While Raven was resting, we searched everywhere and took down all of the undead who were a threat to us. It was around midnight when we were done.

  Betty treated Daniel’s wounds well and, according to her, after tomorrow the pain should be gone, but his face would need treatment by a specialist for full recovery and the arm would need around a week. A rest of a few days was recommended to him.

  Half an hour after we reunited with Raven, they, the ones we helped, managed to blow the stairs between the third and fourth floors, leaving us with two levels plus the destroyed last one.

  If we wanted to stay longer than two days, we’d need to dispose of all the bodies and blood of the killed undead. We also needed a clean change of clothing, but all of us were at the end of our vigour.

  Now, we were exhausted, hungry and needed to call it a day, but there was another urgent matter waiting for us.

  “This should be all of them,” Ian said while wiping sweat from his forehead.

  We had just finished checking and cleaning all the places on the north side of the fifth floor. It was a team made of Lily, Ian and me.

  The sixth floor was a safe zone, with no undead, while the seventh, being also the last somewhat standing floor, lacked a ceiling.

  We all used flashlights. We all had one as an attachment to our assault rifles, plus one in our pockets.

  After the mission to retrieve the “object”, we used a couple of hundred dollars to prepare for night battles to a degree. We lacked the funds to afford night vision goggles and the shop in Hogar didn’t have anything similar. It would also make us stand out too much. Therefore, we all got a slight upgrade and this was the first time our investment paid off.

  We reunited on the sixth floor’s staircase with Vincent. He led us to a room where the others were. Only Raven and Betty weren’t there. There was a table, two large, comfy-looking old sofas and additional armchairs at the side.

  Wait… could Raven be alone with a girl right now? Even if he was, why did I care?

  The rest of the people were discussing something when we entered.

  “Seems like our marksmen killed all the Spitters!” Valeria complimented our heroes.

  “Or we just managed to scare them off. For safety reasons, stay away from the windows on the lower floor or the holes on the walls,” Luis replied.

  We took a seat. Both sides took opposite ends. A discussion was about to occur after the last two joined us. It would soon be time to talk about how they would repay us.

  “Take a compliment, uncle! You and big brother were amazing!” Vanessa praised them.

  Raven was promoted from “uncle” to “big brother” in no time.

  “Stop pretending already, old caw. No one of us believes you are a child,” Raven said out of nowhere.

  “Mister Raven!” Betty exclaimed, her distorted expression showing her worry and discomfort.

  When did he come?

  We turned to where he was. There were no signs of any major injuries, only bruises at the worst.

  He wore an old costume – one of the clothes they found in this building. As he was the one who required an urgent change of clothes, he took them.

  Now, he was in black official trousers with a dark belt and a white official shirt. His top two buttons were undone. He put his right arm in his pocket. He looked neat and quite attractive, despite his dishevelled appearance, I daresay.

  The always-ready-for-a-fight vibe continued, however. His pistol was put on the right side of his waist in his trousers and he was spinning his knife with his left arm.

  His hair was dishevelled and his face had a sleepy expression, as if he had just woken from slumber. He was yawning right now.

  “You have something to correct me about?”

  “… No… sorry…”

  I admit to having been stunned by his looks, but he must be reprimanded for his lack of manners. I was about to ask him to be more polite with the child and Betty, but before that…

  “Tch. So, all of you knew I was faking it? No wonder. With such a monster as yourself, they must have something in them to be with you,” Vanessa said, her childlike demeanour gone, now having the aura of a seasoned veteran.

  I was speechless.

  It was as if she were a different person. Why are people so two-faced?

  “If I were to say what their worth is… Let’s keep it a secret,” Raven evaded replying and sat down on the end of the sofa, near me.

  In the meantime, the timid Betty quietly went behind her comrades and stood upright. She didn’t even dare to take a seat and evaded our gazes.

  “Boss, I think you messed up,” Valeria said.

  “Why’s that?”

  “The only one who didn’t buy your facade was him and only him.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. I mean, te-he! Did I get you?” she gave a last-ditch effort and a fake smile, but it was too late – my image of her as a child was long destroyed.

  “Too late for that, hag.”

  From our side, some of us had a surprised look. I was one of them.

  “Let’s say there was something suspicious about her,” Lily said, “There were frequent instances where, whatever she told you, you followed it and the ideas were good.”

  “It was unexpected, but possible,” Roosevelt quickly accepted the situation, “She was quite the fighter for a child. Now, knowing she was a grown-up, it’s more believable.”

  “What’s going on?” Leo asked, smoke coming out of his head.

  Rich said nothing, only asserting the situation.

  “This loli is in fact an old hag,” Raven replied.

  “Calling me an old hag is a bit much. I’m only 27!”

  “I thought you were 14!” I exclaimed.

  “Looks like I really was fast to expose myself… You really are something. Since there is no need for hiding anything, I’ll introduce myself again: I’m Vanessa, a Mercenary with red rank.”

  A red-ranked one!? In the flesh?!

  “Is she the only one?” Rich asked while looking at Valeria.

  “It seems some of you have keen eyes. You got me – red rank.”

  I almost dropped my jaw.

  They were a force to be reckoned with.

  “Are there more of you who have rank?” Leo asked, accepting the situation faster than I thought he would.

  “No, they are the only ones as of right now,” Luis replied, hinting that there were also formidable people without a rank in their group.

  “What about you? You must have at least one, right?” Vanessa inquired while her gaze was on Raven.

  “Beats me. He’s not sharing much with us to begin with,” Lily replied.

  “Not telling,” Raven refused to answer as per usual.

  “And if we were to force you to?” Vanessa threatened with a menacing smile and put her hand on her weapon.

  “Who knows? You are free to try,” he replied with a menacing smile on his own while staring at her.

  He stopped playing with his knife and put it in his sleeve, while his other hand slightly touched my thigh.

