[District 07RU North Asian-Eastern European airspace]
"MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY!" The captain tried to control the plane with all his might as the right engine shut down.
Bzzz!
"Eagle 02 to HQ. The first line of defense has fallen!."
"Bzz-North Asia has fallen. It's not an A-rank gate, it's at least an S-rank gate. Repeat! At least 2 S-rank gates are overloaded!"
Beep! Beep! Beep!
"...Signal..interrupted. Please..again.."
"Dammit! , MAYDAY! M-Arg!" The left side of the plane suddenly exploded, causing it to lose control and burst into flames.
Cough! Cough!
"See you on the other side. Good..by- "
Bzzz! BOOOM!
***
[District 66TH, eastern area, Chonburi]
At a shipping port that was now desolate and there were hardly any people, soon there was the faint sound of an engine. The source of the sound was a black car driving slowly before stopping next to a warehouse.
The person in the car got out of the car with a black mystery box tightly closed. before walking into a completely dark warehouse
"Hm, that's a familiar smell."
"Hi, old bastard. Long time no see."
"You too, you brat. Where are the snacks?"
The man who had just walked into the warehouse smiled as he lifted a black mystery box and placed it on the table.
"hahaha, these snacks are very hard to find. The price might be a little higher this time."
"'So, is this amount enough?" the old man said as he pushed the money box towards the other man.
"The smell of money is really sweet."
As the two men were admiring and exchanging goods, a voice interrupted the cheerful atmosphere.
WEE! WOO! WEE! WOO!
"Shit." The two men hurriedly gathered up their things.
"Police, open up!"
It wasn't long before the police quickly took control of the place.
"Report.." A man said in a hoarse voice.
"We have arrested 2 major terrorists. On our side there are 3 wounded, no deaths, sir!" the junior police officer said excitedly.
"Good job," Steve said as he slowly opened the black mystery box.
The box had cool vapor coming out of it, and inside the box it maintained its temperature very well and there was a glass tube containing a suspicious liquid.
"Oh, we're in big trouble." For the first time in a long time, Steve lost control of his emotions.
***
[District 61AU, New South Wales, at Jungle Cafe]
"A croissant paired with a latte for breakfast is really good~" Umi said cheerfully while looking at the view outside.
I was quietly enjoying my mocha coffee before I saw that Umi had a white mustache from the milk foam.
'She acts like a child'
I laughed inside and secretly took a photo when she wasn't paying attention before taking a handkerchief to wipe it off for her.
"...?" Umi looked at me confused.
I shrugged in response.
"So, have you made up your mind yet?"
"I would like to ask you first, do you have enough money?" Umi asked in a low voice.
'Money?'
"I think there is no problem..at right now," I replied.
'My cash flow is having a slight problem. But if I'm not in a hurry to invest money in something I have enough reserve funds that I don't have to worry.'
"Are you sure?"
"Of course. You don't have to think too much about me. At least I have a place to live."
"..."
"If you are in the inner dormitory of The Hexagon. There's no need to get up very early."
"what about you?"
"Only about twenty minutes away."
"Twenty minutes?.."
"Yep"
"eeto.."
"So, do you have enough money?"
"Well, at least I don't have to pay tuition. As for half-year expenses, No.. maybe just three months.. excluding reserve funds."
"Umi, you-" I felt speechless.
sigh
"I've decided. I'll be in the same place as you Because if we share the expenses together, then you will be able to live while studying without too much difficulty, right?"
"I'm not in trouble, believe me. You..shouldn't make a decision like this in a hurry."
"I won't change my mind!"
"'Then you must waive your rights to your dormitory," I tried to argue.
"No problem~"
'The number of dormitory rights is limited, so if you don't accept them, you should leave the opportunity to others. As for my place of residence, at first I planned to find a place to live near The Hexagon but not The Hexagon's dormitory because of some restrictions.'
"It's up to you. Then let's go.."
From the café, it didn't take long for us to arrive at the address mentioned on the letter.
After wandering a bit because of unfamiliarity, we found a two-story house, modern style but not too big.
'Wow, don't tell me this used to be my father's safe house, eh? Wait a minute'
"Did we come to the wrong place?" Umi next to me asked softly.
I didn't answer, but used the keycard to try to open the door, and then there was a soft unlocking sound.
"No"
'I wonder what our parents were talking about back then.'
