Two days have passed since the incident in the City of Anira.
Alshura Soura was staring at the window. She was currently sitting on the bed of that City's general hospital. The in-patient dress made her feel melancholic.
Knock. Knock.
The door of the room opened. A young man with jet black hair entered. He was wearing a university uniform.
This No life--- scratch that, she should stop calling him that. Erm, but what was his name again? Kang or something?
"Feeling any better, lieutenant?"
"Rar… actually no."
"What's the matter?"
The young man seemed curious. He grabbed a chair and placed it beside the hospital bed. He then sat at it and stared at Soura for a while.
When he noticed that Soura was reluctant in speaking, he said,
"Could it be that you suffered some internal injuries? But the officer named Ling said that you would be fine when she applied first-aid on you."
"No, no, that is not the problem."
Soura denied his speculation. She also wanted to correct him that Healer Ling was a cadette not a full-time officer. But there was no need to do that.
They were not that close anyway.
The young man looked puzzled. He furrowed his eyebrows and tilted his head. He then asked,
"What is the problem then?"
Soura sighed. She decided to share what had happened.
Her superior officers had just visited her earlier this day. She was briefed on the results of the investigation they had conducted. Apparently, she was to be tried for the disappearance of the majority of her platoon members. The loss of that much talent was not negligible.
"When will the trial be?"
The young man asked after listening to what she had said. Soura was touched by this. Although not that much. She answered,
"Hehe, don't bother. You are not part of the Militia anyway."
"So? When?"
The young man insisted. Soura sighed once again. How come this person could persuade her on spilling the beans?
"Tomorrow. After my discharge here in the morning."
Soura could have been discharged yesterday. The medical examinations had stated that she was physically healthy. She only needed to rest for a bit.
That was also the reason why she remained admitted on Anira City General Hospital rather than being rushed to a medical facility affiliated with the Militia.
However she had requested to extend her stay a little. She had been injured deeply. That she was certain.
Soura shook her head. She must dwell too much on that matter. She decided to change the topic of their conversation.
"Come to think of it, how come you never visited me? You almost missed me, you know?"
Soura said in a sarcastic tone. She absolutely did not want this person to visit her. But she remembered him when the remaining members had visited her yesterday.
She remembered how the officers were terrified by what he did. How he ordered them around to call for an ambulance. Cadet Cheng even described him as a Tyrant!
But then he disappeared when the respondents of the Militia and the Hyugans arrived. He never bothered to show himself afterwards!
"I was busy. I am a university student after all."
"Then what was it about you being an Inspector of the Hyugans?"
"Just a side job. I only work there part-time."
"Then why did you say you were just picking up glowing stones rather than showing us your identification back then?"
"…"
The young man fell silent. But Soura already knew the answer. She suspected that if the young man dared to say that he was an Inspector to her and her Captain, he would absolutely been incinerated on the spot.
However, the answer she received was different.
"I needed the money. You really think working a part-time job pays that much?"
"Then focus on your cultivation so you can get a higher paying job! Rargh!"
Soura had almost spit out flames to incinerate the No Life. Why was he so insistent on keeping this lie? It was absolutely obvious!
Scratch that. If the young man was unwilling to confess then so be it. Soura decided to change the topic again,
"Private Pailong was gravely injured."
The young man seemed to not know who the person was. But he then remembered. He then tried to justify,
"He attacked me first. And he would rather hurt a civilian rather than help his unconscious lieutenant. Are you saying that he doesn't deserve a beating?"
"The beating was too excessive. You threw a lightning bolt to a poor Tier 1."
"That was an act of heavens. There was no way I can conjure such lightning on my own. The strike fell close to me and I just redirected it towards him."
Redirect lightning? Are you kidding me? Not even a Tier 2 could do that! Soura wanted to snap in rage. But she was emotionally exhausted for some reason.
Forget it, he was a person who never faltered in front of a hostile Tier 3. A Basic-tier on the other hand, even if peaked, would absolutely lose against him.
