The Beginning of the End (2)

'I should've figured that the Information Guild wouldn't be open at mid night,' thought Gray as he opened the door to his house.

His hair was still stained red, and pieces of dried blood dropped to the floor as he walked into the kitchen.

"Oh. you're back," commented Gray as he saw Tesse standing in front of the door, holding herself in a saddened demeanor.

"F-forgive me master," replied Tesse, kneeling in front of Gray as he approached her.

"I don't know what you're going on about, but get some rest. We're going raiding tomorrow. Perhaps we might even take on a tower floor," said Gray, the last part more a thoughtful murmur than actual words.

"I-I failed you. I was unable to clear the ruin raid. Y-your contract might be terminated," continued Tesse, tears welling up on the rim of her eyelids.

"Oh, so that's it? Hmm, it seems you still aren't strong enough to delegate tasks by yourself," said Gray, scratching his chin.

"Perhaps you require more tr-"

*Mii* Gray's sentence was interrupted by the sound of a kitten meowing.

"Did a cat slip into the house?" asked Gray, looking around the kitchen to see where the sound was coming from.

"T-That's your prize master. I-I was unable to get the highest contribution in the raid, however, I managed to gain that beast as a prize," explained Tesse as the cub tottered from behind the counter towards her.

It's blue eyes shone with intelligence as it walked past Gray in an arc, making sure not to come near him as if it were instinct.

"Hmm? Explain to me what this raid was about again," ordered Gray, a serious expression on his face as he watched the jetblack beast jump onto the kneeling Tesse's arms.

Its scales glimmered under the dim light of the kitchen, and its long whiskers tickled Tesse's skin as it played in her arms.

Tesse explained what had happened in the raid. About the orc wearing a black suit, and how she had shot the beast but wasn't able to get first place.

"What makes you think that a greatsword is a better prize than the child of the beast you slayed?" ask Gray, tilting his head to the side as if Tesse's thought processes were interesting to him.

"I-I though you would see the weapon as a greater prize than this pest," replied Tesse, her self-dissapointment causing her eyes to stare at the ground.

'It seems her loyalty hasn't waned,' thought Gray as he stared at Tesse with an amused look.

"I'm in a good mood today, so I won't punish you," smiled Gray.

'If she thinks she didn't do well, why correct that. She'll only work harder from this anyway,' laughed Gray inwardly as he turned to go to his room.

"You're to take care of it and feed it. I will train it. It might help us capture much needed so- I mean enemies," said Gray before closing the door to his room.

"T-thank you master," smiled Tesse, looking at the cub in here arms.

***

"Captain Ria, there's someone who wants to speak to you," reported one of the government officials once Ria arrived at the station.

"Tell them I'm busy," replied Ria, too tired to even look at her.

"She says she's your new supervisor. Apparently the government is under new leadership," continued the government official, her voice a bit shaky.

'What?' thought Ria as she rushed to the communications center.

"So you're Agent Ria?" asked a commanding feminine voice as Ria walked into the communications center.

A large burly woman with a scar on her face stood tall on the monitor. Everyone in the room seemed glued to the screen in fear, no one dared move in front of the woman, even though it was only a video call.

"Yes, I am. And who might you be?" asked Ria, suspicion and confusion audible in her voice.

"It seems that they didn't teach you to respect military hierarchy in the academy. I am General Ortega, and I'll be taking over from General Lemberhg," replied the woman, looking at Ria with a steely gaze.

"Forgive me General," said Ria, standing in salute.

"At ease soldier," replied the General before picking up a pile of papers on her desk.

"A new mission has been sent out to all surviving government bases," continued the woman, reading of the documents in front of her.

"You are to complete your tower within a week. New matters have arisen, and completing the tower takes the highest priority," said the woman, looking up to see if Ria understood.

"E-excuse me general. But I don't think that is pos-"

"This isn't up for debate soldier. Documents explaining the reasons for such an order have been sent out by President Roi," interrupted the General.

"President Roi?" asked Ria confused by the unfamiliar name.

"New times call for new leadership. President Roi stepped into power last night," replied Ortega.

"I dislike soldiers that ask many questions. However President Roi insists we explain our reasons for doing this. I have sent the necessary documents."

"The next time we speak, I want all of you out of Beniza and on your way to the designated rendevous. " as the woman finished talking the screen went black, silence filled the room.

"Captain Ria, here's the file," said the official working at the main computer, handing over a pile of documents to Ria.

[On completion of the fourth tower floor, officers in the Rediver Region reported that the beings we now refer to as 'The Voice,' addressed them once more.

In this second addressing, the barriers were described to contain us in 'tutorial zones' to ensure our survival while we get accustomed to 'New Vautis'.] read the document in front of Ria.

Everyone in the room waited silently to hear what it was about, curiosity burned on all their faces.

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