Tomorrow's Ark

Chapter 13: Substitute

Hazel eyes opened in bleariness. The Sarkaz mercenary known as Meteorite awaken, the final memory of blazing fire and brimstone engraved deep within her mind

The first thing she noticed is her hand that is tied to a chair

She struggled to pry open the hold, feeling the rope's texture digging into her skin. But try as she might, it held steady against the Sarkaz's strength

"That kind of knot was designed to tighten the more you struggle. I won't think about forcing through it if I were you"

The amused voice drew her attention to the only light source in the room.

Only a lamp reflected off the darkness around them, revealing the pale figure of the Lupo she fought last night

Lappland flashed her a bright smile

"Heya, lady. We meet again"

"Oh, leave her alone, Lapp" Another voice sounded behind her. The boy walked out from the door

In the low light, she has a clear look at his face.

A face that is...not so handsome at close proximity, with a normal shape. Not too rounded or pointed, and downturned eyes that reveal an unfocused look

As if whoever made him had only accounted for the most generic looking golem to ever grace this surface of Terra, and shape the mud to it

"I felt offended by your gaze somehow"

Indeed, he is average-looking in all aspect. But for the life of her, she could not get her eyes away from the boy

For, regardless of his appearance, there can be no forgetting the figure that completely owned her in close combat last night.

He tricked her, used her weakness against her, and manipulate the battlefield to his favor. The face he carry might as well be as deceptive as the way in which he fight

She felt he wouldn't look out of place in the battlefield of Kazdel

A clenched fist smashed against her face, sending Meteorite into the ground

"Lappland!"

"What? The bitch is looking weird at you"

"You can't hit people just because they stare at someone funny" He point at the door "Please leave the room before you end up killing her"

"I'm not that bad...."

There was the sound of grumbling, accompanied by the creaking of the door closing behind them, before the room was submerged in silence

The next moment Meteorite felt herself being turned over by the boy's foot. From above, the frowning face is all she could see

"You're still conscious, that's a relief"

Sighing, he slumped down on the chair she has been knocked out from, looking at the captive Sarkaz under him as that unfocused gaze once again take hold

"Now, I'm going to this easy. No torture or anything like that, or at least it doesn't have to be if you cooperate"

"...What are you going to do to me?"

"Nothing much, I assure you" The boy turned around and rummage through his clothe

"For your information, we've already extracted the content of the package and roughly know what you're aiming for"

He pulled out a thick binder from his back pocket.

Opening one of them on his hand, the boy revealed the content, which is several files pierced together to form a compilation of reports