ZZZ: Trailblazing in New Eridu

Later

"...you know, I expect you to try and get a job given how you seem to have had financial problems before, but I wasn't expecting you to test your luck with H.A.N.D. of all organizations," Wise admits as Caelus lets out a sigh.

"To be fair, they have their eyes on me since HIA shared my information with H.A.N.D.," Caelus explains as Wise blinks.

"Is that even legal?" Wise asks as Caelus throws his arms up.

"I don't know; that melon-obsessed fox ignored me when I tried to ask!" Caelus exclaims in exasperation.

"Only you have the gall to call a Void Hunter...that..." Phil sweatdrops.

"Let me rant," Caelus crosses his arms while pouting, earning chuckles from the boys while Anby gently pats his head.

"...not helping, Anby," Caelus says dryly.

"Sorry," Anby says blankly, causing Caelus' left eye to twitch before letting out a sigh.

"...oh, by the way, didn't Anby say Nekomiya was supposed to be with you for a commission? Why are you here?" Caelus asks in confusion.

"You forget that the title Phaethon is shared between me and Belle," Wise answers.

"Oh, right..." Caelus mutters. "But she doesn't look like she's doing the commission..."

"Because today was just a simple discussion between Belle, Nekomiya, and her commission partner, a Pubsec officer," Wise says as Caelus raises his eyebrow.

"Wouldn't that expose you guys as the infamous Phaethon?" Caelus asks in concern.

"From my sister's message, she manages to keep our identity secret. So, we're safe for now," Wise says, adding the last part in a joking manner.

"So, you guys use the alias Shepherd gave you before?" Caelus asks curiously, causing Wise to try his best not to grimace. "What was it again? Crimson Thunder?"

"...Crimson Twilight," Wise mutters before letting out a groan.

"...Crimson...Twilight?" Anby asks in confusion. "That sounds like something from a side character's group from Starlight Knight."

"Don't remind me. I wanted to change it, but it was too late thanks to Shepherd," Wise grumbles. "Now, I'm stuck with an alias everyone thinks a 5-year-old came up with."

"Well, it's not that bad..." Caelus tries to reassure his friend. "This way, people will never suspect you as Phaethon."

"...that's the only good thing," Wise deadpans, as Caelus merely shrugs helplessly.

"Hey, don't give me that look. I'm not the one responsible for that name," Caelus says as Wise sighs.

"Yeah, I know. Sorry about that..." Wise responds as they all walk in silence for a few moments. "...so, Caelus, is there a reason why you run into another incident with the Defense Force?"

"...honestly, I thought you were never gonna ask me about it," Caelus admits, blinking in surprise.

"Is that a sensitive topic, or classified? Sorry, forget I asked," Wise apologizes.

"I got kidnapped," Phil says bluntly, causing everyone to look startled.

"Phil-!" Caelus was about to say something, but Phil raised his hand.

"It's fine..." Phil said reassuringly, then looked at Wise. "I got kidnapped by my former family. At first, I didn't know why they wanted me back. Then, Caelus, the defense force, and my cousin suddenly showed up to rescue me before we found out my 'parents' have been part of a cult called the Exaltist and have been running experiments on my siblings by turning them into some Ethereals that could appear outside the Hollow."

As Phil said that, Wise and Anby stare at Phil in sheer horror, trying to process what they just heard. Unknown to Phil, Belle and Fairy had heard him. Belle covers her mouth, trying to hide her horrified expression.

"...S-sorry, but what?!" Wise asks in disbelief.

"You heard me right," Phil says nonchalantly.

"Phil, you don't have to tell them..." Caelus says with concern, earning a light scoff from Phil.

"You don't have to tell anyone about what happened to you in the Outer Ring, but you did..." Phil calls him out, earning a grimace from Caelus.

"Yeah, but some people grieve differently..." Caelus says.

"...what is there to grieve? I didn't get along with my siblings, and I hate my parents. The only family I cared about is still alive..." Phil mutters, causing everyone to look a bit uncomfortable.

"... Still, if it's uncomfortable, you don't need to talk about it," Caelus says as Phil merely nods.

"...but you seem fine talking about it," Anby says bluntly.

"...I did that mostly to remind myself," Caelus mutters, earning a grimace from Anby as she starts feeling guilty.

"Sorry..." Anby mutters, and Caelus merely nods.

"...a-anyways, let's talk about something else," Wise suggests awkwardly. "L-like about this cult...I feel like I've heard that name before."

"From what I've found, it's an old cult existed since the beginning of the Hollow disaster," Caelus says with a grimace. "They believe Ethereals are the next step of human evolution, and Hollows are the new... 'era' of humanity."

"New era of humanity!?" Wise asks in disbelief, his voice barely hiding his rage that startles everyone. "The Hollow has taken so many loved ones, and those idiots think it's a new age of humanity!!?!"

Everyone looks at Wise in shock, not expecting him to feel anger. Some of them knew Wise for only a short amount of time, but they could tell Wise doesn't seem like a guy who gets angry easily. However, Anby feels the most shock. For the whole time she knew Phaethon, Wise never got angry. Exasperated, sure, but never angry.

Wise notices the shock on everyone's faces and starts calming down.

