although, I wasn’t one to mope for too long and as you can see, I pulled through hardships and… came back with a win.”

  Good money and a pce to sleep.

  Of course, ignoring my forced employment under Roman Torchwick and the bckmail material hanging above me.

  Bke doesn’t see it that way, and narrows her eyes. “How can you call this fine? Ma’iq, you are working with criminals!”

  She sms both hands on her wooden desk, causing me to stare at her in surprise from her sudden outburst, yet that surprise quickly goes down and soon it’s repced with annoyance. “I only deliver stuff. No need to get worked up…”

  I almost forgot the main purpose of my visit.

  I stand up and summon the food crates one by one and pce them on top of each other, creating a short tower before bringing out Roman’s pricing catalog.

  Bke, for some reason, just let her jaw hang open as I handed her the document.

  “Ma’iq!” She shouts in clear indignation as she crumples the paper in her hands before tossing it like garbage, causing my face to contort into a deep frown.

  “Do I need to remind you that there are people outside that door? I’m only doing my job, therefore, pay me so I can leave.”

  At those venomous words, Bke’s ears drop. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean… I just…”

  I sigh as I drag a hand across my face. “Why are you so worked up? You weren’t like this before.”

  My mentor gave a long look and bit her lip before averting her amber eyes and taking a seat in her chair behind the desk.

  “You… you are right. I’ve been very stressed out tely. Nothing is working out for me and now I’m finding out about you and how you were kidnapped under Sienna’s orders, and as a result, you are working for that bastard.”

  “Must have been a shocker.”

  She gives me a weak smile. “Yes, it was.”

  I shrug nonchantly. “What’s done is done. I adapted and I’m doing fine. Mostly.”

  “It’s not fine Ma’iq. This never ends well for us, and you said you wouldn’t hurt people. You wanted to get rid of your past and bad habits. This job, as you call it, will only end on the opposite of that.”

  I gnce at the door over my shoulder again. “Not like they gave me a choice.” My back slowly lean and rest on the chair as I look at the ill-maintained roof and the light bulb. “I don’t know why I wanted to change so much. But can you really bme me, Bke? I had to do what I had to do. If I didn’t, then I would have ended up at the bottom of the river.”

  A long silence follows.

  “No, I don’t bme you.”

  I slowly lower my gaze to meet hers with a raised eyebrow.

  “I perfectly understand where you’re coming from, I just wish it didn’t have to come to that.” She ments.

  I let out a long-drawn sigh. “Me too.”

  Another long silence engulfs the room.

  Neither of us wanted or knew how to continue the clusterfuck of a reunion.

  At least the bell saved me.

  The notification sound of my scroll, to be exact.

  Bke says nothing but slightly frowns, directing her gaze towards my scroll supposedly is.

  I quickly pull out to check the message.

  ‘Roman wants you to bring something back after you finish with those weirdoes.’I don’t know why I expected to be somebody else but Neo.

  ‘Almost done. Where?’ I write back.

  ‘Somewhere. ’

  I roll my eyes.

  Typical girl.

  I stand up from my chair and stretch my back. “Sorry Bke, but more work. Please give me the dust.”

  “Don’t leave please!” She practically jumps from her chair, despair dripping from her voice.

  I stop in my tracks in mild surprise by her outburst. “We can talk ter, you know? It’s not like the moment I step out of that door, I’m gone forever. And trust me, there is a lot to talk about between us, but Roman isn’t the patient type. And I really don’t want to speak with so many people around who might overhear us.”

  I point at the door behind me with my thumb.

  My reply works in calming Bke as she takes a deep breath before giving a quick nod. “You are right. This isn’t a pce to talk, especially since I know someone is spying on me.” She grabs a small piece of paper and a pen. “Meet me here at 10 PM.”

  She hands me a note with an address I can easily recognize. It is somewhere in the middle between the slums and my apartment, but still an objectively better pce than this shithole.

  I store the note in my left pocket and strap my mask around my head.

