People kept coming to Lola, and for a while, she was preoccupied with giving orders. She wanted to ask why they kept coming to her, but well—she was the initiator of all this. So she automatically assud the role.
In chaos like this, residents from Gigante were inevitably hurt in the fight. Thankfully, Ransom was there to give first aid. Although most of them had only minor injuries that weren’t life-threatening, there were a few who had been struck badly.
So, Ransom and a few others prioritized them. With the help of the n from Gigante, they loaded the injured into trucks to be taken to First Street. As for the won, they were guided to the area where the children and other won were hiding in the tunnels.
The Bellemonte duo also helped, along with the lackey.
Once everything was moving, Lola finally nodded in satisfaction and turned to Florida.
"How was everything?" she asked coldly, and Florida lowered his head slightly.
"The granny helped the two Bellemonte n trapped in Ravah," Florida reported, even though he was certain Lola was already aware. Still, this was the first ti he was formally reporting after being separated from her.
Florida detailed everything that had happened after Lola left them—how Izu and Pika ended up leaving Gigante for another task, and what transpired after they reached this place, including everything involving Long.
"When Ransom and I saw you in the district, we agreed that we should help," he added after the brief report. "We left the patients in the underground facility with Long and another resident. However, I’m not sure Long would accept this many patients, considering he seems to have strong opinions about many things."
"He’ll take them in," Lola replied calmly, nodding as she absorbed the information. "I’ll skin him alive if he doesn’t, and he knows that."
Florida and even the boss—who was still lingering near Lola—looked at her with mixed emotions. Still, none of them doubted her.
Then Florida’s brows twitched as he finally noticed the boss. The man had been hovering around Lola like her shadow, whispering things she clearly ignored. At this point, the boss looked more like a ghost.
"Madam, this guy..." Florida trailed off as her brow arched.
Lola followed his gaze and spotted the boss. She shook her head.
"Don’t mind him," she muttered. "He’s not important."
"How could you say that?" the boss hissed. "I’ve been your loyal servant since you took hostage!"
"Took you hostage?"
"Yeah!" the boss nodded proudly, slapping his chest. "I was there at the club with you guys. Don’t you rember?!"
Florida thought about it for a second before his expression darkened. When the boss noticed, he realized—too late—that he shouldn’t have said that.
After all, the reason he was now being bossed around was that he and his n had targeted Lola, assuming she was weak. Florida rembered clearly, especially the mont Lola jumped off the truck when the boss’s group had been tailing them.
"That’s why I told you to ignore him," Lola muttered, clicking her tongue. "It’s fine. He’s safe."
"Yeah, I’m safe!" the boss raised his chin. "Unlike soone, I’m very loyal—even though we started on the wrong foot!"
Florida and Lola both frowned at him. The boss quickly shuffled closer to Lola, almost hiding behind her.
"What are you talking about?" Florida asked, frowning at the man who seed disturbingly skilled at bootlicking.
The boss narrowed his eyes and covered the side of his mouth like a child sharing a secret. But since he couldn’t lean close enough, his whisper ca out louder than intended.
"Goddess, I think the traitor is this guy—or the one with him!"
"Huh?" Both Lola and Florida looked at him, confused.
The boss straightened up, pointing at Florida. "When you told about the situation, I started observing everyone. I thought if it wasn’t the two n we rescued, then it had to be this guy or the other one with him."
"First, there’s sothing wrong with their eyes—just look!" he added. "And they could track everything we were doing. So, the one leaking information must be one of them! Not to ntion, he was supposed to shoot one of the rcenaries, but he didn’t! Good thing I stepped in. Otherwise, one of the residents would’ve died!"
Florida frowned deeply. "What in the world are you talking about?"
"You—" the boss pointed at him, chin raised. "You’re a traitor."
Florida opened his mouth, then closed it again, montarily speechless. While it was true that he hadn’t opened fire, he had a good reason for it.
"Goddess, this guy—" The rest of the boss’s words were cut short when Lola smacked the back of his head.
"Ack!"
He clutched his head, staring at her in disbelief. Lola t his gaze coldly.
"There’s no traitor," she said flatly. He let out a confused hum. "No one is leaking information."
"Huh?!" The boss scrunched his nose. "Then how did they know about Five District?"
This ti, Florida understood. "Ah..."
"Our comms were compromised," Lola said simply. "Jarvis was eavesdropping."
"Ja—Jarvis?!" the boss gasped, eyes nearly popping out. "Goddess, that man knew—what?!"
His shouting made her tug at her ear, and Florida’s dislike for the boss deepened. Had he known this man would be part of their group, he never would’ve let Lola leave them behind earlier.
"Yeah. So?" Lola replied indifferently, watching the boss turn pale.
He staggered back, clutching his head. "We’re dood," he muttered. "We’re dood."
Jarvis was the infamous right-hand man of the New Gehran governor. It was no secret that he might even be more powerful than the governor himself. In this region, Jarvis’s na alone commanded fear.
And if Jarvis knew the boss was involved...
"I—I really am cursed," the boss whispered, his nerves fraying. "Does he know I helped?"
As the boss spiraled, Lola paid him no mind and turned back to Florida. But before she could speak, soone ran toward her.
"Go—Goddess!"
Florida, Lola, and even the boss turned to the resident. He was panting, hands on his knees as he struggled to catch his breath. When he finally straightened, he swallowed hard.
"Goddess!" he shouted. "We have a problem!"
Deep lines ford on their faces. Those nearby paused, turning toward the bearer of bad news.
"A huge group is heading this way!" the resident announced. "And they’re a bigger force than the rcenaries. They’re all ard!"
Reviews
All reviews (0)