There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 153

Chapter 153: Chapter 148. The Bane of Great Power

"But do you know your commlink had been blinking for a while now?"

Bassena almost cursed out loud. "I know," he said with a subdued frustration. It had been blinking and vibrating since Zein threw the paper cup into the trash bin. _{fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com}

"So why do you ignore it?" the guide raised his brow, glancing at the device in Bassena’s wrist.

Smiling his way to ignore the rising fury, Bassena leaned his upper body to block the guide’s gaze to his commlink. "Because I don’t want this nice little date to be ruined," he said in the calmest tone he could muster, emphasizing the word ’date’ for a bit.

It hadn’t even been fifteen minutes since he dragged Zein to this quiet little corner, and already something was trying to obstruct him. Again. Was the universe truly hating the notion of giving him a little chance on wooing his crush?

Zein smiled a little bit. But not that sweet smile he gave once in a blue moon when Bassena managed to step forward, but the usual nonchalant smile he gave in casual conversation. The window of chance had gone down, and Bassena wanted to curse the whole world because of that--and whoever made the call.

"Just take it, it might be important," Zein shook his head and pressed his palm against Bassena’s chest, pushing him back slightly. "We can continue that nice little date after that."

Bassena, who was in the middle of making a sulking face, froze, making it easier for Zein to push him back. Blinking his widened eyes, Bassena frowned and spoke in a serious tone. "No takes back!"

"Just take it," Zein shooed the esper away with a nonchalant tone, but there was a rare, playful smile on his pretty face.

Bassena almost wanted to just lunge for a kiss and ignored the call altogether, but in the end, he just sighed and walked to the corner to look at his commlink.

Once he did, however, and saw the caller id, he was filled with bad premonition. "Yeah, what?"

[You need to come here] Radia’s voice came in mercilessly like a mischievous fairy who made bad feelings come true.

"What?!" was the only response Bassena could possibly give, in a loud exclaim that filled the room. "I’m being summoned too? Why? They have you! They have all of my written and recorded statements!" his voice was filled with the frustration of a child trying to avoid getting dragged to a family meeting.

[They still want you. They summoned all of the Federation Rankers]

Bassena frowned deeper at that. He thought he could already wash his hand from the outbreak matter because Radia was there. But if the Rankers were to be called...Bassena had not much excuse to refuse it.

Rankers, as it sounds, was a title given to the 32 most influential espers. It wasn’t just determined by one’s star rank, but also by achievement through many things; from contribution to dungeon clearing, to cooperation with the government and association. The one who gave the assessment was a committee consisting of representatives from both the world government and the sentinel association.

Going by the star rank, Bassena would have been easily a number one just by his youngest saint-class title alone. But his official career as an esper only amounted to eight years, so his achievement and contribution points were overshadowed by the veteran espers. Still, he managed to be the youngest person to gain a Ranker title, and as of now, he was ranked fourth in the Federation and seventh in the Continent.

It was by this Ranker’s number that Bassena measured himself as to whether or not he was the ’best’ as per Zein’s decree in that cave nearly five years ago.

Calling the Rankers to the meeting meant the government had taken the matter more seriously than he thought. But right now, he truly didn’t want to go.

"Can’t you just give them some excuses? I was taking care of the outbreak yesterday," Bassena groaned, although he was clearly in peak condition with Zein’s guiding last night. Not to mention the good night’s sleep because of the guide’s presence. "Hell, tell them I just got back from the tower last week!"

[You don’t think I did? But there’s not much I could do this time]

"What? You told them but they want me there still?" Baseena clicked his tongue. He could always depend on Radia to dodge any official summons before. "Who are they to tell you that? The President?" he asked with a sarcastic tone.

[Yeah] the answer came dryly.

"...what?"

[Yeah, it’s the President that summoned you, so get your ass here]

Bassena blinked, didn’t think that his careless remark was on point. "Wait..."

[They want Zein too, but I settled for just you, so don’t make a fuss now] the barrage of flat, irritated tones flying through the speaker.

"But..."