“Heh.”
Surprised by the firm rejection, a wry laugh escaped Livio’s lips. He didn’t expect a warm welcome when coming to the N-0 unit, but being coldly treated by someone other than Iberis filled him with great displeasure.
Although he was no longer part of the Defense Force, he had once been a Major General. It wasn’t a rank to be disrespected by a mere Captain, even if he was an S-class guide.
Insolent bastard.
Livio cursed Lucas internally while forcing a smile. Perhaps Lucas had heard unfavorable things about him from Winfried. No, that must certainly be the case.
Just recalling Winfried’s reaction when they encountered each other at Central Headquarters recently was enough to guess. Add to that becoming the guide of Iberis, with whom he had a bad history, and those prejudices would have intensified.
Having roughly figured out why Lucas was taking a hostile attitude towards him, Livio barely managed to keep his expression from crumpling. He had tried his luck meeting a guide he was interested in, but it only soured his mood.
“You never know what might happen. It might be useful later, so why don’t you take it?”
Livio put on a forced smile and offered his business card again. As much as he wanted to personally teach a lesson to this arrogant guide who dared to disrespect him, he had to hold back.
Although he was the head of a cooperating guild, contractually, Mars Guild was in the subordinate position to the Defense Force. There was nothing to gain by causing friction with Lucas here. However, the other party didn’t cooperate with his attempt to smooth over the situation.
“I don’t think I’ll have any use for your card. I have no intention of joining a guild.”
When Lucas rejected his card again, the people around them stirred greatly. It was considered polite to accept someone’s business card whether you liked them or not. The Mars Guild members frowned at their leader being disrespected, while the N-0 unit members were shocked at Lucas’s attitude.
Iberis too widened his eyes in surprise. He knew from the past few months of experience that Lucas had quite a personality, but he didn’t expect him to go this far. Of course, there were also those like Brenda who found it refreshing, or Caleb who remained indifferent.
“Such a rude…”
“Hey now.”
As one angered guild member stepped forward, Livio extended his arm to stop them. Then he looked at Lucas with all traces of a smile gone from his face.
“You’re being extremely rude for a first meeting, Captain Illum. I had great regard for you… This is truly regrettable.”
“I apologize if I’ve offended you. I’ve become a bit sensitive due to many people bothering me with recruitment offers. Please be understanding.”
Lucas apologized in a voice that conveyed no sense of remorse. His expression as he looked straight back at Livio without avoiding his gaze was equally dry.
“That just means Captain Illum is a coveted talent, doesn’t it? And our guild is different from those riffraff.”
Livio retorted, showing his displeasure. Being rejected twice by Lucas now made him stubborn. His gaze turned to Iberis.
“Ah, perhaps you’re being cautious because of your superior?”
“…Why are you suddenly bringing the Major into this? I just told you the reason.”
Lucas’s eyes hardened as Livio unexpectedly brought up Iberis.
“It’s well known that Major Hyun harbors ill feelings towards me. So I thought perhaps the Captain was being mindful of that.”
“That’s not the case. Don’t make assumptions.”
“I just can’t understand. Surely you could at least accept a business card? Is there any need for us to be at odds like this?”
“Let me ask you instead. Why do you keep insisting when someone has clearly refused?”
Lucas tilted his head askew and sharply countered. He admitted that he had been prickly towards Livio from the start, but it couldn’t be helped. Not only was this man suspected to be his parents’ killer, but he was also the one who had made life difficult for the person Lucas was increasingly drawn to. There was no way he could view him favorably.
Moreover, knowing that he was Iberis’s guide, Livio still made recruitment-like remarks and offered his card in front of him. It was impossible to be polite to such a person.
“Since this conversation seems to be going nowhere, let me put it in easier terms. Even if I were to join a guild in the future, I have no intention of entering one run by someone who was dishonorably discharged from the military.”
“…What did you say?”
At Lucas’s added words, Livio’s face contorted hideously. He could no longer control his expression.
“Well, well… Is this how Lieutenant General Bismarck taught you?”
