Chapter I

1 Week later...

"You have got to be kidding me."

The Captain of the black bulls read an immediate Telegram sent for him directly by the Wizard-King himself.The reason for his sudden distress in the early morning at the black bull's base.

His tongue clicked heavy in dissaproval.

"Like i'm gonna let him do this to me. I've already hit my quota. I've got a lot of important business to do here."

which only involved, alcohol, cards and a whole month of worth oversleeping.

Even so, no matter how unhealthy it was, he at least deserved that much. His resting settlements hadn't always been comfortable during his mission. Having to surge through unknown lands and territories only to end up either sleeping in cheap inns that smelled like piss and vomit, or the hard and muddy ground of the forests wasn't exactly something to look forward to. The food wasn't great either. And to his dismay, he never got the chance to drop by a pub once in a while during his mission.

Muttering a curse, The dark haired captain let out a sigh and frowned. Clearly unimpressed by the sudden cur of his vacation. He at least anticipated that the old geezer would give him some breather.

"I swear, I'd definitely retire early if he keeps driving me off like this."

Frustrated, he took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. Its sound audible from the small confinement of his room. He still hadn't recovered completely and a week's rest wasn't enough for his to dally on his plans.

Yami shook his head while roughly taking a stick out of his cigarette pouch before lighting it. Though talking to the wizard king always went out against him. It never stopped him from voicing out his own opnions.

Smoke billowed from his vision as he took a deep exhale from his stick. Always starting out the day smoking had been his daily routine. Well, not that he ever stopped smoking in the first place. he was aware that bad it was for his body, yet Simply stopping was already too much of an impossible task.

Moving on, He walked downstairs, and the closer he got fromm his destination the noises grew audible as he neared the commom room

What appeared in front of him the usual ruckus in the headquarters and the smell of freshly cooked food wafting through the air.

A tiny voice cheerfully greeted him. It was the cook of their base Charmy.

"Good Morning Captain! let's have some breakfast! I prepared all of your favorites!" Charmy said as she devoured every food within her sight. She sat her tiny little legs that swung with enthusiasm. It couldn't seem to reach the foot of the flooring no matter how much if a big she thought she was.

Asta however was seated beside the small chef herself. Chewing agressively on some meat he couldn't seem to rip out of it's bones.

He had such glutonnous members alright.

Yami, quite famished himself sat with the knights and helped himself as well.

After all, he might only get to dine with everyone else for a feast in the base after a while again.

"Listen up kids." The Captain put up a fist on the wooden table to call out the whole crew's attention. It made a loud thud as the action disrupted the meals and plates in front of him. Water sloshing from their glass, and utensils moved from their proper placement.

What commotion that was happening at the commorn room abruptly came to a stop.

I might have to go off on another mission again." He stated in front of his members.

It was quiet for a while before someone intervened.

"So soon captain?" Asta said trying to reconfirm what he just heared.

The black bull's captain could only sigh and nod wearily.

The whole squad of knights whined in protests.

Vanessa intervened. "But Captain, you just came back. I thought we were going out for drinks this weekend." She pouted.

"Yea, I thought we were going to have cards too." Magna continued.

"Yea, Don't remind me. Obviously I'd have to bargain. I'm not just gonna let that old geezer have his way with me." Yami said irritatingly.

Although the wizard king was such a highly regarded person in the country.

Yami never made any effort to stick with such courtesies to call him the title.

"I'm still so stiff. And my body aches all over.." Yami craned his neck and rolled his shoulder in his grasp.

"Oh! I could give you a massage later!" Asta proposed.

A massage sounded nice. But a drinking session with cards was what he had in mind for now.

"Eh... I'll let you know when I change my mind."

"Alright captain." Asta beamed. The white haired boy gulped chunks of his orange juice and groaned in satisfaction. Slamming the wooden glass on the table.

" Charmy. Today's breakfast was a blast. You really put some extra effort in there." Asta complimented the chef with a two thumbs up as a sign of big approval.

"Hah! Of course I have to. The captain is here. He deserves a feast with real good food!" Charmy said whle chewimg on a mouthfull of food

As the chatter of food between the two began to continue.

Finral stole the captain's attention with his curiosity.

"Has the wizard king only ever assigned you with these types of confidential missions? I see the other captains here aside from captain William Vangeance more often." Finral said.