Soura sighed again. She had been sighing a lot this afternoon. She then said,
"Don't worry. I took the blame there. I said that you were just following my orders before I fainted."
"…Why?"
The young seemed surprised upon hearing this. Soura explained,
"They're going to court martial me anyway. So an additional offense would absolutely not matter."
"…"
"Just be careful when dealing with Tier 1's again."
"…Thanks."
Finally an honest expression.
Soura smiled. At least she does not owe him any favors anymore. She wondered if she could verify the information she learned about him. She asked,
"You actually failed your breakthrough before?"
"…Yes, and I fell back down to Tier 1."
"What Tier were you before?"
"Peaked Advance."
"!"
No wonder he was not afraid of the enemy! He did not even bat an eye when the Captain pointed a flaming sword at him.
"Hawww, you're actually my superior then."
Soura was at the Adept-level of Tier 3 currently. She was still far off from trying to breakthrough the next cultivation realm.
And yet this guy had almost done that.
"Does that matter? I failed and had to start all over again."
He smiled wryly. Soura decided to ask further.
"What about the thing Mink said? That you could not buff someone whom you not trust?"
"It's true. Or else why would Mink believe such memory and lower her guard."
"Then does that mean… you placed your trust on me?"
"Heck no. I trusted the flames that was the aspect I boosted."
There were various fallacies with this statement.
One, aspect boosting. The kind of control needed for that level of skill effect manipulation would require a peak Tier 2 standard at the very least.
Two, Soura had felt the increase in affinity first hand. The boost was absolutely directed at her.
Three, assuming that the two reasons above were invalidated. How could he explain the fact that her affinity to Psychic element was boosted first to resist Mink's orders?
The simplest explanation here was that he did place his trust to Soura back then. He was just too embarrassed to admit it now.
Soura giggled upon figuring out this point. She decided to show mercy to the young man. She changed the topic once more.
"There were actually two Day Stealers huh."
"Indeed. They should call them 'They Stealer' instead."
The young man seemed eager to change the topic as well. He even came up with a pun. Soura laughed at this. But only a little.
"Pffft. No wonder the higher ups was angry. They lost two Tier 3 operatives back there…"
"Huh? Klein did not return to the Militia?"
"He was also declared missing in action."
The young man looked troubled. He paused for a while. He then asked,
"That's weird. Where did he go then?"
"No idea."
Soura had no clue on what had happened. But she would absolutely hunt that operative down once she returns to active duty. She was now fired up!
"But its not two but three.."
"?"
Soura was surprised upon hearing what he said. The young man quickly added,
"The Captain was lost too right."
"…But they wanted that."
"Who cares what they want. A true talent was lost in that incident!"
"Absolutely…"
Soura had a wider smiled this time. Who cares if everyone forgets about the Captain? She was still here. And she will never forget.
"What was his name, the Captain?"
The young man asked. Soura then answered proudly,
"Captain's name is Richard Marg."
"I see. What about the other members of the platoon?"
"…"
"You should at least remember their names too, you know."
"Rargh! I was just thinking that saying there complete names in succession will be hard to grasp for you. Give me a pen and paper so I can write them down!"
Soura had written the names of the platoon members who were declared missing in action. Perhaps she should have not given this information to a civilian.
But who cares? Those higher ups decided to court martial her. She was just returning the favor.
"What about you? What's your name? The real one."
Soura asked. Since she was giving information to him, she deserved to know this right?
The young man smiled wryly. He sighed as he said,
"The name is Aruven. Yoshino Aruven."
Now this I can believe.
Alshura confirmed the authenticity of the information by staring at the young man's pitch black pupils. She nodded after a few seconds. She then said,
"Hawu, my name is Alshura Soura. Calling me Soura would be fine. You're not in the Militia anyway."
"How about Shu---"
"No."
"…"
"…"
"Alright."
The young man named Yoshino conceeded.