  “I need the payment for the food.”

  My fellow faunus nods and drags a smaller wooden crate filled to the brim with the precious crystalized dust of all colors.

  A single touch is all I need.

  [Dust crate added to your inventory.]?Her amber eyes go wide for a moment, but she composes herself. “See you ter.”

  I wave my hand in response and finally leave the office, closing the door behind me.

  After hearing the click, I sigh again, releasing whatever was bottling up inside me.

  That could have gone better. Although I have around twelve hours to better think what should I say or ask Bke, with nobody spying on us.

  Even then, I am still in less than friendly territory and I need to be somewhere else. So there is no reason to remain a single second deep in White Fang territory, but I will keep a mental note of the pce.

  And just like my arrival, everyone is minding their own business, except one dark-skinned woman with long brown hair who is staring at me. I could even go as far as to say she is giving me hateful looks through her grimm mask, but I choose to disregard her and leave the basement through the trapdoor.

  And right on cue, another message from the friendly psychotic Neo arrives on my scroll, containing the exact address for my next job.

  Although, it is hard to pinpoint an exact location in a pce where they don’t bother to mark the streets since the vagrants love to vandalize or destroy everything they can. I can only use reference points to find the pce, which she was kind enough to give as well.

  After one turn to the left, I leave the fang territory.

  And the changes are noticeable at a gnce, because there are humans roaming around or gathered in small groups.

  “The fuck you looking at?!”

  Oops, I was staring longer than necessary.

  And the rest of his cronies are focused entirely on me with equally wrathful gres.

  I click my tongue and opt to ignore those idiots.

  Although, I hope they are beyond moronic and attack me. Because that’s how their ilk work, any hint of disrespect is met with excessive violence.

  My ears pick up the steps getting closer behind me and I ready a fist to counter whatever ughable punch they throw at me.

  But as I kept walking, nothing ever came to stop me.

  I frown for a moment and look over my shoulder and become disappointed when I see those idiots are back in their little circlejerk.

  After that minor hiccup, I continue on my way, keeping my guard up, just in case. The streets are a mess, with trash and debris littering the ground, but I manage to navigate my way using the reference points that Neo gave me.

  Besides, my destination turned to be easier to find as it was the only retively good looking building in the neighborhood and the ck of vagrants lying around.

  I move towards the door and knock twice.

  I don’t wait long as the half opens after hearing a couple of locks, revealing a young man with green eyes and bck messy hair. Although, the most notorious feature on him was the big bag under his eyes.

  “What…”

  “Torchwick sends his regards.” I say.

  “Oh…” He closes the door and unlocks the rest of the door's security.

  The man opens the door and steps away to give me access.

  The very first thing I notice is the impressive interiors. Compared to my experiences, it is a nice pce and well maintained. He even has paintings hanging on the wall. But he coughs to get my attention and point me where to go instead of gawking at my surroundings.

  Yet I must acknowledge that the room is well decorated for a home in the slums.

  So I just take a seat on the metal chair and wait for the agent or whatever he is supposed to be to bring whatever Roman requested so I can be on my way.

  I wait a couple of minutes before the door opens and the same guy comes back, dragging a gray duffel bag with him. A quite heavy one at that, since he is struggling to move it and he is heavily panting.

  Taking pity in his effort, I stand up and lift the bag in his stead.

  “Just… give it to him.” He puts his hands on his knees as he tries to catch his breath.

  The mystery duffle bag soon dematerialized.

  [(Duffle bag) added to your inventory]?“Whatever.”

  I leave the building and set my path to the main gate. But cannot help but wonder what it’s inside that bag or why Roman wanted it.

  While walking, I cannot help but look around and notice once again groups of people doing nothing. I just wonder why people just loiter around doing nothing to change their circumstances. I was practically like them months ago and now I changed that situation by myself.Although, this is Vale.

  Not Menagerie.

  And I have a powerful cheat that sped things up.

  Either way, this is their problem, not mine and not like I care.

