Scary Encounter

Joey froze when he heard this, he never looked back at the noise and headed through the door.

He tried to diffuse the situation with words while on the way.

"I must have snooped around here. I haven't caused any trouble here. It was my mistake."

Joey apologized continuing through the door. Eisha was right behind him.

"Wait!"

'Dammit, why can't I be a little curious without getting involved with the wrong people

Joey thought.

They heard a loud whoosh when a figure touched him on his shoulder.

"I just got a little--"

Joey never finished his sentence.

He looked at the man that was holding him and saw that it was Waynard Polls. He had a slight smile on his face.

"Look at you, you seem to have gotten some training under your belt. I'm surprised Sina actually allowed you to use a spear"

Waynard chuckled a bit looking at his weapon. He could feel that his build had become more defined.

Joey awkwardly laughed and shrugged.

Joey knew that it was a misunderstanding, but he had no interest in explaining. He wouldn't have to know Mila as yet.

"Say, tell me where is she. She must be around here somewhere right?"

"I have no idea where she is. I only came looking out of curiosity"

Jacob explained, he was about to say parting words when he was interrupted.

"Come on then! There is no reason you can't look. I can show you around the process of butchering that is used here. You and your friends are welcome for a little tour before the tournament"

Waynard spoke with a smile.

"Thank you"

Being in the awkward position of being unable to refuse. Joey accepted.

'I shouldn't spend too long'

Jacob mentally noted.

Waynard showed them the semi-automated butchering process that they had.

"That over there is a Sky Tyke. Those are on the easier side to butcher and process. It will limit the need for outside butchers. Eventually, the animals will get bigger, that the plan."

Joey was impressed at what he was doing, the process was efficient in butchering beasts which was an arduous process. He could see it greatly benefiting the Sky Military.

Waynard saw this and was satisfied.

"This will make every beast on 9 Skies easily processed. Wouldn't you agree"

Joey smiled and nodded.

"What else do you think is on 9 Skies?" Waynard asked side-eyeing him.

'Is this guy really trying to interrogate me? It's like he expects me to say I know the whole secret'

Joey mentally facepalmed.

"I just know that it has valuable resources and beats that try to steal them. That's what the Sky military fights against."

"Haha you should have a little more imagination, but you're not wrong" Waynard laughed.

They continued walking and exploring the warehouse. When a loud voice boomed.

"Waynard! What are you doing"

The voice was filled with scrutiny. Waynard's face froze as he looked behind him. Waynard straightened his body gave a stern salute.

Then he bowed.

"Greeting Captain Leo Janroes!"

Confusion filled Joey's mind. He never knew why Waynard would be acting like this.

He knew that positions within the military commanded respect however, this seemed more of fear.

"Do you think this is somewhere you can take people randomly?"

"I never knew Captain Leo Janroes would be here, Forgive me"

Waynard's voice sounded weak.

Joey looked at the man in wonder. He had long red hair, his face looked cold and his eyes were sharp.

He was surrounded by a baleful aura that was suffocating.

He turned his eyes to Jacob and the pressure fell on him.

'Is this what Waynard was feeling?'

The pressure made Joey's legs feel weak. Eisha behind was clinging trying to hold herself up.

The man turned his gaze toward Waynard as he placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Get them out of here, you should be ashamed walking around in the position your i. Do you think because you manage a Midpoint your hot shit?"

He release Waynard arm and he bowed again. From behind him, someone came around to look at the commotion.

"Is that the butcher?"

Joey recognized him as Nerou Janroes.

Leo looked at him, "Do you know him?"

"Hardly, I had only seen him once because he came here before. He worked as a butcher"

Leo looked at him again and commanded Waynard, "Get them out of here"

Waynard looked toward Joey with a defeated look.

"I'm sorry, you need to leave now"

Joey and Eisha turned quickly while walking through the door. They pushed the door to open it, however, it wasn't budging.

Joey leaned all his power into it and it still never moved.

"Try pulling it" Eisha mumbled.

He pulled it and someone came stumbling over, he never fell however he needed to catch himself.

The person was Claymus Zeus who he had meant before and behind him was Mia Deoxys.

Though Joey never remembered her face.

He squeezed between them and speed-walked away.

"Isn't that the butcher?"

Mia recognized his face for a brief second.

"What butcher," Claymus asked. He was about to grab Joey by the head however upsetting a butcher was something that he wouldn't want to do.

Not because they were important, however, good ones were a rare commodity.

Mia shook her head and walked inside. The scene they walked in on seemed weird. Waynard looked pale like he had just been scolded.

They ignored him and went over to their friend Nerou.

***

Joey and Eisha burst into a full sprint after they reached far enough. They stopped when they ran far enough.

"Who was that guy, why did he seem so intimidating. I almost peed myself" Eisha panted feverously when they stopped.

"I don't know, but he is a captain in the military... He also hails from the Janroes family."

Joey was thinking about something else.

'Leo Janores... He has definitely been in many fights, the aura around him felt heavy. Like someone who has killed many people'

Joey was quicker to recover. He moved toward the main area where everyone was gathering.