The crisp air brushed against Arthur’s face as he stepped out of the imposing estate, the grandeur of the mansion fading behind him.

The quiet rustle of leaves and the distant calls of birds were momentarily disrupted by the sudden vibration of the device on his wrist.

Pulling to a stop, Arthur tapped the sleek screen, his movements quick and practiced as he slid an earbud into place.

“Uncle Derek?” he queried, his voice tinged with both respect and urgency as he paused on the manicured pathway leading away from the estate.

The line crackled briefly before Derek’s voice came through, warm yet slightly distracted, “Sorry, Arthur. I was busy in a meeting and I saw your missed call. Is something wrong?”

Arthur’s eyes focused, “Yes. I uh…I wanted to ask something. Can I know if there is any reason why you can’t deploy Hunters to those countries that the Thundering Reaper might attack? I mean, sending them without any strings attached. No government would refuse such help, right?” His tone was hopeful, seeking clarity and perhaps reassurance.

A heavy sigh resonated from Derek, as if he was burdened by something, “Arthur, it isn’t that easy. Politics and its legalities are more complicated than you think. Even if we do what we said but things go south like collateral damage or casualties, we will be held responsible, and our Hunters might get crucified for no fault of theirs. Our agency will be expected to compensate for all that. So many countries are eagerly waiting for a chance to discredit our work and vision, and they will use any opportunity to do so. You wouldn’t want that, would you, Arthur?”

Arthur’s stride faltered slightly, his brow furrowing under the canopy of ancient trees that lined the estate’s driveway, “I…” he started, the simplicity of his initial query unraveling before the complex realities Derek outlined. Though Derek’s words made logical sense, a nagging feeling tugged at Arthur’s conscience, suggesting that even if his words sounded logical, it didn’t sound right.

“Looks like you understand. I have a guest coming in, so let’s talk later if you have more to discuss. Okay?” Derek’s voice, now edged with a hint of urgency, broke through Arthur’s contemplation.

“Sure, Uncle Derek,” Arthur responded, a note of resignation threading through his words. He removed the earbud, his gaze lingering on the stately mansion he had just left.

Why was it appearing as if people were hiding things from him or trying to make him believe something he found hard to believe? Even if they mean well and say it was for the better, was it really right?

He couldn’t help but remember what Advisor Ash told him, even if he said it in a rude way.

With a heavy heart, he turned away, the crunch of gravel underfoot punctuating his departure.

—-

Just a moment before, A desolate industrial building, a relic of times gone by, stood forlorn under the weight of its own decay. Rust adorned its steel skeleton like a disease, and the pungent smell of old metal and mildew permeated the air. Within this dark setting, Derek, clad in a suit that seemed out of place against the backdrop of neglect, raised his hand against his ear.

As the call ended, he tapped his earpiece and turned with deliberate slowness to address the figure standing ominously before him.

“Did you notice anything strange in his activities after observing him like always?” Derek’s voice echoed slightly in the cavernous space, his tone measured and commanding.

Before him, an unsettling figure stood—a fearsome sight in her black metal full-body suit adorned with small rotating discs at her hips, her eyes glowing an unnerving dark yellow. To any onlooker familiar with her infamous reputation, her presence would invoke a visceral fear upon recognizing that she was none other than the Thundering Reaper!.

“Nothing unusual. He mainly interacts with his advisor and his team, consisting of your daughter and the other three girls. Do you want me to keep an eye on them as well?” Her voice was cold but focused.

Derek shook his head, a slight frown creasing his brow as he considered her question, “No. No matter how fast you are, your focus will still get divided, and that’s not what I want. You are to only stay close to Arthur and observe him. Don’t forget that is the sole reason you continue to exist,” he stated bluntly, his gaze locking onto hers with an intensity that matched her eerie glow.

Thundering Reape slowly nodded and asked as she slowly clenched her fist behind her back, “If Arthur gets in your way, do you want me to kill him? Is that why you are telling me to stay close?” she asked, her voice betraying a hint of curiosity beneath its icy exterior.

Derek’s expression darkened, his brows furrowing deeper as he responded, “That isn’t something you need to know. And don’t ever think it’s easy to kill him. We might have purposefully kept his abilities and potential on a leash, but that doesn’t make him useless. He is at least an Evangelion, and even if you phase your hand through his heart, he can recover from it. So, never do anything without my orders. I have invested a lot in him and I need him as he is now. Consider his life more important than your own and the billions of lives in this planet.”

The Reaper slowly nodded as hand relaxed from its clenched position behind her back as she processed his directives, “Understood,” she replied, her voice returning to its usual detached tone. Then, with a slight tilt of her head, she added, “Regarding my other mission, is it over now that most of the countries are ready to support you?”