  If I didn’t know him better, I’d think his movements had no meaning, but I do. His arm was touching my thigh because the pistol was near there. He hid his knife so his hand was free for grabbing or to steal a weapon if a fight broke out.

  “Such a mad lad! Wish we had met sooner.”

  “I prefer my bitch to be softer.”

  What had this talk become?

  “Oh, really? How would you score the girls before you?”

  “The only thing I will say is that every girl is fine if I had a drink.”

  Now, they outnumbered us, and knowing how formidable they were, our chances of victory seemed slim. We were on edge, anticipating a confrontation to arise at any moment, yet they discussed this?

  “I think from all our gals, Betty would be the closest to your type.”

  He looked at her and she hid even further, but peeked at him.

  “How did you conclude as such?”

  “After she treated the wounded, wasn’t she the one to help you clean yourself and even took your bloody clothes to wash them herself, even finding you something to change into? Also, the ones you are travelling with are quite thin and pretty. Isn’t Betty like them the most?”

  “Dunno. She hadn’t left much of an impression. Even my crouch sensor had yet to detect her.”

  Why, for God’s sake, are you… Ugh…

  “Relax, we won’t do something like attacking you,” Valeria spoke to the rest of us when she noticed we were on edge.

  At the start, we were, but after your … discussion, I wondered why I was scared.

  “I like your look. And you had the guts to entertain Valeria with her nonsense. All about you says you don’t care if we were to all gang up on you. Your cockiness is a league on its own!” Vanessa spoke to Raven.

  I wasn’t sure if she complimented or warned him, but whatever it was, Raven didn’t care. He had too much for one day.

  “How scared should I be of red clowns who were in such a predicament?”

  “Don’t mock us, civilian!” Ian said, dissatisfied with Raven’s tone and conduct.

  “Shut it,” but Vanessa shut him up, while Raven gave him the death glare.

  “I really like you. How about this? Leave those and come with us. I promise you a high rank in the Mexican army. This is all I could share until you agree,” she continued.

  Mexican army? And they were trying to steal him from us?

  I don’t care for whom you work, but leave my Raven alone! He’s with me! However, I lacked the guts to say it right here and right now.

  “I’ll ask you two things. First, can I screw around with girls all day?” Raven asked one of the most perverted things I’ve ever heard.

  What an interesting question, but I think he said it to get them off of him.

  “Well… at best we can allow you to have such a day every now and then,” Vanessa replied.

  “Second, do you have any goals resembling taking over The Old Continent? Or any of the Continents, at that matter?”

  That was a grand ambition. Even my goal wasn’t anything like that.

  “…”

  Vanessa was quiet.

  “With the threat of a King near our doorstep, our current goal is to get the forces to defeat them,” Valeria butted in.

  “Just speak with the other human nation. Agree to sandwich them and beat them. In a few years, a decade at worst, you will reduce their numbers and relight the interest in the Continent.”

  “… Fine! The truth is, the Southern border is giving us more trouble than the King. At least in this Continent, we know who the main enemy is and the same enemy is surrounded. But the Sought? The Continent fell long ago, leaving us to be its zombies’ targets.”

  “I see. You are not what I am looking for. Ask me again when you take over this Continent or another. Then we might negotiate again.”

  “Ha, ha, ha…”

  Vanessa was unable to hold her bell-like laughter.

  “Sorry, just your ambitions… They are too wild. You really are something,” she finished and wiped her tears from laughter.

  “Are we done now?” I said with annoyance before they found another way to recruit him.

  “More or less. You helped us reunite, so it’s now our turn to hold out the deal. Tell me: what do you want from us?”

  I had been thinking for a while now about what would be the best thing for us to get.

  Weapons? Maybe supplies? We were running low on food, yes. Or even part of the valuables they had? They all sounded good, but was that what we really needed?

  I had the opportunity to look at my team from afar and up close.

  We needed no such things. All we could use now was…

  “We’d like to take a break in here while it’s raining. You’ll have to keep us safe and you’ll allow us to have the best resting places.”

  “That’s…”

  The wounded Daniel, who had half his face bandaged, was about to say something, but a hand gesture from Valeria stopped him.

  The rest of them were keeping silent, waiting for Vanessa to reply.

  “Your proposal… I’ll have to …”

  ‘Clang’.

  The sound of a metal hitting the floor interrupted her. I turned to see what the sound was.

  It was a small red metal with dried blood on it.

  Raven picked it up. His rank or the one he had stolen.

  “Don’t mind me. I just dropped my souvenir. I wonder, what souvenirs could I get from you?” he said nonchalantly, but the menace in those words was more than evident.

  All of the people before him were on edge, some widened their eyes.

  Having a red rank and killing one was another thing. Often, Mercenaries with ranks would find a relatively peaceful solution as a fight between them was too risky.

  Raven is implying that he killed at least one such person and if needed, he’d fight now.

  “Is that yours?” Rich asked, bewildered.

  We never expected him to show it.

  “You dare to threaten us?” Ian was angry, and his arm instinctively reached for his pistol, but before we pointed guns at each other…

  “SHUT IT!” Vanessa ordered loudly.

  All sides were silent and Ian froze in place, cold sweat on his forehead.

  “The next one who disrupts me will have a bullet hole in the head. Got it?” she threatened while looking towards her people and giving Ian a mean stare.

  “We agree to your proposal.”

  She agreed and I sighed in relief inwardly.

  Even if Raven is a great warrior, even if we won, we’d still sustain casualties.

  “There was no need for you to make such a show. I already didn’t want you as an enemy. But now, I even want you more,” she said while looking at him.

  I expected her to get close and lick his cheek in some twisted way of showing affection, but such a thing didn’t happen.

  After his reply, even if she had any similar intentions, they were gone.

