"I’ll see you all there later... after I drop by Gigante."
The mont those words registered, the lines already etched on everyone’s faces deepened. Izu, in particular, was surprised.
But before he could say anything, Ransom spoke.
"Madam, Gigante is dangerous right now," he warned. "There was a group there, and quite a lot of people. It’ll be too dangerous for you to head there."
Florida nodded. "Ransom’s right. I can go back in if you need sothing—"
"No." Lola stopped them. "Do what I told you to do."
Then her focus shifted to Izu and Pika. "Pika, don’t let Izu out of your sight. I need you more in the main city. If you truly want to help the calm frog, then go there. She’ll be there."
Silence fell over the line as they tried to make sense of her words. How would she know the granny would be there?
Confusion filled their minds until Pika caught onto one crucial detail.
That granny was Haji’s grandmother, and Lola would undoubtedly know the old woman. Considering that Lola and Haji had lived in Ravah for months in the past, Lola possessed deeper knowledge of the territory—details that might’ve seed irrelevant during the planning stage.
In other words, Lola could know that Haji’s grandmother would be taken to the main city to draw people out.
The realization struck Pika like a truck. His breath hitched, and his complexion paled.
"That is all," she added.
With that, Lola put them on hold, sothing everyone heard clearly. For a mont, utter silence reigned until Ransom’s voice cut through it.
"Excuse , there’s a slight change of plans," he addressed the group with him, snapping everyone out of their thoughts. Turning to the n with him, he relayed Lola’s orders.
While Ransom and Florida carried out the new arrangent, Izu turned to Pika.
"Pika, try to connect the others along the way," he said. "Let’s go."
He paused, eyes glinting. "We need to be in the main city as soon as possible."
Pika nodded, tightening the strap of his bag while keeping the compact device ready in his hand. Then the two of them moved on, now with a clear destination in mind.
The Main City of New Gehran.
The very place they had tried to avoid at the start of the mission—and the sa place they were warned against during planning. After all, it was the governor’s hive, where the majority of those in power were nestled.
*****
[Florida and Ransom]
The n with them knitted their brows as they listened to Florida and Ransom explain the plan.
"Who are you working for?" the young man—the sa one who had stopped them from rushing back into danger earlier—asked curiously. "How did she know about the drunkard Long?"
Florida and Ransom exchanged glances before shrugging. As much as possible, they didn’t want to disclose too much, even though they felt these n were likely trustworthy.
"I’m asking because the drunkard Long is a notorious bully—and a lunatic," the young man continued, unfazed by their silence. "Even the governor’s dogs wouldn’t touch him. He’s a lost cause."
Hearing this, along with the others’ agreent, made Florida and Ransom question who this drunkard really was. More importantly, could they entrust the patients to soone like him?
Hesitation flickered in their eyes, but in the end, they reminded themselves that this was Lola’s order. So far, her instructions had helped them more than once. Giving her the benefit of the doubt was the least they could do.
"That’s what our boss said," Florida replied, turning back to the n of Gigante. "We don’t know this Long, but those were her orders."
"Alright." The group nodded, not arguing further. Their priority was getting the injured n to safety. Everything else could be dealt with later.
"Also," Ransom suddenly cleared his throat to get their attention. "Our boss said you have to stay in this bar."
This ti, deep frowns appeared on their faces.
"We can’t do that," the young man said firmly. "We have to go back to Gigante and help the others."
"Don’t worry," Ransom blurted out, biting his tongue to stop himself from hesitating. Technically, what he was about to say wasn’t a lie, but he knew he couldn’t fully rely on it either.
Before he could continue, Florida spoke.
"Our boss will be dropping by Gigante," he said. "She has many of our people there. Knowing her, she’ll do everything she can to help the townsfolk."
Ransom turned to Florida, surprised by how convincingly he said it.
Truthfully, they barely knew Lola. Before this mission, they hadn’t spoken to her at all. Even during planning, their interactions were limited to questions about routes—both underground and aboveground.
They trusted Lola and Haji when it ca to navigation. As for combat? They didn’t know the full extent of her abilities. Not that they doubted her, but because they simply hadn’t seen it.
Still, if keeping these n on First Street turned out to be a lie, Florida could always apologize later.
"That’s why she insists you stay with Long," Florida added. "You helped us, and we can’t just walk away without making things right. Not when we’re partly responsible for what’s happening in Gigante."
His words visibly shook the n’s resolve. They exchanged looks before turning back to the duo.
"How sure are you?" the young man asked, eyes burning. "Can we really trust what you’re saying?"
Florida swallowed.
"You can’t," Ransom admitted, shaking his head. "But you can trust our boss. We trust her with our lives because... she’s soone who doesn’t go back on her word."
It was a lie—every bit of it. But to the n of Gigante, it sounded reassuring.
As their reluctance faded, and relief crept into their expressions, Florida and Ransom lowered their heads.
We’re horrible, they thought, knowing they’d regret every word they said tonight. Well, they already regret it now.
But then, sothing unexpected backed up this lie.
Soon after, they arrived at First Street in the Five District.
A drunkard lay sleeping atop a pile of cardboard boxes outside an old, abandoned bar with a broken sign that read: Long.
"Looney?" the drunkard mumbled, his face hidden beneath a folded newspaper. He pulled it down and squinted at them. "Where is she?"
The n hesitated until Ransom answered, "Gigante."
"..." The drunkard’s face twisted as he pushed himself up, rubbing his throbbing head. "Why Gigante? Is she going to fight soone?"
"She’s gonna help Gigante!" the young man blurted out, only realizing too late that he’d spoken.
Florida and Ransom cringed internally. They had no idea who this drunkard really was or why Lola trusted him. Worse—if he knew her well, he could expose everything they’d said on the way here was nothing but lies.
To their surprise, the drunkard rely nodded.
"Hah." He shrugged, snapping his gaze toward them. "I always say people of Gigante are lucky. Well, I guess you guys have nothing to worry about if she has business in Gigante."
Florida and Ransom: ???
The Gigante n, on the other hand, had their eyes twinkling.
Long smiled, his wide grin revealing several missing teeth. "Though you should be ready. There’ll be bodies for your people to clean up later."
"Anyway—" he gestured lazily toward the bar. "Bring in the patients."
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