  And the nearby folks don’t contribute to my view as their gres leak animosity towards me.

  After all, I am far cleaner and better looking than anyone from this ghetto.

  And the advanced mask makes me stand out a bit too much…

  I should better take it off and hide it under my vest. Using my inventory would draw far more attention to me than I already have.

  On the bright side, I already see the gate and a crowd, with the security keeping tight control of them.

  As a good upstanding citizen of Vale, I take my pce in the queue and wait until it is my turn.

  -Later-

  I calmly drop the duffle bag along with the box full of dust in front of my boss, who momentarily lifts his gaze away from a magazine.

  A magazine about male fashion.

  I’m not even questioning that.

  “Good work kitty cat. Sadly, I don’t have a star to commemorate your achievement.”He mocks as he slides the pstic cards across the table, which I happily take.

  [5000 lien added to your inventory.]?A short-lived surprise fshes across my face. That was more than my normal rate.

  I shouldn’t help but wonder that the increased pay comes from the fact it was a delivery to the Fang or he was serious about my minor promotion.

  But I won’t compin about more money.

  A brief silence soon follows before I bring out my favorite addictive drink and take a seat next to the table before taking off my technologically advanced mask.

  “Hmm? Aren’t you leaving?” The thief asks in mild curiosity.

  I shrug. “Free day. I thought that you would have more jobs for me. The sun is still up there and I have time to kill.”

  My reply gets a chuckle from him as he puts down his magazine and leans forwards. “You are an eager one, aren’t you?”

  “One-off thing.” I take a long sip from my pepsi.

  His grin remains steady. Instead, his hand slides a paper, a list of names, to be more exact. “Doesn’t matter. So, what do you think about… flexing some muscles?”

  “Meaning?”

  “You know firsthand that some people are less than pleasing to deal with. And you are very good at putting them back in the right direction. What do you think? I can guarantee a double rate and a percentage of every successful collection.”

  Debt collector.

  He wants to turn me into one.

  I can’t justify myself or exonerate any guilt if I were to take that offer.

  “I only do deliveries.” I sharply give my answer. Besides, I know Neo enjoys that job a little too much, so it wouldn’t be fair to take that joy from her.

  “Ah yes, only deliveries. Such dedicated courier.” He ments with a mocking tone.

  “Your point?” I frown. “I’ve already dug a hole for myself, but I won’t go even deeper.”

  Roman stares at me in silence as he raises a single brow. “Your loss, kitten.”

  I give a slight shake of my shoulders in response and quickly finish my frozen drink before crushing the can between my hands and throwing it away.

  I absolutely love this drink.

  The thief’s smile disappeared from his face. His eyes locked where my trash nded. “Get lost. This isn’t your litter box.”

  It comes as a surprise that he actually cared about something so insignificant. But I say nothing back after a quick gnce at his face now twisted into a scowl.

  I quietly left the warehouse.

  That leaves me around twelve hours to kill before I meet up with Bke. I guess I could use the extra hours for a quick incursion into the Emerald forest and kill some mutts to level up.

  I shake off the idea since I have barely increased my level on other skills, the attributes gain would be insignificant. Therefore, that leaves me with my original pn of increasing my weaving skill to an acceptable level.If possible to reach the breakthrough and leave it at journeyman weaver.

  And while this isn’t the Commercial district, there are workshops who would gdly sell me supplies. Although, they would sell it at market price, but not like I would mind, even more now that I just got paid a nice sum.

  With my decision taken, I merely head to the workshops area and look for one about textile. A very easy shop to find since they have enormous signs and a vast selection of cloth outside to show off their products.

  It is, as expected, a quick purchase and I am already out with a big bag full of yarn of all colors and a few thousands poorer. But as always, it is a necessary investment for my persona.

  As I turn to the left, my feet abruptly stop when I notice a pink parasol.

  “I thought Roman had you busy with work.” I comment.

  The pink umbrel spins as it closes, revealing the smug smile of Neo. Although I don’t fail to notice crumbs on her mouth. It is a question that answers itself after seeing a half eaten muffin on her left hand.