  “Grow some boobs first.”

  She almost spat blood.

  “That would be hard. Is this why you are travelling with them?” she asked and glanced at me and my bosom.

  I hid them by reflex.

  Well, I did have an appealing body, a decent chest size, a pretty face and many other positive qualities, but he seems to be somewhat resistant to them. He does see me as a woman, but that was the best I got from him.

  “A natural beauty such as her’s is hard to find,” he replied, “Your Betty has much more milk to suck on to get to her level.”

  That was all I wanted to hear from him! I think I blushed! Why did it suddenly get hotter?

  “You said you liked alcohol?” Valeria asked.

  “Liked? More like having a problem with it…”

  “One can of beer won’t kill you, would it?”

  “Hmm… It probably will not. Why ask?”

  “Betty,” Vanessa snapped her fingers.

  “Yes!” Betty almost jumped.

  Poor thing…

  “Give a can off the bear we found at the storage. You haven’t drunk it all, thinking it would be your last drink, no?”

  “No… We didn’t touch it… Give me a moment.”

  Betty took a stack of beer and, with her shuddering arms, put it on the table.

  “Please, have a drink,” she personally leaned and gave a can to Raven, but his empty gaze scared her into looking away.

  He accepted the gift, but waited for everyone to take one.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll also take a drink with you. For our agreement and health!” Vanessa toasted.

  “For the agreement and our health!” all but Raven repeated.

  “You are no fun,” Vanessa said.

  “I am sleepy,” he yawned.

  “Fine, drink one and you may go take another nap.”

  I looked at the can. It was dusty and the letters were hard to read, even the paint was bleached.

  I decided that a drink after such a day would aid in achieving a better night's sleep, so I opened the can. Upon opening it, brown foam spilt out and soaked me, wetting my trousers.

  I instinctively got up, but the liquid had already soaked into my clothes.

  It wasn’t only my beer that foamed to an unnatural degree – each was as such.

  “Whatever. Be more careful next time you carry the beer, Betty,” Vanessa said.

  “Y-Yes! S-sorry…”

  Raven saw us getting soaked and opened his away from him. It also foamed like crazy.

  “Cheers!” Vanessa said.

  “Cheers!” we replied.

  “Ch-cheers…”

  I took a sip from the beer while others gulped it down in one go. I looked with one eye at Raven, expecting him to have already finished and asked for another one, but he stared at the beer as if it were poisonous.

  I realised why he did so after the liquid touched my tongue. I have tasted beer before and despite its bitter taste, it was quite good with fish and chips.

  But this “beer” had an unusual taste, somewhat unpleasantly tangy and acidic, as if I were drinking a champagne, but sourer.

  “Disgusting!” some exclaimed.

  “It hit the spot, whatever this was,” others said.

  Raven saw our reaction and cautiously took a small sip.

  “It is spoiled.”

  “Figures. What did we expect from a 50 or so year beer?” Vanessa said.

  “Now, is it time for the comfy bed?” he continued.

  “Fine. Betty, escort him. You are permitted to sleep with him if he so desires,” Vanessa said.

  “Yes!?” she exclaimed and looked at her superior with tears in her eyes.

  “What if I am into boys?” he asked seriously, stunning them.

  We knew him to a decree and didn’t take him seriously.

  “Pick one and he’s yours.”

  “… You surely are shameless.”

  “Not as much as you.”

  “We would also like to rest,” Roosevelt interrupted.

  “Very well. Lead them to suitable rooms. One per room, correct?”

  “Yes,” I replied.

  We were shown our rooms. Lily wanted to stay with me, but I decided to refuse. She had a heartbroken expression. I gave in and told her to come and keep me company for the night after she checked her room.

  Stolen story; please report.

  I ate something and by the time Lily came, I was asleep.

  I awoke at around 10 a.m. with Lily in my bed, sleeping like a tree. Raven was out sleeping until noon the next day.

  No one dared to wake him up in fear of his wrath. Only Lily and I dared to check if he was alive. He was breathing and his temperature was normal.

  The exhaustion had caught up with him and he needed a good rest. Sleep well~

  During that time, my team and I were all taking a break while the others were making sure no undead got to us.

  As they were hiding their identity from us, we had little to no desire to have them as a company.

  Well, we also didn’t say who we were affiliated with, so we weren’t that mad. Raven hadn’t awoken before we forgave them.

  Still, their blatant attempt to steal Raven from us was an insult I wouldn’t forgive easily. However, there are things I have to thank them for.

  I found out a bit more about how amazing Raven is. I made my decision: I’d have him help me. I’d do anything to have him by my side. With him… maybe I could achieve my goals?

  Second day of our vacation, afternoon.

  “By the way, does anyone want to take a bath?” Vincent asked.

  We were in the room when we drank the spoiled beer.

  “Do we have the conditions for that?” Leo inquired further.

  We had washed our clothes and changed into the ones we found.

  We found similar wear like Raven’s, but there were also casual ones. Despite that, all of us wore formal wear.

  I could only lament about the slight tightness I felt around my bosom.

  “There sure is. On the last floor, where most of the roof has collapsed, rainwater accumulates in what’s left of the drainage. While we were patrolling around this morning, we found something that could be used to contain the water. The object is made out of metal. If we heat it, it can do the job right,” Ian explained.

  “Thought, it still takes a few hours to fill it up. It cannot be used frequently. There is plenty of material to heat it with, though,” Vincent added.

  “Let them use it first. As per our promise, they can relax as much as they want,” Valeria said out of nowhere.

  She just entered through the door.

  “Captain!” they saluted.

  “No need. Just passing through. Vanessa, how’s Daniel? Haven’t seen him much since the other day.”

  “Betty said he’d live, but he'd better rest.”

  “It’s all my fault he got injured!” Leo lamented.

