Chapter 288: Do I know you?
Kazi decided to stay outdoors and patrol the area rather than go inside. This time, there wasn’t a single monster lingering in the area. Everybody could rest as they pleased. He wasn’t alone though. Pauline tagged along, quiet and anxious. She was trying to make up for running away before. The hours passed and the sky began to lighten with the first hues of dawn.
"The sun is up," Kazi noted. "Let’s take a break."
Pauline nodded, her relief evident. Beside one of the long tables, Kazi set-up a picnic, flattening a blanket down. Without trees and fresh green grass, it was rough. As for food, he muttered, "Open inventory," and brought out a basket full of bread and almond croissants. "A friend of mine works at a bakery and any leftover baskets she gives to me in case of an emergency," he explained. "Good, isn’t it?"
Pauline ate the croissant with a nod and thank you. She stole glances at Kazi.
"Heh, let me guess. You want to ask why an awesome, good-looking charismatic brother like me doesn’t want to become the leader?"
Pauline snickered. "You read my mind."
"I like making friends," he replied, ripping apart a piece of the croissant and chewing. "Mm, and I prefer to play support. Leadership tends to create unwanted hierarchies."
Indeed, up until this point, Kazi had been suggesting and acting as an advisor. Never overstepping the line into being a leader; he was a teacher, a wiseman with a smiling attitude. To be something more, to be pointing and directing and doing everything as he saw fit was an act he refused to do. He tried to have everything course through naturally. If a gate was a river and the players were on a boat, then Kazi was at the helm pointing where they should go but never undermining its democracy.
"Did you do business in your own life?" Pauline asked.
"As a matter of fact, I did. I ran a textile company. Well, technically, it wasn’t mine, it was my..."
My what?