"I can't say much. Because there's a lot of things i'm still not so sure about." Yami shrugged.

Though he was certain that Julius both held him and William in a different light. He was also sure that the wizard king held the other captains differently depending on their individual strengths.

Either way, the workload was a bit unfair on his part.

Their salary hadn't even increased not in a the slightest. After the war with elves and the unexpecred visitors from the devil. A lot of resources had been lost.

People lost their homes, and both had difficulty hunting for food. Just simply providing them with rations wasn't enough. The economy was deflating.And so, it was reason for his fluctuating salary.

Eitherway, when he was at work. Yami always made sure to finish up the job as quickly as he could. Although he does a phenominal job, he never got any incentives for the things that he does for being extra.

The Black bull captain yawned heartily.

He was definitely not gonna lose to that old man.

"What do you mean I can't decline? there are a lot of capable knights out there for an escorting mission. Why do you have to send out a captain of all people?"

Yami complained as his ciggarette lay on his mouth. He was at the Wizard king's office by 10 AM to argue about the mission. Doing his best to get out of the situation and get on with his days of relaxation. However, the wizard King wouldnt simply budge for no reason.

The Wizard kings face left no trace of maturity and Yami was instead faced with a young boy on his teens. Still, the same nickname that he gave him never lost its sentiment.

"I've got no choice Yami.They clearly specified that they wanted you to do it. It was that, or they won't get somebody at all. They want the best of the best and right now your reputation exceeds you." His boyish voice resounded in the office.

"They've been asking for you for over a month ago." Julius said.

"What!? I haven't even arrived at that time yet! Are they trying to kill me?!" Yami expressed.

"I know, But I bargained and told them that you need at least a week days off after you arrive so you can at least rest. or else you won't really end up accepting the mission at all." Julius' sweat.

"Then they don't hire someone. End of story."

"But they won't follow through with their plans if you won't." Julius said."That's how determined they are to get you."

"And you expect me to be flattered? God."

The wizard king was ancitipating this very reaction. But once Yami finds out the mission details he was certain that it wouldn't take even a milosecond before the captain finally comprimises.

Yami's big figure sauntered past the wizard king. Holding the telegram that was sent to his quarters. He read it's contents and the veins in his temple couldn't help but bulge.

" And what the hell? You expect me to stay there for over six months? I barely got through that three-month mission you assigned me."

"Now, now, The family is just very thorough and meticulous. You know how people of these bloodlines are."

"Besides." Julius said as a matter of fact.

"they're very prestigious. This family owns over 40% of Clover kingdom's estate and business. They're ownership and rights take up almost half of the Country's trade. They basically help run the country with their money. Knowing the current state of our kingdom, declining them such requests would be quite offensive on their part."

"You mean to tell me that I have to work for the big shots of the big shots? Hell no."

Yami didn't exactly have the best experience when handling self centered and ignorant novelties. They were mostly arrogant and vile as their riches had the power for them to get away with a lot of their misdeeds.

"Assign that Bird head or Fuegoleon instead, they're far better off with handling these things."

"Well..." Julius sat on his chair calmly and took his pen oit to do some paperworks as he talked to him. "I know you don't have a lot of good experiences with novelties, but I doubt you can't handle them. I'm quite aware of that fact." Julius said this while staring at the paper in his table.

"You don't let prejudices cloud your judgment over these things."

He was right about one thing. As a matter of fact, it was simply no easy task to change discrimination when it is rooted and taught to children at such a young age in their generation. Change will eventually happen he's certain of it. But it will take a while before it could happen. Still, it didn't mean that he couldn't get tired of dealing with such tartamount hatred in one place.

The sound of pen scratching the paper with Julius writting was audible from their conversation. With quick and precise swipes Julius already had his signarure marked on the paper. His penmanship was clean and sharp. So unlike his which were barely passable as scribbles.

"Also, I already assigned Nozel and Fuegoleon off on another mission. They're just as busy as you are. More even, they still have responsibilities as novelties towards the kingdom. They're job is barely never over. They're the reason things are sane around here."

That would explain the steady distribution of rations every week to the villages in the clover kingdom.