  “Don’t worry, my man. He’s a tough nut to crack. It’s barely anything worse than a flesh wound for him!” Vincent patted Leo’s shoulder in a brotherly manner.

  “It’s good news. Are you here yet? I decided to tell you something we found along our journey.”

  To whom did Vanessa speak?

  ‘Yawn’.

  “It better be something more important than catching up on my sleep.”

  “Don’t worry, Sleeping Beauty, it’s crucial information. It may change the way we look at the entire Continent!”

  “Oh? You intrigued me. Do tell us then,” he replied and sat next to me.

  “You know we are a part of the Mexican army, but do you know why we were here?”

  “Isn’t that confidential?” I asked.

  “It should have been. But what we found… You can only understand by hearing it.”

  “Then skip the chatter and get to the point before I fall asleep,” Rave said.

  “Fine. We were tasked with two objectives: to scout for anything valuable and, the main one, to check what the level of radiation was in the radioactive zones we came across.”

  “And?”

  “The level of radiation in the marked and supposed ‘radioactive’ zones either had no radiation or were at the border of the minimum values. In other words: we checked five ‘radioactive’ cities to find them clean out of radiation.”

  That was news to me.

  “How can that be? Can you prove your claims?” Leo asked.

  “To be honest, we intended to keep looking for more proof. It might have been that one or two of them were fine now, but the others were still dangerous. Do you know why we didn’t?”

  “You were out of supplies?”

  “Unlikely. They were found seeing something they should not,” Raven replied.

  “Bingo!”

  “What was it? A Queen?”

  “Luckily, no. I’m confident we can take on a Prince or a Princess. But a Queen? We aren’t that insane. For the first few ‘radioactive’ places we checked, we wore radioactive suits and gadgets to measure the radioactive levels while simultaneously keeping an eye out for any threatening We were so amazed by our discovery that we immediately went to the next such place. Same results. Our frenzy ended on the fifth repeated instance. We have a copy of the data. It was the only thing we managed to salvage.”

  “Salvage? What happened?” I inquired.

  “On the last such city, we decided to look more closely and inspect the leftover constructions. What we found also left us speechless. The place was filled with hibernating zombies. Thousands, if not tens of thousands!”

  “What?! How is that possible?”

  “I wish I knew. We didn’t have the time to investigate further. Even if we hadn’t been found out, I’d have opted to retreat and report our findings to HQ. Before we left the place, we stumbled across a Princess and her entourage. The whole nest awoke. We barely managed to escape. We had to ditch most of our equipment. We were on the run for half a week before we came here. But, as luck had it… You know what happened here.”

  “I see. The “valuables” you had were this information all along,” Raven concluded.

  “You like it?”

  “I’d say it was barely more important than my nap.”

  “Glad you like it. Now, about what you’ll give us for this news…”

  “We are even now.”

  “Even? What do you mean?”

  “One of your girls, the one with the green hair, was harassing me. She always asked me if I was well, if I wanted something and tried to know too much about me. I joked I needed her in my bed and she started undressing!”

  “Did she? I’ll scold her, worry not.”

  “Scold her? Wasn’t she doing it by your orders? Something like ‘Have him shot two or three times and ask him to join’ type of order? You even gave her a bottle of hard liquor to make her more appealing. I confiscated the two glasses and the bottle.”

  “Tch. You got it. If you liked my boobs, I’d have gone instead. Vanessa was too tomboyish, so she also didn’t work. Betty was the only suitable candidate left.”

  “I really hate honey traps. The next time she tries something similar, she will get violated.”

  “Really? Then, should I encourage her to continue?”

  “It will not be by me. I always wanted to know if women can get pregnant from zombies, but never found a subject.”

  Disgusting. Well, he said it as a joke… probably.

  “Tch. I’ll admit her looks are average. How can she compare with the two ladies you are travelling with?”

  “Excluding the wilful Boobella…”

  Boobella? Were you talking about me?

  “… the other tomboyish girl is only acceptable after a few glasses of liquor.”

  ‘Bong’.

  Lily hit Raven on the head with a playful karate chop.

  I assumed she was playing around because if she were serious, he should have gone unconscious.

  Since we left Hogar, Lily had grown in her combat ability. Now, unless she made her presence noticeable, I couldn’t detect her. After seeing her display, she realised she lacked and needed to improve.

  “Oh, is that so?” Lily said with menace.

  “Ah, Washboard, since when were you here?”

  She was here all along, but until you provoked her, you didn’t notice her.

  “Washboard? Since when did I become a Washboard and Mary Boobella?”

  “… Since you ended your puberty?”

  “Are you talking about our breasts?”

  “… No?”

  “I’ll give you a last chance to repent.”

  “Anyway, I will take a nap,” Raven said and evaded Lily, rushing to the door.

  “We are not done here! Where are you going?”

  “In my room to bed. Want to join me?”

  “Go to hell!”

  “By the way, Raven,” I intervened, “do you want to take a bath?”

  “Explain,” he stopped at the door.

  I told him about it.

  “You lot go first. I will consider it after most of you take one. I will most likely be in my room if you need me for something.”

  He left.

  “You two seem close. Are you lovers?” Vanessa asked.

  “As if!” Lily replied.

  “Are you his mistress then?”

  “The fuck you asking that? Hell no!”

  “How about you, men, ready the water, while we, the women, decide on the order?” Vanessa proposed.

  “Sure thing, boss!”

  When all the males left, we got to the real talk.

  “Now, for real, how’s he in bed?”

  “What?”

  “I know that at least one of you sleeps with him.”

  “Hell if I knew!” Lily was furious.

  “Why are you asking such a question?” I inquired.

  “Just wondered which of the two of you was more to his type.”

  “Probably ones with boobs.”

  “Boobs? Boobela … that son of a…. Then… Washboard?!”