Enraged, Livio approached Lucas as if about to pounce on him at any moment. The mana flowing from his body disturbed the air.
“First you needlessly brought up the Major, and now you’re dragging Lieutenant General Bismarck into this. I wasn’t taught this by him; I’m simply stating my own beliefs. It’s a fact that you were expelled for committing a crime, isn’t it?”
Lucas showed no fear despite Livio’s menacing aura. Instead, he provoked him further. If Livio lost control and attacked him, it would actually be advantageous. They could arrest him or strip him of his position as head of the cooperating guild.
“This is really…”
Livio, his patience reaching its limit, gritted his teeth. Fierce flames flared in his red eyes, and hot energy burst from his body. As the atmosphere turned hostile and people didn’t know what to do, Iberis stepped in.
“Enough.”
Iberis intervened between Livio and Lucas, drawing up his mana. As the cold energy like a winter wind clashed with the hot energy like a scorching desert wind, the air vibrated violently.
“If you threaten my guide any further, I won’t stand idly by, Guild Master Logan.”
“…To take the side of the Captain who criticized me, truly like superior, like subordinate.”
Livio hesitated when Iberis blocked him. But he soon raised one corner of his mouth and sneered.
“Criticism? Which part exactly? From what I saw, the Captain only spoke the truth.”
“What?”
“And the one who should be upset right now is me, not you. To attempt recruitment by handing your card to my guide in front of me… You’re the rude one here. If that’s not disrespecting me, what is? No matter how much you want the Captain, you should know the time and place.”
Iberis sharply pointed out Livio’s behavior. Even if he didn’t know about their temporary pair formation, he should have known that Lucas was Iberis’s dedicated guide. Proposing recruitment in front of an esper was a prime example of bad manners.
“Ha! So that’s how you want to play it?”
Momentarily at a loss for words, Livio let out an exasperated sigh. Then he growled with a fierce expression.
“I can’t let this go. I’ll formally complain to the Defense Force about Captain Illum’s behavior when I return.”
“If that’s how you want to proceed, I’ll also file a complaint with the cooperative company management department.”
“What…”
“I’ll raise issues with both your unannounced visit to the front lines where a rift could appear at any time, and your flirting with my guide. Shall we see whose side the Defense Force takes?”
“…”
“Or we can settle this here and now.”
Iberis glared at Livio and released his mana. A cutting wind inappropriate for the weather whirled around him.
“…I made a mistake in my excitement. I’ll retract my statement about complaining. I’ve greeted you sufficiently, so I’ll take my leave now.”
Livio clenched his teeth at the intense cold that stung his skin. Using mana to push back the wind Iberis had created, he took a step back. This was Iberis’s home ground. Even though he had brought guild members with him, they were outnumbered.
Moreover, whether he won or lost against Iberis, a Defense Force Major, it would cause problems. It wasn’t yet time to fight Iberis. So Livio desperately suppressed the anger boiling inside him.
“You’ve thought well.”
As Livio took a submissive stance, Iberis reined in his mana. Confronting Livio now was burdensome for him too.
“I look forward to the upcoming joint operation. I hope you’ll be in good health until then, Major Hyun.”
Livio deliberately mentioned health, watching for Iberis’s reaction. But the other party didn’t waver at all. Having gained nothing, he then turned his gaze to Lucas.
“Captain Illum… you should be careful with your words. It’s good to be spirited, but you might make unnecessary enemies.”
“Thank you for the advice. I act according to the person I’m dealing with, so there’s no need to worry.”
Lucas, who had irritated Livio to the very end, politely bowed his head as if he had never been insolent. Sighs and gasps of admiration simultaneously erupted from among the unit members who witnessed this.
“Then, until next time.”
Livio turned around with a forced smile that anyone could see through. The Mars Guild members hurriedly followed behind him.
“…”
Iberis swallowed dryly as he watched Livio’s retreating figure. He didn’t relax his guard until Livio had driven away.
A few minutes that felt like hours passed, and finally, the cars carrying Livio and the guild members completely disappeared from view. Only then did Iberis turn to Lucas and shout fiercely.
“Are you crazy?”
