Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 685 - 678: Relaxing

Chapter 685: Chapter 678: Relaxing

After the tea party ended, Melia arranged lodging for every member of the Advance Team. Luo’er and Cheng Ziang didn’t immediately go to their rooms, instead, they walked side by side out of the room to unwind on the drill ground.

"I was really foolish to think that I had enough face to persuade Melia, forgetting that I was merely a fox pretending to be a tiger," Luo’er said somewhat ashamed.

"Melia was quite blunt. She basically gave you a slap in the face. But it’s for the best. At least you stumbled in front of her rather than others. And at the very least, it’s not too embarrassing," Cheng Ziang said with a laugh.

"It’s already quite shameful," Luo’er said, coughing awkwardly.

"Speaking of which, Melia’s attitude towards you seems more and more unusual, almost as if you two have just gotten remarried after not seeing each other for nearly a year," Cheng Ziang said.

"Stop spouting nonsense," Luo’er scanned around quickly, then lowered his voice and said, "If Moumou and the others heard, who knows what nonsense they’d stir up. Don’t forget how she nearly killed Melia last time."

"Wasn’t that her other personality’s doing?" Cheng Ziang shrugged.

"If she gets provoked again, who can be sure that her other personality won’t emerge?" Luo’er said, looking worried.

"Are you worried about Melia’s safety, or the deployment at the Headquarters?" Cheng Ziang looked at him and asked with a smirk.

"No, why do you always connect me with her?" Luo’er asked, confused.

"You two are connected. Don’t pretend as if you have nothing to do with her. Remember, you were the one who introduced her to the front-line command," Cheng Ziang casually said, shrugging his shoulders.

"That was because... I thought of her as a friend," Luo’er defended.

"Luo’er, ah," Cheng Ziang let out a sigh, "Indecision breeds chaos. Have you ever seen a simply platonic relationship between a man and a woman?"

"What do you mean?" Luo’er paused, looking at him.

"Think about it, really think about it!" Cheng Ziang said, suddenly stopping, then turning and walking off.

"Where are you going?" Luo’er looked at his retreating figure, loudly calling out in confusion.

Cheng Ziang didn’t reply but lifted his hand, raising his thumb to point behind Luo’er. Just when Luo’er was still wondering, a gentle voice came from behind him: "Seems like your friend is quite clever!"

Luo’er turned around hastily, only then realizing Melia was standing behind him, her hands behind her back, smiling warmly at him.

"When did you get here?" Luo’er felt his heart racing as he looked at her with wide eyes, asking nervously.

"Was that Chinese you guys were just speaking? I couldn’t understand a word," Melia replied with a question instead of answering his.

"Yes, yes it was," Luo’er stuttered.

The Advance Team spoke Chinese in private. Even though they were required to speak Tasta language during their time in school, ever since being assigned to the Otherworld as the Advance Team, they no longer followed that rule.

"Could we take a walk together? I have set aside some time," Melia approached Luo’er, looking up at him. Her flaxen hair exuded a faint fragrance and seemed to have grown longer since their last meeting.

"Of course, it would be my honor..." Luo’er said a bit nervously.

"You don’t need to be so tense. Moumou and Yue’er went to take care of your new lover; they have no time to come here," Melia said with a smile.

"What lover? Our relationship isn’t like what you imagine," Luo’er said awkwardly.

"You’re always such a headache," Melia turned around and walked a few steps forward before saying softly, "I’ve preserved myself for you, while you’re partying."

"Eh?" Luo’er didn’t fully catch what she said, but he felt like she had just said something startling.

"It’s okay," Melia shook her head, then turned to look at him and said nonchalantly, "Why are you just standing there, let’s go."

"Oh, oh, okay." Luo’er took a deep breath and said. In front of Melia, he always felt he was on the back foot.

"Throughout this year, has your Advance Team still been running about hectically every day?" Melia asked, leading the way without looking back.

"Yeah, but it’s not as bad as you think. As the headquarters’ power expanded, life has become much easier for our Advance Team." Luo’er nodded in affirmation.

"Do you still remember the first time we met?" Melia asked.

"Yes, it was on a small path in the mountainous region of Masya. It was snowing heavily that day. We helped you guys repel a rebel attack." Luo’er answered.

"What do you think of me?" Melia asked.

"I think...you are someone who can accomplish great things. Even though you’re just a girl, your boldness is no less than any man’s," Luo’er answered.

"Thanks for the compliment." A smile lighted up Melia’s face upon hearing Luo’er’s praise.

"No, I’m just stating the facts." Luo’er said.

"I’ve always been curious," Melia speculated, turning her head to look steadily at Luo’er before she continued, "Luo’er, what kind of person are you, exactly?"

"What do you mean?" Luo’er was bemused by her ambiguous question.

"From the moment I first met you, I’ve been very curious about your identity. You are clearly a half-elf, but there’s an entirely different aura about you," Melia said as she looked at Luo’er. "I initially thought you were from Earth, which would account for your uniqueness. However, the more I interacted with people from Earth, the more curious I became about your background."

"You’re just a captain of an Advance Team, but you stand out so remarkably within the command headquarters. It’s as if everyone follows your lead. At first, I thought this might be due to the importance of your Advance Team. However, none of your members have given me such an impression – only you are unique. Maybe it’s not entirely appropriate, but I’d rather describe you this way, Luo’er - you come across like a prince of the headquarters, as that is the demeanor that suits you."

Faced with Melia’s inquisition, Luo’er was momentarily lost for words, unsure about how to respond. Because, in fact, Melia wasn’t wrong. There were times when he could influence the decisions made at headquarters.

And furthermore, because the head of the command headquarters, Wang Xu, was his guardian in a practical sense, people felt that the command headquarters was like Luo’er’s home.

Whilst acknowledging the huge contributions made by the Advance Team to the headquarters, it couldn’t be denied that Luo’er’s Advance Team had a certain degree of bargaining power with the command headquarters, unlike the Murong Squad which simply followed orders blindly.

"Could you tell me why, as a friend?" Melia asked, maintaining eye contact.

"Well..." Luo’er hesitated for a while before saying in some confusion, "It’s a bit complicated. The main reason is that my grandfather is a senior military officer at the headquarters, so..."

"I see." A cryptic smile appeared on Melia’s face upon hearing his explanation.

"That Chief of the frontline command - does he have something to do with you too?" Melia asked again.

"Yes," Luo’er nodded. "He... he’s my guardian, he’s seen me grow up since I was a kid."

"Phew." Melia breathed a sigh of relief and then said with a smile, "Did you know? I have always been worried that your Advance Team might not be able to persuade the headquarters. I was always indecisive about your requests. Now, it seems that my worries were needless."

"So you think we don’t deserve to allocate the resources of the headquarters?" Luo’er asked.

"Mhm!" Melia nodded without hesitation.

"I see." Luo’er said, with a smile that was hard to tell whether it was bitterness or embarrassment.

"Luo’er," Melia, gazing at Luo’er, began to speak seriously. "I indeed like you very much, but I cannot give up the power I possess because of this. Unlike you, I have no fallback. Once I give up or fail, my end would be terrible."