Date- 31 Mar 2321
Time- 21:39
Location- Sky Blossom City, Old City
Anna slept peacefully with her head lying on my shoulder and hand wrapped around my neck while sitting on my lap. The wind ruffled her long beautiful hair as I drove the hoverbike towards the southern watch temporary base. I left the party early, ordering Nick to oversee if Susan reached home safely from the party. I would have personally seen to that, but for some reason, I did not want Susan to see me with drunk Anna.
The distance between the old city to Dungeon highway can be 3 minutes apart, that is, if your vehicle is up to the challenge. As a C-rank vehicle card, my Nanomorpher was more than up to the challenge. If I was willing to, it could reach there in a new record time. And I did. My emotions were chaotic. I had no reason for my actions.
On the one hand, I didn’t want Anna to be apart from me, but I did not want Susan to assume the obvious. It’s like my heart was juggling between two fires. Was I being fickle? No, I know what I want. I want to possess Anna but not lose Susan. But I could not bring myself to accept my dark thoughts as this would make the chill life I was longing for a bit complicated. One girl is enough to complicate your life, but I wanted two. This is going to be cumbersome. The heart wants what it wants.
Reaching the military base, I passed through the checkpoints without hindrance. I guess seeing their immediate superior in my embrace was proof enough that I had clearance to enter the military base. But considering the fact that they faced the demon cult’s attack in the afternoon, the security was too lax. It may be because the array formation covering the base has expanded by another kilometer. I guess Lorenzo is already aware of my arrival.
Soon old Lorenzo flew over to my location with a female soldier. I did not need instructions. With an understanding, I handed Anna to the female soldier, knowing that she was here to escort Anna to her barrack. After the female soldier carried Anna away, Lorezo gave me a deep look and was about to fly away. Seems that the old man is not interested in making small talk. Since I was the one who wanted to learn array formation from him, I had no choice but to initiate the conversation, “Old man, hold up.”
“…” Hearing my call, Lorenzo paused and turned to look at me. And said, “Boy, aren’t you getting too familiar. Even my kids don’t dare to call me Old man.”
This is not the first time I called Lorenzo Old man, but this was the first time I called him as such with Anna present to keep Lorenzo honest.
“Haha, Senior Lorn, who dares to call you old man. You are a dashing silver fox in your prime.” Drunk and passed out, Anna would not come to my rescue, so I had to control myself.
“Glib tongue, no wonder that girl is mesmerized by you. But that is not enough to spare you of your crimes.” Old Lorenzo spoke emotionlessly while I felt the temperature of the surroundings fall by a considerable margin.
“Old— I mean, Senior Lorn, what crimes? Please don’t scare this junior.” Old man is one of many names I used to call Lorenzo with. In Anna’s presence, he never showed any sign of displeasure. It seems he has been holding it in. Me and my big mouth, he would have continued to hold it in if I had watched my words while addressing him.
“What crimes? Disrespect to your superior is punishable by death.” Lorenzo asserted sternly. The wind blew his long silver hairs highlighting his grim look.
“Superior? Senior Lorenzo, I am not a soldier. That doesn’t apply to me. Senior, I just remembered I forgot to turn off the gas in my kitchen. I should hurry back.” I was a civilian, and there were no actual laws stating that I could not disrespect higher realm card apprentice because it was already the part of unspoken but widely followed jungle law.
“That’s it, endangering the lives of innocent citizens.” Lorenzo used my excuse against me, ” Boy, you need to pay for your crimes.”
“Grandpa! Stop scaring him. Otherwise, he will get the wrong impression of our family.” Anna’s voice sounded from above. My savior had arrived. But wasn’t she supposed to be drunk and passed out? Who cares as long as Lorenzo behaves.
“Anna…” I turned to look at her, but something was different about her? Was it her out-of-fashion ancient hairstyle or conservative dressing style? I couldn’t put my finger on it. Wait! Did she call old fart Lorenzo grandpa?
“You are not Anna.” Anna had never addressed old Lorenzo as grandpa, not even once. It was hard to miss the grudge between Lorenzo and Anna, as Anna made it apparent, ” Who are you?”
“…” Instead of answering me, the Anna impersonator looked at me with a broad smile and a longing look. I felt warmth from her staring, far from Anna’s predator gaze.
“Old m— Senior Lorn, quick, capture her. Someone is impersonating your princess. She must be a demon cult spy.” I yelled at old Lorenzo to take action and detain Anna’s impersonator.
“Grandpa, you head back. I will accompany him.” Anna’s impersonator advised old Lorenzo.
“~sigh, I don’t know what black magic this brat has done to bewitch you two. I envy his luck.” Old Lorenzo let out a sigh and prepared to leave, following Anna’s impersonator’s request.
“Old man! Have you finally gone senile… wait, two?” Halfway through cursing old Lorenzo, It hit me, “Don’t tell me you are Anna’s twin?”
“Something similar! And you should not call grandpa names.” Replied Anna’s twin.
“Okay… Old man, where are you headed? I need a favor.” I yelled, seeing Lorenzo head back.
…
