There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 69

Chapter 69: Chapter 68. The Mortix Hill

Zein thought Trinity was big enough already—until he came to Mortix’s compound. Or rather, it was a hill.

As one of the four green-zones in the Eastern Federation, Althrea was home to several prominent guilds’ headquarters. Even Celestia—whose main domain was the Capital—had a branch there. That being said, for Althrea, the representative guild nowadays would be Trinity. There were two reasons for that; one was the eradication of the Vaskis and the downfall of the Golden Viper guild four years ago, and the other was because of Radia Mallarc.

A whole hill on the eastern side of Althrea was home to the city’s most prominent family, the Mallarcs. With their mansion at the top like a jeweled crown, the group’s headquarter, the company buildings, as well as the worker’s mess were decorating the hill like Althrea’s own mini-town district.

In fact, the name of the city itself came from the family ancestor; Althrea Mallarc.

As the car brought him inside the compound, Zein felt like he was entering another city complex altogether. The Mortix District, was what the other citizens called the place. They had everything that was needed for the worker’s welfare, from commercial areas to schools, as the worker’s families lived there at the compound.

"The ancestor of the Mallarc was one of the heroes during the Age of the Apocalypse, rallying people to this area for protection even before there was a safe zone, and one of the first to climb the tower. So those who lived their whole life in Althrea are bound to give them respect," Rina explained to Zein as the car drove through the busy street toward the entrance of the hill.

As she had a business regarding her weapon in Mortix’s lab, they made an appointment to go together so Zein could guide her on the way too. She explained everything about the compound and how it worked.

"The mansion above the hill was for the Mallarc direct descendant, and the patriarch stayed there. Ah, the current leader is a matriarch, though, it’s the Guildmaster’s grandmother, by the way."

Rina supplemented the guide with information even without Zein asking for it. The man just listened quietly while guiding the esper, who turned out to be a tanker. Her mana core was like a frozen lake—tough but fun.

"They never made a guild despite having such a background?" Zein finally made a question.

"Wow, so you were listening," Rina laughed for a bit. She had thought Zein was concentrating on guiding since he was so quiet earlier. "Well...unlike with guides, esper isn’t hereditary. The Mallarc doesn’t always have a strong esper like the Guildmaster. There’s no point in establishing an affiliated guild without their own name at the helm. So Althrea became the home base for many guilds later on," she paused for a bit before adding with a smile. "Including the Golden Viper."

Ah...Zein understood then, why people called Bassena a traitor. He destroyed his own clan and guild, and then immediately built a new one with the heir of the Mallarc. Those who didn’t know the whole story would think the Mallarc bought Bassena—whose mother came from the southern kingdom—to destroy the Vaski so they could establish their own guild without the threat of a big rival guild in the same area.

"But Zein," Rina brought Zein back from his contemplation, "I was honestly skeptical, but...you’re really amazing,"

Oh, the topic about the Mallarcs was over? Zein turned to look at Rina with a raised brow. She grinned, looking like a mischievous girl even while dressing like a celebrity. The esper even shook their connecting hands in the air with a small laugh.

"It’s only an hour, but...wow!" she exclaimed, moving her shoulder which already felt lighter than before.

Ashur had already told her that Zein was exceptional, and that he understood why the man was tasked with guiding all of them. But she only realized how exceptional it was until she received one herself.

She wasn’t the sensitive type like Ashur, so she didn’t feel pleasure or whatever. But as it was with Bassena, guiding her usually made the guide in charge—and by this, it meant the Temple—left in a sour mood. They said she had a wild, hard system to tame, probably because she was a vanguard tanker that liked to charge toward her enemies head-on. The guide’s sour mood, in turn, made her feel uncomfortable. _{ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom}

With Zein though, it was smooth. The man never sounded a complaint, didn’t even change his expression throughout, as if guiding her was the same as guiding common esper. And despite the carefulness, he guided fast, taking her corrosion as if he was sliding through her mana core with a snow vacuum in his hand.

’Like a veteran guide,’ she thought, ’Like those Saints’

She blinked at her absurd thought and shook her head lightly. Zein would already be in the Temple if he was one. It was very fortunate for Trinity to acquire someone like him, who would become the target of many big guilds.

’Is that why there’s a dedicated guard tailing him from the shadow?’ Rina glanced through the rear mirror and stared outside the window. ’At least three,’

She heard Zein let out a little sigh then, and turned to look at the guide. "It’s quite excessive," he muttered lowly, looking annoyed. "It’s uncomfortable."

"...you knew?"

"Mm," Zein, who was following Rina’s gaze earlier, just looked outside and leaned back. He realized it since Saturday, actually, as he observed the park. He only knew they were Radia’s people yesterday, however. These guards were not even Trinity members, but a group under Mortix.

Rina raised her brows, eyes snapped to the front. "You too?"