There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 164

Chapter 164: Chapter 159. Devout Fishing

"What?!" Bassena was about to blow again, but Zein threw a bottle at him.

"Don’t get spiky," Zein gave a rare smile and sat on the couch instead of going back to his desk. "We’re not really sure if the one behind Golden Viper knew about the blue eyes. But we know there’s someone who definitely knew about it."

Bassena bit his cheek to prevent a groan from coming out. "The remnant of the Templar."

"Yeah," Zein unscrewed the bottle cap and down the content in one go, before continuing. "The people Radia said to tail the policeman hadn’t got anything aside from the man’s house and daily habits. Aside from suspicious letters that came every three days, there was nothing that lead us to the base of these people. He just looked like a normal low-star esper that worked as a law enforcer."

"What about those suspicious letters?"

Zein crushed the bottle in his hand as if channeling his frustration. "It came from other seemingly normal people; espers and civilians. It just looks like a penpals thing, and we can’t really scrutinize the letters without stealing them. Even if the senders are other members of the Templars, all it tells us is just that they live a perfectly normal life."

"So you decided to bait them,"

"If even one of them recognizes me, they should be making a move sooner or later, either approaching me, or at least holding an emergency meeting," Zein tapped on his thigh with impatience. "Either way, it will lead us to their base of operation, and maybe...some answers..."

Zein had no idea which faction the policeman was in, but it would still shed light on things. If they still didn’t make a move, then they could conclude that the tattoo might be fake, or that the newer generation had no idea about the seed. Again, whatever result they could get from this, it would be important information regardless.

"Anyway, never thought the interview would bait you first," Zein smiled as he stared at the esper’s hardened eyes. The man hadn’t been home for more than a week, but it took a single interview to bring him back instantly from the other side of the federation.

Bassena stared at Zein’s usual nonchalant face, before letting out a long sigh. "I wish you would inform me about this kind of thing first before you do it..." _{ƒгeewebnovёl.com}

"You’ve been busy, Mr. High Demand," Zein smirked in response, and Bassena couldn’t help but groan at that. "Besides, even if that ’sponsor’ came to find me, I have you," the guide curled his eyes, a pretty smile adorned his face. "Right?"

"...that’s mighty sly of you," Bassena pursed his lips.

Zein chuckled, tilting his head to have a better look at the esper. "You looked like you like it though,"

"Never said I don’t," Bassena muttered quietly, with a slight blush on the tip of his ears, peeking through the platinum strands.

This time, Zein let out a crisp, beautiful sound of laughter. "Come here," he patted on the couch, beckoning the esper to sit beside him. Once Bassena did, he took the sturdy hand and held it tightly. "Why is your corrosion level so high?" he asked with a slight frown as he started to guide the esper.

"Because I have been running around clearing government-owned dungeons?"

Zein rolled his response in his tongue before voicing it. "Didn’t you visit the Temple?" he asked dryly.

"Yeah, so?"

"You’re not asking for a cleansing there?" Zein frowned slightly as he felt his throat dry up--didn’t he just down a whole bottle of water a minute ago?

"Why would I do that when I have you?" Bassena tilted his head, a genuine confusion displayed across his face. "I can just go back here if I need cleansing, but I’d rather just deal with everything first so I don’t have to go back and forth."

Zein blinked at the response--not Bassena’s response, but his own body; at how the dryness in his throat and the uncomfortable churning of his guts vanished. It was a weird and fascinating feeling. "Hmm...I just thought..."

Bassena looked down, at the guide’s thumb that was stroking the back of his hand and almost made him cease breathing. "...you thought what?"

"You said you were getting away,"

Oh...Bassena recalled what he said to Radia when he asked about work last week. "Well...yeah," he scratched his neck awkwardly. "I felt like my patience was running thin, so I just want to distance myself for a bit so...ugh--so I could gain back my resolve and restraint...I guessed..."

Zein looked up, staring at the esper who was fervently avoiding his gaze. The blush had crept from the tip of his ears to his cheeks, and Zein couldn’t help but chuckle. "Heh," he bit his lower lip, and Bassena sighed in response.

"Just laugh,"

"Ha ha," Zein did laugh, a soft sound that was filled with affection rather than mockery. He leaned back on the couch and let out a long breath, releasing the tension that he didn’t even know he held. "Still cute," he muttered with a smile.

"Ugh..." Bassena let out another sigh, before following Zein to lean back, staring at the ceiling side by side, fingers intertwined.

"So, have you finished all your assignment?" Zein asked after a while.

"No," Bassena groaned slightly. "But I can just ask Radia to cancel it," he added immediately. There was no point in him ’getting away’ now, so might as well take a rest, recharging his energy.

Speaking about that...Bassena shifted, turned his body sideways, and buried his face in the guide’s neck. "You’re sniffing me again?" Zein asked, with a slight chuckle in his voice.