In the far outskirts of the city, Commander Dan waited on the empty helipad of the military base. Arriving from above was a helicopter with Gilius, who had just arrived. Before any supplies or food were to go into the city, they would be inspected. To ensure that all items wouldn’t be tampered with, there were escorts to guarantee the safety of all supplies. Especially with how forty percent of the population needed to get these supplies, it was important to protect them. This is what Commander Dan was tasked to do as he was supposed to escort and inspect all these products before then turning them over to Commander Lee or Gilius. Which was why Commander Dan was on the hot seat as he was now being questioned for his lack of due diligence from the raids that has been going on.

  “Commander Dan. It seems like you've been quite busy these days.” Arriving with a bunch of soldiers, it seemed the air was tense as the soldiers that Gilius brought were far more than what Commander Dan had. In fact, to show more authority Gilius was surrounding them, showing their superiority.

  “Gilius, it seems like you've been promoted.” This didn’t scare Dan as he was rather unfazed by the soldiers.

  “Temporarily.. but it won’t last long.”

  “Seems to be the case.”

  “Yes so let's get things done quickly. You know how patient our bosses are.” Dan was then guiding Gilius to the office. At that time, both soldiers were then guarding the entrance, making sure that no one came. Yet that was a temporary thing, as the moment the door shut, the tense air calmed down instantly.

  “Yo whats up my dude!!’

  “Hey man, why are you getting so fat.. you've been lazy in the city.”

  “Man please we can still beat all of you guys.”

  “Last time we won.”

  “Bet you some cash saying you on.”

  “Deal!!” Though it was their job to protect and guard. They haven’t seen each other in awhile. What seemed like being enemies, they were in fact allies as all the soldiers present were all Liberty soldiers who had all managed to join the Avalon military covertly. Slowly, Gilius and Dan were able to have them join their ranks. So even though the mission was serious, it was nice to greet each other. Letting their guard down was not a fault of their own. It was mainly because…

  “Setting up defences now,” Dan said as the walls lit up, as metal plates prop up the walls. The two were already being protected.

  “Defense activated. Communication from outside is also secured.” A robotic voice said. This then lets Dan sit on the opposite side of Gilius, feeling relieved to see a fellow comrade. Unfortunately, instead of saying good things, he ends up giving some bad news.

  “The northwest region has been found.” Hearing that, Gilius was quick to be startled.

  “Did they find anything?”

  “So far nothing has been known. Right now, both of us are safe for now.”

  “You mean?”

  “Yes…one of us might be kiiii..” Dan said as he pretended to slit his throat. This then concerned Gilius as he was now worried.

  “How are the plans? Can we proceed? We're going to need to go as fast as possible!!” Gilius panicked as he was asking for answers. Remaining calm, Dan gestured him to calm down.

  “Relax relax, don’t worry too much about it. Even if we rushed it, it still will take a few months. Right now, the best thing to do is prepare contingencies. If something happens with either of us…..” Dan said as he then pointed the gun right at Gilius. “Remember, right now, nothing happens before the mission.”

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  “I second that.” Gilius then pointed his gun right at him. “Price for freedom.”

  “Price for freedom indeed.” The two then exchange drinks as they hope for the future.

  While that was going on at Avalon Capital, Leo then stood in front of a figure as he kneeled before him.

  “Leo of Lancelot bows before Arthur.”

  “Leo. It seems you have news that will benefit the Light.”

  “Yes Arthur.” Getting up, Leo then sent his document along with some initial findings that Fausto wrote. Though Leo didn’t need it, Faust gave it to show a sign of good faith. “We have made contact with Fausto, and he will use Leonora as you speculated,” Leo said as he was trying to camouflage his emotions. This was because of who he was talking to.

  “Excellent!! It seems like the light has been rather favourable so far.”Arthur was satisfied with the outcome and was even more interested in the findings that Fausto had already completed, as he had already discarded the other things rather quickly.

  “Yes, she will be used as research to strengthen the order. But he asked for some demands.”

  “Out with it.” Uncharacteristic of Arthur, the desire to speed up the results made him rather impatient.

