Ashley continued holding his hands as she leaned her forehead on top of it. At the same time, Jasper stared at them blankly. Hans couldn't think straight with how his body was giving him a hard time. 'This damn body,' he silently uttered to himself. He was about to rest his eyes closed until Jasper spoke.
"Why did you do that?"
Hans remained silent for he knew what he did was wrong and he was guilty for it. But in spite of that, Ashley defended him.
"Jasper... Let it go. We have more than enough problems, right now. Just let it go, please."
Jasper sighed, wanting to protest but what she said had more sense than this. He made a turn but before he left, he reminded Hans one last time. And Hans seemed to take his warning seriously while battling the pain in his body as it slowly numbed from the continuous aching.
"Don't do that again, got that?"
"M-my ap-pologies, young master."
"Go home and rest. That's an order."
Jasper said sternly to make Hans really follow his orders because if he didn't, he would only end up pushing himself. Then he left Hans with Ashley still aiding her to go home and rest more.
"I'll take you home then." Ashley offered.
And Hans gladly accepted, "I'm sorry... and thank you."
"No biggie," Ashley smiled at him and drove them out of the place.
On the other hand, Head Kelly looked around as if she was searching for someone. When she saw Jasper approaching the rescue squad, she jogged her way to him. She called out his name but noticed he wasn't in a good mood.
"Hey, Nephy... You seem to be in a bad mood. What's the problem?"
Head Kelly rested her arm on his nephew's shoulder and Jasper didn't seem to be very fond of it when he shoved her arm away from him.
"When will you stop calling me that?" Jasper asked irritatingly.
"Ahhh... Never? And besides calling you 'nephew' or Jasper is kinda old. Nephy in short of nephew is... pretty unique." she explained happily.
"Got a problem with that?" she added as she held out her dagger.
"N-no, never mind."
"Ah! By the way, have you seen Hans?" Head Kelly searched around to see him.
"He went home." Jasper said bluntly as he tucked his hands inside his pocket.
"What? Why?"
"He needs to rest."
Jasper ended their conversation and walked out that made Head Kelly smile in irritation while imagining the torture she was about to perform to her nephew when they get home.
The rescue, medical, and spy agents did all what they were instructed to do for the whole day. From the explosion to treatments, everything seemed to be natural for them. Yet, they couldn't hide the burdens of uneasiness when some human a few blocks away from the fallen house and abandoned lab started to crowd them.
Many reporters began to record the incidents, however, due to the hunters they were able to hide the abandoned lab from the media. Jasper handled the situation pretty well that they were able to fabricate the news from spreading the truth since this mission was top-secret and no one aside from the three clans were allowed to know about the Forbidden Venom.
In the late afternoon, Jasper and Head Kelly began to send the agents home along with the evidence they found. The Head went to the house that was destroyed from the explosion. She saw the dead body that was burnt down from the fire then wondered how it came to life. Jasper noticed the suspicion in her aunt's eyes when he went near her.
"Nephy... Is it possible for a dead person to suddenly come back to life?"
"Aunt, you're a doctor. Of course, you should know that's not possible."
"I know that. What I meant was, how did this dead body revive in such timing? It's too much of a coincidence for me."
Jasper responded with perplexed emotion, "Maybe he wasn't totally dead yet."
"No, he is. He was the last body I checked so I know he was completely dead. And he was the one I needed to study the most."
"What do you mean?"
"He was close to a success as a test subject."
Jasper couldn't muster another word knowing that this dead body was the biggest clue among the experiments and for them to lose it from the explosion is really too much of a coincidence. He snapped back from reality when Head Kelly asked as they both wondered.
"Just who caused that explosion?"
Suddenly, a voice answered their question as they turned to face him.
"Obviously, the enemy who doesn't want us to know their goals."
"Head Akito." Jasper called.
"Where's Ashley?" Head Akito asked while scanning the small crowd.
"She left with Hans." Jasper replied.
"Hmm... I see. So, I already knew what happened here. And I think it's better for us to return to the mansion. We can't stay here any longer since a few had been watching us silently."
"We know that. And we're aware that there's no way they'll reveal themselves just like that." Head Kelly replied bluntly.
"Then why did you ask who caused the explosion if you already know?" Jasper asked.
Head Kelly stared at him as she dumbfoundedly replied, "I didn't ask that because I don't know. I asked because I want to know what they are, not just the 'who' they are."