Julius then sat up and walked towards Yami, his long cape dragging on the floor. It was as heavy as the responsibility of the title that he held as the Wizard king of the clover kingdom. The age was showing in his eyes no matter how composed and young his visage looked.

Yami couldnt help but feel the dreariness that draped the wizard king. He probably haven't been sleeping in months as well.

Yami gets it. Julius is tired, he's tired, both of them were tired. But he had enough. He wanted to get some rest.

"After the war ended, Half of the population of the continent started demanding for a democracy. Cmon Yami, you might even regret nottaking it.."

Yami had already anticipated this.

"Besides, you'll have someone in there that you're very familiar with. I think it'll be a worthwhile experience for you to bond with that person too."

The blonde man turned around and suddenly faced his subordinate.

"Oh! Wait." his index finger went up, as if he remembered something. He smiled cheerfully. " I feel like you're both in good terms. Friends even."

"Ugh..."

"I don't care about their responsibilities. Nor a start of a fucking democracy, and a hangout? fuck that. The Kings should just give these people what they want anyway. And I already like the company i'm going to have here in clover."

Yami shared the same sentiment. 'That ugly parasite doesn't even do anything.' He thought.

"I've got my own shit to deal with. I'm not accepting it."

"Even if the mission will take place on a luxurious ship with good food and expensive alcohol?"

His throat almost dried at the thought of finally having a taste of good food and exquisite alcohol after a while, but no. Although he struggled with this much. He also had his boundaries.

"Keh, if you think that would still work on me you're wrong."

"ahh... You must be really determined then." Julius smiled ruefully. But he had more information that Yami would like to hear.

"It'll take on the safest route. Well you may acquire fights here and there. But you'll also finally get the chance to ride on a yacht.

" It's just like getting a vacation." Julius persisted. "that's why i'm assigning it to you. And I'm not too brutal to assign you field work again. They will provide you your own resting quarters. So yes, you're actually going to be sleeping in a bed for once. And, it's going to be luxurious too!"

Although, to experience riding a yact was tempting as it had been quite a while since he had a quiet time for himself while he fished.

The black bull's captain still thinks that he shouldn't bother through with it.. Also, he preferred the comfort of his own room better.

"I'm tired." Yami complained. Having enough of the conversation.

He walked toward the tall door leading to the corridors.

"I don't have any energy left in my body to deal with problematic novelties, let alone a mission. Tell that friend of kine i'm nit acceptijg it. I'm leaving."

But just as he was about to swing the door open. Julius intervened with a new bargain.

"They'll tip you exactly 150,000x the amount of your usual commission pay."

These very words made Yami stop on his tracks.

It was unfair! Damn it be all. It was absolutely unfair!

Originally, The brunette captain was abhorrently against accepting this mission. But he was also quite frankly, a simple-minded man.

That kind of money was enough for him to live off of it for like, 2 generations? He earned 500,000 yuls monthly from his usual duty as the Captain. It was more money that he could spend on his lifetime even with how much he spenr when gambling.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Yami said still quite processing what he just heared.

"So...? you're accepting it?" The blonde man said as he looked at his subordinate smugly.

Quite stunned. The black bull's knees almost shook in his stance.

"How much would that be all in total?" Yami said in disbelief. He dragged a hand at his hair quite overwhelmed with what he was hearing.

"Hmm... I taught you arithmetics. So you do the counting." The winning man put a finger in his chin and smiled at him mischievously.

"it's 75,000,000,000 Yuls." Yami muttered impossibly.

Yami was quite speechless for a moment. mouth hung agape, His forgotten lit cigarette fell on the floor. Form frozen from shock.

"Hooray, you solved it. Guess I did pretty well as a teacher huh?"

"Holy shit."

"I know." The wizard king chuckled in amusement and continued. He walked around. picked up Yami's cigarette and crushed it on a metal plate, diminishing its flames before throwing it out of the window.

"it's a one time big time mission Yami. Jack would probably kill you just to claim this mission as his. And you'll be earning more money than I could in my 10 years as the Wizard king."

To earn more money than the wizard king. God.

"Why would they invest so much money in one Captain? And an escorting and body guard mission of all places. That money's too ridiculously big just for one person. Isn't that a bit too suspicious?"

"Well, I actually... kind of did a white lie there. You see... The mission's rank is indefinite. And it includes a lot of diplomatic stuff so... yea. It's also actually quite problematic. And the situation can go from dire to some really serious stuff."