  “Soooo, what brings you here?” I ask.

  Neo takes a single bite from her muffin as she tilts her head to the left, only to shrug nonchantly.

  Since I am not even getting a message, then I should assume she is just bored again.

  I pick up one ball of white yarn from my bag and show it to her. “Wanna make a snowman?”

  The petite girl tosses the muffin over her shoulder and almost immediately clings to my arm. Intentionally pcing my arm on her bosom while giving me a bashful look.

  I am very tempted to flick her between the mismatched eyes.

  Yet that remains forever as a thought in my head. The only thing to do is to head home with my… questionable friend.

  -Much ter-

  Neo happily left my home after getting an extensive collection of angry and cutesy plushies and raiding my fridge, AGAIN.

  I know for a fact she is fucking rich. There is no distinct reason for her to steal my food besides aggravating me to death.

  But ignoring that st part for my sanity's sake, I got a couple levels for my weaver job, so it was a somewhat fair trade in my eyes. Although, I should have tried to do more advanced plushies or give them more accessories and details. But Neo liked their simplicity.

  After leaving behind my apartment, I check my surroundings again just to be sure that nobody is around. Not like a random stranger would care for my activities, especially counting by the fact I’m a faunus, but I guess it’s a habit of mine.

  With the quick caution measures done, I head southwest by foot.

  The streets are mostly empty besides the occasional passing car and some street mps.

  Arriving at the agreed location, I scan my surroundings and enter an alley with very high walls. It is a good thing for me it is close to the slums, meaning that the buildings aren’t well maintained. Which leaves me holes and cracks to get a stable grip.

  My lips twist into a smirk after I mapped a route in my mind. Yet I cannot start before stretching some muscle. It would be unfortunate to have my muscles go stiff at inopportune moments after all.

  I run towards the wall and leap from the floor with an extended hand, which reaches the first hole in the wall.

  With a secure grip, I push myself towards the next broken brick, where I hang for a moment to look around.

  Sadly, I am far from the roof, but the fall is considerable. For a civilian, that’s it. And much to my convenience there is a badly built window on the opposite wall which I don’t hesitate to wall jump.

  And I shattered the damn window by mistake.

  I groan in annoyance as I shake my hand from the residual shards. If it wasn’t for my aura, I would be pouring blood. It is the understanding of the century that I don’t want to be around when the very pissed off owner comes back to check the noise.

  On the bright side, the broken window provides a foothold for a stronger jump, an action which I promptly take. Both hands grab the edge off the roof before my arms tense and use all the strength in their muscles to pull me up. My feet helping me as well to push me faster.

  I quickly pull myself together and dust off any dirt from my clothes. It’s always a good thing to wear bck pants. Although, I need to improve my jump and wall climbing skills, that’s for sure. Perhaps, if my level is high enough, I will jump even higher.

  From my new vantage point, I look over the streets and the other buildings, trying to locate Bke, who said she would wait somewhere in the vicinity.

  Instead, I only found an emergency dder not that far away from the building I just climbed…

  Yeah, fuck you world.

  Ignoring that little detail, I refocus my attempts at finding my old mentor. I check the hour and confirm that it is past ten, so she should be around somewhere waiting for me. Yet even with my natural night vision, I still cannot find her.

  With little option and refusing to jump around hoping to find her, I just bring out my Ats mask and turn on the thermal vision. The results are immediate as it picks up a single signature above, which is five buildings away from mine.

  That could only be Bke.

  A quick look at the gap between the buildings before and the distance isn’t much of a concern to me. I step away from the edge to create some distance, take deep breaths before I give myself the signal to go.

  As expected, the distance isn’t an issue as I jump over buildings. I think this is called parkour if my memory doesn’t betray me. One thing I am certain of, the breeze up here is pretty nice.

  My nding on the final building is anything but silent, as I had no idea there would be piles of pnks and old furniture on the roof. With my speed and weight, those things didn’t stand a chance, causing a mess.

