There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 50

Chapter 50: Chapter 49. Nostalgic Voice

The agents sent by Director Lee Minho to the Central that afternoon went with a light heart. Trinity wasn’t really desperate for new recruits, and it was rare for someone new who filled Trinity’s requirements to emerge from monthly measurement.

So in a way, going there was as good as taking momentary rest.

Certainly, they didn’t expect to discover an A-class to come out of nowhere. And surely, they didn’t expect that their Vice Guildmaster would come looking like he wanted to wage war.

And now, they had to drive said A-class guide and the Vice Guildmaster to the guild with their back drenched in cold sweat from the cold silence filling the car.

The guide was nonchalantly leaning back with his arms crossed, calm eyes looking outside the window as if he was enjoying the scenery. Their boss, on the other hand, had his eyes closed and his brows deep in a frown. He buried his face in his palm for a while, before letting out a long, heavy sigh.

"What...why..." Bassena broke the silence with incoherent words. "What are you doing there?"

"Take a measurement, getting my license," the guide answered casually. He was so at ease that the whole tension felt ridiculous.

"...you never think of calling me first? Or Shin? Or Trinity? Hell—not even Mortix?" for the first time, the HR staff heard Bassena sound exasperated.

"I don’t know how," the guide shrugged. "I don’t have that commlink thing."

Bassena opened his mouth without a sound, looking down at Zein’s wrists, and let out another sigh. "So you just went straight to the Central?"

"I didn’t," Zein tore his gaze from the scenery, for the first time since he entered the car looking at Bassena. "It just so happened that the bus stop is not that far from the place, so I thought why not," he shrugged, before tilting his head with cold blue eyes. "I have no idea that you have the right to regulate my activities, Mister Vaski."

Bassena froze. Slowly, brokenly, the esper pulled away, and retreated into his side of the seat. But his eyes never left Zein, although the fiery eyes were filled with heartbreaking dismay.

It reminded Zein of Bassena’s state the morning after their sex.

"I’m...sorry,"

The HR staff had no idea that hearing someone apologizing could be this scary. Who the hell was this guide?

Zein sighed, melting the coldness in his eyes. "Why are you so anxious?"

Bassena wiped his face and swept his hair back, slumping into the backrest in a mixture of dread and relief. "You have no idea how vicious the big guild would act to snatch a talent they covet. Shin said Celestia is stealing you and...haa—sorry..."

"Celestia...that Askan guy’s guild?"

The amber eyes were blown open again. "You know him?" the low, husky voice almost sounded like a growl.

"Just met him once, during that incident," Zein stared outside the window again.

The car fell into silence once more, and it was Bassena who broke it again. "If you came to me—to Trinity first, we have a way to schedule a private, closed measurement. All of the top guilds always used it for their nurtured or contracted guides, so no chaotic situation where scouting agents flock about will happen," the esper explained, eyes still never left the guide.

"I’m not being nurtured or contracted by your guild," Zein smirked under his mask, his blue eyes gleamed. "What makes you think you have more right to recruit me than anyone else?"

"...what?"

"If we go by technicality, Askan Bellum asked me to join Celestia first, four years ago,"

"..." Bassena opened his mouth, but couldn’t find anything to say.

"I met him first too, before I met you. And today he gets to me first before you come," Zein continued, even though he could see how much his words pricked the other’s heart. "Just because we spent two weeks together, you think you have the right to drag me away like I have no say in the matter?"

The staff in charge of driving gripped the steering wheel tightly. For the three years that he worked at Trinity, he hadn’t found anyone capable of using a reprimanding tone toward the Serpent Lord except the Guildmaster. Even then, Bassena sometimes talked back. But now, the esper was only staring blankly in silence.

"What difference does it make between you and those guilds using—what did you say—’vicious’ ways to snatch a talent they covet?" Zein turned his face to look at the bewildered esper. He didn’t think their first meeting after two months would be filled with him lecturing the esper too, but he also didn’t think Bassena would come into him like he was a cheating lover or something. "What would that make you? Do you think it’ll be good for your reputation?"

"I don’t care about my reputation—"

"You don’t," Zein cut him off. He knew Bassena didn’t care about reputation, since a lot of espers had negative views toward him anyway. "But what about your guild’s reputation?"

For the third time, Bassena opened his mouth only to find out that he couldn’t force a word out. Zein sighed audibly, leaning his head back into the seat. "You were so sensible before, so what is this?"

There was a part of Zein that was annoyed at how he got dragged around by an esper. He couldn’t even say goodbye to an old acquaintance, letting himself be led out like an obedient lamb, even if he did it just so this tantrum child didn’t run rampage.

And that tantrum child suddenly slumped down on the seat and had his head pressed on Zein’s shoulder. "I got it—I’m sorry. I was...panicked. I don’t want to lose you to anyone else," Bassena muttered in a soft voice that got the two staff holding their breath at how bizarre it was. "I guess I really an that kind of vicious, selfish person."

"Why are you acting cute?" Zein looked down at the strands of platinum hair falling on his shoulder.

"So you’ll forgive me," Bassena replied with a sheepish smile.

Zein gave the man a side glance and an eye roll, before handing Bassena an envelope that contained the recommendation letter. The esper lifted his head and straightened his back, taking the envelope and opening the content.

"I’m going to say this now, but I’m here because the Captain feels it’s time I get a real license,"

Bassena took out the letter and read it. "You don’t have to go all the way to Althrea for that, though?"

"I don’t," Zein looked out, his eyes caught a tall building in the distance with a familiar logo on the side of its wall. "But I thought if I’m going to do it, might as well visit some old acquaintances as well."

The guide turned his face to stare at the blinking amber eyes. "I’m not here for Trinity or Mortix. I’m here to see Han Shin, and Sierra, and that really good cook. Maybe those funny researchers too," the blue eyes softened, the sharp daggers diminished for a bit, "...and you," he paused for a bit, letting the words sink into the esper. "But I haven’t thought about anything further."

After all, Zein didn’t come here for a career or anything. He just trying to see the world, and did a few errands while at it. He hadn’t thought about tying himself down, or thinking clearly about what he actually wanted.

"Heh, so he got some sense," Bassena smiled while gesturing for Zein to enter the glass elevator. "Who else is there?" _{freeweɓnovel.cѳm}