Head Akito and Jasper looked at Head Kelly as they titled their heads because of how confused they were when she told them her reason. The female Head smiled to hide her irritation and spoke.
"Never mind that. Anyway, we should head back to the mansion, right? We're the only ones left here."
The two hunters nodded then followed her to the car and they all drove their way back to the mansion. Leaving the enemies who were still lurking around the forest while watching them leave the place.
Before the sun sets, Ashley and Hans arrived at his place as she pulled over in the parking lot. Hans immediately unbuckled himself then opened the door to leave but halted when Ashley spoke.
"Hey, Hans?"
"Yes?"
"Although, I told the young master to stop but I think what he said was right. You didn't have to do that. Engaging yourself into fire just to save them is impossible especially in your current state. Even though only a few knew about you, you're still a human."
Ashley explained her side with concern while hoping he takes her words seriously.
"I know. I'm sorry for worrying you." he nodded.
"No problem."
"Thanks for the lift. No need to follow me inside. I bet Head Akito is looking for you."
"Okay. Bye~"
Hans didn't wait for her to leave and went inside his apartment. Ashley took the time to watch him getting inside his apartment then buckled herself to leave. The sun began to lower its light to give the moon its space to shine throughout the night.
The moment Ashley arrived at the lobby of the mansion, a clerk at the counter called her name.
"Ms. Spencer."
"What's up?" Ashley asked.
"What did you do? Head Akito said he wants to have a word with you."
Ashley was shocked when she heard the clerk's words while nodding her head in response and she made a long sigh as she dropped in frustration.
"Huh? Eh? Re-really? Sigh~~ Okay."
She walked through the empty halls battling what to do with her master and what he could want from her. She thought that it would be nice if someone rescued her from misery. And if ever her master started to investigate Hans, she knew that she couldn't disobey him. However, to her Hans is more important, so if worse comes to worst, she will have no choice but to deceive her master.
Along the way, Jasper and the other hunters arrived at the mansion. Some were exhausted while some still couldn't get rid of the incident that happened to them. Head Kelly decided and informed her nephew that she must go visit their laboratory first before residing in her room.
Jasper nodded to his aunt then went to the counter of the lobby hoping to have some news from Ashley.
"Hi Elise!" Jasper waved at the clerk cheerfully.
"Good evening, young master." Elise replied beamingly.
"Is Ashley back?" Jasper playfully asked.
"Yes, young master." the clerk nodded.
"Where is she now?"
"Hmm... Ah! She went to visit Head Akito."
"Why?" he slightly tilted his head looking innocent.
"Because Head Akito asked her to? It seems important and it's quite rare for Head Akito to ask personally. How sweet~"
Jasper pondered for a second before finding out some possible conclusion about Ashley being summoned by his master. He quickly thanked Elise then went to the elevator to catch up with Ashley as soon as possible.
Ashley went inside after knocking the door then stood straight in front of his master who was clearing up his work. She couldn't utter even a second as droplets of sweat came pouring down her face. Head Akito seemed to notice his apprentice's uneasiness so he placed his paper works and faced her with a smile.
"Why are you sweating Ashley?"
"H-huh? A-ah! I was rushed here so that's why I'm sweaty." Ashley scratched at the back of her head and laughed awkwardly.
"Why though? I didn't tell Elise for you to rush here immediately."
"But is it unusual to use a messenger since you usually do it with a letter?"
"I see."
Head Akito chuckled that Ashley was bewildered by his master's actions. He stared at his apprentice for a minute or so and it only made Ashley sweat from nervousness even more than she already is. When he realized this, he calmed Ashley down.
"Relax, Ashley."
Ashley screams internally, 'It's not like I could relax with you staring at me like that and with your unusual way of summoning me! Master, what are you planning, really?! Somebody please save me!'
"It's not like I summoned you here to interrogate you regarding Hans."
Head Akito added then Ashley slightly jolted from hearing Hans's name. The Head didn't let that one escape and it only made him curious even more. He silently smirked while giving her a blank look. Slowly, it turned into a sinister look when he spoke.
"Now, you're making me even more curious than ever."
Ashley couldn't utter a word with how much pressure his master's eyes were giving her. She stuttered because she was unable to see through a possible escape. The atmosphere between them portrays Head Akito as a panther and Ashley as a rabbit having the predator capture his prey.
...