  An extraordinarily loud mess.

  And I find myself buried in all the rubble.

  With an irritated groan, I shove away everything and try to make myself presentable before Bke gets here. I know for a fact she wasn’t deaf to the commotion.

  “Are you okay?”

  Speaking of the devil.

  “Just made a big mess. Why is this stuff up here, anyway?” I look in the direction where her voice came from.

  Bke Beldonna approaches with a worried expression, this time without her White Fang mask and coat. And I must admit how much her amber eyes stand out in the dark.

  “I didn’t expect you to jump here.” She comments.

  “Why not? It’s the only way to reach up here.” I say, getting onto my feet and kick some wood.

  The cat girl tilts her head and points to the right. “There is a dder right there.”

  I fixate in silence at the cursed inanimate object.

  Are you having a ugh world? Are you?

  For the moment, I can only drag a hand across my face and swallow this burning anger. “Forget it. Let’s just sit down somewhere.”

  Bke gives an assenting nod.

  Together we walk up to a palette of bricks where I quickly pick as my seat while she sits on top of an old table. Much to my surprise, or disappointment, it doesn’t colpse under her weight.

  Stillness shortly follows, as none of us attempts to pick where we left.

  I just don’t know how I should start with the whole mess. Starting from my kidnapping could work, but I already expined it back at the slums hideout.

  How to start things off?Suddenly, a questionable idea occurs to me. I bring out a pair of drinks from my inventory. Throwing the extra to Bke, who becomes surprised but quickly catches her drink mid-air.

  “This isn’t beer, is it?” She asks. Reading the can brand name.

  I shake my head and pop it open. “Root beer, actually. You know I don’t like alcohol.”

  She also cracks it open and takes a sip.

  I enjoy the fizzing sound and sensation in my tongue for a moment before I focus on the new leader of the Vale Sect. “So….”

  “When did you get your sembnce? What is it?” She finally asks. Although, it comes as a surprise that to be her first question.

  I rub my chin as I look up at the starry sky. A proper name hasn’t occurred to me, but everyone calls it a storage sembnce. “It is a storage sembnce, never bothered to give it a proper name. And about getting one so quick, being kidnapped and fighting your way out should be enough to unlock one.”

  Bke looks away as her feline ears slump in embarrassment.

  I use that silence to down the rest of my beer and sigh in satisfaction. It isn’t as delicious as the pepsi but I can’t help but appreciate the taste as well.

  “I… We looked for you for a week. But even with the guard’s help, it turned out to be pointless. Imagine my surprise when I learned from Lady Khan that you ‘accepted’ a pilgrimage mission to prove yourself. Just why did I even believe such btant lies?”

  I jerk my head and gape at her in surprise. “Bke… The fuck? The fuck?”

  Did she unquestionably believe that? Me, who literally told her I have no real attachment to the politics or ideologies of the White Fang?

  Who in their right mind wouldn’t even question such a thing?

  “I know it sounds stupid but…” She tries to salvage the situation, but I raise a hand to stop her from embarrassing herself even further.

  “Zip it! I don’t wanna hear it.” I snarl, causing my hand to clench into a fist and crush the empty can.

  Unsurprisingly, the conversation dies again, at least until my head cools off. I don’t want to spout nonsense just to vent the growing frustration I am suppressing with difficulty.

  I finally let out all those negative emotions boiling in my stomach with a sigh. “So what happened next? How are you the leader of the Vale’s cell? Last time you told me you were kinda out of the game.”

  Her ears sharpen at the question. “It was right after an important mission. They tasked us to… secure-”

  “Steal. I am not a kid. Don’t sugarcoat it.”

  “Sorry.” She rubs her arm with a strained expression. “It was of utmost importance to steal Vale’s war hound, an Ats war machine. Adam recruited me with the high leader’s permission and many other members across Remnant. The mission was a success despite some complications and thankfully, nobody was hurt.”