  She looked at her bosom.

  It took you this long to realise it?

  “Oh my, how do you know?” Venassa asked with a sly smile.

  “Hmm… Women’s intuition.”

  “Sure, sure…”

  I bet neither of them believed me.

  “Anyway,” I tried to change the subject, “let’s decide who should bathe first!”

  “Your team goes first. You decide on the order.”

  I decided to bathe later, allowing the boys to go first. Raven could go before any of us if he desired so.

  A few days passed, and the rain was still strong, but it was weakening.

  Every night, I said goodnight to Raven and watched the sunset in his room. He didn’t mind.

  His room had a great view of the sunset and sunrise, but I didn’t want to bother him when he was sleeping.

  Some teased me because of that, but I didn’t care. Such rumours were good. It made the other party approach him less.

  Seeing the sunset on a rainy day reminded me so much of home. Guess I was homesick.

  It was also a good cover for something I planned…

  I decided to take a bath. The water was pleasantly warmed up and the barrel was tall enough to hide the entirety of my body.

  No one was there to guard me. We decided that it was unnecessary.

  A day ago, while some were scavenging here and there in their boredom or were cleaning the floors of all the corpses, they found another barrel that could be used.

  The other one was a few feet away from me. It was also warmed up for… some reason.

  There was a candle holder with candles to light up the room.

  I heard some noises.

  “Who’s there?” I asked

  “I decided to take a bath and see you already in it. I will come back later,” Raven’s voice.

  His silhouette came into my view. He was dressed in his combat wear. I missed his sexy, neat appearance…

  “It’s fine, you can use the other barrel.”

  “I mind not, but how about you? The last time I showed it, you hid your eyes.”

  “It’s fine. I won’t be seeing much after you enter.”

  “True.”

  He started undressing.

  I turned to look the other way, my cheeks flushed.

  The only sounds were the rain, the burning candles, the clothes he gently put on the ground and my heartbeat. I turned towards him after I heard the splash of water.

  I took a look at what he undressed.

  What piqued my interest was an armour for the forearm. I remember seeing something similar when the Spitter bit him. There was also a white box of tobacco. It looked like the box where he put a cigar a few days ago.

  “What are those metal trinkets with you?” I asked.

  “Trinkets? You mean that armour? It is for protection. The thing was custom-made. I am still mad for losing my right one.”

  “And the tobacco box?”

  “It is a cigar box.”

  “Didn’t know you were smoking.”

  “I hate it, but I do rarely puff one or twice. However, its use is something else.”

  “What may it be?”

  “There is no need for you to know. You better not open it. I will beat you to a pulp if you waste them. They are… a safekeeping from a long death friend…”

  I needed to improve the mood…

  “I get it, it’s your secret treasure. I know nothing about it.”

  “I disembarked at the port of Manzanillo. Where was your starting point?”

  He took the initiative to talk about our origins. How could I refuse him?

  “We disembarked at the port of Houston. We were initially more, but…”

  My inability to finish was a reply to him.

  “I see. I came alone.”

  My mood dampened after remembering about Alason.

  Raven noticed it and we stopped chattering.

  This wouldn’t do. I had to think of something to lighten the mood.

  “Hey, how about you help me wash?”

  “You are too far.”

  Is that the way you want to play? Fine by me.

  “I won’t mind if we bathed in the same barrel.”

  “Oho. I mind not, but there is no space. We will have to be really close. Like ‘if I get hard, you would feel it’ type of closeness.”

  “How big can it be?”

  “Dunno. About this much I think.”

  He showed me a gesture with his thumb and index fingers to give me a measurement of his thing down there.

  “Is it supposed to be big?”

  “Dunno. I have no idea with some women’s obsession with ‘how big it is’.”

  “I’m not one of them!”

  “Then what would you like one to be?”

  “Haven’t tried one yet. Therefore, I would like to have affection for the one who’d… you know.”

  “As if I believe you!”

  “It sure is!”

  “Prove it then.”

  “…”

  “See?”

  “Whatever. Believe or not, it’s up to you.”

  I pouted.

  I decided to make a move.

  I started getting out while hiding my breast with one of my arms and my other intimate part with the other.

  He gave me a quick look, but focused on me when he realised I was coming closer to him.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’ll wash your back, then you mine,” I said, blushing and looking away in the most maidenly way I could.

  “Is that all?”

  “Yes. What? You want more?”

  “I wonder what someone would think if they saw us like this.”

  “We are not 16 years old and we’ve been through so much together. What would you see my body do? Except making you hard, but it wouldn’t be the first time I made you so, would I?”

  “Big talk from someone who hides it all.”

  Got you.

  “Fine then… Look as much as you want!”

  I stopped hiding my “weapons” and gave him a full view. I also became even redder and looked to the side.

  “We-well… How is it?” I shyly looked at him with one eye.

  “First, why are you asking me? Second, if you continue to show your body to strangers, you will get raped eventually.”

  “Is that everything you have to say?” I pouted with arms on my hips.

  A sexy young woman is before you, showing all of her curves, and this is your reply?

  “What else do you want me to say? I can barely see you in this light.”

  True, the candles didn’t light up much and they were behind me, lighting my rear.

  “Is that true?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why didn’t you say so earlier? I wouldn’t have to be this embarrassed!”

  “If you ask me, you were more than bold enough already.”

  “Turn around. I’ll wash your back.”

  “Then I will yours,” he said while turning around.

  I washed him while we teased each other more, then returned to my barrel, giving him a good view of my backside. I was sure he enjoyed the view.

  He then came towards me. The light really hid most, but I was able to see his “thing”.

  I unintentionally gulped and moistened my lips.

  I turned around.

  He washed my back and returned.

  We continued with our small talk.

  “Mind if I stay in your room for a while?”

