Are You Behind that AGAINN?!

"WHAT?! Just come back with us. Leave them here. Okay?"

"Well..." Hogman sighed before replying. "That can't happen."

"Why can't that happen?" Edward became agitated.

Hogman didn't know how to control his friend. Whenever Edward gets agitated its impossible to know what he would do next. He was someone who was used to shooting down people for nothing. Hogman had always disregarded Edward's and Louis' decision to become criminals. Not because he didn't like what they were doing. Only because he wanted his friends alive. Hogman did not mind any job if it didn't involve drugs and women. Edward and Louis have kept their promise. Their crime may involve anything from smuggling to killing. But it was never tainted with drugs. Never. But the problem was when they become furious. They kill ruthlessly. Like a ferocious beast hunting for its prey. Hogman was missing his friends a lot. Now that he saw them, they have made an impossible request.

Edward was on the brink of shouting about at Hogman. He was so angry that his face was scarlet. Hogman could see his friend's lips shivering with anger. Hogman hadn't meant to anger him. But it just happened. He now wanted to find a way to coax his friend.

"Hey, you please calm down. These people are innocent Edward. It's my duty to protect them."

Edward got more enraged. "How's that your fu*king duty?" Edward's expression turned cold. He marched towards Schwann and Amelia with a threatening glare looming of his bloodshot eyes.

Amelia and Schwann took a step back instinctively as the angry Edward stormed towards them. Schwann could feel Edward's arm gripping his collar in an instant. Schwann could see that the man's strength was too much more than what he could even imagine. In the next second, he was lifted the ground. Amelia covered her eyes in horror as Schwann was effortlessly lifted from the ground by the stranger.

Hogman was too afraid that Edward might get hurt. Edward may be physically stronger than Schwann.... but in terms of magic, Schwann was a hundred times better. Hogman rushed towards Edward. Edwards eyes were million times bloodier than it was a second ago. He glared at Schwann with such a terrifying intensity that Schwann would have burned to ashes. Hogman freed Schwann from the dangerous grip android in between the two of them.

Louis was afraid that the two of his friends would end up fighting. He was afraid that he might lose one of his friends again. His face was filled with concern. His amiable face was now dull and moody. A wave of nostalgia passed through him. Their friendship....Cheh! It was not the time to think of that.

Edward raised his fists at Hogman now. He couldn't hold back his anger. The fist was caught in midair right before hitting Hogman's cheek. Edward viewed sideways to see who the person was. As expected. It was Louis. Edward gave off a cold smirk to Louis and said, "You expect that we should let all our hardworking go in vain? You think I'll allow that?"

Edward saw Louis' cheeks turning redder. Edward could easily know that he was sad and taking in a lot of pain. Edward's cold aura suddenly disappeared. Even Hogman noticed the change in Edward's mood. They looked at Louis with concern. He was too depressed after losing his friend that fights between two of his friends triggered the painful memories buried deep within his heart.

"Louis... I asked a small question. You can't answer if right? You never will. I know. You don't want us to fight. But do you think, that this freak is doing the right thing? He is not putting himself in danger?"

"Edward, please listen to me. I can't leave alright? They need me here." Actually that was not the only thing that held Hogman back from going away. He had still not got any sufficient information about the imperial stone or the sword. He didn't even understand how Aster managed to go to the other dimension without Schwann's help. Aster had pursed his lips when Hogman had asked about it.

Edward smirked. "They need you here? Aren't they all adults? They can take care of themselves. And you are not a babysitter to lookafter them. If ghey are babies... then, they shouldn't have done what they did."

Louis spoke up now. "Hogman we don't want you to die. We spent several months searching for you. And when we finally did, is this what we get?"

Homan found himself desperate. His friends did have a point. It was him who did all these. He was the one who ran away with a bunch of youngsters. He was the one who did not contact his friends. He was really being unfair. But for now! Being unfair was fine.

"It's not that Louis. You know that I can't come. I'll only be jailed by the authorities if I do. I have to stay. I need to find answers for the problems. Please."

The word problems made Edward and Louis twitch their eyebrows. They broke out aloud. "What?! ARE YOU BEHIND THAT AGAINN?!"

"I...I promise that it is..." Hogman couldn't complete what he was about to say.

Edward had slapped him right on the face before he could even realise that he was slapped. Amelia covered her mouth with her arm and her eyes almost popped out in shock.

Hogman ciuld feel heat spreading on his cheek. His face was hot and the pain spread slowly making him feel like a thousand like were stabbing him simultaneously. The pain was not from the slap, but from the realization that he was concerning his friends more.