[22:55 – Unamed Headquarters]
"How's the progress?" A muscular man sat with his right leg in his lap. The shirt he was wearing couldn't even hide his muscles.
There was a scar on the right side of his face that was still there even after eleven years. Wan, held the highest position in Unamed and no one knew his real name.
His fierce face made anyone bow to him, just like the skinny man who knelt down without daring to lift his face.
"All teams are in their respective positions. When the raid is over, our targets will also be gone," he explained briefly.
"Good. Then, what about the other tasks I gave you?"
The man in the black robe who was kneeling down, replied. "We still need more time. It's not easy to find the Hunt members. Even after a month, they haven't been found."
Tsk!
A loud squeak of annoyance was heard, as the large man moved. Right behind his proud chair was a glass window with colorful mosaics forming a painting of a blue whale.
"I think they are around us, we just never know who among them all is. No problem, we just need to target the whereabouts of their leader, because that way all his subordinates will definitely be visible."
"Yes, sir."
"Anos doesn't look difficult, but that Hunt leader could be the most deadly threat to us. Be careful when scouting."
"Yes."
-***-
The academy went on as usual. At nine o'clock they went to class, then there was a one-hour break before continuing with the next lesson, and the bell rang at five in the afternoon.
It wasn't hard to get first place, next week's rank scan wasn't hard either. I just had to do it like usual.
Liam walked leisurely along the path that led to the library. There was no Devan who always followed behind him. It was a quiet day and perfect for finishing his reading in the library.
His steps were flanked by bushes and several trees on the right and left. There were no park benches around there, but the students preferred to sit under the trees to enjoy the cool air during the day.
Liam slowed his steps as soon as someone he knew sat behind the tree, facing the soccer field with a book in his hand. A thick book with a red cover with ancient ornaments wrapping it.
Chirp!
The chirping of birds could be heard melodiously, even their presence was seen surrounding the girl who was sitting quietly under the tree.
Several butterflies were seen flying low approaching, some also perched on the girl's shoulder.
Is she an animal tamer?
Liam paused, observing for a while longer. However, the person he was watching didn't look at him at all.
He was quite comfortable with that.
Then, Liam walked back to his destination. Students began to appear, holding books in their hands as they walked away. Some of them realized Liam's presence, but could only look at him from afar.
The librarian greeted Liam with a warm smile.
"Can I help you?"
A one and a half meter high table, with several seats for the librarian greeted right after the door opened. The book return box was on the left side, while the shoe rack was on the right.
Then the stairs across the officer's desk would lead the students into the library. Each officer had their own computer, which was used to search for book series numbers to make it easier for them to find the books they requested.
"I want to borrow the fifth Guide book about Rank," Liam replied.
"Wait a minute, okay. I'll find it for you."
The officer lowered his head and typed something on the blackboard in front of him.
Almost every officer had their own role, therefore they had to memorize the series numbers of each book that was their responsibility.
After staring at his monitor for a while, the officer looked up again at Liam.
"Excuse me, that book has been borrowed today."
Liam blinked a few times. He himself knew that very few people wanted to read that boring book. Up until the fourth series, it was recorded that he was the only one who borrowed it.
Then now the fifth series had been borrowed faster than him.
"If I may ask, who borrowed that book?" Liam asked.
The officer glanced at the monitor screen and answered.
"Ruby. She borrowed it at 11 this morning."
The sight he saw under the shady tree, the girl with the thick red-covered book full of ornaments, was none other than Ruby who was reading the book he was looking for right now.
"Thank you." Liam said goodbye and left.
"Please come again~"
Exiting the library and walking back along the same path as before. And, Ruby was still there. So calmly turning the pages of the worn book.
It never occurred to him that he would have to deal with Ruby, a student who was ostracized by the whole class. However, for the sake of the book he really wanted to finish, he had to lower his ego.
Liam walked closer to Ruby. His footsteps made the small birds around Ruby fly away, even the butterflies flew high.
Ruby turned her head, looking at a pair of black shoes not far from her. Then she looked up.
"What's wrong?"
"...When are you going to finish the book?"