"So this includes politics then? Great" Yami said.

"Well... they're notoriously known after all."

Julius explained.

"In the people's eyes, they're like a pile of walking gold. And I told you, they wanted the best of the best. And knowing you're one of the huge assets in the war. They blatantly put aside their prejudices and exclusively requested for you to be their guard for over 6 months."

"Originally, they wanted to recruit two captains. But since the mission already involves one of the captains in your Mission details. Despite the client having been against it. Your friend insisted that they didnt need anymore recuits since she was going to be there anyway. "

It would be unecessary and unwise to take more solid protectors from the kingdom.Yami thought. And brought a hand upon his chin.

"So... they agreed." Yami said just as Julius nodded.

"I'm still not buying it. 75 billion?" Yami said incredulously.

Julius Chuckled. "Even I myself find the rewards quite fetching. The clients are known to pay quite handsomely you see. Although they're very particular and meticulous they certainly put their price into good words."

Yami scoffed. "Typical Privilidged behavior." Shaking his head.

Julius shrugged. "Well, that's novelty for you."

"Although i'd like to bear this responsibility myself. I dont really need the money. However, I'd definitely fancy taking this mission myself if I get to have a taste of fresh seafood with good alcohol on a yacht. But look at me." Julius gestured to himself. "I'm young again. Marxx would probably pester me for even thinking about drinking alcohol again." Julius rounded his desk and sat along his chair. hands propped together on the table as if they were talking big business.

"So, are you in?" Julius smiled smugly.

"You're such a sly cretin you know." Yami said shaking his head and chuckling.

"Ohhh... and why is that?" Julius smirked.

"Don't be so cocky. You already knew it was an offer I couldn't refuse." Yami's smirk stretched into a grin.

'Like he could say no to this man.'

"A-a-ah I advice you not to celebrate it too early." The wizard king wagged his index finger in front of the bulky man.

"Overconfidence usually leads to ruined plans."

"Yea, yea yea. whatever you say old man." Yami scoffed.

"You start begging me to accept this mission and end up being so pessimistic about it. Make up your own mind Julius." The Tall Captain crossed his arms and took the available seat facing the wizard king.

He uncrossed his arms and put an elbow on the table. Getting right into business. His resolve about declining the mission was gone like the wind, and completely obsolete as if the thought never ruined his morning ti begin with.

"So, when do I start?" Yami said as he thrumped his fingernails at the desk.

"Also, who's this friend of mine you keep mentioning?"

"Well, actually, this is where it takes an interesting turn." Julius smiled at Yami in excitement.

"Tomorrow. At 6AM sharp at the harbor. You are to escort and guard the newly engaged couple..." Julius reached the hand in mission notice, together with two perfumed letter. More like an invitation of the sorts. The dark haired captain lifted a brow.

"Luis Van Gregory Bellarose and...

Charlotte Roselei to their engagement party, until their wedding day."

Yami stopped the thrumping of his fingers and paused. He looked dubiously at the Wizard king for a while, quite perplexed by the mission details.

"Charlotte's wedding? Well why didn't ya just say so?" Yami laughed.

The bulky captain opened the two envelopes. And there, he could read the nuptial details and the engament party invitation.

"Don't lose those. They're very essential to the events."

Yami chuckled. "huh. So the rumors aren't wrong for once. She really is getting married." clicking his tongue he went about and put the invitation back to their respective envelopes and returned to reading the mission details afterwards.

Yami immediately saw the commission pay and whistled.

"Well, I just hope that she becomes one of the most happiest bride there is. although it's what I would automatically wish for every girl out there hoping for love. But still, this is Charlotte we're talking about" Julius smiled ruefully.

"That man that she's marrying is going to be very lucky indeed. Because not only is she strong, she's also one of the most beautiful woman in Clover Kingdom." The blonde wizard king continued.

Yami cackled. This news about Charlotte's wedding was still too much of a suprise.

"I'd rather say that he's going to be a poor man." Yami shook his head and continued reading the details. Julius laughed impishly at this.

"Charlotte does quite have the temper doesn't she?" Even Julius couldn't help but see the eventual quarrels that could happen in the future. Yami, however was so quiet about this. Julius wondered what the black bull's capatain though of this.