  “Sure. Dry yourself in there. I will let you go in advance and dress up, I will come shortly.”

  “What is there to hide? You already saw my all.”

  And gave a positive reaction, I may add.

  “And have the rumours become more exaggerated? No, thanks!”

  “You didn’t seem like one to care.”

  “I am not, but having been labelled as ‘sleeping with X’ makes the ladies go away.”

  I rolled my eyes and got out of the barrel.

  “Is not like there is a big choice of women to pick from.”

  I speedily wrapped myself in a bath towel, donned my footwear and with the rest of my clothes in my arms, I went to the room he occupied.

  A room in good condition. Compared to the rest, it was the one that time harmed the least.

  From time to time, I visited him even during the day when he was awake. I even dusted the room a bit! There was a bottle of liquor on one of the furniture.

  It must be the one he got from Betty.

  According to an old brochure I found, this place was once a hotel with 20 floors, but now, fewer than 10 are standing. Eight, if we add the last half-fallen floor, plus the ground level.

  Most of the rooms were poorly maintained, though a few were in good condition, despite being dusty.

  I rushed through my beauty routine to finish before he arrived. Once I was finished, I went to look out the window.

  Neither of the nearby buildings matched this height. Even if a Spitter was lurking on the buildings below, it could only watch me.

  It had been raining for five consecutive evenings now and the rain was nearly over.

  The door opened. It was him and a towel was hiding his “thing”, while he had his other clothes in his arm.

  He put them on the bed and started dressing. He was with his back towards me, so I took the opportunity to get a view of his rear. My butt still remembered his gentle caresses and merciless grabs.

  It reminded me of the first time I entered his room long ago. His leg was better this time around, but his manly chest was still on full display, while I was bolder and didn’t shy from looking at him. And…

  Something strange I noticed was that his beard was growing slower and slower after every time he shaved. I had no idea why, but now I had a more enjoyable thing to take up my mind than thinking about that.

  It must have been due to our diet and constant moving, taking the reserves that his beard used to grow.

  I instinctively licked my lips and I went closer to him. He already donned everything and was in bed.

  Even when I got close to him, he was reacting as if I wasn’t.

  Then I remembered the bottle. I checked, opened it and poured two full glasses.

  I gave Raven one and took a sip. He sat on the bed, took my gift and tasted it.

  “A fine night for a drink, wouldn’t you agree? Cheers!”

  “Cheers.”

  We clanged our glasses and drank together.

  Unlike the beer, this one was fine and was strong at that. It resembled whiskey.

  I wasn’t a fan of the hard liquor

  I sat on his bed next to him, wearing an old light green see-through nightgown we found in one of the hotel’s rooms. It had a pleasant touch and it was made of silk and cotton.

  It gave an attractive and playful vibe while also allowing me to have free movement. The lack of sleeves revealed my arms from the shoulder to the hand and the shoulder strap from my bra was visible while also showing my bosom to a healthy degree. Only if my bra was in a colour that went well with the nightgown…

  “How’s your respite?” I asked.

  “I rest the best alone”, he replied, “Even though I was supposed to guard you, I have been lazing around for the past few days.”

  “I think the safest place right now is in bed with you,” I said, maybe implementing my desire too strongly and hugged his arm.

  “Make yourself at home.”

  “How about we play a game?”

  “Which one?”

  “Truth or dare. I’ll begin. Pick one.”

  “I didn’t say I will play.”

  “Oh, come on! Just the two of us. No one will know about it. I might even allow you to get a feel or two~”

  “Fine, but know that I might need to kill you if I were to answer you or I might answer vaguely. My past is none of your concern.”

  “I agree. Let’s begin!”

  “Truth,” he said and took a bigger sip.

  “Would you allow me to caress you? Let’s say your chest with my arms?”

  “I wouldn’t mind right now.”

  “Prove it then.”

  “Go on. Have a feel or two.”

  My arm shyly went to touch his chest in a gentle manner.

  He was silent, just giving an expressionless look and drinking.

  I wasn’t satisfied with the clothes obscuring my touch, so I…

  “See?”

  “No wonder. I couldn’t feel anything. Can I do so without your top?”

  “Fine, but I will not undress.”

  “Fine by me.”

  He didn’t react in any negative way and I continued.

  I put my hand under his clothes and caressed one of his nipples.

  I went even closer with my body, shoving the breasts he loves so much against him.

  “Dear,” I said.

  “I want to see what is under your dress.”

  I stopped to undress my nightgown and continued harassing his body, trying to make him give in to the desire to…

  “Truth,” he replied.

  “Mind me touching you more?”

  “No. Just do not go overboard.”

  “Will do my best~”

  I was now in my underwear, allowing him to see and feel most of my skin. I touched his arm with mine while caressing him with the other, my body touching his.

  However, the lit candles a few inches away from us allowed him to see more than before and the tactile sense was more intense than before.

  I was already stimulated enough. He only needed to get a hold of me and I was his for the night, ready to please all his desires, no matter how dirty they were…

  “Dare,” I replied.

  “Allow me to touch you.”

  “Sure. Help yourself. Just… not there…”

  His left hand caressed my thigh, while his other held the glass.

  “You could touch other places like this one…” I grabbed his arm and gently guided it to my chest, allowing him to feel the upper end of one of my breasts.

  “Dare,” he said for the first time.

  “Wear nothing over your waist.”

  “Help with that.”

  I silently agreed and pulled his shirt off.

  “Dare.”

  “Take a large drink.”

  “Sure.”

  I sipped five times than I did before and gulped it. It was horrendous; my throat was on fire. I coughed once.

  “Satisfied?”

  “No.”

  “No?”

  “Yes, this is how you should have done it.”

  He filled his glass and drank it in one go.

  “Fine, I lose this one! Let’s continue. Truth or dare?”

  “Dare.”

