138 Serigan Party - Pt. 2

Everyone regrouped with each other after they had taken care of the most important people on their list. They sat down at one of the tables reserved for them and prepared themselves. But before Cole asked for their reports, there was something he needed to deal with first.

*BAM*

*WHOOSH*

*whatever third sound effect exists for hitting someone on the head, I guess maybe 'BONK' could do?*

Cole's hand moved fast enough that the human eye wouldn't be able to keep up. Tears collectively welled up in all three of the people who got hit. Basically the twins and Felicia.

"Why?!"

"何で?!"

"どして?!

"It's because I could feel what you three were thinking."

They didn't feel the need to respond and gave Cole the 'oh, really' face to express their disbelief. It was a bit amazing how in-sync they were.

"You two were most definitely laughing inside as you imagined the sight of us being flagged by reporters."

"Guk!"

"Ugh!"

"And you. You were probably gloating inside because this is one of your self-confidence x100 days, weren't you?"

"Eh-- Well, I won't say you're wrong..."

The twins took very effective psychological damage while Felicia just awkwardly scratched her cheek.

Seeing their reactions, Cole inwardly signed and decided he'll just get used to them.

"So, how did you guys do?"

Cole asked as he started to eat his meal. Surprisingly, the first one to answer was Eva. Her hand was enthusiastically waving around in the air.

"I got a lot of invites to play at people's houses."

She looked a bit nervous at the fact but everyone could tell that she was still happy about it. Cole could feel relieved at her reaction. At least she was able to meet a few children her age.

'Eva will also be starting school this year, won't she?'

That was also another worry Cole had to add to his plate. He at least had a few more months until that time so he put it off for later. It was time to listen to the others' reports.

"We were able to do, what we had to do."

"You don't need to worry about the two of us. We do our job properly."

"It would suck if we got a pay cut after all."

With that, Cole let Gemi and Mini be. They belonged to〈S.T.E.L.L.A〉, it wasn't really his place to be poking his head into their affairs.

The focus was now moved to Felicia, instead of saying anything, she whipped out her hand which had cars between all of her fingers. A few even had a few kiss marks on them.

The conversation went cold, and Felicia finally saw the chance to ask them something she was thinking about.

It had first appeared when she was walking down the carpet, a very important question rose up in her mind. It was a question she couldn't just let die so she sent a message to the others.

"So... Who was driving the limousine?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Why are all of you staying silent?"

Their lack of a reply admittedly spooked Felicia a bit. She wouldn't let it show on her face though. She feared Cole reprimanding her later more than she did the possibility of having a ghost as a driver.

"A ghost."

"A spirit."

"It was Crux. We had a chat about we have barely seen each other before we went into the limo."

Before the twins could start whatever plan they had in mind, Cole shut down their attempts at unnerving Felicia. Or maybe they had also intended to scare Eva but she was too focused on her food to care about that.

At least she had her priorities straight at such a young age.

"Crux? Ah! The dude who you brought to our house that one day!"

"Nice to know that you can remember that. But there are more important matters at hand."

Cole started to remember that he may have pledged himself that he would never take these three on a mission ever again because of the headaches they gave him during it. They could complete the job just fine but sanity was a risk in the process.

It wasn't that he couldn't handle it. But just because you could deal with something doesn't mean that you can't find it annoying.

Well, the pledge was useless in the first place. There were times where you couldn't pick your team members, and this was one of those times.

"Before you can start eating, there's something I'd like like to ask."

"What is it?"

Cole's face became unreadable for a moment before he opened his mouth with a bit of hesitation.

"Is there anyone I should be worried about?"

"What do you mean?"

"Wouldn't you be the first one to know?"

Both Gemi and Mini looked at Cole with slightly confused faces. Seeing their reactions, he knew that they probably didn't know about the old man he had encountered earlier.

"...No, nevermind. Go eat to your hearts' content."

The two of them didn't even bother to say anything, they went and did just that. Although they had to make sure to maintain proper manners considering their current location.

A bit later, Felicia seemed to have, realized something again.

"Hey, Cole. I just realized something."

"What is it?"

"If I was going to wear a suit anyway, why'd we go buy me dresses?"

"You could have asked that before the party but I shall answer you nonetheless."

Before doing that, Cole quickly cleaned up his plate, he was a fast eater and it wasn't proper to the food if he were to talk with it still in his mouth.

"The Serigan Party isn't only held on one day. You'll need them sooner or later and..."

Cole paused. He wondered if he should say the other reason or not. It wasn't a bad one or anything and the thought had indeed crossed his mind at the time. He took a quick glance at Felicia and decided he might as well.

"I thought it would make you happy."

But instead of acting like a standard shoujo manga protagonist, a smile few on her face. The same also happened to the twins who had taken their focus off of their food.

"Smooth."

"Very smooth."

"Smooth indeed."

All three of them wore knowing grins on their faces as they watched Cole.

"That doesn't really matter right now, does it?"

"Ah, he's trying to change the topic!"

"Isn't he just being shy?

Instead of retorting or reacting in a way that would only make their smiles grow even wider, Cole just stared at them with the all-powerful eyes of disappointment.

Ah yes, the eyes of disappointment. The eyes that everyone who's ever had someone they trusted and respected would fear. Them getting mad is something that can pass and later get over, but their disappointment is something that can never be erased.

No matter how cold one may be or how crazy, the eyes of disappointment were something that could hurt anyone capable of taking psychological damage.

"...Okay, we'll stop..."

"But dear sister, don't you think we should feel tenser or something? It's a big party with famous entertainers and political figures."

"Gemi, Mini, I think the readers would get bored if we actually delved into politics. That shit makes your brain hurt."

"Feli, language. Remember where you are."

"Oops, sorry."

Felicia covered her mouth and quickly wiped it with a napkin as if she was 'cleaning' it. But what she said had brought up another point for the twins to nitpick at.

"But in the first place, isn't this more of a slice-of-life novel?"

"It's about a person called a 'Weapon Master', so we're required to have a few action scenes."

"Is it really okay to be breaking the wall like this?"

"This was originally supposed to be a comedy novel as well so it's a requirement."

"By the way, speaking of action scenes, isn't one coming up real soon?"

"Oh really, like when?"

"Now."

It was Cole who said that. His eyes darted to the glass dome serving as the venue's ceiling. A figure had landed on top-- No, multiple had. One of them brought their arm up and swung down on the glass. Cole raised his voice and shouted out to the attendees--

"GET DOWN!"

1 swing, 2 swings, both in quick succession. Each thud caused the glass to earn another crack. And finally when the third swing came--

*CRASH*

The loud sound of glass breaking thundered throughout the large hall accompanied by the screams and gasps of the people.

"AH!"

"KYA!"

"WHAT THE--?!"

They all looked to be shocked and confused, but only death was waiting for them if they were stuck in their stupor. Mini and Gemi immediately went to having the people evacuate the venue as Cole and Felicia stayed together with security to see who had grown balls big enough to crash this party.

Cole handed over Eva to the twins and let out a breath. Was it in irritation? Frustration? Or maybe it was in anticipation. What it really was didn't matter.

It was time for another action scene.