There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 516

Chapter 516: Chapter 509. Coverage

The group of reporters was silent at first, looking at Lex with blank looks and parted lips. That was, until the most senior among them, the one in Leah’s van, laughed.

"That’s right," the senior nodded with a smile. "We’re not here for a curated show, but to see it as it is."

"I’m glad you’re on board. But of course, we wouldn’t just let you roam around without a guide," Lex smiled at the reporters. "Let’s see..."

He looked around, and just then, caught sight of a ’guide’ walking toward the stadium. "Dheera!"

The girl stopped and, upon finding Lex, ran toward the esper and greeted cheerfully. "Brother Lex, what’s up?"

"Are you free perchance?"

"Yeah, I was just finishing my shift. Do you need me for something?" Dheera glanced at the group of reporters and whispered. "Who are they?"

"Remember about the reporters coming?"

"Ah!" Dheera clapped her hands.

"The one who should be with them was called to the desert, so can you play guide for a bit? I’ll send you the schedule and everything."

Dheera blinked for two seconds before giggling at the choice of words. "Sure!"

"Alright," Lex turned toward the reporters again. "I still have pressing matters to attend to in command, so here’s Guide Neale to guide you around the base."

Just like that, Lex left and once again, the reporters were getting passed to another person. Well, at least this one looked more cheerful and welcoming. She looked at them, eleven people in total from six publishing and broadcasting companies, with a sweet smile.

"Hello, you can call me Dheera like anybody else!" the girl started with a simple introduction.

Rather than introducing themselves back, however, the reporters were asking her about where everyone was. Thankfully, she answered without a fuss.

"Well, they’re everywhere," Dheera shrugged. "But most of them are in the desert, I reckoned."

"...the desert?"

"Where is that? Can we go see?"

The girl tilted her head and tapped on her chin in contemplation. "Uhh...I don’t know about that, although I did read about the outpost tour for tomorrow, but...oh, right--there," she turned toward the east, pointing at the gate beneath a watchtower. "There, if you go through the eastern gate, there will be a forked path--one of the paths will lead you to a jungle, and then a canyon, and then there’s a desert! It’s huge and used to have tornadoes throwing you around after you walked for some time."

The reporters blinked as they looked at the laughing girl. "Did you...experience it yourself?"

"Uh-huh," she nodded with a wide grin that did not match the kind of story she was giving them. "Thankfully, we were protected by Mister Julian’s barrier, so we were not injured even though we were getting flung around like a ball."

"Was it...not scary?" Leah asked while wincing.

"Of course, it was!" the girl laughed. "But now it’s more like...thrilling since we survived anyway! Now, please follow me closely!"

They had to admit it was a bit uplifting after the cheery girl took over the ’tour’--even though the things she spoke weren’t so cheery. She brought them through the busiest district while pointing to buildings and tents telling them what they were.

Along the way, the reporters saw the espers actively moving supplies from the truck and hauling materials through a gate in an empty field which piqued their curiosity. But the girl was too talkative to be cut for a question, and she explained things so quickly that they had to pay attention--otherwise, they would miss some crucial piece of information about some infrastructures.

"This is where you’ll stay," the girl finally stopped in front of a semi-permanent building. "You might want to explore more, but I suggest you have some rest for now and get used to this place. Might not feel like it now, but waking up in the middle of darkness can make you feel unsettled."

"Is that from experience, Miss?"

"Of course!" the girl nodded. "I still remember feeling heavy for the first few days--well, you’ll get used to it after a while, but you’re not gonna be here long, aren’t you?"

"Ah..."

Dheera smiled and clapped her hands again. "Well, then! You’ll see the building manager inside, who’ll give you your room keys. Let’s see..." she paused to look at her commlink. "How about I pick you up in an hour, and I’ll take you to your dinner, ’kay?"

"Uhh...okay?"