There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)
Chapter 288 - 280. Premonition

Chapter 288: Chapter 280. Premonition

"They have a field day with this," Abel chuckled while reading the dozens of articles that came out from Zein’s single affirmative word about his relationship with Bassena.

"Why? I already kissed him in front of the camera," Zein rolled his eyes, once again failing to understand people’s interest in his and Bassena’s private life.

Abel swiped the screen to read another bombastic article analyzing all of Zein and Bassena’s ’moments’ that were captured by cameras and videos since Zein’s first public appearance. It was such a nice distraction from all of the wedding frenzy. "You do know that Guide and Esper kissed all the time, don’t you?"

Zein paused from his typing, tilting his side to look at Abel from behind the screen. Right, he kind of forgot that while it wasn’t always the case, guiding through a kiss wasn’t something rare, especially if they needed fast emergency treatment. Kind of like CPR, actually. It was a medical emergency.

"But they already made a lot of speculations in the past," Zein argued, recalling all the gossip about him being a relationship wrecker and that Bassena was two-timing and stuff.

He also recalled their excitement for the airport picture where Bassena holding Zein’s hand tightly all the way to the car, making a lot of theory and bet about their actual relationship. This included making a lot of assumptions about the Temple video that now had been taken down from the net.

"Why are they still acting surprised?"

"Not surprise," Abel corrected his fellow guide. "It’s just an excitement that they finally have the answer and not just wild speculation. You know, just like we always believe we will get the project and act like we already get it, but we still get excited once the announcement is out, right?"

Huh...Zein leaned back and pondered about it. That actually made sense. "Speaking about the announcement, when will it be?"

He knew Radia had already flown to Rexon to meet with the President, and it would be continued with the press conference and contract signing on live television.

"Luncheon, I presumed."

As with any other important announcement, it came out in the afternoon as people were having their lunch break, and everyone from office workers to students had access to their commlink. It would be in the breaking news section, and all channels would air it simultaneously.

That was how important this project was. More than important, it was a groundbreaking one. And while it didn’t concern many people before, the appearance of the black gate in the middle of the green-zone brought back the concern over whether or not it was caused by something in the Deathzone. So now, even those who did not participate would be tuned in on this project.

"Do you change your rooster at all?"

"Just a bit," Zein nodded. "And it might change again in the future, depending on their training result."

"Ahh...the torture," Abel smiled deeply, deviously, almost as if Zein and Alice had managed to corrupt this kind-hearted guide.

Must have been the wedding stress. It was good then that the announcement happened before the wedding, so Abel didn’t have to be stressed out about the result in the middle of his important event.

Just then, the office door opened and Han Shin’s black hair peeked out through the crack. "We’re having executive lunch and viewing party upstairs, wanna come?"

Zein and Abel looked at each other, and, after a shrug, stood up to follow the healer to the twelfth floor’s lounge, which had been converted into a buffet. Bassena was already there, sitting on an armchair in front of the large TV screen they dragged out of a meeting room, while other executives who were already there spread out in the room, making small talk while waiting for their lunch.

Zein slid into the armrest of Bassena’s chair and wrapped his arm around the wide shoulder. All of those articles about them made him miss the esper--or it was probably because Bassena cooked Zein’s favorite meal for breakfast this morning.

"Hey," Bassena looked up, grinning like a kid waiting for praise. "I heed your words and hold back from going to your floor."

"You did good," Zein chuckled, recalling their conversation yesterday in the department store. He retracted his mask and kissed the esper lightly.

"Ugh--get a room."

Han Shin rolled his eyes and groaned in disgust, even though he should have already gotten used to the view. But it was just weird for him to see Zein make the first move and everything. He missed those times when he could make fun of Bassena for chasing Zein around.

Not only he couldn’t make fun of Bassena anymore, but now he also had to suffer the magician’s smug face. Like now. Now--that smirked and wriggling brow.

Zein shook his head at this cat-and-mouse relationship between them, which he still couldn’t understand even now. "Have you heard from your brother these days?" he asked the healer.

Funnily enough, Bassena was still tensing a little bit when Zein picked up a conversation about Han Joon, even though Zein had already said the man wasn’t his type. Unfortunately, Han Shin picked up on Bassena’s expression, and was delighted to get a new source of teasing.

"You mean my hyung who you think is hot?" the healer tilted his head innocently.

Bassena twitched, and Zein had to pat the esper’s cheek gently. He couldn’t help but find it cute though, that no matter what, Han Joon was Bassena’s biggest weakness after Zein.

"Do you have any other brother?"

Han Shin grinned and shook his head. He also shook his head at Zein’s question. "No, and I haven’t heard from him since the New Year too," he leaned back and pursed his lips in contemplation. "He usually gives me a message at least once a week on the weekend--you know, so I know he’s alive and stuff. But sometimes, he’d gone completely off the radar if he was on a mission."

