__________POV Ashton__________
Nosy bastard. Now I have to think up a reason for my ageing. This is a bit weird since this is quite natural for most other humans.
Still, why would Netero even bother talking about me to his son? I guess he wasn't expecting him to inconvenience me like this... Or maybe he was, the slimy bastard.
"Stop asking such personal things." Said Cheadle, who I really want to hug right now. She just saved me the trouble of coming up with a lie and spared me from the probability of being discovered.
"Hah, I bet that's why he's returning there, must've run out of juice." Said one of the zodiacs with a huff.
"Actually, I am going there in order to study the calamities properly." It was all I needed to say. Not everyone is going to believe every word that comes out of my mouth.
But at least those that matter do.
"The five threats?" Cheadle perked up a bit, as her expression turned grave.
"Whatever you wish to call them. I've already encountered two of them on Lake Mobius, it stirred my interest." I will keep my encounter with the calamities short and concise.
I will also keep the Zoldyck family out of the picture, as they probably wouldn't appreciate this type of leak in information. Wouldn't want to ruin a perfectly cordial relationship.
"..." By the looks on their faces this wasn't really a good piece of news. It was as if any argument they might've had was completely overshadowed by the words I just dropped on their heads.
I thought it wouldn't be such a surprise for them, there should be enough victims of the calamities around to help the hunters realise that they are in Lake Mobius.
Judging by their reactions, these should've been somewhat monitored. They will definitely want to know the location of the nest too... But my lips are sealed.
"I ran into and exterminated a nest of Hellbells and also found an Ai, you know, the Codependence of Desire," I said as I beckoned Smokey to make me some tea. I think this will take a while before I will leave this meeting room.
Their interrogation of Beyond is all but forgotten at this point. But I still need their help with covering my tracks, so I will have to bear with this major waste of time.
"Before you ask, I cannot disclose the locations of any of the two threats I met. Client confidentiality. But I can assure you that both threats have been dealt with." Not really a lie, Ai isn't even a threat.
It took a bit for them to process this information, as Smokey brought me my tea. He's always been composed in stressful situations. A decent lad, also classy.
I just sipped on my tea and watched the Zodiacs debate some stuff. I ignored any questions directed my way, but they knew better than to insist on the matter.
Cheadle eventually looked at me and sighed. "We will help you... But you need to join the already existing expedition." She said with strength in her eyes. I guess she won't take no for an answer.
"Wasn't it cancelled because it was planned out by traitors or something?" I probably won't be able to whistle my way out of this. But trying never hurt anybody... I think...
"The V5 has ordered the hunter association to take part in this expedition... We have little choice at this point. It's all because Beyond had this planned for decades... We had no time to react." She said while looking down.
"I can agree to embark on the journey with you... But my name has to be kept out of this. The V5 are already annoying enough. That's why I am here, to get an alibi." I took a short pause and judged their expressions.
They seemed to be receiving this information quite well, confusion is fine.
"My name holds a lot of weight, if I just disappeared out of nowhere people would start asking questions. And the V5 would probably take its funding out of my laboratories, and I can't have my cash cow leave like that." I could see a few raised eyebrows.
"But we've never even heard of you in the past..." The Dragon Zodiac was looking a bit confused.
"Very few people have. I am not a public figure, my ranking as a hunter was done mostly on a whim. But I rarely showed myself, and I also used different names in many places." Telling them about my secrecy might help them understand how important keeping this a secret is.
I mean, it's still just me not wanting to lose money for my laboratories. I don't plan on relying upon petty crime in order to fund myself in the future.
"So... Do you just need a cover? We could help with that..." Cheadle and I continued speaking for a while.
Eventually coming to an agreement, they would say that I am away on a random mission. I will say that I am just taking a vacation as I do from time to time.
It will make the mission look like a coverup for my vacation, which the V5 would really not care about.
I will enter the expedition under a different alias, I do have two other identities inside the association's records.
Netero was the one that suggested I get them. This is the first time I ever used one of them. I am to board the ship with the other normal hunters after a month, or something like that.
I also asked for access to all of the information they had on the previous expeditions, which they also agreed to provide without any hesitation.
Cheadle said that she would've provided that information to every member of the Expedition anyway.
In the end, I left the meeting room quite satisfied with the outcome. Sure, I will have to have a few travel partners, but I plan on going on my own when we finally reach my homeland.
Cheadle is probably smart enough to realise that. I am still quite curious as to what their plan is. I overprepared extensively for this trip, but this is quite sudden to the Zodiacs.
I think that's why the departure is in a month, and not a few days. Still, none of them is especially strong... I am curious as to how they will survive.
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Bonus chap!
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