Kenji

Taka had just collapsed unconscious while I was… well, talking to that old bastard, Ru. Maybe I had been a little rude, but I respect my elders. Family comes first, though. And that geezer? He was the rude one, so in my book, he earned the title of bastard.

Still, he gave us a free room in his house, and we weren't about to refuse. We took a much-needed nap, exhaustion weighing down on us. By the time Taka woke up, lunch had already been prepared. We bowed in thanks, ate in silence, and left as soon as we were done.

The journey back to the base was brutal. We used Flow, and I unleashed my Hashi, sprinting at full force. Even with our enhanced speed, it took us nine grueling hours to reach the base. By the time we arrived, night had already fallen. My limbs were screaming, my head felt light, and the second my eyes landed on a bed, my body gave in. I collapsed onto the mattress and was out cold until morning.

We sat in the bar, legs folded neatly beneath us, staring at the wooden floor like scolded children. Old Captain Lucas loomed over us, his usual scowl deepening. Beside him, Miss Annette stood with arms crossed, silent but watchful. Behind them, Truth and his team stood in formation, their unreadable gazes locked on us.

I leaned toward Yushiro, whispering, "We did complete the mission, didn't we?"

"Yes," he replied flatly, as if stating the obvious.

"Then why are we bowing?" Taka muttered, clearly just as confused.

The old man scoffed. "Because you brats went missing for two days," Lucas grumbled. "Not that I care."

Then why are you scolding us!?

Truth's team shot him questioning looks from behind, but if Lucas noticed—or cared—he didn't show it.

As if reading our thoughts, he continued. "Team 8 spent the entire day yesterday looking for you idiots. Came in here making a damn ruckus, wouldn't let me drink in peace." He sighed heavily, taking a slow sip from the cup in his hand. "Now, I'm taking it out on you."

Was he mocking us? Or was he just stupid?

Even Truth looked slightly surprised at the old man's honesty, but he remained silent, watching.

"Sorry for causing you trouble," Taka said sincerely, bowing deeply.

Yushiro and I both turned to stare at him.

I shifted my glare to Lucas. "What exactly did we do wrong? We completed the mission, didn't we?"

Lucas grunted. "Yeah, you brats did complete the mission, but your lack of communication caused your seniors to worry. Didn't we give you a map? A clear path to follow?"

A clear path…?

The memory hit me.

What's that red line on the map?

Don't worry about it. We'll cut through the woods—it's faster.

Yushiro's words echoed in my mind. That red line… was that the route we were supposed to take? I turned to Yushiro, who sighed, already knowing what was coming.

"Captain Lucas, I was the one who decided to take a different route," he admitted.

Lucas narrowed his eyes. "And why the hell would you do that?"

Yushiro exhaled sharply, already tired of this conversation. "Isn't it obvious? The mapped-out path took too long. I adjusted the route to shorten the travel time."

For a split second, Lucas's expression shifted—surprise flickering across his face before it was buried under his usual indifference. But I caught it. Interest. He was interested in Yushiro's reasoning.

Miss Annette stepped forward, leaning down to whisper something in the old man's ear. He barely reacted, only shrugging before turning back to us.

"Annette thinks I should explain in detail—since apparently, you brats don't get why you're being scolded." He took another drink before continuing. "First, your lack of communication. Second, you ignored the path we gave you." He set his cup down with a soft clink. "If you had taken the assigned route, your seniors would've checked on you periodically to make sure you were safe."

So that's why. It wasn't just about rules—it was about accountability. We'd disappeared for two whole days, leaving them no way to track us. I glanced at Yushiro, making a mental note to talk to him later.

Lucas stretched, rolling his shoulders. "Annette thinks you brats should stick to collection and delivery missions for a while." He turned, already walking toward the stairs. "Works for me."

Miss Annette gave us a polite bow before following after him.

That should have been the end of it—but then Truth's team took over, delivering their own round of scolding. By the time we were finally dismissed, I could barely keep my eyes open. I dragged myself back to my bed and collapsed.

I'd deal with everything else in the morning.