There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 175

Chapter 175: Chapter 169. The Alpha Force

Of course, there was no way Zein would just ’go on and continue’ so people could watch them being intimate. So, in Bassena’s dismay, the guide pulled his hand and walked off.

"Aww, come on~"

"Shut up, Gus!" Bassena shot the new esper a glare.

But without an ounce of remorse, the esper just proceeded to walk inside, striding straight toward the guide who was taking bottled water from the pantry in the corner of the room. "So you are the rumored guide?" he smiled, leaning forward so he could see Zein’s face. "Will you be guiding us too, or is that only reserved for Commander?"

"I will," Zein answered shortly. He was exclusive for 5-star outside, but during dungeon raids, he would be responsible for all of them. Well, he and other guides that would come too.

"Oh, sweet!" the esper exclaimed, and then reached out his hand for a handshake. "I’m Gus, by the way. Gus Austin."

Zein took a sip of water and finally looked at the esper. The man looked as ordinary as he could be, which told Zein that he was probably just as dangerous. Especially since he was brazenly mocking Bassena. He was either that skilled, or too tiring to be trifled with.

Taking the offered hand and shaking it briefly, Zein responded with a single word, as usual. "Zein."

The man grinned, more amused than anything at the rather dry response. Especially when he replayed how the guide looked just a moment ago. As Zein moved away to take a seat on the couch, he looked at Bassena and smirked. ’Lucky dog,’ he mouthed to the Saint-class, who rolled his eyes in return.

"Oh, what is this? Gus being this early? Are we going to die?" a familiar voice came from the door, and Zein lifted his head to see the woman he met not long ago. Kei; the one from the emergency meeting.

She didn’t come alone this time, but was accompanied by two other male espers; a bulky one who was obviously defensive type, and someone whose face was evoking familiarity.

"Sir Zein," Kei nodded in greeting.

"Just Zein," the guide replied, tone a bit friendlier this time, which made Gus absolutely amused. Zein shifted his gaze to the other two espers, and Bassena introduced them both.

The defensive-type was Julian, and the one who looked familiar was Abe Naoya. Zein couldn’t remember at first, but Bassena told him about the man’s sister, Naomi, who was Mortix’s representative for Area-14--the one who came to the borderland with the expedition team.

"Ah..." Zein nodded at them, who were fortunately not the chatty type like Gus. Which was good, because the talkative one came storming next.

"Why are you so hard to see these days?" Han Shin came with hands on hips and furrowed brows. "You’ve been doing hush-hush without me!"

He grumbled, and then stuck himself to Zein as if asking for compensation for being left behind. Zein did not really appreciate the childish term, but he did realize that the only people privy to his personal matters were Bassena and Radia.

Perhaps it was due to the healer’s cheerful disposition, but Zein didn’t really want to share his burden, his baggage with Han Shin. The healer was the type of person--the type of friend which whom he only wished to share the good things. A place where he didn’t have to be reminded of his quandary.

"Just some personal business," Zein said vaguely, prompting the healer to pout slightly. But the younger man did not pursue, and just stared at him for a while.

"But you’re okay?" Han Shin asked, carefully, in a quieter voice. "You’re rather pale..."

"Just...lack of sleep," Zein muttered, which wasn’t a complete lie, just not the whole truth. He did find it harder to fall asleep these days, but he didn’t want to create unnecessary worry--especially since Bassena was observing him keenly despite engaging in a talk with the other espers.

At his response, Han Shin sighed. "Just don’t be like Bas, okay? Sleep regularly."

"I’m sleeping well these days, thank you," Bassena scoffed.

"Thanks to Zein," Han Shin rolled his eyes. "So don’t go around and infect him with your insomnia."

Gus raised his brow, staring at Zein with even more curiosity. "I don’t know guiding comes with a dose of good night’s sleep, now."

"Only with the best one," the door opened again, and Nadine walked inside with a smile. She greeted the other espers, before walking toward Zein and taking a seat on the nearby chair. "Captain, I don’t think we can spare another one." _{ƒreewebɳovel.com}

Like a naughty child getting found out about badmouthing his parent, the spearman hiccuped, looking morbidly frightened as the soft footsteps of said Guildmaster resounded in the room.

"Of...of course not," the poor esper said with an awkward laugh, not even daring to turn around and face the summoner.

Zein knew Radia had total control over Trinity’s members, but he only realized now how much the Guildmaster held them in his clutch. He wondered what kind of things happened that made the battle junkie, bulky spearman act like a frightened, obedient child in front of Radia.

"Are you sure? Because my account is always open for any voice of discontentment," Radia said replied in a soft voice and deep smile, as the crimson eyes curled slightly. "You know that, right?"

The spearman coughed and stuttered again. "Of--of course."

"Good," still with a deep smile on his face, Radia took a seat on the head armchair, and swept his gaze toward the group that hadn’t been together in the same room for almost a year already. "I would like you all to remember that too."

"Yes, Sir!" an array of reactions could be heard, from Zhan’s stiff one to Gus’s energetic one.

And then the crimson eyes trained on Zein as the smile vanished. "Especially you, Luzein."

Not even Bassena expected that, or even guessed what brought that admonition. Especially Bassena and Han Shin, who knew that Radia only used Zein’s full name to express his anger. They stared at Zein with widened, shocked eyes. The guide, however, apparently understood, because he let out a sigh before replying. "I’ll...see you after this."

"Good," the smile was back, and Radia shifted his gaze to his summoned secretary, instructed them to start readying the report.

Slowly, quietly, Han Shin leaned closer and asked in a whisper. "Did you...do something?"

Recalling the whole afternoon he spent in the core’s room, as well as the remainder of it crouching in a shiver, Zein answered while averting Bassena’s deep, inquisitive gaze. "I might."

Thankfully, before Han Shin could ask more, or before Bassena could come over and ask about it, Radia clapped his hand to gather their attention. "Alright, let’s start this,"