Bert hefted the flag onto his shoulder with satisfaction after reaching an agreement with Ye Muo. “Let’s go.”
He outright ignored Ressa and everyone else.
Ye Muo glanced at Ressa, and then at Bert, who was already leaving. He caught the hem of Bert’s cape. “I haven’t said goodbye to my friend yet.”
Bert inclined his head in Zenir’s direction.
Zenir’s breath caught inside the mech cockpit. He immediately blurted out, “I’m fine, sir. Please, pay me no mind. I’ve already mentally bid Ye Muo farewell.”
Bert turned back to Ye Muo. “Hear that, precious? He said he doesn’t mind.”
Ye Muo didn’t let go. “Sylvia said you have to be more polite when we’re outside, Bert. You shouldn’t be like this.”
Bert sighed helplessly and turned to Ressa. Xavier really liked to act spoiled, he thought.
Ressa was the first to recall his mech, followed by the rest of his team. Zenir stuck to his side like glue as soon as his feet hit the ground.
Ressa crossed one hand over his chest and solemnly greeted Bert. “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to both of you for your assistance on behalf of Kernan.”
Zenir and the others did the same.
The Grantz flag draped past Bert’s shoulder, still emblazoned with the insignia of intertwined fire and sword. It was in spotless condition. Ye Muo had protected it well.
Bert stretched lazily like a big cat, his previous intimidating presence gone without a trace. “Me? I’m just an old man who came to find my grandson.”
Ressa turned to Ye Muo and saluted him as well. “I can’t thank you enough for your assistance.”
Ye Muo returned the gesture with sincerity. “Anyone in my place would have done the same. This is a competition, not a slaughterhouse. Right, Bert?”
No, not everyone would have dared to go up against Xiboen alone. You’re probably the only one who would have done so.
For a moment, those at the scene and those watching the livestream were of one mind.
This degree of naivety left them almost speechless.
Yet Bert chimed in as if it was natural. “Of course, my dear Xavier.”
If Clinton Sr. was here, he would definitely tell Bert that he was being overly indulgent of Xavier. But why should he deny the little lion of Grantz anything?
Even if Xavier didn’t become a skilled hunter, Bert had plenty of sons and daughters who could more than provide for him.
Ressa remained silent. The strength Ye Muo possessed at his age and his powerful guardian meant he would definitely survive and be able to realize his full potential one day.
He continued, “Please accept our points as a meager form of compensation.”
“Not interested. I still have–” many capable children. This is their job.
Ye Muo interrupted Bert’s words by tugging on the back of his belt. Bert reluctantly straightened and waved his hand casually. “No need. We should be heading to the flag placement area now. Until next time.”
Ressa removed his mech button. “Please accept this if you don’t mind.”
He noticed Bert didn’t have one.
“Mecha can still serve as an adequate form of transportation.”
Bert finally deigned to look at him. “I’m not interested in things that are even more unwieldy than king insects.”
It’s not like he hasn’t tried mecha before. Sure, that model wasn’t as advanced, but these things were all about the same. They were awkward to wear and even hindered the speed at which he could draw his sword slightly.
“But now that you’ve brought it up, I have an idea.”
Sylvia rolled her eyes in the Grantz palace, far, far away. Hebert remained silent next to her.
[He’s taking this a bit more seriously, but not by much. Wake up, Bert! You were once the Emperor of Grantz!]
[Everyone knows the Grantz government officials had it the hardest when Bert was emperor. Apparently the Home Office’s workload doubled because of him. That’s why even Clinton Sr. didn’t try to persuade him when he chose to abdicate. Yes, THE Clinton Sr., the most loyal and dedicated follower of the Grantz.]
[Thank goodness His Little Highness is there to keep an eye on him (something doesn’t add up here)]
[Thank you for your hard work, Xavier. Thank goodness the only cub in the family turned out to be very reliable.]
[Bert just doesn’t want to delay the flag defense…ugh, I can’t keep making excuses for him. I’m pretty sure he just thinks this is too troublesome to deal with.]
……
Several mecha bearing the Kernan insignia transformed into vehicle mode. They raced down the road hovering slightly above the ground.
The occasional mecha that tried to intercept them were unceremoniously shot down by Bert, who was hitching a ride.
Mecha could travel at several times the speed of hovercars in vehicle mode. However, Ressa was the only one on Team Kernan who had enough technical skill and psychic power to pull it off.
Which was why Team Kernan tended to avoid summoning their mecha at all if possible. That would just put an obvious target on their backs.
However, things were different now that Ye Muo and Bert were here. Although vehicle mode was not suited for transporting individuals, the duo seemed used to riding vessels travelling at high speeds.
Ye Mo was half crouched on top of Zenir’s mech. The wind was a little strong, so he turned to face the rear. This caused the cloak Bert had given him before to turn inside out and flap wildly around his head.
Lakely had been following Ye Muo around for a while now. He was used to fretting over the child like a mother hen. It was only when his hand phased through the cloak that he caught himself.
[Hahaha! It’s not like Lakely to make such a mistake.]
[But this is dangerous, ah. Mecha aren’t meant to transport people. What if he falls off?]