"A mission..." Zein muttered, wondering if was that why Radia couldn’t get ahold of the man. But then, if it was Radia, he should have known about that already.

If even Radia could not figure out where Han Joon was...

Zein frowned a little bit. He recalled what the Night Star implied during their last meeting; whatever it was that keeping him away from Radia, he thought it would come to an end soon. This...mission...might it actually be his personal mission?

"What is it?" Bassena tugged on Zein’s arms, looking at the guide suspiciously. Due to their position, his head was right beside the guide’s chest, and he could sense the sudden spike of heartbeats.

Han Shin was also looking at Zein in confusion, because the topic of his hyung seemed to come out of nowhere. But before Zein could make an excuse, the restaurant staff came up with their luncheon, and Zein used the distraction to say it was nothing.

The healer just shrugged then, and Bassena immediately got distracted when Zein said he was hungry. The esper immediately sprung to get Zein a plateful of food while Zein took up the armchair and pondered about the soldier by himself.

It had only been a month though, so his worry might be useless. But Zein had this uncomfortable feeling in his stomach that he could not explain. An instinct of some sort. But it wasn’t like there was anything he could do, so he could only sigh.

As he stared at Radia and the business smile on the summoner’s face while shaking the President’s hand, Zein could only hope that the reclamation project could distract Radia well enough from thinking too much about Joon.

* * *

"How could you do this to me?!"

Varion Belthera, Celestia’s Guildmaster, stormed inside a large room that looked like an ancient court hall. There was still a podium that bore a throne-like chair at the end of the room, which seemed to have been in use.

Varion, however, did not walk toward the empty throne. He marched toward an old man standing over an old desk bearing old books, who was carefully flipping over some pages as if Varion hadn’t just screamed at the top of his lungs.

"I told you to just stop before," the old man nonchalantly replied after Varion’s voice had stopped echoing inside the large ancient hall. "I told you it’s not worth the investment."

"What does it matter? We’re not using the clan’s funds, and I’m doing it for our glory! For Celestia’s glory!" the younger man barked with gritted teeth. It was still clear in his mind, the scene of that red-headed bastard signing the contract with the President. "All you have to do is speak to those suckers on the Grand House!"

And Varion knew it always worked. Every time his grandfather spoke to those shithead in the government, they would bark obediently like they were his grandfather’s lapdog. The association was one thing, but he was certain they could make the Federation choose them. And since the project itself was in the Eastern Federation, the government had the biggest vote.

When he received that damn envelope, Varion thought it was a joke. But he could no longer deny it when he saw that infuriating smile on that mediocre face flashing at him through the screen.

Amidst his confusion, he knew there was only one reason why he lost; because his grandfather did not talk to those fuckers eating his guild’s tax money.

So here he was, anger rising when he saw the old man act like it didn’t matter. How could winning over that redhead bastard not matter?! The old man was the one who told him to always win!

"I can’t now," the old man said calmly. Even now, he kept on flipping over old books.

"What?" Varion widened his eyes. Did the old man just say he can’t influence the government anymore?

With a sigh, the old man added. "Our trump card has been down after the New Year,"

Varion’s frown grew even deeper. "What do you even--"

"Forget it. It’s not your place to know."

Varion gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. This again. Just because he was born from the son that the old man threw away, Varion had to suffer being treated like an outsider over and over again. It wasn’t his fault that his father sucked! It wasn’t his fault that he had to wear a different last name from the rest of the clan!

But he took a deep breath for now, trying a different approach. "Grandfa--"

"Also," before Varion could use his glib, the old man straightened his back and turned his head slightly so Varion could see the sharp cheek and cold, piercing eye that made him freeze. "That guild of yours is but a mere toy. Don’t forget where your loyalty should lie, Varion," the cold eyes narrowed as the old man added with disgust, "like your father."

"...yes, Patriarch."

Varion swallowed his saliva, along with his indignation, quietly. If his grandfather could make the elite of the government bark, he could definitely crush Varion and the little ’toy’ guild.

"Besides, it’s not over yet," the old man turned toward the book again, voice softened as if giving a consolation.

"Pardon?"

"You still have a way, and it’s aligned with what the House wants," the old man said, flipping the pages of the old book again. "If you can do this well, we might be able to achieve both your guild and our clan’s objective."

Varion blinked, whirring his brain to work and figuring out what the old man actually meant. His eyes fell into the old books that his grandfather was reading, and his eyes widened as something suddenly clicked in his head. "Could it be--"

"Get ready," the old man said, soft and gentle and as cold as an icicle. "I won’t tolerate failure this time."

"Yes, Patriarch!"

Varion felt a shiver of excitement running through his spine as he immediately kneeled down, a wide grin decorated his bowed face.

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