(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 288

Chapter 288: Outnumbered

"W-Well, that would be up to public decision. I wouldn’t want to take that out of their hands." Uncle Tom said nervously from the laptop screen, chuckling and Rhys snorted quietly.

Kellen knew that Uncle Tom could probably hear him.

"Sure. I’m sure the public will have such a hard time coming to that conclusion." Rhys’ voice dripped scorn. Kellen was actually shocked at his behaviour. Rhys had been very respectful when he’d spoken to him prior, but now he was outwardly disrespecting him.

Uncle Tom went white on the screen, while Captain Sergei turned to look at him. It became clear that even though they were next to each other on the screen, they were also next to each other in real life as well.

"Should I prepare the hall for the party?" Captain Sergei asked, and Sakura started laughing as Uncle Tom turned three shades whiter. Captain Sergei had originally made his money by hosting large events and parties. Conventions. His parents had owned quite a bit of the city, and it also explained why he was so attached.

"Um, is this really important right now?" Kellen asked, trying to stop the progress of this conversation for everyone’s sake." Lieutenant Fisher coughed.

"I agree with Guide Woods. I think that there is a better time to discuss a topic like this. Right now, we need to confirm that the area is cleared, the ones who caused trouble are captured, and that we have our next step ready." Everyone turned to Sakura and Kellen.

"How are the Field Guides coming along, Guide Kellen?" Captain Sergei asked and Kellen swallowed.

"Well, the advanced class is doing quite well. A few of the Guides I have my eye on to send on the scouting mission, as long as the suits work, and we have enough Espers willing and able to attempt it." Kellen tried to sound confident, but he didn’t really want to send any of his kids in yet.

They were still babies, and had only just started working with weapons. This was because they had only just gotten to the base level he wanted the Field Guides he’d trained to have for physical strength and endurance.

Kellen would be the first to admit he’d gotten attached to them. He wouldn’t lie. It was hard to care for people for so long and not get attached to them.

"That’s good news. Captain Sakura?" Captain Sergei turned to Sakura and everyone watched as she shifted nervously.

"They’re...the suits should be fine. We’re working on an antidote, but...I’m not confident it’ll be ready any time soon." She admitted softly. This was news to a few people in the room, but Kellen didn’t appear shocked. Nor Rhys, or Hill. They had all been in the room when Kellen had attempted to have a conversation about this topic.

"I had no idea. That’s great news if it’s completed. Do you need more samples?" Captain Sergei didn’t take it as a slight, instead pushing forward and Sakura’s shoulders relaxed.

"That would be incredibly helpful. Especially if they are collected from different areas around the gate and labeled. Our researchers are...quite particular. Honestly, sometimes it feels like they run the Guild instead of me." She laughed quietly, and Kellen sighed.

"You can’t let them bully you, Sakura." Kellen told her firmly, but kindly. Sakura glanced at Kellen, her expression tight.

"That’s very easy for you to say, Kellen." She wasn’t saying it in a mean way, just in a truthful way. Kellen agreed with her. It was easy for him to say. He knew Carlos, and had a different kind of relationship with him. That, and Kellen had a feeling, ever since he’d had that conversation with Rhys, that he didn’t truly know what she had gone through in high school.

He knew now how mean people could be. He didn’t like that Sakura of all people knew that long before he did. She was just...so perky and happy normally. Emotional. Free. He didn’t like thinking that others wanted to hurt her. It made a sharp, aching pain form in his chest.

"Are you alright?" Rhys asked Kellen, and everyone turned their gaze towards him. Kellen felt his face flush.

"Uh, completely. Just...lost in a thought." Kellen said, embarrassed that everyone went on high alert so quickly. Rhys shuddered.

"You’ll tell me if you aren’t, won’t you?" Rhys asked carefully and Kellen nodded.

"Of course. There is no reason to lie to you about the state of my body, Rhys. Stop worrying about me, and pay attention to the meeting." Kellen chastised, trying to be quiet, but no one was speaking besides him. Rhys chuckled, shifting slightly so he could push his jacket away from Kellen’s shoulder and pressed a kiss there.

"Never. I don’t think I have stopped worrying about you since I met you, Mr. Woods." Kellen felt a shiver run down his spine. It had been a while since he’d called him that, and it did something silly to his stomach.

"I’ll remain with him." Esper Blake offered. "I don’t have any classes I’m helping out with today, and I’m sure it would be good for the baby Field Guides to have some interactions with Espers in the capacity that they’re going into. I can report anything that I would consider odd, since Guide Woods thinks nothing is strange." Kellen was offended by that. _{freewebnovel.cσ๓}

"I’m not some weak Guide, everyone." Kellen felt ridiculous that he had to defend himself in front of everyone. He huffed, and Rhys pressed another kiss against his shoulder.

"You’ll have to forgive us, Kellen. We all get a little testy when a Guide is injured. It wasn’t just because you were shot that Guild went on high alert. The whole city practically went on high alert because you and your Father were hurt. Two Guides? We haven’t had a sudden death of a Guide in our city for a while, and for it to be an attempt on you two?" Rhys shuddered. "Just...if you plan to go around the Guild showing off that you’re fine, please stay away from the windows. I’ve been looking at getting them replaced with better quality glass. They aren’t as safe as I want them to be."

Kellen thought it was ridiculous that Rhys was so worried about him, while also finding it adorable.

"Does that also include the apartment?" Kellen asked carefully and Rhys sighed.

"The date to get the glass changed in both apartments is already scheduled. I made sure that they were going to do it when we weren’t there, but Miro will be watching over them. If I put a few plants in our apartments, he’ll be on them like you wouldn’t believe." For some reason, Kellen felt a little bad for whoever was going to be installing the glass now.

"I won’t scold you for this, since I would worry about that with my Dad staying in the tower, but I do think you’re all being ridiculous still. I’m a Field Guide. I’m practically a C Class Esper, especially now that I’m an A Class Guide." He told them. "I am capable of defending myself, and getting more capable of it every day." Kellen stated firmly, but not a single Esper in the room budged.

"You aren’t going to be able to convince us, sweetheart. It’s not going to work." Rhys told him softly. Rhys sighed, gently pushing Kellen forward so that he could get to his feet. "Now, you all know how to reach me, and I have an injured Guide I need to take care of before he can rush off and save the world." Rhys joked, before sweeping Kellen up in his arms, much to his surprise.

"Rhys!" Kellen protested. "Warn me when you’re going to do that!" He complained and Rhys stared down at him, his face drawn, his eyes bright, and Kellen realised that there had been a reason he had hidden his face from him.

The man was going to rip a strip off of him as soon as they were alone.

Rhys gave a tight smile.

"I’ll keep that in mind for next time you plan to do something so reckless without allowing me by your side, Kellen." Uh oh. That did not sound good. Nor did the alarm bells going off in the back of his mind make him feel like this was going to be safe.