There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 484

Chapter 484: Chapter 477. Tower Defense (1)

"What is this? A drill?"

The people on the base, both espers and guides, looked at the blinking orange light and the loud alarm sound.

"Is that orange? Not yellow?"

"That’s why I’m asking if it’s a drill."

The espers were engaging in a casual discussion still, seemingly nonchalant. But they still took out their weapons and fastened their gears. Bassena, who was in the command room until then, materialized behind his first priority; the guides--or rather, Zein.

"What happened?" Zein looked at the esper while giving a signal for the guides to prepare themselves.

"The system detects something coming from the direction of the mountain range."

"What?!" Zein turned around immediately--not only so he could look at Bassena properly, but also to prevent the other guides from looking at his expression. After all, the mountain range was the place he sent Dean to--with Senia and half of the Iron Brigade. But it had only been three days since they were gone. "Are they--"

"They’re fine--well, they’re alive," Bassena held his guide’s cheek. "They were running toward the base--I’ve sent a squad over, and I’m going there. I just want to tell you to be calm."

Zein might be good at keeping his composure, but that calmness would be thrown out of the window if it was about his people; his kids. Only after knowing they were safe that he would calm down again.

"Take Senan--"

"No," Bassena stared firmly at the blue eyes. "They are here to protect you."

Zein would have argued, but that would just waste some precious time. "Fine. I’ll stay here, so send anyone that needs to be guided."

"I’ll deal with it quickly," Bassena said, but seeing the anxiety in the blue eyes, he realized it was Zein’s way to keep his mind occupied rather than a precaution. "But alright--anything that’ll make you happy."

He stole a little peck before dispersing into a wisp of darkness. Well...the lighthearted attitude did ease Zein’s wariness a bit. He took a deep breath and turned to his awaiting kids. They were clearly curious about what happened, but they held themselves back until Zein told them himself.

But they had to wait for a bit more since another group of Espers came over. "Young Master!"

"Senan, did you hear anything from Cohen?" Zein asked immediately, before the middle-aged man even stopped in front of him.

"No, I think they didn’t have any time. But I received an emergency signal from Eldan right when the alarm went off," Senan replied immediately, showing the blinking SOS in his commlink. "I think the link signal and the radar’s detection range is the same."

Ah, right...Zein clicked his tongue. Of course--they couldn’t call anything because there was no beacon over there. He looked behind Senan then, and when he saw no one, he tilted his head slightly.

"I sent the others to pick them up with the squad Sir Bassena sent."

Zein nodded and let out a relieved breath. Senan must have understood what Zein wanted to do, and took action accordingly. It made his mind a bit more at ease, even though he knew nothing bad would happen if Bassena had moved.

"What are you going to do, Young Master?"

"I’m going to guide more people, just in case," he said, and saw some espers had already moved around.

The ones who were in the path clean-up team earlier also started to move toward the guiding tent where Zein and the guides were, so Zein turned to look at the guides and gave them the delayed explanation.

"I felt another shard’s presence in a mountain range toward the northeastern side," Zein walked toward the table in front of the guiding tent while taking off his gloves. "I sent my people over there to check it out, along with Senia," he paused for a bit as he took a deep breath. "And Dean to guide them, since I know it wouldn’t be a short excursion."

"Oh, so that’s why he was staying back," Dheera nodded, following Zein to the table. "Well, I understand. You sent him because a five-star esper is there."

Zein looked at Dheera, and then at the other guides who were following him to the table. "What are you doing?"

"Huh? Well...we’re going to guide too, obviously?"

"No, you’re not."

"Eeeh? Why?" Dheera puffed her cheeks, feeling a bit hurt by the cold response.

Instead of replying, Zein shifted his gaze to Brisk and Silva, who looked at each other before answering the question. "Umm...in a situation where we are inside a base and not everyone is fighting, the guides should work in shifts..."

"And at least one should always stay as an emergency Guide, unless the condition stated that every personnel in the base would be mobilized."

Zein looked back at Dheera, who bit her lips and put her gloves back on. "Uhh...alright..." she let out a sigh. "Well...sorry for being bad at remembering protocols..."