They both looked at the source of the voice. It was 5'6 ft girl. She had a soft milky skin, her face was the epitome of beauty by Earth 19's standard and her silky hair was bright yellow in colour, which cemented her stunning beauty. She was Layla Starborn.
"You said, you were going to fetch him, that I should give you 1 hour tops. How did 1 hour turn to 5 days?" Layla said while pointing at Xavier.
"We are truly sorry that we delayed, my colleague here lost track of time and decided to explore the area." Bubba said with a forced smile.
He had been all too respectful towards Layla, since her potential was revealed by the higher ups. He literally saw her as a God even if she was nowhere near his current strength.
"Chill kid, the grown ups were busy, there is no need to be grumpy." Xavier said, as he threw Tim carelessly on the floor. BAM
Layla was surprised, why would he treat someone's body like that, were they not military officers, were they not supposed to protect she wondered.
"How can you be so violent against an innocent civilian." She questioned.
"Him? he is not innocent. he is a highly skilled killer. I would not defend him if I was you" Xavier warned.
Layla subconsciously backed away from the body. She grew up in a noble family and growing up her parents had always instilled in her to fight for justice. They chastised criminals without remorse.
Even Layla herself had seen the handwork of criminals, and she hated them truly. Now there was an alleged killer in front of her. She wanted to finish off the criminal immediately, but she held her urge to do that, because she was in the presence of 2 respectable soldiers.
"What are you going to do to the criminal? If I may add, I don't think the criminal should follow us to the higher region." Layla said, with a firm look on her face.
"Well, he is going with us to the special class military academy" Xavier replied.
"No, I am not" Tim suddenly, as he stood up from the ground. He had been awake for a while, but he pretended to still be passed out to gather information on the supposed higher region.
Both Layla and Bubba were shocked when Tim suddenly spoke, but Xavier was not surprised. He knew exactly when Tim regained his consciousness, that was why he intentionally threw Tim to the floor with force.
Ignoring Tim's existence, Layla confronted Xavier "Why do you want to bring a killer into the academy? is the military not supposed to uphold justice? "
Bubba did not even know how he was going to explain to Layla of the reality of things in the higher region.
"Look you are still a bird in a cage. Justice? I do not want to even get started on the so called justice. We are taking him to the academy and that is final." Xavier answered, visibly annoyed by the naive girl's questions.
Layla wanted to say something again, but she was stopped by a gesture Bubba made. Tim also wanted to protest against the decision, but he read the room and reserved his response.
Silence greeted the room as nobody wanted to receive a scolding from Xavier who was currently calming himself down.
[Going to the Academy will be a good for your growth.]
'I have you. You basically said you are my guide and that you would guide me to power. If I have you, then what do I stand to gain from going to the academy' Tim thought, so his System could read his mind.
[Trust me Tim and stop doubting everything I say. The academy can help reshape the type of person you are. It even offers you a fast wealth of knowledge. Something I can also provide, but me providing it will be at the expense of you earning points from difficult tasks.]
'If you put it like that, it is really a compelling reason to go to the academy' he thought. He bought into the idea of getting knowledge cheaper in the academy than from his system that will charge him heavily for the knowledge.
Deep down, he knew the system just said all that, just for him to accept the academy.
"It is time for us to go back to the higher region." Xavier said, breaking the silence in the room.
"You know we only brought 3 inter region teleportation scrolls with us, that boy was never part of our plans to begin with" Bubba informed.
"Hmm hmm. My name is Tim, not boy, not kid, just Tim. "he informed the room. He had gotten tired of the boy tag, he did not think it was appropriate.
"Ok Tim, well I will also introduce myself to you again. I am Bubba Anselm. My partner here is Xavi Edelgard and lastly the reason for our journey to the lower region, Layla Starborn' Bubba said.
"If we can't go to the higher region with teleportation, then we will have to travel to by foot to the next authorized teleportation station." Xavier said.
"By foot! Why can't we just use an aircraft, I think the we can get one from the city lord in the city" Layla suggested. Dreaded by the idea of traveling a long journey by foot.
"The lower region's aircraft is never reliable Layla, at least it is not as advanced as the aircrafts in the higher region.
Layla there are some beasts that roam the air, they are very territorial, and they attack aircrafts in hordes as if it the aircrafts are honey baits, so it is a no." Bubba explained.
'Everything is so complicated' Tim thought.
"Please can we leave already, I feel uncomfortable staying around Dunim city, danger might be lurking." Tim begged.
"Tim, please like I have said multiple times, you are safe with us. Clear your worries" Bubba said, as he did a hand seal technique and slammed it on the ground. It was the same hand seal technique he used to get to their current cave.
When his hand hit the ground, a symbol spread out from beneath his hand and formed a circle around the 4 of them, immediately they teleported from their current location.
At the very end of Dunim's city territory, a large symbol appeared on the ground and the four of them appeared above the symbol.
Layla was beside Tim when they appeared and immediately she created distance from him. She stood for justice and Tim was the epitome of what she was strongly against, Injustice and crime.
Bubba saw Layla distancing herself from Tim and shook his head, it was to be expected from a person of her status.
"From here on, Tim you need to pass out again and Layla you need to cast your signature Aegis" Xavier said, with a plain expression.
"What! Pass out? why is that the first thing you think of, when you want to go fast. You know I won't pass out for long" Tim complained, as he looked at Bubba hinting at him with his eyes for Bubba to help him out in this matter.
Bubba looked away avoiding from Tim's pleading eyes as if saying "Don't loop me in with your issue."
"The thing is that my speed will harm you, I can protect you better if I carry you like a ragdoll when I am accelerating.
Layla has her shield which I trust can protect her, Bubba can keep up without damage somehow, but you! You are very vulnerable. Without my protection, your brain will be scrambled while moving at my speed.
Don't worry I will just keep knocking you out if you regain consciousness, I am such a good person "Xavier explained with a grin on his face.
'Is he kidding me? Carry me like a ragdoll? He must be crazy' he cursed out in his mind.
"Look just protect me while I am conscious, it can't be hard for someone of you capacity or even better Layla can protect me with her shield" Tim said, as he tried to look for a way out of him losing consciousness.
In the last 10 days he had passed out at an unusual rate, even his super regeneration could not save him from passing out, so he desperately looked for a way out.
Layla shot Tim a dagger like look when he suggested that she protect him with her shield. With the look that she gave him, Tim crossed that option out from his possible list anti passing out ideas.
He looked at Bubba and asked" Bubba you seem like the most reasonable one of this gathering, why don't you help me out.
I am sure that you should be able to protect me during the journey, those leaves of yours are really good at defence, why don't you help me huh. "
"I am sorry Tim, this is out of my hands. Just pass out peacefully." Bubba said with a sad look.
'Why do I feel like he is making me pass out as a punishment for my previous behaviour towards him' he thought, as he suddenly felt a presence behind him.
"Nighty night my boy."