  “He wishes that he, along with Leonora and Karma, be left alone for the time being. He doesn’t want his research getting out.” Leo said without bothering to say the other boring things. Hearing that Arthur then thought about it before giving a rather concerned expression. This conflicted with what he decided to believe earlier about Karma. More than not, increased his belief that there was more to her than before.

  “…….very well…let it be for now..But have a team to survey them.” Arthur said as he was deep in thought. Leo then looked at him conflicted by those words.

  “Didn’t you say we will follow his demands?”

  “…his demands seem rather strange to me?” Though Arthur doesn't think Fausto was an enemy. That doesn’t mean, however he viewed him as an ally.

  “I don’t understand your wisdom sir.”

  “He can ask for everything in the world. He can even ask for our protection if he wants to. Yet he didn’t want any of that? This seems to be strange for someone who is an ordinary person.” Arthur said as he was growing in concern.

  “Then are you saying…….”

  “It seems this guy may be holding secrets…”

  “Then….” Leo didn’t think of such things. Yet Arthur was thinking above and beyond what he would have imagined before. He really deserves the name of Arthur. Even to the point of sacrificing Leonora for the sake of the order.

  “Yes, tell Noah and his team to watch them on a 24-hour basis. Bring Leonardo along. Have them all watch and collect their data. Say… that… the four are on a training of some kind.”

  “Very well, it shall be done. And what of Leonora? If things were to be found out?”

  “…She is just a test subject…just use her as an excuse to kill them if anything were to happen.” Hearing that, Leo was furious with the idea. But he held it back….

  “Very well may the light of thought be our sword and shield.”

  “May the light of heart be our guide and soul.” Arthur gracefully bowed as he gestured Leo away. Seeing his silhouette leave Arthur then frowned as he looked at him.

  “As expected, for someone selected by the elders. He is rather posed. However, he brings a lack of wisdom that I do hope he gains in the future.” Brushing it away as he already didn’t seem to bother with him anymore, as he now had other things to work on. The life of Arthur was all about work that would benefit the order. Even for the sake of its own personal life.

  Back in the Lancelot estate

  Night falls as the time for Fausto rises. After a few hours, they then went to a rather large house as Leonora happily said the things that she wanted to say. After all she really never had many friends over, let alone be able to visit the house. Most Avalonians were scared of entering, as they felt one fault would be their downfall. This made it hard for anybody to want to date or even be friends with them. So, like a child, Leonora happily got in front like a child to say this.

  “Welcome to my home!!!!” This was her house. This five-story wonder was her place and her place alone. A three-bedroom, 5 living room and a bunch of other things that you would expect from a fancy house. Everything was made to her design when she was young. Meaning it was rather childish. This was after all made for her when she was young when everyone viewed her as a curse. To make sure everyone of the family would be safe to not get infected by her in case it was real they created her private residence. Leaving her to do whatever she wanted in her own home. Including having a lot of stuffed animals shaped into furniture and colourful decorations everywhere.

  “Oh how cute this place looks!!!” Karma said as she jumped onto a stuffed animal bean bags. While walking around the living room they step on top of the memory foam floor. Like a child, Karma jumped right onto it for fun as she never thought there was a thing. Bouncing around she then moved around feeling like she was on a cloud. Though Karma was always trying to be the mature one, just being in this house reverted her to a child as she never got to experience this before.

  “This is so comfy. I can sleep on the floor and never have to wake up.”

  “Right, I love this room. It's my favourite!!” Leonora and Karma were jumping around in the room. “Come on, Fausto, come join us?” But Fausto being the boring one didn’t care about that at all as he went straight up to his room.

  “Ahh why does he sound less playful?” Leonora said as early today he seemed to really enjoy being active. Now it seems like he was a natural introvert.

  “Leave him be. Us two can have fun”

  “But..”

  “Just leave it.” Karma said as she was hugging a stuffed animal. Her face was getting rather red as she recalled the kiss. But still what does companion mean she wondered. “Bastard kissing me then not even talking to me…he's a playboy for sure..humph….”