Chapter 14 - 13. Arrangement
Bassena narrowed his eyes in irritation. What, someone else knew 'his' guide? He shot a murderous look at the sharpshooter girl, but Han Shin slapped a palm to cover his eyes.
"I'm going to tell Radia if you act like this!" the healer whispered threateningly in Bassena's ear. It was one thing reprimanding Mortix's business representative. But antagonizing a guild member just because she knew Bassena's 'prey' would be crossing a line.
Bassena flicked Shin's hand from his face, and focused his gaze on Zein instead, who tilted his head with blank eyes. Realizing that Zein didn't seem to recognize the girl put Bassena in a better mood. Fine, so the man was indeed bad at remembering others' faces. His wounded pride about not being recognized earlier was recovering a little bit.
"You know me?" the soothing, low voice from the guide was so weird within the borderland's environment. It was enough to make the other espers raise their brow.
At that, Sierra smiled awkwardly. "O-oh, I guess you don't remember. Right, we only met briefly after all," she laughed, ears slightly reddened from embarrassment. "I still remember you though, it's hard forgetting about that event—you know, the red-zone outbreak in Area 14..." her voice trailed at the sudden change on the guide's face. A deep frown and loathful eyes, where the blue seemed to dim, darker.
She immediately remembered that Zein was a local of that area, and his family members had perished there. With a flustered gasp, she clasped her hands over her mouth and bowed her head to apologize profusely, eliciting questioning looks from the others.
"Oh, oh God, I'm sorry for—I'm sorry!" she scolded herself inwardly. She was so excited to see Zein unexpectedly, the guide whose guiding she could never forget. It wasn't just because of the quality of the guiding, but also because the timing was so crucial for her survival at that time. That excitement made her speak first without thinking, and now she regretted it greatly.
If she was to be hated by her savior, and the guide that would handle her for the next two weeks...
Within Sierra's heartbreak, however, were Bassena's curious gaze and Zein's indifference. The guide was immediately turning his head toward the Captain, ignoring the flustered sharpshooter.
"You call for me?" he asked curtly, like usual.
Agni was secretly disappointed that the drama was over, but he also understood that it seemed to be a sensitive topic for Zein. "A commission for you and Ron," the Captain waved his hand toward the espers gathered there. "A research expedition with a team from Mortix. I supposed you know where to."