Chapter 46

"How come you gave that to a 13-year-old boy?" Trance spoke out. She's sitting beside Nine while watching her fix those extensive electronic materials. Nine swung herself on the swivel chair of hers and faces Trance.

"You speak like I'm already legal when I did that, " Nine placed down the screwdriver. Trance raised a brow, "I'm not that old. Aside from that, Haru is my friend. So why not? Although I talked to him, he already made his decision." Nine shrugged.

"Listen, Nine. I like you but my mind can't accept that you helped my brother blow up a building." Trance mumbled, massaging her throbbing temple. She stopped at the moment of realization. Her eyes are wide open as if they almost dropped from their socket. A voiceless atmosphere dropped between the two of them. Trance slapped herself on her another shame.

"I am no one's favorite person, Trance. They don't like me around. Go find another person to befriend. Why not stick up with Kai or Demeter? What about Aga?"

"Yeah, friend. But I don't feel comfortable around them." Trance looked around Nine's neat room. She stood up and lay down on her unwrinkled bed, "I can say that it is fun when you're around."

"Are you sure that your head doesn't bump on a sharp edge?"

"What are you talking about, Nine? Of course not." Trance shuffled on her bed, "You hate compliments. It seems like you rejected affections in your whole life."

"Because that brought me nothing. There's no worth of hearing that."

"It's obvious that you truly did." Trance laughed and almost teared up, "Nine, there's not bad on accepting a compliment. It doesn't harm you at all." She added.

"What about when I finish your PowerPoint presentation and you go back to your room?" Nine turned at Trance; crossing her arms proving that she was too done with Trance's tricks.

"You're hot."

"Do I look like a microwave oven?"

"Come on."

"Go back. It's all finished."

"Nineee."

"Stay away from me."

"I'm thinking about something right now. Let's have a drink." Trance wriggled her brows at Nine while a sheepish grin of hers made Nine raise a brow, "It's already nighttime too, I just wanted to try something."

"I refused. I'm busy." Nine replied. Trance rolled her eyes at the response. Boredom is something that strikes her. Something that she can't do anything against it. However, that didn't take long before another idea flashed into her mind.

"Apolaki rises at the east, the crow goes the search for the riches. The august watch." Trance mumbled. She repeated the same phrase in her mind plenty of times. Confusion might be got her whole mind but she doesn't let herself stop on that point. More like she couldn't wrap her mind about it. She kept thinking until her eyes closed and she fell into her slumber.

"Nine have you seen Trance--oh!" Kai raised his palm and bowed slightly to apologize, "I didn't see her here. The captain is looking for the both of you."

"How long she's been sleeping there?" Nine left her seat and walked towards her sleeping figure. As soon as Trance moved, Nine immediately backed away.

"She's in your bed. How come you didn't know?" The edge of Aga's lips got tugged from ear to ear like the Chesire Cat. Trance, on the other hand, rubbed her eyes before she opened them. She's in silence while watching the three individuals. Registering on her mind what's happening is already on her mind.

"I just fell asleep while waiting for my presentation," Trance explained and stood up, "Is the Captain looking for us?" She went to the door to join the two. Trance watched her remove her eyeglasses before she followed them, giving Aga and Kai death stares.

"If the both of you think that something inappropriate happens, you can use that door to leave." She told them, lowly. Trance shrugged off what she heard and proceeded to act like nothing. Arriving in the living room, they are greeted by the guy who's sitting on the separate couch. He's not much like a person like them in the way he looks or the way he dresses up.

"Oh! It's Agent 0315, alas! We finally met." He walked towards her to offer a shaking hand. Trance stared at it, immovable. He laughed, "You're not a fan of handshakes. Oh! I forgot to introduce myself. Dear me."

"I'm Agent 0921, also known as Ilsel the Jester. The assigned in charge of Information Technology." He grinned, "I saw you and Nine kissing. Are you like..together? Don't worry, I'm not going to tell anyone." He whispered. Trance looked at him with a brow raised. Her usual blank expression remained like a sewned mask.

"Mr. Ilsel, I don't know what are you talking about. If you want to talk about nonsensical or personal things, not in the middle of work." Trance retorted, "Agent 0315, Ellreign." She forcibly shakes his hand and leaves Ilsel dumbfounded.

"Ilsel? Is there anything wrong?" Kai asked as he finally took a seat beside Demeter, causing the man to snap back to his senses.

"So about the mission rose of noble. I've looked at Korea's census each year and this city's. Even though there is no result for him. I found him." Ilsel took out his phone and began typing, "No one escapes by the sight of the falcon anyways." He turned off the gadget.

"His name is Hwang Hyun. Living in the Lopher Ville, Street 12 Block 20. Currently hiding under the new name Min. Studying in Priam Videlle."

"Ellreign's brother gives her a phrase about the prince," Artemis said while reading the papers.

"What is it?" Ilsel turned at Trance in curiosity.

"Apolaki rise at the east, the crow go search for the riches. The august watch." Trance speaks out, "Hyun is his name. The crow's color is like night." She added.

"August is the name of a month, it is also another word of noble," Hera commented.

"Could have two meanings," Demeter said.

"It's the guy from the Elite section." Nine take a sip from her freshly brewed tea.

"Ice?" Hera asked but Nine shrugged at her reply.

"Could be." Kai agreed.

"It's not him." Trance replied. She tapped her fingers on her arm.

"In the Philippine Mythology, Apolaki is the Sun God. The prince's name simply tells what the color of the crow's feather has. The august are the elites. There's a place beside the Apolaki building that only a few students know. Ice and his friends knew it."