  “Kiss me.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes,” I replied and sat on his lap, facing him and embracing him.

  “If you insist, come closer…”

  My face slowly approached his.

  We had a light kiss on the lips, but I wasn’t satisfied and went for a French one.

  Then I slowly snuck my arm in his trousers and grabbed his manhood. I could feel it through the underwear he wore and understood I was exciting him, that he was this close to removing the little clothes I had and…

  His left arm was caressing my chest under the bra and his right one – gently patting my butt.

  Good, I aroused him enough to forget about our contractor-contractee relationship and look at me as a ripe woman. I leaned on him with my full body while our tongues intertwined…

  “Be gentle,” I said after the French kiss ended, my cheeks red.

  “Fuck it.”

  He took a large sip from the bottle and kissed me.

  Half the liquor entered me and burned my throat. After I gulped it all down, he stopped kissing me and gulped the one left in his mouth.

  I coughed afterwards, but was delighted. I had him.

  He caressed my red, from the drink and the emotions I was feeling, face with his right hand.

  “Let’s call it a mistake when we got drunk.”

  “Yes,” I replied and licked his thumb as if I were licking a…

  Afterwards, I took the initiative and started pleasing him… At some point, I removed my bra.

  I kept taking little sips from time to time. If you wanted to use the alcohol as an excuse, then do so. It also made me more relaxed and ready, so it was a win-win.

  After a while of “tasting”, I was on all fours and he – behind me.

  My rear was at his mercy.

  My only regret was not having a condom. I never thought I would be doing this during such a dangerous mission.

  I removed my underwear and soon after, we became one…

  I spent the night with him, going for a few rounds…

  He wasn’t exactly gentle, but he wasn’t too rough. Overall, it was pleasant.

  He was one of the few worthy to whom I had given my body. Not only for the pleasure, but he’d also be of help with my goals.

  For what I really wanted to do, I, a noble lady, was ready to use all I could.

  My body was no exception.

  However, I had to choose warily on whom to give it to. Selling my beauty to a geezer who’d give me no support was useless. Entertaining some sexy young boy wasn’t going to be any help.

  The number of people who desired my body wasn’t a few, but this was my strongest weapon. I had to use it on the one most suitable – the one whom I could use.

  Getting the label of an adulterer wasn’t something good. At best, I’d be seen as a pleasure-seeking, men-hungry slut, willing to please different men every night.

  I also had to ensure that my toy, my aide, remained oblivious to that. She’d fume and it would cause too much hassle. She can be a pain in the rear if I’m not cautious.

  I made several preparations to seize this opportunity to make love with Raven.

  It was great that the rain continued this long.

  Raven was one of the few to whom I gave my body. The one who did me for the first time, those after him and Raven managed to take my virginity.

  The first man in whom I saw some worth was really my first time. Then I wasn’t good in bed and was young and stupid. But soon I realised he was useless to me.

  ‘What a waste,’ I thought back then. I thought I screwed big. The girl’s virginity was a one-time thing.

  There was nothing I could do but act a bit more mature. It had its charm. I continued searching for candidates. They wouldn’t mind a sexy lady with a bit of experience.

  With the second one, I realised that my virginity had recovered – something that no woman’s body should do.

  After doing some… experiments, I determined that without any… intimate acts, it would heal up in a week.

  That made me realise what potential my femininity, what my body held.

  After a few more times, I got used to the pain and was able to do it well if I wanted to.

  The inexperienced boys had no idea that it wasn't my first time. My act as an “innocent maiden” was top-notch.

  I only needed five minutes to get used to their manliness before I could take the reins.

  I rarely saw someone with any worth.

  I decided to allow the few I picked to do anything with me, as the first time they had “fun” with my body, I was supposed to be “innocent”.

  I always used condoms. An unwanted pregnancy would have been a hindrance. Only with Raven did I have my first raw sex.

  And I’m glad I did! I wasn’t sure whether it was because of the alcohol or the raw feeling, but it felt better than with anyone else! Whatever it was, it allowed me, no, allowed us to feel it to the fullest!

  The previous one for whom I had high expectations, I met in hiding for a long time.

  One night, then two and so on.

  He was the first one with whom I had spent enough nights to show my prowess in bed.

  We were able to meet a few times, even once or twice in my father’s mansion.

  Except for our first intimacy, I had to take my own virginity before meeting with him.

  My unnatural regeneration on my intimate spot was a secret I was going to keep hidden.

  Despite everything, despite his high status, despite his skills, he got unlucky.

  No, I got unlucky and he died, leaving his leftover with us.

  Ugh, I really hate their existence….

  Why did Mother have to die? Why did her killers continue to be produced?

  Such a joke…

  It was morning when I woke up. The memory from the night is still fresh in my mind.

  The bottle was dried at one point, but the things he was doing to me took all my attention.

  We were in the same bed, nude. Our naked bodies were touching.

  I had my head on top of his chest and I was hugging him with one of my legs, while his right arm was holding my right breast.

  The previous night was satisfying, despite having no chance to show him what I’ve got.

  I could remember how he sucked my breast last night!

  A long time ago, he said my body was six out of ten, didn’t he? His actions a while ago were as if it was 11 out of 10!

  I’d get used to him after a few more such experiences.

  I was considering resting, but since I wasn’t sure if more opportunities like this would arise, I decided to strike while the iron is hot!

  I got on top of him.

  Last night I was below, but now I will take charge!

  “…”

  My movements awoke him, but realising my intent, he gave a silent approval.

  It was good enough for me. Just with my first touch on his manhood, I understood he was ready to redo the night.

  I started to move slowly and made both of his hands be on my boobs…

  At some point, while we were… being intimate, Vanessa came.

  “No wonder you rejected me. Even I would prefer this body over my proposal.”

  I was startled and stopped.

  Unlike last night, I was allowed full control.