Derek paused, his eyes momentarily glinting with a calculation that seemed to run deeper than the visible layers of rust around them, “For now,” he answered and added, “You are to lay low until I need you again.”

“Understood.”

—

Couple hours later,

In a modest house, tucked away in a serene neighborhood in Berlin, radiated a warmth that seemed to defy the encroaching shadows of the evening.

As Arthur approached the door, his heart heavy with the day’s burdens, it swung open to reveal Anna, her presence like a beacon of comfort. Her smile, which shone with a dimple, was warm but playful as she maneuvered her electric wheelchair backward with the aid of a stick attached to it.

“Artie, you are back, but…” Her voice trailed into a pout, “You are a bit late. I had to keep your food in the fridge so that it wouldn’t go bad.”

Arthur’s smile was weary but genuine as he stepped inside, closing the door behind him, “Sorry, Annie. I had to go to some places,” he explained, his voice tinged with fatigue.

Anna’s smile faded into a look of concern as she observed him more closely, “What happened? You look a bit tired. Did something happen?” she inquired softly, her eyes searching his for signs of distress.

Arthur sighed, the weight of his frustrations and sorrow momentarily silencing him. Anna, sensing his hesitation, shook her head gently and grasped his hand, leading him towards the sofa with a comforting firmness, “Sit down, take a breath and tell me. If you want some coffee, we can talk over some.”

“No, it’s fine. First…” Arthur’s gaze softened, his eyes locking with hers as he extended a hand to help her, “…I want to hug you…” he murmured, assisting her to snuggle up against him on the sofa and helping her pull up her limp legs over the sofa.

Anna hummed contentedly, the warmth between them tangible as she hugged him and nestled her face against his chest, “I like how warm you make me feel whenever I am in your presence,” she whispered, her voice muffled against his shirt.

Arthur responded by kissing her head gently, his hand caressing her face, “And I feel lucky that I get to hold you like this. I can’t imagine living without you,” he confessed, his words laced with deep affection.

A blush tinted Anna’s cheeks as she looked up at him, her gaze filled with love, “So do I…” She interlocked her fingers with his, her voice steady yet filled with concern. “Now, are you going to tell me what’s troubling you?”

Arthur’s hazel eyes darkened with the weight of his troubles, “It’s more than just one thing. I feel so useless and angry at myself that I am unable to protect the people against the Thundering Reaper. I don’t know how to catch her and stop her before she keeps killing hundreds of innocent people. The other thing is, I visited my father to find out more about my mother, but he didn’t want to tell me and only said that it was for my own good. I don’t know what to…”

“Artie…I am sorry…” Anna’s voice was soft, her grip tightening on his hand in a gesture of shared sorrow.

“Why are you apologizing? This is all because of me…” Arthur murmured, shaking his head slightly.

“Because I want to help you with all this and make you feel better, but I can’t…” Anna replied, her smile wistful yet filled with a hint of pain as she added, “..and that makes me wonder if I complete you…if only fate didn’t cripple me, then I-“

“That’s enough,” Arthur softly but firmly said as he covered her lips with his palm and added as he looked into her dark gray eyes, “Fate didn’t cripple you but brought us together. You complete me in ways you don’t realize. So please don’t ever talk as if you aren’t enough for me. That hurts me more than I could say.”

Anna’s eyes flickered with guilt as she gently lowered his hand and kissed it before looking up at him with a soft smile, “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just want to see you happy always.”

“I want the same for you too. So promise you will always stay by my side. That is the only way we both can stay happy like this…” Arthur said as he pressed her hand against his chest.

Anna looked into his eyes deeply for a moment before her lips formed a warm smile, “I promise,” She said softly, making Arthur smile warmly as well.

Her eyes then focused as she asked, “But…this is the first time I heard you pondering so deeply about your mother. What made you think about it all of a sudden?”

Arthur shook his head slowly, and he said with a wry smile, “I always had that thought at the back of my mind and yet I never thought too deeply about it. But when my combat advisor mentioned my mother…it just stuck to my mind, and I felt this urge to know more.”

Anna slowly nodded, but then she gave a playful frown and asked, “Don’t tell me that guy is still being rude to you? Why would he talk about your mother?” Saʀᴄh the N0ᴠFre.nt website on Ggl to access chapters of nvels early and in the highest quality.

Arthur wryly chuckled and said, “He only mentioned my mother to prove some point regarding my mentality. You don’t have to worry. Even if he is rude…his words have some truth to it…” Arthur trailed off as he pondered on Ash’s words.

Anna sighed and said, “Maybe. But you should be careful. Guys like him always try to take advantage of kind men like you.”

Arthur lightly laughed, “Haha. I shall be on my guard. Don’t you worry.”

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