"S-sorry about that," Wise says apologetically. "...Belle and I lost someone during a Hollow disaster, so hearing people treat the disaster like it was a gift from divine beings..."

"If even a divine being is involved, it'll be more of a curse," Caelus says as everyone nods in agreement.

"Do you know more about this cult?" Wise asks curiously.

"...not much, but during our rescue mission, we found a few things," Caelus says before he grabs his phone and presses something. Wise feels his phone vibrate and pulls it out of his pocket. Upon looking at the notification, he widens his eyes before looking at Caelus.

"Information regarding their old hideouts, their experimental data involving turning humans or Thirens into Ethereals called Sacrifice, and some spies in TOPS' large organisations," Caelus says. "Oh, they also seem to be responsible for several disasters or accidents in history, all for the sake of 'embracing' Hollow disaster as the future."

"...thanks for the information," Wise says gratefully.

"...you're not gonna do something reckless with it, do you?" Caelus asks in concern.

"How can I? You brought all the recklessness with you," Wise says jokingly, earning a light punch on the shoulder from Caelus.

"But seriously, don't try anything reckless against them," Caelus says seriously. "We had to deal with their artificial Ethereals back then. Sure, they may be failures based on their standards, but they're no joke."

From a distance, Trigger can be seen stalking them. If she still has a pair of working eyes, she would try her best to stare a hole at Caelus in sheer disbelief. She clearly remembers how Caelus easily clears a path for them before casually disintegrate the entire hoard of failed artificial Ethereals along with the enemies' 'base'.

Those Ethereals may not be a joke for her, Seed, and Alice, but they sure are to Caelus.

"I'll keep that in mind," Wise merely nods at Caelus' warning. Not long after, Wise and Eous split away from the group and went back to Sixth Street, leaving Caelus, Phil, Mem, and Anby.

"...do you think it's wise to share something huge with us?" Anby asks curiously.

"To be fair, you guys will find out sooner or later," Caelus says as he looks at Anby. "By the way, when is the trial for Perlman?"

"Next week. Why?" Anby asks curiously.

"You and the Cunning Hares should be careful," Caelus warns. "If this Exaltist is as crazy and crafty as they sound, then you guys should prepare for the possibility of them attacking Perlman."

"Why?" Anby asks in confusion. Why does a crazy cult worshipping Hollow want to kill a greedy pig?

"Remember the woman I said may be a part of the cult?" Caelus asks as Anby merely nods before she suddenly widens her eyes in realization.

"Oh..." Anby mutters as Caelus nods.

"Oh," Caelus says as they stay silent for a while.

"...I might need to wait for Nicole to come back," Anby mutters before looking at Caelus. "Also...why did you never mention this before?"

"With dealing with my friend getting kidnapped, being approached by Chief Miyabi, and getting chased by a crazy robot-loving woman, I forgot about it," Caelus says.

"And a date with Astra Yao," Anby adds.

"I-it's not a date!" Caelus stammers; his face turns slightly red as Anby simply smirks.

"Thanks for the information. I shall pass them to my teammates." Without another word, Anby left, leaving only the boys and the pink puppy, who's been sleeping the entire time.

"...I would be asking more about it, but I think I'll just stick with the fact that Tsukishiro Yanagi is coming to the apartment soon," Phil mutters tiredly.

"Fair enough," Caelus says as Phil looks at the older man before he hugs his legs, surprising him.

"Thanks..." Phil mutters, his face blushing in embarrassment before he lets go. Caelus looks at the little Thiren before smiling and ruffling the fur on his head. "H-hey!"

"No problem," Caelus says before they walk back to the apartment.

"Do you really have to do that?"

"I had to. Your fur is so soft, and it's satisfying to touch."

"Do I look like a dog to you?!"

"No, you look like a walking marketable plush,"

"That's even worse!!"

"Not to me,"

"To me, it is!"

Both boys continue to bicker while on their way to the apartment. Upon arriving at the apartment, Caelus didn't notice a certain rat Thiren walk past him, holding a familiar novel on her hands before he and Phil enters the apartment building.

When they enter the cafeteria, they were greeted by Nicole tossing Dennies like a madman while Anby, Billy, and Nekomiya try to gather them as many as they could. Caelus and Phil blink owlishly at such bizarre scene as Meilian and Slyboo approach them.

"Eh-nah! (Boss!)" Slyboo jumps towards Caelus, who manage to catches him as Meilian chuckle.

"Hello, Caelus, Phil," Meilian greets as she gently pats Phil's head, much to his dismay. "I hope you both have wonderful days."

"You could say that," Caelus says before he pulls out his opened envelope. Meilian looks a bit confused before she notices certain words on the opened letter and widen her eyes. Caelus silently nudges Phil, who looks confused before Caelus decides to pull out Phil's letter from his pocket, letting Meilian see.

"O-oh my! Congratulations for both of you!" Meilian exclaims happily as she pulls them into a hug. "This feels like something worth celebrating! Come on, let me make something special for today's occassion!"

"Y-you don't-!" Meilian silences the bunny Thiren with a single look before rushing to the kitchen.

"...one thing you need to know, Phil. You can't win against a granny in argument..." Caelus says wisely, earning a deadpan stare from Phil.

To be continued