In Waiting

  “Phew.” Luis sat on his chair and reclined his back, throwing out a breath like it was a relief to do so. He arched his head backwards, staring at the ceiling. 'That was easy…'

  Luis straightened his back and rubbed his eyes, almost feeling an incoming headache before calling with his WID. A couple of seconds later, with his WID before his face, the other side took the call without live video sharing. A soft, young woman's voice sounded from his WID, “Is this president Luis Heartez?”

  “Lemyonova?” Luis lifted his eyebrows, surprised. He could ‘hear’ a smile coming from the other side before the soft voice from earlier sounded again, sounding silent, as if to not bring attention to herself. “Yes, president Heartez. My father is busy dealing with the incident with ANS along the KAA’s delegation.”

  “Has the External Affairs Secretary become used to her job already? Congratulations,” Luis spoke, relaxing as he understood the situation. Lemyonova replied with politeness, “Yes, thank you, president Heartez. Know Zyckevele supports your person and movement for the incoming elections in your country.”

  “Thank you, Lemyonova. You said your father was busy doing ‘that’. Are they meeting face to face?” Luis asked after some more ceremonious words. Lemyonova didn’t waste time replying, “Mhm. I think your previous visit to ANS inspired that old fart. He seems more stable, you know?”

  “His position.” Lemyonova added after Luis didn’t speak for a couple of seconds. Luis jumped his eyebrows, “Yeah, well. I guess he owes me that. The fleet coming from their Quarter Moon Ocean stopped, was it all your alliance?”

  “Yes,” Lemyonova took a moment before responding. She gulped before explaining, going directly to the point, “To clarify, Zyckevele decided to proceed with this ‘surprise’ in thanks for the previous information. We’ve locked certain ‘routes’ that we knew of because of that. There are more, but we will handle it. This was our thanks back. As for KAA, well, your Vicissitudes medicine sent to Safe Haven City have been very helpful to the old members there.”

  “They had the strange thought of being granted so many of these ‘because of’ KAA’s convincing words to the Lymocan government. Sounds familiar, president?” Lemyonova’s words were curtly spoken, yet they made Luis blush a little.

  “Listen, thank your father and the KAA sovereigns in my stead.” Luis responded while rubbing his forehead. Lemyonova didn’t waste time again, “No problem, president Heartez. Rather, do you need more help? The supplies are just arriving, and also, we apologize for the secretiveness.”

  “No, no help needed.” Luis nodded before responding, not even considering it. Lemyonova repeated, although she did not sound like she wanted to convince him. “Are you sure? Zyckevele and KAA are up for it. ANS getting a leash would be a good initiation for the term.”

  “Lymoca won’t make use of any of these direct aids. Your supplies are already too much. Shouldn’t ask for more.” Luis replied with the same tone, only using different words. Lemyonova went silent for a little, seemingly respecting the decision.

  “How can Lys be so stubborn, loyal, and resilient, and still not be hated to death? I am damn sure, if you exchanged places with Zyckevele— Orxa, Pexa, Orchestra, and Fresna would initiate talks of being annexed themselves. A pity you only have ANS for a neighbor.” Lemyonova commented, making Luis shake his head.

  “I am grateful, I truly am, and any Lymocan would be, too. Thanks for the consideration, and for the supplies, again…” Luis went silent, not really knowing how to end the call. After thinking for a bit, he went, “Lymoca will continue relations with both supercontinents and global leaders. We will just have to step over our jurisdiction for this matter. No peace is truly threatened.”

  “With just you, president Heartez? I believe it. But your neighbor, even if they also believe it, won’t allow it.” Lemyonova commented before hanging up.

  “…” Luis didn’t mind the hang up. It wasn’t important. But her words left him feeling helpless. None of those words were forgotten by any Ly. If, if, if… No matter how many if there were, if Lymoca couldn’t stand up on its own, it would remain ‘the neighbor of ANS’.

  ***

  Early morning of the 3rd week’s 1st day, just before the sun stared coming out.

  At 5 AM, the global powers announced a resolution to the horrible mess in the Lyclan Ocean. Zyckevele showed footage that proving they were only escorting their supplies because they were worried about the Ters-Ly war and wanted to keep their ships safe.

  One of those was directly from a ship that was attacked, showing an official in the Zyckevele navy as he was just recording the supply fleet moving in the sea, when they were suddenly attacked. The official’s life was unknown until recently, where it was show he suffered terrible burning damage. It made sense, with how sudden and forceful those explosions were on the ship. Thus, Zyckevele was ‘cleared’ from instigating ANS to attack them first, as they claimed.

  As for the Knight Assembly Association, they followed Zyckevele’s procedures. As for why they were in such good cooperation and had such levels of communication? The two countries, top global powers in the world, subtly exposed their alliance to the public, at last.

