Lucy lay on a roller beneath a vehicle. As she worked on it, trying to fix the issue that had made them call her in the first place, there were loud gasps that made her unable to concentrate for a moment.
She clenched her teeth. ’What’s going on out there? I can’t focus.’
This was the workshop, all this noise shouldn’t be here, or could it be a member of the Elite Class was here... they were revered these days.
What would an Elite Class be doing in the workshop, though?
She sighed, then turned her head to the young lady who was supposed to be assisting her. "Give me the spanner." Lucy demanded as she dropped the wrench. It was worn out and wasn’t strong enough, always trembling.
She looked at the foot of the person standing there and frowned. "I need the spanner, Liza."
There was no response, instead Liza was moving backwards.
Lucy heard her squeal like a rat before running off.
Someone else was there now, with white sneakers. Who wore white sneakers to a workshop? Definitely not a mechanic.
"There are three spanners here. Which one do you want?" That sonorous voice made her eyes widen.
The owner of the voice went on one knee and bent his head. Shocked, Lucy jerked and her forehead slammed into the vehicle.
"Oww!"
Percival grimaced when she screamed, then grabbed her legs and pulled her out. "I’m sorry," he said.
Lucy massaged her head while gawking at him like he wasn’t real. "You... came... back?"
Percival responded with a nod as he rose to his feet and stretched his hand. Lucy grabbed it and he pulled her up.
No words came from Lucy’s mouth as she stared at him, lips parted.
Percival looked around. "The camp has changed. I heard a new Captain has taken over but it feels like I’m in a different place."
’Captain Arian quit.’ Lucy said in her mind and was about to speak out when Percival spoke.
"Care to show me around?" He looked at the vehicle. "After you’re done with that."
"It’s not really that important." Lucy cleared her throat.
"Let’s go then." Percival took her hand and walked out of the workshop. His eyes met a lot of new faces moving about but they were watching him.
He barely recognized more than ten. They acted strangely though.
"Where’s Isaac?" Percival asked and let go of Lucy’s hand.
"He’s not here. He left paradise after being possessed by a spider god who nearly wiped out the cohort. That’s what made Captain Arian resign." Lucy explained.
Percival’s eyes narrowed. "Captain Arian resigned? Godfrey wasn’t here then."
Lucy shook her head.
"The new Captain is there..." she pointed at the faraway Colosseum that Percival considered the new den when he first laid eyes on it.
"I would prefer you meet Arden and Oliver first. They should be up. I’ll show you around on our way there."
Percival nodded and followed her. There were lots of eyes on him. Sure, he was good-looking but some of their gazes were scrutinizing him, trying to gauge his capabilities.
Percival went in while Arnold looked at Lucy, as if asking why she was not gone.
Lucy waved at Percival.
"I’ll be outside." She beamed, though Percival could easily see through her facade. Regulars were usually not allowed into this hall but that look Arnold gave her, he disliked it.
It was the very thing they fought against in Manhattan. That same thing had crept into paradise in their absence and a former victim was about to become one again.
Percival looked at Arnold, then at Arden and Oliver.
As if sensing what was on his mind, Arden shook her head. Percival was the calm one, he could be reasoned with.
Arnold was lucky that Godfrey wasn’t the one standing there. He wasn’t as patient as Percival.
It was a good thing Godfrey wasn’t here. Seeing what the cohort had turned into, he would have thrown the place upside down, it was either he won or lost. If he lost, he would be back again and again until he won.
"I’d like to see what the pit has become." Percival said as he walked out and moved in another direction.
Arnold’s eyes gleamed.
Alora, the silver-haired girl, raised an eyebrow while Oliver slowly rose to his feet. Arden swiftly followed him out of the hall as they went after Percival and Lucy.
"I guess this is why the Captain said we have to wipe out the old entirely." Nathan manifested long curved claws, each claw easily as long as his finger, and scraped the table.
Arnold shut the door.
"He’ll get accustomed to how things are done here or one of us will have to teach him." Alora said as she crossed her arms.

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