Chapter 130
"For the ti being, I'll treat you as a guest researcher, equivalent to an associate officer at Fort. Due to the rules of this city, we can't suddenly induct you into the organization, and we also need to process your return to citizenship, so you'll have to put up with that for a while....... Fufufu......"
Penrose's voices rang up amusedly next to .
"Claudia."
Her expression tensed as she was called. Her eyes narrowed for a mont, and a faint stiffness flashed across her neck. It was a strange reaction, Abigail thought.
".......Yes."
Please select a suitable person to be her bodyguard.
"Yes, sir. ......"
Abigail heard the slightest whisper of a voice.
Penrose whispered into Yasmin's ear and stood up.
"I'll leave the rest to Yasmin. Abigail, don't do anything that might attract attention. If you are going to be interviewed in the future, please go through the local governnt official channels. It may affect your personal security."
Abigail was secretly interviewed by a newspaper reporter the other day. Out of all the reporters who asked her for an interview, she chose one who seed to be particularly open-minded.
The reporter's na was Eugene. He had a strange air about him, as if he was an observer of both the sour and sweet sides of the world. Abigail had given him an exclusive interview on the condition that he write the most flashy article possible.
She was afraid that her actions would attract the attention of the local governnt, but more than that, she was afraid that she would be buried in the dark without being able to do anything about it. AASPINT and the local governnt were both threats to her in equal asure.
But at least, once her na was widely known, she would be able to avoid a sudden disappearance while she was under the protection of Fort 88. If that happened, it would an the downfall of Penrose who was protecting her. Penrose had no choice but to protect Abigail.
Eugene, the reporter, wrote a story that exceeded Abigail's expectations.
The headline on the piece, "War Maiden Abigail's Great Escape from Horrible Alien City Returns Alive," was so full of speculation and exaggeration that it gave her a slight headache. It made break out in a flush of cold sweat just thinking about it.
When I asked for no pictures of her face, an illustration was drawn instead. It was a picture of Abigail, deford with a gorilla face, firing a heavy machine gun around her waist and killing the alien. It was too funny. The whole thing was a funny piece of work.
However, the fact that Penrose was able to co out because of such a poorly written article today probably ans that even such a ridiculous article had so effect.
"I'll grant you freedom of action, but there's no guarantee that you'll be protected if you go outside of Beehive, and even inside, if you go in and out of dangerous places, you never know what you'll find there."
After saying that, Penrose put his hand on the door of the room.
"And don't go off on your own, either."
Penrose left the room with one last reminder.
I could feel the tension drain out from my body.
Yasmin also stood up after him.
"Well, Abigail. I'll take my leave now. I'm going to give you a brief interview, but I'm sure there are so things that are difficult to say when you're surrounded by so many people. I'll leave Claudia with you, so you can talk to her alone. She will also explain to you what will happen next. So I'll see you soon....... Have a nice day."
With an unreadable smile, Yasmin also left the room with her high heels clacking.
Imdiately afterwards, Claudia let out a small exhale and deflated. Her eyes seed to be moistening.
"A, Abigail ...... my na is Claudia. Now again, If you don't want to answer what I'm about to ask you, you don't have to answer" she prefaced and then proceeded to listen to Abigail's story.
Abigail gave a fragnted description of the alien city and so of the aspects of her captivity that were relevant.
The interview did not take long.
"Finally, do you have any wishes regarding the selection of your bodyguards? Since they will be following you everywhere you go from now on, it is better to specify the age, gender, or personality. I will try to find as many won as possible, though."
"Then--"
Abigail looked out the window. The sky, which had been clear until a few minutes ago, had turned cloudy and white.
"I want my guards to be from a Fox team"
"Fox, you an ......."
Claudia looked puzzled for a mont and then asked, "Why?"
"I've heard that the Foxes have the most experience with aliens here at Fort 88. I've also heard that all of them are very skilled. I would like to continue to study alien technology, so in that sense, I believe that talking to them is the best way to quickly catch up on the latest information about the enemy, establish connections with them for intelligence gathering, and to ensure my safety. I think it's the best way to keep myself safe."
Claudia nodded her head a few tis as if to say, "I understand." and then imdiately raised an eyebrow.
I understand. However......there is no doubt that the mbers over there are skilled, but they are a little, how should I say...... they're quite......troubleso. Are you okay with that? ...... No, it's not that they are rouge or dangerous. They do their job well and rarely violate orders. They have no problems with civilians. Their mission accomplishnt rate is excellent. But they're also a bit of an oddball.......
"I'm used to eccentrics. I'm quite the oddball myself, you know?"
Abigail shrugged her shoulders in a joking manner, and Claudia looked at her for a mont, but then her expression relaxed.
"Hmmm....... I see. The best people are often the odd ones out."
"There is another request."
"What is it?"
"Would you be willing to let select my bodyguard?"
"...... You an?"
"I'd like to go to Fox, interview them, and choose them myself. It would be a lot less work for both of us."
Claudia looked down at her desk for a mont, pondering, and then looked up.
"Permission granted. Then I'll speak to Fox's captain, Captain Wisley tomorrow and we'll get back to you with a schedule."
"Thank you."
Abigail bowed, stood up and left the room.
Just before she closed the door, she saw Claudia sitting in her chair, biting her lip and putting her hand on her lower abdon, seemingly distressed.
(The senior secretary was Penrose's little toy.)
I added that to my ntal note and walked down the hall.
As Abigail waited in the hall for the elevator, she suddenly heard a voice behind her.
"Abby!"
She turned around in surprise and saw a man standing there.
He had short, stylish hair and rimless glasses. He was a man with a clean shaven beard and an impressive, dashing face.
The man rushed to Abigail's side and walked up to her with his arms open.
"...... Logan."
"Yeah, oh my...... no way, It's really you."
I slled a distinctive perfu based on the scent of tanned leather as he hugged to his chest in an exaggerated manner.
He was tall and has a dium build, but there was a hardness to his arms and chest that hinted at the presence of packed muscles. Of course, she knew this. He was lean and macho.
The man called Logan kissed her on the cheek then moved his mouth to her ear and whispered, "You're being targeted."
".................. Why are you here?"
"I fell out of my chair when I heard the news that you were alive."
Logan continued as he let go of Abigail.
"I couldn't stand it any longer. I just arrived this morning on the mission to inspecting the front line"
Logan was a man that Abigail had previously been in a relationship with.
He was a senior officer in the Force Developnt Division of the The unified international forces of , a.k.a. FORCOM, and he had known Abigail for several years when she was an alien technology researcher before she joined AASPINT.
"I don't know what to say,......, but it's like I'm dreaming."
"Logan gave a small shake of his head and a smile, as if he couldn't believe it. Abigail's cheeks relaxed a little when she saw this.
"You haven't changed at all, have you?"
"You may have changed a little, but ...... you're much nicer than you used to be."
"They stared at each other in silence for a while."
The elevator ding.......
"Would you like to have dinner with again?"
"Yes. It's been a long ti since we've had a quiet place to talk."
With that, Abigail got into the elevator.
Logan saw her off behind the doors.
"The nights are already cold. You're not recovered yet, so try not to go out alone. Give a call okay?"
With a thump, Logan poked his clenched fist in front of her.
"Yeah. Thanks."
Slowly, the elevator doors closed.
In Abigail's hand was a small piece of paper.
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