"I still don't get it. It's just not like her at all." Yami closed the mission detail and lit a cigarette. Thinking for a moment. The smoke immediately clouded his vision.

"Oh, and why is that?" Julius propped an arm and put a palm on his cheek. A lifted brow in place. Very eager to hear Yami's thoughts about Charlotte's engagement.

The dark haired man blew a smoke from his stick.

"I actually thought that she didnt want to settle down. Saying that the only thing she'll marry is the battlefield." Yami chuckled, as he flipped a page from the folder.

"But here she is." The captain smirked. As he saw the individual picture of both her and the groom to be on the mission folder.

"Eh, well you can't really understand how the human mind works. It's so complex and undecipherable most of the time..."

"But I do know one thing." Julius continued. He clicked his tongue and Yami glance at him for a short moment awaiting for his next words. "She's probably doing it for a reason."

Julius shrugged then walked across the room. Spotting his beverage drawer, he opened it and took out a bottle of non-alcholic drink and two glasses each for both the of them. Marx made sure to get rid of all the alcohol in his rooms. Even his secret stash wasn't safe from his eyes.

It was quite heartbreaking to how his stash dissapeared right in front of his eyes. So here he was, stuck with grape juice.

Yami of course would never object to drinks offered to him.

"Heh, I know Charlotte. She's a strong woman, with a strong will. She doesn't easily waver especially when she's made up her mind. When she says she doesn't want to do it. She's not gonna do it."

"Even if her life or her precious people were threatened, she would never falter."

It was definitely one thing that he liked about her. She speaks her mind, and fights for what she wants. Charlotte was probably one of the most gutsiest woman that he knew personally.

"Well, you could always ask her what changed."

Julius said while uncapping the bottle.

"Such a shame tho, I actually thought you guys looked rather nice together." Julius said aloud as an afterthought.

"Haah? Where did that come from?" Yami said as he took an ample of sip on his glass. Grimacing from it's taste. He at least expected alochol to be in it.

Julius however didn't give mind to it.

"I don't know. You guys just really compliment each other. And I always got the inkling that she's been rather smitten with you for quite a long time now." Julius laughed, and rested his chin at the back of his hands finding Yami's reaction to be quite amusing.

"Are you mad? That woman can't even stand me. " Yami scoffed and put his glass on the desk.

"But she blushes quite a lot whenever she's around you." Yami's brow furrowed at this.

"There was also this one time I caught her hiding a small gift behind her back trying to wait for someone outside of the meeting hall."

"And guess what? " Julius exclaimed.

"Just as you came outside of that meeting hall. She hid behind a wall to observe you." It was quite hilarious the more the wizard king thought back on it. He didn't know that the captain of the blue rose, had such a cute personality underneath that cold demeanor of hers.

Despite her steely disposition. Charlotte of 28 years and incorrigibly independent could become comparable to that of an average 16 year old girl that was head over heels in love.

"Ehh? I get it. So quit it already." Yami waved his hand.

"Stop getting any ideas, and just give up on trying to get me to date again." Yami deadpanned.

"B'sides, that was probably a coincidence. Maybe the gift was given to her for all I care." Yami took a drink again despite its lacking taste.

Charlotte was quite popular among the topics of men, that much wasn't quite a secret. So it would be no surprise that she would receive plenty of gifts from them quite frequently from time to time.

"But let's say that she really does like you? Whatbaee you ginna do?" Julius asked.

Yami thought for a moment, but didn't hesitate to give Julius his answer. He didn't hold any romantic feelings for Charlotte that was to say. But he does see her as a woman. And he would probably treasure her with his life if she only let him.

"Well, to be perfectly honest, We'd probably already have been married if that was the case." Yami shrugged casually and took a drink from his glass.

"But she hates me." Julius laughed at this.

They were both complete fools. But he wouldn't touch the topic any longer. Communication from both sides is what would probably get them together anyway. So this mission was perfect.

"Whether you believe it or not, Is up to you." Julius shrugged, finishing his drink before standing up.

"I'm just saying, that you might have been missing out on something that could have become wonderful."

But just as Julius was facing door he said his last advice.

"Oh! And don't forget to pack up 10 suits!" Before clicking the door shut leaving Yami alone with his disgruntled thoughts.