MCLE | Chapter 20

“People are just curious about who took that thing down so fast. What do you think? Want to let them know just how strong you are?”

”…….”

Zero Nine made a troubled expression. His face clearly said he wasn’t interested.

Hexion, as if he had expected that answer, flipped his smartphone over and set it down on the table.

“It’ll die down soon enough. Don’t worry about it.”

But there was one thing Hexion overlooked—this wasn’t the only video circulating today.

The footage of Zero Nine using the Level 5 Training Room had been distributed among the espers within the Living Bureau. The reasons were plenty. Some saw it as a reference for what an esper capable of clearing Level 5 could do, while others took it as a warning to not overstep their limits.

But espers were, by nature, a volatile bunch. Not all of them, but most had trouble controlling their own power.

Rather than having their food delivered to their private dining area on the 62nd floor, Hexion and Zero Nine decided to go out instead.

Hexion had already arranged for several cars to be available at the Living Bureau, and as long as an esper was accompanied by their guide, they could move outside the bureau to some extent.

However, as the two descended to the first floor, they were immediately met with a group of restless espers.

“Ah, there he is!”

“Damn it, we can’t go higher than the 60th floor.”

The moment they spotted Zero Nine, the group strode toward him. But as soon as they noticed Hexion, they hesitated.

This was the newly arrived Colonel, the guide who had pushed an esper to the brink of rampage.

A few of them awkwardly raised their hands in salute—it was a pathetic sight.

Hexion decided to let it slide this time. After all, he was on his way out to eat with Zero Nine.

“Move.”

“Colonel.”

“What now?”

One of the espers stepped forward and asked,

“Is it true that Zero Nine destroyed a Level 5?”

“You wouldn’t be asking me unless you saw it for yourself.”

Hexion glanced at the esper like one might look at a ladybug—mildly interested, but not enough to care.

“So why bother confirming it with me?”

”…Yes, we saw the training footage of Zero Nine.”

“And?”

“We’d like to get a feel for how much stronger he is compared to us.”

Hexion’s opinion of them shifted. Paramecium.

Even after watching that video, they still wanted to challenge him?

“Why are you so eager to pick a fight you can’t win?”

Hexion genuinely didn’t understand.

But the esper remained firm, answering without hesitation.

“Because we want to know exactly how much of an asset he can be to us.”

”…….”

Hexion let out a sharp, predatory laugh.

So that’s what this was?

A bunch of overconfident idiots thinking they were entitled to gauge someone else’s strength?

“I’m not the type to give advice, but damn, I have a lot to say right now.”

His smirk was crooked, his words deliberately cruel.

“Don’t delude yourself into thinking you can ‘test’ someone who’s leagues beyond your level.”

People like this weren’t fun. They weren’t impressive. They weren’t anything.

Hexion didn’t waste time on nobodies.

He turned naturally to leave, but Zero Nine suddenly grabbed the hem of his jacket.

Hexion immediately noticed and stopped in his tracks.

Zero Nine was looking straight at the esper.

“It’s not like I’ll lose anything from humoring them.”

“You really want to do this?”

“If one of them steps up, the rest will follow.”

“Exactly.”

Hexion raised an eyebrow.

Zero Nine’s lips curled slightly.

“Then let them all come at once.”

Zero Nine flashed a slight smile, and the espers took it as a provocation. Hexion thought to himself, Ah, my esper is definitely smart.

Hexion once again looked over the group gathered there—twenty-one in total. Twenty-one, huh. It’s a lot, but not too many considering the total number of espers staying in the living bureau. Usually, seeing such a scene would make most want to avoid conflict rather than jump into it. And it seems all the less-than-average idiots have gathered here.

Hexion glanced at Zero Nine, who was quietly observing the group and then casually raised his hand. With just that gesture, the espers tensed up and heightened their abilities.

“Do not use your powers within the living bureau!”

A staff member shouted, but the espers’ skin was already flushed red, veins popping around their eyes as they glared murderously. They stomped on the floor in unison, but suddenly, thunk. Their bodies didn’t move forward. They realized, Ah, we’ve been caught in that brief moment. Zero Nine had lifted them into the air, contrary to what they had imagined.

“We shouldn’t hurt them, right?”

“A broken arm or leg would heal in a day.”

“Still. It would hurt.”

“How considerate.”

Zero Nine, in response to Hexion’s comment, slowly blinked and then slammed them into the ceiling. They stuck to the wall as if they were glow-in-the-dark stickers. Why glow-in-the-dark? Because they were glowing just like that. Zero Nine glanced at the ceiling once and then said to Hexion,

“Let’s go eat.”

Hmm, Hexion looked at the ceiling once more and nodded, then left the living bureau with Zero Nine. The regular staff could only stare blankly at the espers stuck to the ceiling, unable to move. The espers had their dignity completely shattered but literally couldn’t even twitch a finger, grinding their teeth as Hexion and Zero Nine got into the car and left the living bureau completely, sparkling like stars.

“Get in.”

Having reached the parking lot, Hexion manually opened the car door. Zero Nine thought the sleek black car, though he didn’t know its name, matched Hexion perfectly. Zero Nine climbed into the passenger seat. Then, Hexion, sitting in the driver’s seat, naturally leaned over to fasten Zero Nine’s seatbelt. Was this really necessary? Zero Nine thought but didn’t verbalize it.

The car drove through a long forest road onto the streets of the city center. Zero Nine didn’t know for sure, but judging by Hexion’s spending habits, the restaurant they were heading to was likely no simple place. If it was the type where he had to choose between forks and knives, that could be troublesome. Zero Nine had never learned such things even before being kidnapped.

“Why such a serious face?”

“I’m wondering how to properly use the cutlery.”

Hexion laughed. His driving was smooth, unexpectedly so. Normally, you’d think he’d drive as roughly as he does everything else. Observing him, Zero Nine soon realized that Hexion’s usual gestures weren’t rough at all. His slow walk, his back and shoulders perfectly straight, his fingers and their joints moving meticulously, as if he was something perfectly sculpted.

“Sometimes, looking at you, you seem like a human made to order.”

Hexion was driving. Naturally, he should have been looking forward. But Zero Nine felt that this time, Hexion was deliberately not looking at him. After a moment of silence, Hexion replied with a light smile as if it was nothing.

“There are such people in the world.”

It was a peculiar answer. Zero Nine decided not to delve further into this topic. There were lines that he had drawn between them, and lines that Hexion had drawn as well. Zero Nine thought he shouldn’t cross those. So, he chose to remain silent as well.

However, Hexion’s answer lingered in his mind until they reached the restaurant. What exactly does he mean by ‘such people’? I spent most of my time in an unknown laboratory, but what kind of life have you lived while I was there? The curiosity was burning. But Zero Nine immediately strangled that curiosity. It was crossing a line.

Screech. Thump.

The place Hexion and Zero Nine arrived at was C Hotel, located in the heart of the city. The first floor housed a luxury boutique and an art gallery, and beyond that was a lobby that seemed too large to just accommodate those. As a hotel employee opened the car door, they stepped out, handed over the keys, and entered. Hexion led the way, and Zero Nine followed him with long strides.

Everything sparkled. Whenever Zero Nine was momentarily distracted, Hexion naturally pulled him back by grabbing his hand. Zero Nine reflexively clenched that hand. It was a gesture of seeking something familiar in an unfamiliar place.

They could feel people around them stealing glances at Hexion and Zero Nine. Suddenly, Zero Nine realized what it meant for two grown men to be holding hands in America. Just as Zero Nine hastily tried to let go, Hexion tightened his grip.

“What’s there to be afraid of, Zero Nine. With me by your side.”