Then they heard Bert openly snickering. He even took the time to snap a picture. “Ano’s going to love this. He’s finally been displaced from his spot as the dumbest child in our family.”
Ye Muo tried to remove the cloak from his face, only for the mech to turn and foil his efforts.
“Come on, my darling Xavier! I’m sure you can prevail over that cloak eventually.” Bert cheered.
Ye Muo quietly adjusted his cloak instead of getting mad.
Yet the billowing winds suddenly cut out. The cloak slowly fell back into place.
Ye Muo turned around.
It was Ressa. He adjusted the configuration of the mech’s weapon to shield Ye Muo from the wind.
Ye Muo waved to him and shouted, “Thank you!”
Ressa shifted the weapon on top of the mech vehicle in response.
Bode’s laughter cut out abruptly. He stroked his chin with a thoughtful expression.
Lakely’s viewers had grown more or less attached to Ye Muo after following his journey for so long.
[See that? That’s how you should take care of children. *Pointing emphatically*]
[But Grandpa is so strong, ah. I can forgive half of what he’s done just by thinking about his dramatic entrance.]
[Xavier sure is even-tempered. If I was in his place, I would have run away in the middle of the night already! Bert needs a serious dose of self-reflection!]
[Ressa’s renowned for being a good captain who knows how to take care of his team. If Bert doesn’t step up to the plate soon, Xavier might not stick around. Well-behaved kids like him don’t just grow on trees, you know.]
Bert proceeded to hop from his mech to the one Xavier was on.
Ye Muo didn’t mind scooting over to make space for him.
Bert crouched down by his side. “There really isn’t any wind here.”
Then he sat down like he owned the place.
“Keep an eye on our surroundings, Xavier. An old man like me doesn’t have as much energy as youngsters these days.”
“En. I’ll be careful.”
Ye Muo nodded solemnly before surveying all 360 degrees around him like a little owl.
[Don’t just go along with his bullshit, Xavier!]
Now there were two people atop Zenir’s mech, one of whom was Bert. Zenir’s anxiety immediately got the better of him. He reached out to Ressa over the team channel.
[I’m so nervous, Captain. Is my current speed okay? I’m not going too fast or slow, am I?]
[You’re fine. Just focus on following me. I’ll let you know if anything comes up.]
Zenir cautiously responded: [Got it, Captain. By the way, do you know why I suddenly got 0.9 points? Is it a system error?]
[No, the points are from the three mecha Xavier’s guardian took down earlier. We were cooperating with them so the system judged it to be an assist.]
Assists were another way of getting points.
As expected, several gasps of amazement and excited chatter broke out over the channel.
Ressa huffed in amusement. He had pondered over the outcome of this round of the resource tournament many times before coming here.
In the best case scenario, they would be eliminated a bit later on and receive enough attention to account for their expenditures. Everyone would get to go home in one piece.
That was the most he could hope for.
In truth, the rest of his team were too young, too green to be here. Ressa didn’t know how he could possibly face their parents should a repeat of that year’s tragedy take place.
Yet he never thought something like this would happen.
The current situation far exceeded his wildest imaginations.
Zenir gradually relaxed. “Hey, didn’t Ye Muo say I was his friend earlier?”
Ressa made a sound of agreement.
“I can’t believe I made such a powerful friend. Looks like those nutrient solutions of mine really paid off. Right, Captain?”
Zenir gradually puffed up a little. “In that case, you don’t need to say I’m too naive all the time, Captain.”
Ressa responded sensibly, “It’s still good to be cautious.”
The sheer variety of scams Zenir had fallen for spoke for itself.
……
Team Keller had also split into two groups, with the vice-captain leading one.
He glanced at one of the members of his team.
“Are they still fighting?”
He was referring to Helene and Dylan.
After receiving a solemn nod in response.
He took a deep breath before glancing at the points counter.
His frustration suddenly melted away.
The vice-captain reassured his team member, “It’s fine. Let them be.”
Even if they told him they wanted steaks right now, he was willing to build them a cattle farm on the spot and personally butcher, cook and serve them steaks.
The Keller vice-captain was in charge of following Helene and Dylan around. The Grantz were supposed to stay with the main group at first.
Initially, Team Keller was mostly welcoming to the duo and neutral towards them at worst. After all, the assistance quota was separate from the team quota, meaning they were getting got two helpers for free.
However, the duo started making demands as soon as they arrived. They were especially vocal about not wanting to be watched.
Helene said disdainfully, “Those gazes are so annoying, ah.”
Dylan nodded in agreement for once. “Only someone as disgusting as Bert would enjoy this.”
Discontent started brewing in Team Keller towards the arrogant duo who demanded they disrupt all their previous arrangements right after joining. However, Helene and Dylan were here at the request of Major General Gu Chuan. When they contacted the man, not only were they told to stand down, they were ordered to cooperate to the best of their ability.
That was how the vice-captain, who was not a superstar contestant, ended up saddled with being a handler of sorts for the two.
Despite the situation being resolved on the surface, the members of Team Keller felt great hostility towards the Grantz, including the vice-captain.
He could have never imagined what would happen next.
Had he known beforehand, he would have travelled back in time to give his past self two hard slaps across the face and then served the duo hand and foot, okay?