  Thus, there were no further problems between ANS and the eastern alliance. It could be called as ambiguous as that because there were no other 2 countries who supported each other when they didn’t have to. Merula and Iztos are two countries who were formed after the Veil Kingdom.

  Like this, in the early morning, the 3 top global powers in the world demonstrated understanding between each other. However, ANS wasn’t left off the hook. They weren’t any southern Moonblue country, or the EPA Commonwealth trying to follow Lymoca’s steps of being in every country’s good grace.

  With the previous incident having more than one party involved, in territorial waters that were of neither’s scope, there had to be answers to erase all inconsistency to reduce incertitude.

  It was the first time in the world that it happened, but with all things considered that might just go wrong, ANS publicly apologized for their misunderstanding. They promulgated their doings in the Lyclan Sea, trying to stop the war from spreading, but not able to identify the possibilities.

  Thus, leading to all of this terrible situation, ANS, the only side who lost people, apologized to the other two global powers and declared their neutrality in the matter between Terka and Lymoca.

  Of course, they also didn’t forget to give their thoughts on the matter, clearly opting to lean towards Terka’s side. It was strange, since Lymoca has been their neighbor since approximately 600 years ago. But nobody said anything, not even Lymoca.

  It was both: not highly significant and not as impactful as ANS taking all the blame on such a matter. The morning had just commenced, with the Ters-Ly War becoming a subject to discuss in all social media. Not much was known besides videos from people’s phones of the Ly army marching line moving from Lymoca to through Endesa.

  … Meanwhile, as everything unfolded, Fox went to his suite after an entire night in the Plastics Recycler Factory. He was Raging Blood, after all.

  “Oh?” As soon as Fox opened the door to his suite, he was met with an unexpected view. Unfortunately, it wasn’t Nala wearing lingerie for him again. Teon stood in the living room, checking herself in a mirror in the kitchen with her full equipment on.

  There was a war coming, and Fox had just enough experience and aid from General Edgar Plomo to know what was best for special agents. Regardless, Teon was wearing hers, at least most of it. Already having noticed him, she looked at him and asked as he stepped in and closed the door. “Well, what do you think?”

  “It’s just right. You only need a few adjustments.” Fox walked to her, leaving some of the groceries in his left hand on the floor before walking to her, adjusting the tightness at which some of her uniform felt uncomfortably loose around her. Then, he checked her backpack and accommodated a few things before patting her nape.

  “It’s good now. This, all of it, you better take care of it.” Fox said after Teon checked herself again. She looked at him immediately, paying attention to his little lesson. Fox continued, “You won’t get a second replacement or parts to fix it. Maybe for your MLD, but not for your uniform.”

  “Okay,” Teon nodded a little, responding meekly. Fox nodded too, coiling her neck with his left arm, showing her some affection before kissing atop the back of her head. “It will be very different to any mission or task, but we won’t spend too much time fighting it. Never lower your guard, ‘kay?”

  “Mhm,” Teon blushed a little and checked her belt again, lifting her chin proudly while looking into the mirror. Fox let go of her and walked to the living room to relax a little, speaking out loud. “I won’t be here later on, nor will Nala.”

  “W-why would you tell me that?” Teon asked, blushing deeply now. Fox looked back at her, spreading his arms on the sofa, not taken aback by her image at all. He blinked, “House alone.”

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  Teon rolled her eyes. She walked to the kitchen island and leaned against it with crossed arms. She frowned and looked back at him with a pout, “Where are you even going?”

  “Luis got me into a meeting with possible investors. I won’t be there long, but I will check my Myertha with Miros later. So, you can do anything with everyone else gone.” Fox effortlessly winked and smirked at Teon before focusing his gaze on the TV.

  Teon walked to him, her equipment and backpack making little noise, but still clearly audible in his ears. She placed her forearms around his neck without hugging him, “It’s not like it’s a 2-people thing even. We’re going as a group. It’s a war, right? Who knows who can come back, so Nauer scheduled a couple celebrations before then.”

  “You should at least do one, you know?” Teon looked down at him, a head and a half above his, and recommended. Fox looked up, his polycoria eyes showing he didn’t care. Teon pouted a bit, releasing her arms from his neck before walking around the sofa to sit down, saying, “Nala might be fine, although she would still be nervous, but Miros and the rest of her team?”

  “Even Nauer is preoccupied. It doesn’t matter if it’s an elite team or a seasoned monster like your girl. It’s something they only heard about from hundreds of years ago. Even the oldest generations know nothing about war. I guess Lymoca and a few other countries could be considered lucky, they at least got to experience combating the organized crime.”

  “Not much was known of Preut until the borders opened, so, what do you think the District feels when they are being sent to a war to ‘help end it’?” Teon said, slowly leaning her head on his right arm. When she was finished, Fox smirked, almost from ear to ear.