  Bke’s summary adds up with Junior’s information. Although, I don’t think good things are waiting in the future after meeting with Ats soldiers and giving them what I assume were weapon crates.

  The two sides hate each other too much to not try anything. Bke is inadvertently digging herself into an early grave.

  But I am taken away from thoughts after a grumbling stomach made its presence known.

  I raise an eyebrow at the very red cat girl, who is trying to downpy her embarrassment. But a rumbling stomach is a hungry stomach, a loud one, mind you.

  I don’t think twice about bringing out some of my stored food.

  And as expected, it didn’t go cold. “Want some?”

  Bke nibbled her lip, but the aroma unmistakably allures her and doesn’t hesitate in accepting the chicken stew from my hand. “Thanks.”

  I quickly summon a pstic spoon to give it to her, since I doubt she would like to eat her hot meal with her bare hands.

  I calmly watch as she takes her first spoonful from my stew. Her golden eyes widen in surprise and as if something snapped in her head she starts devouring her dish.

  I chuckle as I watch her finish until the st drop. Not failing to notice the hunger in her eyes for more.

  However, she coughs and wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. “Sorry, it’s been a while since I had a decent meal.”

  Bke going hungry?

  That doesn’t set a good precedent to her situation or the White Fang stationed in Vale. Although, they seemed fine during my short visit.

  “Don’t sweat over it. I missed people stroking my ego.” I reply with a cheeky smile.

  She smiles back, but that pleasant smile disappears, and it’s repced by a serious expression. “When I returned, I learned of your disappearance and at that time, Adam somehow convinced Sienna to transfer his leadership to me. I still don’t know why he did that. There were others who could take leadership, and even Sienna thought the same, but he got his way before leaving for Ats.”

  So Adam must be a really powerful guy to turn the situation around in Ats with his presence alone. But Junior's briefing on Ats and Mantle didn’t set a delightful picture.

  “Who is Adam anyway?” I ask, causing Bke to freeze.

  A myriad of emotions fshes across her face.

  “He is my… he… he is a strangled friend. But there is still someone in there to help. I want to help him.” Her strangled response casts a shadow of doubt, making me frown.

  Rather than press on the matter, I just take out my scroll and go for a quick search. Writing the words ‘Adam’ and ‘White Fang’ together. The results are immediate as the front page it’s filled with damning headlines and images of this guy.

  He does stand out with the red hair and the bck coat. And in a low-resolution image, he is holding an SDC soldier by the throat.

  Unfortunately, Bke notices my quick net search and tries to snatch the scroll from my hands, failing in her endeavor.

  “Back off.” I growl, as my grip doesn’t budge.

  “Ma’iq please…” She pleads.

  “Why are you so hellbent on hiding things from me?” I snap back. “You also were like this back in Menagerie. Answer me or I leave.”

  I’m sick of these games.

  She bites her lip as her golden eyes dart everywhere, looking for an answer. “Because…”

  I am quick to raise a hand. “If it is about the White Fang considered a terrorist organization and all the shit they have been doing on Mantle and Mistral, then don’t bother, cause I pretty much know, the scroll is a really vast pce to get information. And I had a wrong feeling from the very beginning, especially the constant political rambles.”

  A half truth, since most of it is known thanks to Roman and Junior meeting up.

  Bke abruptly stands up. “Is not that Ma’iq! I was scared of losing another person in this fucked up world! I hate seeing people getting hurt! I hate seeing people I care about to turn into monsters! I hate losing people under my care!”

  “Was that really that hard?”

  "No...." She plops down on her makeshift seat and conceals her face between her hands.

  “Honestly, I don’t get it, Bke. Maybe it is because you have everything and I am just a fucking orphan dropped to die in the desert, different outlooks of life, you know? But it is disappointing that you think I would start going around killing people just for shit and giggles.” I take a moment to think, my hand rubbing the back of my neck. “Yeah, I am from Vacuo, and yes, I fought tooth and nail every day just to exist in that fucking hellhole and yes, I still beat up people on the daily basis but that’s different… somehow.”

