Esdras was writing the report about the mission which was a boring affair in his opinion there was no need for all of them to write such a report wasn't one or two of them enough already?

But regulations were often like this, he understood that very well, but why did it have to be four thousand words at least? Did he have to write a novella or something? Unfortunately, he couldn't protest much he just had to do it no matter what.

He has been working on it for the past few days and making small progress here and there. The painful part is the rest of the team were already done. Somehow it's made him feel left out a little bit.

When did they become such honor students?

in truth he actually could have finished much earlier, but he was simply too focused on training and didn't have any time to do it. But he got a warning from Meeralah before they landed so he had to grit his teeth and do it regardless.

And yet, because it was such a boring task and one he didn't actually want to do he was barely able to write a thousand words in hours.

Damn it.

He should have copied David's report before he submitted it. Night feel and his stomach growled so he decided to take a break to get some of that high class food before calling it a night.

****

In a another apartment in the same section, several people that Esdras would have recognized were meeting. Sam and Tara were the most notable figures, the rest were all Robert's henchmen.

"This bastard actually made it back?" Sam snickered like a rat, "perfect! That way we can torture him in the rite of passage this time around and then kill him when we're done."

The others all laughed along but then someone asked.

"But… didn't they say that he became a level 4 apprentice back in Kuzdin and he was even rewarded by senior Ron?"

Sam scowled, "do you honestly believe that bullshit? I don't know how that bastard spread such nonsense but I'm even more baffled by you guys believe this?"

"It's… no, we don't but…"

The underlings tried to explain but he was suddenly smacked down.

"Shut up! Enough of this crap." Sam wasn't done and he was about to lay down a beating on the poor bastard when the other underlings blocked him.

"Sam, calm down. He didn't mean it like that. More importantly we have to think about the rite, don't you think so?"

"You…"

Sam had a vein pop up on his big forehead, he wanted to lash out he knew these trash were acting like this toward him because he wasn't Robert.

He didn't need Robert, he was the leader now! They showed all bow down to him! He jumped…

"Stop!"

Suddenly Tara shouted and everyone stopped what they were doing.

"Enough of this nonsense. Is this the time to be fighting amongst ourselves?"

Hearings her words everyone began to calm down, only Sam didn't look all that convinced.

"Whatever it is, we managed to prepare those trash as body shields for us, all thanks to Sam. Why worry about something trivial?"

Sam also calmed down after hearing those words, "but.. you don't mean we should just let him live in peace until then right?"

"Who said we'll let him be? I have a plan." Tara said with a smirk.

"Oooh?"

"Just leave him to me, in these two weeks I will make him my loyal dog." A cold and ruthless light gleamed in her eyes.

Tara wore a green cloak to dinner and waited for Esdras but he didn't show up, even his friends and that bitch Celine who somehow got everyone thinking she's the prettiest girl in the world, all came and went.

At this point she was almost alone in the cafeteria and seething with anger.

'How could that dog bastard make her wait?!'

Well, she didn't talk to him about it but it was still his fault. Even though she knew clearly that didn't make sense it didn't matter to her.

Men always caved under her presence, she easily saw through the desires under their eyes and used it to her own ends.

It was the same with Sam and the others, she easily put them under her control to obey her every command. Even her own pig of a father was the same, all of them were pathetic!

The only exception was her darling Robert, he was the only one who truly loved her for who she was. He was good looking, talented and well bred, what more could she ask for?

That's why… that's why she needed to get rid of this cockroach named Esdras! He was getting in the way of their perfect life so he had to disappear.

He even covered her in boar shit and tried to kill her! He couldn't be allowed to live much longer.

So what if he got a little better looking? The rumors about him were simply too outrageous, naturally she didn't believe that nonsense.

But she knew that he had a way to survive unexpectedly, the attempts ended up in failure one after the other. He had some luck about him for sure.

He also knew how to capitalize on opportunities to get ahead. Like that one time when he killed Theo and Bran.

She had goosebumps thinking about it, if she hadn't bewitched one of the soldiers ahead of time then she would have faced the same fate as Theo.

Bran was called a deserter and killed by Esdras. Of course, if Bran didn't exhaust his mana he would not have lost to the weak Esdras.

But who was she? She was Tara! She could control this bastard easily, after all he was just a virgin loser like the rest of them.

Under her careful machinations he would fall and become a dog that she could just dispose of during the Rite of passage.

She could clearly picture it now, his handsome face crumbling in despair and her laughing at his misery in his last moments.

Mmm…

She could feel herself getting wet down there just thinking about it. But since that piece of shit didn't come down today she was going to get him tomorrow.

As she was about to leave she noticed the piece of shit in question getting his food and stuffing his face a table across from hers.

Embarrassingly, it seems like she was too immersed in her thoughts that she failed to notice him until now.

No matter. The plane starts now.

She got up, left her table and sat on the same bench as Esdras, he seemed surprised at seeing her to which she revealed a melancholic expression and talked before he could.

"Hey, I know you may not even want to see me but… I just couldn't leave things be between us…"

Esdras frowned, "I don't think I understand what you mean by this, we're not that close."

Saying that he attempted to leave but she quickly grabbed him, not too roughly but enough to make him know she was serious.

"I know you hate me, but will you please listen to what I have to say? Please? You can decide after."

She looked at him with her eyes tearing up, enough to evoke a sense of vulnerability and pity in any man. And Esdras was no exception, she could see him faltering, his eyes fixed on her glossy lips and her plump body.

"Fine… I will hear what you have to say."

Esdras sat down. Tara quickly took the chance to narrow the distance naturally without making it seem suspicious.

"I know that things were terrible between us. Robert that idiot injured you and then there was that accident with the cave and all. I know this mist have been difficult for you… I am sorry."

"Hm!"

It seems she successfully surprised him by apologizing.

"We were bullying you for fun and then thing escalated… it's our fault. Things just got out of hand and I am sure we forced you to take extreme measures. It couldn't be helped, from your perspective it had to be done to protect yourself. From now on why don't we be friends and forget the past?"

Her words sounded extremely sincere and honest, her expression truly matched well with her words making her look exactly like someone who regretted her past actions and wanted to change desperately.

But…

"Do you think that your words alone are enough to smooth everything over?! Are you mocking me?"

Esdras who had his life endangered many times naturally wouldn't accept a simple apology. Which was… exactly what she wanted.

Tara smirked for a moment before her expression changed back, "well, then tell me what should I do…"

While talking her hand moved over to his thigh, she was already sticking very close to him without him noticing.

"To make up for it?"

Esdras's face went beet red, as expected of a virgin and he stammered incoherently, "w-what… wa… y-you…"

"Didn't you understand me? I mean that I am willing to do ANYTHING to make it up to you…"

At this moment her boobs stuck to his side and weighted on him arm like a boulder, his blush deepened. Her hand moved to his abs right above his crotch.

'My god these muscles are insane.' Suddenly a disturbing thought distracted her.

"A-anything you say?" He repeated stupidly.

She licked her lips, "do I have to say something so embarrassing? You're awful making a woman say this but just to be clear…

"From now on until the rite of passage you can have your way with me as you like."

"You can't take that back."

"Of course I won't. Am I that kind of person?" Tara coyly giggled.

Tara suddenly felt that something was wrong. But she was unable to notice that Esdras virgin boy expression was replaced by a cold grin.