Ally

Claire returned home, her head full of thoughts about the undead dungeon. She needs to prepare. 

The undead dungeon tragedy's root cause was there wasn't enough food. The terrain and conditions of the 89th base were terrible in the first place. There are barely any satellite towns. The dungeons are aplenty, but all of them belong to one extreme environment or other. 

When the hunters went in, the plan was 'to strike with the momentum of heaven, break the mountain in a single slash. '. 

Only, the zombies strategy was ' empty city, encircle the army. ' 

By the time hunters realized that something was wrong, they were in too deep. 

To go to such a place, even Claire had to think thrice despite her teleport ability. 

After returning home, she noticed Zayne's nephews are very much dispirited. 

" Where's brother ? When will he be back ? " Credence asked her. 

Brea, Prudence, Dolce, even Robin were watching her eagerly. 

" He will be back soon. How about we bake some cookies today ? " She redirected their focus. 

" Can we have white chocolate cookies ? " Dolce asked. 

" Yes. We can. " Claire answered easily. 

Brea's expression changed at her answer. 

They made cookies. As the cookies were baking, Brea sidled up to her. 

" Sister ! Is my brother in trouble ? you can tell me. You know I am a big girl. " She asked with trepidation, as if preparing herself for the worst. 

" Your brother is not in trouble. He just can not make it here at the moment. " Claire answered. 

Brea looked at her doubtfully. 

" I will tell you if anything happened. Do not worry, he is alright. " Claire assured her. 

Brea nodded, accepting that answer. Today, the children are a little more muted compared to before. 

" Actually Brea, now that I think about it, there is something you can do for me. " Claire added, after a moment of thought. 

" Please take care of the children well, at the same time, keep track of any strange faces you see around. You must make note of every person who behaves out of place, every strange person who is kind to you, or even tries to look at you. Could you do that for me ? " She asked her. 

Brea looked startled. 

" Sister ! Are we .. in danger ? " She asked, whispering. 

" not immediately. It's best to be cautious. " Claire added, a plan forming in her head. 

After soothing the children, she went to do her daily delivery of dinner to both Zayne and Caspian. This time, set Caspian for last. When she arrived, he was dripping from head to toe, his clothes set on the beach under a rock. 

" Just spit it out, woman ! There's no way you will be this diligent and kind without a purpose. " Caspian said, still in his deadpan voice. 

It's all the more unnatural for it. ' Perhaps he learned the line from a pirate ' - she brushed off the strangeness of the dialogue. 

" I am here to propose a truce." Claire said. 

" go on. " Caspian said. 

" You become my ally. I will share my information on all dungeons with you. You will do the same for me. " she said. 

" Not enough. " Caspian rejected right away. 

" I am opening my information, I am asking you to open your information, it's an equal trade. " she repeated. 

" You know a few dungeons in the K region around base 91. I know most dungeons all around the world, information about secret bases of Reapers, Information about best training methods to make the most powerful hunters in the world, and location of thousands of children who could become that powerful force. Where in the world is it fair ? " Caspian asked. 

" Indeed. You know many dungeons, but could you get to them ? Can you defeat one single base of Reapers ? forget the rest. Just the one you know most well amongst these bases ? Can you leak the information about it ? Can you make it your own ? The thousands of children you speak of - Can you steal them ? Can you train them successfully ? .. Forget training ! Can you keep them alive for more than a season ? Yes, you know a lot of useless information. So do I. Your comfort, life and dream for my comfort and dreams. I feel I am the losing one in this deal. " Claire answered. 

Caspian thought for a moment. 

" You think you are on the losing side. I think I am on the losing side. There is a simple solution to this problem. " Caspian spoke. 

" What is it ? " she asked curiously. It's impossible for such a problem to have an answer. 

" Woman ! Be mine. " Caspian said in the same deadpan voice he's been using for the negotiation. 

" Did you learn your flirting skills from pirates or something ? " she asked, unable to bear her curiosity. 

" How … How did you know ? I paid a hundred coins for the lesson. It was an elite course. Not everyone can join this course. " he asked, finally, his voice having a little tint of curiosity. It's still as deadpan as ever. 

" Ah ! Did they tell you that you are eligible for this course because of your face ? " she asked. 

Caspian looked even more impressed. He nodded proudly. 

In fact, they were not wrong in teaching Caspian these dialogues. With his wavy blonde hair, surfer golden skin, eight pack abs, and the ocean blue eyes, he can totally make these lines work. It's just that they forgot to teach him where and why these lines are used. 

" Are you a virgin ? " she asked. 

" What's a virgin ? " Caspian mused. 

It was Claire's turn to be shocked. If he did not even know what a virgin is, why in the world is he using those dialogues ? Teasing an old girl ? 

" You were given the talk about birds and bees, correct ? " she asked. 

Caspian looked clueless. 

She had a strange feeling in her chest. A hypothesis started to form in her head, and she really really hoped - She was just over reacting. 

" Caspian ! Have you never seen a girl before me ? " she asked, dreading the answer. 

" I did. Regular class teaches what a girl is. I knew the moment I saw you that you were a girl. " Caspian answered, all too confident and proud that he was able to form such a hypothesis without any help at all. 

Claire desperately wanted to fill the gap in his knowledge, but … she stopped at the last minute. 

Is it useful ? Is he trustworthy ? He is not even her ally at the moment. 

" I digress. So, being my ally, have you thought about it ? " she asked. 

" I still think I am on the losing end. I know many dungeons, but you know only a few. " Caspian answered. 

" Very well. Do you have any ideas on how to reduce your loss ? " she asked, now sure his ask will be definitely less than what she gives on her own. 

" Help me kill a few people. " Caspian said, his entire demeanor changing from a clueless boy to icy assassin. 

" As long as these murders are not traced back to me, also, as long as they do not harm me or my family. I will give my all to killing these few people. " she promised. 

" Even if I am in the wrong ? " Caspian asked. 

" Even if you are in the wrong. However, I must say I need to know their identity, and the reason they are dying. My agreement is on a case by case basis. " Claire announced beforehand. 

Caspian nodded his head. 

" Agreed. Are we allies now ? " Caspian asked. 

" Yes, we are allies. " she answered. 

" In good faith, on the eve of becoming allies, I will give you a piece of information. Awakening early on does not have any bad effect on the children physiologically. " Caspian told her. 

This was good to know. She has suspected such a thing, but to know beyond doubt is very reassuring. 

" I will also give you a gift. An expedition is starting to Undead Valley from base 89. I plan to crash their party. I am willing to take you along for the ride, as long as you are willing. " she told him. 

Caspian looked surprised. 

" If I don't want to go ? " he said, definitely. 

" Then, you don't have to go. Conversely, you will lose the associated income. " Claire told him patiently. 

" That's it. ? " Caspian asked. 

" That is it. Caspian ! You and I are allies. You make the decisions as much as I do. " she told him before bidding goodbye. 

When she returns home, the children are clumped together in front of the TV, Dolce leaning against Brea and sleeping. Brea was watching the door, while the rest were dozing off on the sofa, despite the late hour. 

" Brea. go to sleep in the room. I will take them to their bedrooms. " Claire said, picking up Dolce from where he had slumped. 

Brea nodded a bit unwillingly, then walked off in the direction of their bedroom. 

After Brea left, Claire returned to the living room once more. She floated the twins to their beds. 

Now, only Robin was left on the sofa. 

Looking at his peaceful sleeping state, Claire wondered whether she should take the next step or not. Whether she is qualified to make this decision, when she is not even his parent… 

In the end, Claire decided to go through. 

" Robin ! Wake up. ! My sister has a place to take you to. "