***
[District 66TH , Police Investigation Office]
A gray-haired man in the uniform of a police investigation officer was sitting tensely reviewing various documents on his desk.
Knock knock!
"Come in," Steve said hoarsely.
"Sir, we have a problem.." A male police officer said nervously.
"Say it."
"Ugh, the terrorists we just captured recently are all dead."
"The last two?"
"Yes, sir."
"How did they die?"
"We are sending them for an autopsy but from circumstantial evidence it is probably poison, sir.
"Good, you can leave," Steve said calmly.
'Don't tell me that we have rats coming into the police department. Just the problems from two months ago were not resolved, new problems have arisen.'
Vrrr!
'Huh? '
"This is Steve speaking."
"Hello, my name is Abel Kuchov from the CDC.." A voice with a tense atmosphere came from the other end.
' Center for Disease Control from the central government?'
***
[Safe house area]
Nate is currently exploring his new home. Or our home?
The two-story house has a garage that currently doesn't have any cars and a sturdy structure made of reinforced concrete.
'The safe house is so strong, why do I feel uncomfortable?'
gulp
'Nah, I'm thinking too much.'
"Nate!"
"yes?"
"I've called you many times. What are you thinking?"
"No, nothing."
"What should we do? Err, there is..only one bedroom on the second floor," Umi said nervously.
"I can sleep on the sofa easily. You don't have to worry. Or maybe you'd like me to drop you off at The Hexagon. Maybe if you live there you can meet some nice friends haha."
"..." Umi stared at me in a bad mood.
"Hmm?"
'I feel like I'm about to get into trouble.'
"..Why did you have to chase me away like that?"
"I just-"
"I don't know how many times you told me to leave!" Umi said regretfully.
"I-.."
'Why does Umi look so sad?'
"You are so mean! "
"Umi, listen to me first. Hey!"
BAM!
Umi runs away and locks herself in a bedroom on the second floor.
sob sob
Then I heard a soft sound. From unconsciously using mana to enhance hearing.
'Damn it'
Umi is crying.
'What should I do!! '
Then a voice entered my mind: "don't think just do." It was my father's voice.
"Phew, let's do it." I adjusted my breath before gathering up my courage.
Knock knock
When I opened the door, I saw Umi crying on the bed.
sob sob hic
I slowly walked over and sat down next to her before gently patting her on the head. I sat quietly without saying anything, trying to calm her down first.
'Who would have thought that comforting Iris who cried a lot when she was little would come in handy someday?'
"Uh Umi, I'm sorry."
Sob
"I didn't mean it like that. I was really worried about you."
"...hic"
"Umi, can you raise your head and talk to me?"
Umi was silent for a moment before doing as I said.
'When I see my childhood friends shed tears, it hurts me indescribably.'
"You're just as whiny as before. Hehe." I gently wiped away her tears.
"Hmph " Umi pouted.
"Err Umi, can you please tell me where I'm wrong?"
"..." We stared at each other in silence.
"Please..."
"..Nate, do you know that right now I don't know anyone on this continent besides you, and you're still going to chase me away?"
gulp
'I thought too little. I didn't think from her perspective at all.'
"I have no one left to depend on," Umi muttered softly.
Meeting a cute girl with tears in her eyes like this, who would dare to refuse?
But I gritted my teeth before asking her.
"Even though we're close friends, I'm still a guy."
"..So what?"
"..." I could only put my hands on my temples and was speechless.
"Our parents allowed it and I don't see any problem."
"This is why they gave us two key cards," I said after realizing something.
sigh
"Then you lie down here and I'll go clean the house."
"I'll help-"
"No, let me handle it this time."
After turning on the air conditioner and carrying her luggage up to her, I hurried down to the first floor.
'I really don't know what she's thinking.'
My luggage didn't have much in it, mostly my personal equipment, so it didn't take long to put them away.
As I started cleaning out the garage I was reminded of the good old days. Because the placement of the devices is quite similar.
My time in the garage sparked an idea for me to develop technology even faster. Even though there are many things that can be replaced by magic, technology and living life are really inseparable.
whoosh
Hmm, there was a sound of wind blowing, but I didn't open the door. Don't tell me, this safe house also has a basement. I don't even need to activate the skill to be able to find the door to the basement.
Because I happened to find it, just by moving the thing that was covering the door, I was able to find the door that led down to the basement.
Let's leave it for later. Just the dust above is enough.
.