  “Continue,” he told me.

  I started to move again, but slower. I didn’t want to moan with her watching us.

  “What is it?” he asked her, while I was trying to keep silent.

  “I just came to inform you that our part of the deal is over.”

  I looked out of the window.

  It was sunny and there was no rain.

  “Yes…”

  I spoke to her, but it was hard for them to understand what my ‘yes’ was about.

  “We’ll stay for a bit longer, so take your time and then go.”

  “Noted,” he replied.

  “Have a nice ride, girly.”

  I didn’t have the time to bicker with her.

  “She really looks good. You must be enjoying her a lot,” were the last words she said before leaving.

  She went out of the room.

  I continued moving…

  After satisfying our pent-up sexual desires and I gulped a certain someone’s white sticky liquid, I decided to take a break.

  “It was nice,” I replied, saying the truth.

  I rested my head on him with closed eyes. There was no reason not to enjoy someone and have them be useful to me.

  I hope that after the many raw experiences I had with him in one night and morning, he didn’t leave me with a gift in my womb. But even if it did happen… I didn’t mind making an heir… It was time for my father to become a grandfather. I was his only child after all. If not I, then who?

  “You were impressive for it being your first time. Pardon… for how many times you counted it?”

  “Didn’t count. With such a partner, all I had to do was to leave him to lead me. I just felt like doing a fast one before getting up”, I said, remembering last night and the thing minutes ago.

  Even the recent experience was still keeping my body excited. Didn’t know that raw was this good… How would I ever again use condoms?

  I really had no will over him last night. Not that it was bad. Well, I did reign this morning.

  “I was talking about now. You were more composed by being seen than I thought. Let alone you not being bad at what you were doing.”

  Well, I had a few times where I was allowed to be on top.

  “I just left my body to do everything on instinct,” I tried to make it believable.

  “I’m surprised someone with such a body was a virgin until yesternight.”

  You had no idea.

  I only gave him a sweet smile and rested my head on his chest.

  “You may touch.”

  “There is no time for another round.”

  “Another time then,” I proposed and got up while making sure to show my nice body angles.

  He gave me a light slap on my bottom. Didn’t he say there was no time?

  We started to dress up. I was prepared for him to tease me by touching me more, maybe forgetting what he said and piercing me, but he didn’t. Did I milk him dry?

  “You had blue underwear all along?”

  You decided to comment on my dark blue lace underwear now?

  “You finally realised? What colour would you like them to be next time?” I proposed playfully and slapped my butt.

  “…”

  “I’ll take it as I’d be picking.”

  “Mary,” he said in a cold voice, in total contrast to how he should be feeling, “you are a good person. I will say this to you only once. I hope you will think about it. You should go back the way we came from. Continuing will put your dear friends in danger. I can see in their eyes the readiness to risk their lives for you. Even if your endeavour is successful, the sacrifices you would make along the way would be big. Could you live your life then? Would you not regret your actions? Is your end goal worth all this? I cannot say. That is something I have no right telling you. The decision is all yours to make. They will follow your lead. I think you are more suitable to be a mother.”

  Silence followed afterwards.

  We got dressed and made our way to where our team was.

  “Why were the two of you so late?” Lily asked with a suspicious look.

  I did my best to look as if nothing had happened. I didn’t have anything in my mouth, did I?

  “I wanted to see the sunrise from the last floor one last time. It was beautiful.”

  “The view sure was beautiful, but not as much as the feeling,” Vanessa buttered in.

  I was in a panic, but kept my poker face.

  “How can you taste the view?” Leo asked and saved me.

  “There are times when our boss says stuff that have no meaning. Please excuse her,” Valeria apologised.

  “Here’s a gift from me,” Luis said and gave Raven a sniper rifle.

  “I don’t want it.”

  “How can you reject a gift?”

  “It’s fine, Ian. The gun will just slow them down. It was my mistake for proposing such a worthless gift. Please accept my apologies, senior.”

  “Who’s your senior, geezer? You have more wrinkles than me,” Raven retorted, but added a bit embarrassed, “You were also impressive.”

  We all laughed at his embarrassment.

  “Despite everything, I’m glad we met,” Roosevelt said and gave his hand for a shake.

  “You were all great,” Valeria accepted the handshake.

  “You are a real beast, red one!” Vincent said.

  “You are the only one who gave me such trouble arm-wrestling. I’d like us to have another game sometime,” Leo replied.

  They had a fire in their eyes.

  “If you survive, the next time we meet, I’d like all of you to become part of the organisation I’m part of,” Vanessa said and gave a hand for a handshake.

  “Who knows? Maybe next time we meet, it would be you who’d be joining us?” I replied and we shook hands.

  “Ha, ha!” Valeria laughed wholeheartedly, “Truly, you all have bright futures ahead of you. Good luck out there. Also, here. This is a small gift for you. Don’t eat it at once.”

  She gave me a large packet with Mercenary rations.

  “Thanks, I don’t know what to give to you…”

  “Can I smack your butt?”

  “What? Fine, but lightly.”

  She did.

  “Holy smoke! If I were a man, this butt would have been shredded by now!”

  We all laughed.

  Despite the short break we took, most of us managed to bond with them. I honestly slightly regretted our departure.

  “What is it?” Lily asked coldly.

  Betty hid behind Ian.

  “She is shy,” he said, “She wanted to know you better, but couldn’t muster the guts to do so.”

  “Stalking me wasn’t going to help her.”

  “S-sorry!”

  Betty made an apology, with her face almost hitting the ground.

  “When we meet again, then let’s have a chat.”

  Betty’s eyes shone and she nodded furiously.

  Soon, we separated, both parties on their way. We exited this fallen city without any issues.

  The road ahead of us was perilous, but we felt rejuvenated and possessed the strength and determination to continue.