  In my defense, they were asking for it. Is it unbelievably difficult just to keep your mouth shut while doing business?

  However, she doesn’t comment or add anything. Only looks at the floor with a lost expression, so I continue. “I told you from the very beginning, I only wanted to learn combat skills from your people, which I did. I don’t care about this whole mess of politics, I just exist here and fuck everyone and everything. You can call me selfish, but that’s how it is and I learnt to accept it. Your pce in this stupid world.”

  She cocks her head and looks at me with narrow eyes. “Why are you like this? This conformism, this attitude, is wrong. You can do better!”

  Better?

  I frown. “Because it is less complicated? I have food, a bed and a roof over my head. I made the best of my circumstances.”

  “Like working for that racist bastard?”

  I let out a dry ugh. “Well, I guess I have a talent to get into shitty situations. The whole fighting got me into the wrong crowd and they were involved with that prick. And you can guess how it turned out.”

  Her expression softens, almost looking at me with sympathy. “It isn’t a foreign concept, Ma’iq. Our people went through that for centuries, maybe even thousands of years. But Ma’iq, you need to escape. I’ve heard this story many times, and it never ends well.”

  I look up at the sky in deep thought. “Maybe you are right, maybe you aren’t. I just don’t think it would be worth it.”

  There is a video of me brutalizing the muscle head, for instance.

  And where would I go?

  Mistral and Mantle are objectively the worst option compared to Vale. And Kuo Kuana is no longer an option thanks to that bitch of Sienna.

  Besides, even if I leave, Neo will easily track me down.

  Right…

  Despite her antics, Neo is kinda growing on me. I would miss the psychopath ice-cream lover.

  Jeez, how fucked am I in the head?

  “You like working with him?” She hisses.

  That is the moment I realized I was unconsciously smiling. An expression that died as soon as it came to be.

  “Goodness no! he is a fucking prick, I… just another thing altogether that came with this mess of a job. I prefer to not think about it and live day by day and improve some skills in my free time.” I am not even making sense with my words, just sputtering whatever comes to mind. “Can we stop talking about this? Like fuck me. I hate dealing with stuff. It’s just a mess in my head. Let’s just forget about it and move on, please.”

  “Like how you forgot about your friend, Levi?” Her words are an icy dagger stabbing deep in my heart, holding me in pce.

  “Don’t change the subject.” I try to deflect between clenched teeth.

  “You did.” She presses on.

  “I DIDN’T!” I punch the bricks, making Bke flinch. Her reaction quickly calms me down and look at the result of my action. A good chunk of bricks is cracked or destroyed. I stare at my hand for long seconds before I clench it into a fist and sigh.

  “Do you have her number or anything to contact her, please? She needs to know what happened to me. She deserves that much.”

  Bke closes her eyes and slowly shakes her head, making me clench my teeth in frustration. “I don’t have any. But… I can send a message!”

  “It’s something at least… fuck. A lot of things happened so fast that they messed up my priorities. I should have tried to contact her or do anything as soon as I left the slums.” I ment, my head slowly sinking between my shoulders and finding refuge in my hands.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

  “No, I get it. Just tell me, how is she?”

  “Your friend is fine. But I’m sure she will be happy to hear from you again.”

  “Fuck. Shit… Bke, I don’t care what, just send a message to her and tell her I am fine, my scroll number or whatever I don’t know… just to let her know I am fine.”

  Bke is taken aback but nods. “Just promise me you will leave this life. Even if you don’t believe it, you have a future. Don’t ruin it with whatever you are pnning on doing.”

  Her conditional answer only makes me frown. The sudden change of subject irks more than it should.

  “And you? You were trying to recruit me into this little group of misfits. To what end? Make them better people? Change this fucking world?” I shoot back with venom in my voice, making her eyes go wide.

  “I have to. It’s my responsibility. They finally gave me the chance to make it a reality.”

  “Since when?”