Liam looked at the book in Ruby's hand, then looked at the owner of the white hand holding it.
Ruby deliberately let her bangs cover part of her eyes. In order not to attract too much attention and be ignored, she had to be someone else. Willing to be belittled, even isolated by most students.
"Do you want to borrow it now? I'm done."
Ruby stood up and then pushed the book in her hand to Liam.
"Didn't you just borrow it?" Liam argued.
It was only 45 minutes after Ruby borrowed it and it was impossible for her to finish it that quickly.
"I've found what I'm looking for. So, just take it if you want."
Ruby forced Liam a little to take the book.
Although still confused, Liam had no choice but to accept it.
"What are you looking for?"
A question that made Ruby smile.
"Sorry, we're not close enough to know each other, right? Excuse me." And she left.
Liam was frozen in place. Unable to refute or reply. Plus, he was quite surprised because for the first time he saw Ruby smile.
A smile that was familiar to him, but also could not be remembered.
.
Huh!
Ruby slowed her steps, occasionally shaking her head to the side. Her steps headed back to class for the next lesson.
It was quite surprising when Liam took the initiative to talk to her. When he stood behind her, Ruby realized it and chose to ignore him.
Be happy from now on and never remember me again.
-o0o-
[There is a rank that can be said to be very rare. Namely Bishop.]
Liam stopped on a page that didn't have many sentences written on it.
Discussion about Bishop. A rare rank that is above Specialist. Almost no one knows that Bishop really exists, because its existence is very rare.
"Is it possible that one of the Macletic members has reached the Bishop Rank? Maybe that Anos?"
Bishop appeared in an unexpected situation. One must approach the end of the world to get that rank. But most people don't manage to reach it.
Liam turned the next page and the discussion about Bishop ended on that page.
There wasn't even any other explanation.
He leaned his back on the chair while staring at the ceiling of his room. After coming home from school, he tried to finish reading it in 45 minutes, but failed.
He wondered how Ruby could finish it in that short time. Or maybe it was like she said that she was just looking for what she wanted to know.
The bright sky outside the room had changed to a dark sky studded with stars. It was almost midnight and only his room was still lit, when all the students were already asleep.
Gracia Academy, provides dormitories for all its students. The male dormitory is separated from the female dormitory. Usually one room is occupied by one student. Then, one class has its own dormitory building and will not be mixed with the class below or above it.
Liam left his chair and grabbed his thick jacket. His empty stomach forced him to go out to find food.
In the academy area, there are four mini markets in different places. The training hall, to the sports hall are also inside the gate.
This makes it easy for students if they want to go out to find food. The academy is likened to a small village with various facilities.
Walking in the dark night, Liam's steps lead to the mini market building which is brightly lit. Two glass doors automatically open as soon as Liam sets foot on the mini market mat.
"Good evening~"
Liam turned and nodded. He stepped closer to the shelf filled with various types of instant noodles.
He took one pack then moved to the refrigerator containing drinks. Taking a bottle of soda, then sliding the cooler glass to get a cup filled with ice cubes. Once everything he wanted was in his arms, Liam headed to the cashier.
After paying, Liam headed to the pantry to cook what he bought. Every mini market provides a pantry for students to cook. Even the seats have been provided.
A series of activities to serve instant noodles have been completed. Liam has even poured his drink into a cup. Then he brought the bowl of noodles and the cup of drink to the long table.
Thinking that he was the only one who came, in fact he wasn't. One table had already been occupied by Ruby who was busy with her cellphone and earphones in her ears.
In front of her, she was only accompanied by a glass of strawberry milk that was half empty.
Liam took a seat two chairs away from her. Since the incident this afternoon, curiosity began to arise in his chest. There were many things he wanted to know, especially about who Ruby was. However, attracting her attention was very difficult.
Ruby and her world were very difficult for others to enter. She really enjoyed being in her own world, without intending to bring others into it.
Sentence by sentence he read until finished. The report containing about Lamia that Hani had discussed. As well as the report from the surveillance team that he had just received this evening.
The Unnamed are moving around the capital. Their target is Anos and their revenge on the Hunt leader.
[Ruby, there's something strange near you.]