  “Did Teon, the brat, learned to be considerate after being ‘spanked’ by her big Captain? Or is it just because she is growing? Sigh, I can’t tell. Well, at least you’re finally being invited to your own team’s parties. Hey, if you have any other question, I’ll have my WID with me. In Terka, I’ll protect you… and try to do it to everyone, okay?”

  “Mhm, although that wasn’t what I was- waaaaauauauaauauah!” Teon couldn’t finish her words after nodding, the back of her head still on his arm, when Fox evilly hooked his right arm around her neck. He tousled her hair, pinching and pulling her right cheek before shaking her a bit. The last thing Teon knew before fully recovering was that she was once again resting her head on his right arm.

  Her head was messy, with some flocks of hair floating upwards, rustling with electricity. Teon crossed her arms grumpily before watching some TV with him, pouting once more. Then, when it was 8 AM, she went to take a shower and prepare again for today’s celebrations.

  She didn’t mind his rough playfulness, as she had to change her clothes and her hair hasn’t yet been done to impress her Captain anyway.

  Fox spent more time relaxing without Nala, who had to go through what he, Raging Blood, had planned. It was a new procedure for the District, whereas it wasn’t existent even in the times the Piya Sanctum District was first created.

  After all, back then, all wars stopped, their conflicts and the deep longing for strife etched deeply into every human; erased. Now, though, as ugly and unbecoming as it was… wars returned. Fed by the same hand that pushed it away from the human heart and brought Humane to it.

  … Fox watched more TV with Teon for another couple of hours, once again spending time with him, threatening to fight him to half to death if he messed her beauty again. Then, he watched her leave, excited and focused on her ‘task’ at hand.

  Unfortunately, Fox still had a variety of hours before he had to go out. Using it to relax, Fox meditated with eyes closed while ‘watching’ TV. Merely hearing to know what has been happening the last 16 hours.

  For starters, 4-5 hours long marches in every state were transmitted in TV. The news anchors, the same as always, of course, covered them extensively. They gave interviews to, without exaggeration, more than 300 people in the course of just a few hours when Fox was listening to the news.

  When he opened his eyes to take a look before going to grab something to bite or drink, he saw the reporters standing with the camera angle at their chest or solar plexus level, aiming at them. Meanwhile, the reporters spoke of tens of thousands marching at first, with a few of at least 100,000 people marching against the unruly militarization of Lymoca.

  Without a doubt, while this happened, social media struggled to show images of the marches. Some were indeed large, because only up to 5 or 6 people were walking shoulder to shoulder. But even the largest, in Proteros, couldn’t even move around a block completely. Not even with the government providing them secure paths despite their sudden start.

  All in all, while this ruse occurred, Fox already knew only about 12,000 people showed up in those marches across Lymoca, with Proteros only having more than 25,000 people at its peak, with around 15,000 towards the last couple of hours. A bit too comical.

  Regardless, by the end of those marching hours, the news reporters were no longer with their convenient angle beside or in front of the crowd, but in a secluded area with strangely superficial crowd noise around them. A ruse, nothing less nor more.

  At last, 6 PM hit Fox’s mental clock. He opened his eyes and turned the TV off, dimming all the lights while walking to the shower. Fox tilted his head once again, seeing Teon’s panties hanging. She had really gotten used to being a woman again, one that doesn’t have to be too worried. But he didn’t worry, knowing Teon, and any other special agent, wouldn’t grow weak.

  Even Butler was an unknown adversary, should Fox 1v1 him. Someone like Teon was enjoying peacefulness; it could only be good.

  Fox stepped in without clothes, but just as he was about to start showering, he noticed panties that weren’t Teon’s. With Teon using his money before to buy all her ordinary clothes, and owning a boutique, Fox knew all about it. This brought only 1 answer to those panties, ‘Mena’s?’

  … After the shower, Fox dressed in a striking black formal suit, humble still, and headed to the location. It was a rather luxurious place, with people taking care of the vehicles coming here, and the names of everyone present. It didn’t look like a name check, but taking a note.

  Fox stepped out of the PVT, with the blabbermouth driver bidding him farewell. Fox didn’t mind, and he just waved off at the driver before turning around to walk to one of the attendants. However, before turning around, many widened their eyes with shaken hearts. Fox was here!

  He noticed it, but it was better to just walk forth. When he arrived before the stunned attendant, Fox waited in silence. Once saliva trailed down the attendant’s mouth’s corners, he sobered up and trembled as he asked. Although it couldn’t be known if it was out of fear or excitement.

  “Sir, may I take you- ah- eh, you’re the Chief Secretary of Security, what am I saying?” The attendant shook his head before realizing something. He pointed behind him, high, where some bushes hindered the view, and where a few helitaxis could be seen descending unto in the distance. Fox looked up, then down, his visage unchanging.