  She stands up with a hand above her heart. “Ever! I can’t let my father’s legacy be more tainted and crumble before my eyes!”

  Quickly comes into realization her brief outburst doesn’t sit well with me and before she tries to apologize again, I raise a hand to cut her off.

  “Don’t bother. I get it. Not get it, get it, but I get the sentiment. I just don’t think this whole mess should be only upon your shoulders or mine. What are we? Seventeen?”

  I downright reject pying the foolish games of politics.

  “But if I don’t, who will? I fear that one day they will cross a line with no way back.”

  I arch a doubtful eyebrow. “Haven’t they gone too far already?”

  “YES, No! And that’s the issue!” She shouts back.

  I exhale and recline, propped up on the brick pallet. “Bke, we both are fucked up people, aren’t we?”

  Bke says nothing. Instead, she walks up to me and takes a seat right next to me before hugging her knees close to her chest.

  And the awkward silence soon follows, making me grimace as I scratch my head and sigh in exasperation.

  I take a leap of faith and sneak my arm around her shoulders. I feel her body tensing up, yet she doesn’t try to get away but allows me to continue.

  Soon her head pleasantly rests on my shoulder, her ears occasionally tickle my chin and neck, much to my amusement.

  This is actually nice…

  Just here alone together, enjoying the serenity of the night under the shattered moon.

  [Affection increased with Bke Beldonna by 2, 10/100]?Fucking thank you for ruining the mood. I wish there was a way to turn it off.

  But I won’t let that hiccup ruin our moment of tranquility.

  We both sure as hell we need this.

  -Neo Politan-

  What an amazing discovery.

  It was difficult for her to hide that excitement. But skipping across the streets with a smile on her lips helped her a bit.

  Putting those thoughts aside, she needed to give credit where credit was due. Roman’s gut feeling always led to interesting outcomes or discoveries.

  Money, opportunities, merchandise and in particur…

  Secrets.

  And what a bombshell she stumbled into!

  Her kitten was part of that little group of naughty animals. Even though that really crified such rapid growth of strength, at least to a certain degree. And he was acquainted with the current leader of the Vale sect, who also happened to be another mischievous kitten.

  And the little she knows about cats was enough to understand the dangers of another cat near your beloved pet.

  If she doesn’t intervene, someone will definitely lure him away from her, the horror!

  That left her with the important question.

  How should she tackle the matter?

  Fix it on her own?

  Or tell her DumDum?

  It didn’t take long before a wide grin curved on her lips.

  -Bonus scene: Job hunting-

  She made a promise and would see it through, or at least that’s what she had been repeating in her head over and over again as the days passed and failed to nd a half-time job. She was already in her fourth interview of the week.

  This one was the fifth.

  And she was already feeling nervous. Fidgeting on her chair as she looked around the empty room, the empty table and the two chairs in front of her. The interview didn’t even begin, and she felt like throwing up.

  She gnced at the clock on the wall once more. She still had around three minutes left before her interview would start.

  Jeanne wasn’t desperate for a job, but she didn’t want to go train with Ma’iq on Saturday and tell him she failed to get a job. It would be embarrassing.Is her hair presentable?She yelped in surprise when she heard the door opening and straightened her back, not daring to check over her shoulder to look more professional. Or at least what she believed a professional should look and act like.

  Soon after, a girl around her age, accompanied by a much older woman, quickly took their respective seats and pced a document on the table.

  Jeanne took a quick but deep breath and steeled herself to face her challenge.

  “H-hi!” She squeaked out. Her gaze immediately dropped as her cheek flushed red in embarrassment.

  What a fantastic first impression.

  Both women looked at her bnk expression for seconds, very agonizing long silent judgemental seconds. She could even feel their piercing eyes gnawing at her.

  “Yeah, you need to write that down.” The woman pointed to a section of the paper with her finger and the girl quickly filled the bnk space.

  ‘This sucks!’ She was mentally screaming as the two kept filling the document without even directing a word to her.