Chapter 22: Assembling

Zechariah, Linor, Rockwell, Riv, Giant Havreim, Varinka, Xiao Kirin, Gadgel.

Of the twelve Gid Chu sent, he made sure all those members of the chain Zax got along with, even a little bit, and had no misgivings toward him, were present.

Bonjier, Kloky, Soybam Peter and Lili were the remaining four, while Figed Esgad and Donkey – apparently a fixed nickname – were the members stationed in Selivereb and New Earth.

In terms of cultivation, Bonjier and Kloky were the strongest, third level Martial Mortals. Soybam Peter, Lili, Rockwell and Riv were next as second level Martial Mortals. Zechariah, Linor, Giant Havreim and Varinka were the only ones still in the second Core Master realm, but at its Peak. The rest were between the first to second Martial Mortal levels.

Communicating on the same frequency with the commanders of the operation, Bonjier and Kloky, allowed Zax to catch up with the group of twelve in no time and together head with them to the Western Continent, as usual, prudently and through the Earthly Crater.

...

“Mommy, mommy”, a young girl’s voice cracked in innocent wariness. “What’s wrong, mommy? Who is this man? Why are you packing?” Little Liz clung to her mother, Laylen, while sneakily peeking at the brawny man at the opened entrance of the home, who was even bigger than her father and big brother and had a grim face with probably scary eyes behind those black spectacles.

Half an hour earlier...

The former mentioned black suited, bald man appeared in her Pre Core school and picked her out in the middle of class against the objections of her confused teacher. Even her school principal, who everyone said to be at the incredible Core Breaker level, when he heard that some stranger showed up and, in a manner that more resembled a broad daylight “kidnapping”, took one of his school’s student, when trying to stop the black suited man, by a mere glance his expression turned pale and he passed out, which only added to the fear of little Liz, as to begin with she had no means to call for her super strong and mighty big sister and big brother, her pillars.

Telling, or more accurately “compelling” her to enter his black vehicle, little Liz’s mind was in a state of half panic, half muddleheaded, especially when her little lips muttered the names of her big sister and big brother, which only caused the black suited man to smirk.

It was only when the black vehicle parked at the sidewalk, in front of the apartment building she lived with her parents, that she calmed down by a bit.

The black suited man said nothing but indicate for her to come out of the vehicle as he intended to escort her up the stairs to the family’s apartment.

When her parents came to view inside the apartment, it was as if a curtain was lifted from her eyes and she became somber again. She cried, running to her parents, not noticing the two more black suited men who were already together with her parents in the apartment, nor when they left, leaving behind only her black suited man.

Back to the present...

In all honestly, neither Laylen nor her husband, Marco, knew what to say to their youngest daughter that would not be a lie.

And the black suited men came to their workplaces; they concisely informed them that someone they are related to has made terrible enemies who soon might come for them and that they are to follow them home to pack their stuff and leave New Earth. They also briefly said that their daughter, as well as members of their extended family are currently being round up and will also join them.

Meeting at home, the black suited men did not prohibit the pair from talking, so long as they are hurrying. Thus, with what little registered in their brain under the urgency of two expert they could not opposed, Marco and Laylen assumed that the person related to them was their son, while both mistook the incomprehensible notion of leaving New Earth with leaving Kingdom Earth to the beasts’ territory, where their eldest daughter was supposed to be.

“We are going on a trip, sweetie”, Laylen falsified.

“And I’m your travel guide, honey”. The black suited man who picked little Liz from school said in somewhat joking, somewhat cynical tone. “So hurry to get everything you would like to take with you”.

Hearing his tone, although Marco and Laylen did not like it, from what little they grasped, to their understanding even if that person was not genuinely amiable, he was still there to safeguard them, well ... if they were not being lied to.

“Go help her, Laylen”. Marco sent his wife and daughter together to Liz’s room, not wanting for either of them to be alone with these men.

The black suited man detected Marco’s apprehension, but did not seem to mind it. He closed the door behind him and turned to the kitchen. “I’m going to make myself a cup of coffee. When I’ll finish we are leaving regardless if there are things left. From what I was told about your situation, I’ll suggest you pack for the long term. Frankly, I can’t imagine you ever returning”. He was decent enough to let his voice reach only Marco’s and Laylen’s ears, sparing the little one.

Six minutes later the black suited man entered the living room, drinking from a small cup, apparently intending to finish its hot and bitter content in one gulp.

“That’s it”. He placed the cup on the cabinet where the Screen stood, since whether it was left there, in the sink or washed did not matter anymore. “We need to go”. His face returned to be stern. Keeping up with schedule was of utmost importance to the operation.

“We have another daughter. She isn’t here, she won’t know-”

“Someone was sent to retrieve her”. The black suited man interrupted before Marco could complete the sentence. “Well?” He turned his head as his back was to them. There was no going back after exiting the apartment and he saw Marco’s and Laylen’s internal struggle reflecting from their eyes. “Out, now!” Mist energy was embedded to his voice, with a hint of a threat, again, that only Marco and Laylen could perceive. He was there to deliver them and if, for the sake of punctuality, a show of force was required, then so be it.