  “Nobody told you, sir? There is a helicopter helipad zone just behind us. Excuse us, sir. May I guide you inside? Please, follow me.” The attendant threw an apologetic expression and offered Fox before turning around once he saw Fox nod. Fox followed the attendant up several steps before walking to the lavish entrance of a shiny, yellow building.

  It was about 200 meters tall, with short, castle-like additional wings on 2 opposing sides. Fox gave it a look and thought of the entire layout in his mind, the only thing he could do to spend time. Then, he went into the building. According to what he imagined, he was at least 30% right for the first floor.

  Once Fox entered, his thoughts on the building’s full layout changed, keeping him distracted. The attendant religiously brought Fox to the elevator, large, tall, and super secure. Fox went up, with the attendant remaining in the elevator after its doors opened, revealing the enormous gala.

  Fox didn’t look back at the attendant, walking in with mild interest. This was the uppermost floor, with a ceiling about 30 meters high. It was shaped like a cone, with the highest spot in the middle, but the rest was still extremely high. The floor was brown, reflecting a darker shade of everything.

  Below was an area almost 80 meters long and 20 meters wide. It had tables everywhere, with a few open bars, and dozens of people walking around with luxurious clothes. Their fabrics, dresses, accessories, and smiles all shone. Fox felt more alienated to human beings than ever.

  Fox walked to the side, ignoring the glances of many people, and the approaches of a few. While it would be polite to not let Luis down, Fox wouldn’t come here without any homework being down. The best part was that he didn’t have to gather intel, but just task it to some people. Being the District’s Raging Blood had so many advantages, also alien but welcoming to Fox.

  While thinking of the great utility of having the power to boss people to gather information for him, Fox found a good place. There was a small bar beside this one-seater sofa-like chair, able to recline, but still a chair.

  It was all made of a dark material, with a ‘slender’ waist area, and a more substantial, regular structure from the sternum to the top of the backrest. Fox sat on it, ordering a little drink out of curiosity. It was a drink he has heard about but never tasted. Might as well.

  While waiting, a person walked to him. A man wearing a white tuxedo with black coal under his jacket and tie. He had curly black hair, white skin, and was short. His slender figure couldn’t hide the muscles subtly lying low under those clothes to Fox. The handsome man looked at Fox and smiled, not having somewhere to seat.

  Fox looked up at the man with thin facial features, lifting his right ankle over his left knee, silently staring at the smiling fella. The man breathed in and extended his right hand, holding his drink of a small, thin silver coup with an elongated handle with his left hand. “I am a fan of sorts, Joshua. It’s nice to meet Fox in person. Do you prefer I call you that?”

  “Is Joshua your name? Here I thought you didn’t have one. Sure, take a seat.” Fox didn’t blink, not even 3 seconds after nodding and offering the man a seat. Joshua blinked and opened and closed his lips before smiling bashfully, “I can’t call you serious after knowing your humor, Fox. I only came to present myself. There are so many people in this place, but so few to grow an interest for.”

  “Mhm,” Fox nodded, returning his gaze to his head level. The man continued standing there, neither leaving nor trying to speak with him. Fox then spoke, staring ahead, with his tone a bit… hostile. “I wouldn’t have thought there would be a face to my ‘admirer’, let alone a name.”

  “What a foul play. Not even letting one experiment,” Fox complained. The man chuckled a couple seconds after Fox’s words, articulating with a smile, “Nothing like giving a visit back to those of equal importance. I take it there are a few known people here? It’ll be interesting to watch.”

  “Don’t throw sand at my eyes,” Fox replied impassively, at a volume almost like a whisper. “I will throw myself at you, wherever you are, whatever you be.”

  Joshua chuckled before walking a little before Fox, turning around as a brown woman, beautiful as the word can be, walked towards them from the side. He said, “I had expected a clever follow-up. I guess no brains all brawl is real.”

  Fox looked at the man’s eyes, almost not bothering to speak again. “There was not a need for my words.”

  “…” Joshua’s smile was erased in an instant. A couple seconds later, the brown woman arrived beside him. She was a beautiful ebony lady with brown hair and eyes, tall, with a mole above her mouth’s right corner. Her round large breasts were breathtaking, especially in that starry, red peplum dress.

  “This is my lady, so I’m afraid I won’t continue our meeting,” Joshua said, thinly smiling as he placed his hand on the other side of her waist. He added, “She is a fiery one.”

  Then, they walked away. Fox tilted his head a little to the right, muttering in a voice ordinary people couldn’t hear, “Just another meeting. Not really meaningful, is it?”

  The other 2 continued walking away slowly, reintegrating themselves into the lovely evening.

  …