Hours had passed since Klint had come to wake Faust up and fill him in on the situation. By now, Faust didn't even have the excuse of needing sleep anymore, so Klint was back planted right in front of his door again.
Thinking he might still be out cold, Klint knocked.
Klint knocked hard on the wooden door three times.
Knock! Knock! Knock!…
Knowing the guy from way back, he figured Faust slept like a rock, deep and heavy, when nothing happened for a while, he called out loud from the hallway.
"Time's up, Fau—"
But it wasn't like he thought. Before he could even finish the sentence, Faust shot back.
"I know, I know. Get in here."
Klint was shocked to see that he was awake
He stepped inside, looking around. It was the same room he had entered yesterday, but the once neglected and ignored space had completely transformed overnight.
While slowly buttoning up his open white shirt starting from the bottom, he kicked the door shut behind him with his heel.
Faust was sitting on his bed, bare-chested, no blanket, no sheet, just a pair of jeans rolled up to his knees. One foot was crossed over the other thigh while he tied his boot laces.
He finished the last knot, dropped his foot back to the floor, leaned his head against the wall, and turned to look at Klint.
He responded angrily as he entered, but once he started speaking, he appeared calm and composed.
Raising his right eyebrow:
"So. How can I help you…"
Wait a second… That came out way too polite. Not happening.
He wasn't angry, but he wasn't the kind of man to respond politely like a girl either. When he realized his mistake, he immediately switched his expression to something more condescending, dropped his voice deeper and colder...like the nice words had slipped out by accident and he was fixing it right away.
"Can't you see I'm awake, dipshit!? What you want?"
He glanced over Klint's clothes for a moment.
"Also what with that fit of yours?"
Klint was dressed in stylish clothes again. Wearing a shirt over jeans wasn't anything extravagant, but he still looked quite well put-together. Since he usually preferred casual attire, Faust couldn't really make sense of it.
Also seeing Klint's outfit, he was fairly sure on his own that there wouldn't be much action during the mission.
"You wear a shirt when you've got jobs that need punching and heavy lifting, Faust?"
"Mm. I mean, no, I guess not."
"So that means I'm just wearing it casually, right?"
Faust really just looked...bored.
"Why did I even give you with the negotiation gigs? While we do the most fighting...you literally have one of the best Sovereignty, yet don't even fight. That pisses me off...and if you got nothing else to say, I'll be leaving soon—"
"Shshsh!"
Klint apologized as he was about to interrupt.
"Sorry for the interrupt but I have to say. I decided to tag along on your cute little mission."
Faust couldn't figure out what was Klint talking about.
"And why is that?"
"I figured you might cause some trouble."
Faust's face changed in a split second. You could read the anger all over it—veins bulging on his forehead, eyes gray but practically shooting flames. He pulled his head off the wall and straightened up.
Because, in short, what he was trying to say was that Faust might need help and it felt like an insult to him, because telling Faust he might need help was no different than cursing at him.
His voice sharpened
"You think I may need help I ?!!" You already force me to go on this meaningless mission, that I obviously DON'T!! Want to go. What problem could there be Klint? Huh!"
Klint made a slow down motion with his right hand, like he was telling him to take it easy.
He walked across the room under Faust's aggressive, exhausted glare until he was right by the bed.
"Mind scooting over a bit? As you can see, there's nowhere else to sit. You know that."
Faust rolled his eyes.
"Tch. Fine."
Then he slid over just enough to make room for him.
Klint nodded in thanks, sat down beside him, and slung an arm over his shoulder.
"Here's the deal, brother. Looks like Winter City's got more waiting for us than just debt."
Klint's attempt to speak in a mysterious tone only made Faust even angrier.
Faust shouted at a volume loud enough to echo through the room.
"Cut to the damn chase, Klint!!"
As Klint was about to speak, he cleared his throat and made eye contact.
Ahem. Ahem.
"10th Heir of The Victory is apparently somewhere nearby too."