Karius closed the folder in her hand and placed it on the desk. She took off her reading glasses after leaning back in her chair, looking at Elias and Edward who were standing across the table with her tired faces.
"So you're saying that I shouldn't have survived the attack?" asked Karius with a probing face.
"But that doesn't mean we wish you dead, My Lord," Elias asked quietly. "What's in the medical record is a journal of the care our medical experts took weeks to fight for your life. And shortly after they declared you dead, you suddenly woke up to everyone's surprise."
"And I walked around like a living dead for a few days?"
Edward and Elias nodded hesitantly.
Karius sighed. "Okay, understand. Then what did the doctor say? Can I go back to traveling yet?"
Edward shocked. "You want to go again?!"
"Why the rush, My Lord?" asked Elias patiently.
"Change of plans, Elias," Karius replied firmly. She placed a long scroll on the table and invited Edward and Elias to take a look. "I want you all to help me get ready all over again."
"Milord, this is a new draft for The Judgement," Elias cried out in disbelief. "Looks like it's going to take a long time to work on it!"
Karius grinned. "Yeah, we have plenty of time to get it ready," she said. "And Edward. Starting tomorrow, we have no time to relax."
Elias smiled awkwardly, a sign that he agreed to his master's orders. While next to him, Edward seemed to swallow hard while sweating coldly.
Five shots were heard in the town of Voldoor that noon, shortly before another shot followed and an explosion followed the next second. Two people seemed to be watching the commotion from the top of a building which was quite close to the location of the crowd.
One of them seemed to be sitting on the edge of the roof of the building smoking. Her short, white hair tapered back and was black at the bottom. She wears the standard dark green trench coat and long brown boots and black trousers. Her eyes were covered by a pair of large, thick-looking round sunglasses with protectors on both sides. Protects her eyes completely from dust and extreme light.
While the copper-red-haired youth behind him just stood still while carrying his bag on his right shoulder. Wearing a brown trench coat and black trousers with brown ankle boots. His hair is in a ponytail and wears glasses that are worse than the person in front of him. A small red goggles. Beneath his fully buttoned trench coat, a navy blue shirt with no tie was visible.
"Wow, you never said Young Master Vash was that great," he said casually.
"Come on, Ed. You can become that strong in no time if you want," sighed Karius indignantly. "That is our advantage that not all humans have."
"I understand. I'm sorry, Karius-sama."
Karius squeezed the rest of her cigarette until it was extinguished then rose from her seat. "We're going down now."
"Now? Where?" Edward asked confused.
"To see Vash."
"Meet Young Master? Now? Are you serious?"
Karius didn't care about Edward and just carried her trunk and went along the edge of the roof of the building where they were. Edward followed in confusion from behind.
"I am free!! I'm totally free!!!" the shrill voice of Vash screamed with joy below. Karius kept walking towards the way down into the building, but she smiled at that.
"From now on, we will follow you twenty-four hours a day every week to observe you and ensure that you stay out of trouble!"
"What!?"
Karius and Edward arrived at the entrance of the building when they saw the two insurance girls striking their silly poses.
"Wait a minute, what are you guys talking about...!!"
"AAAARRRGGHH!!!"
Karius' handsome face immediately put on the ugliest expression when she heard the screams of an old man. Edward eyed her suspiciously but then panicked when Karius suddenly took an irritated step toward Father Nebraska. He tried to prevent it, but Karius' aura was too terrible for him to stop himself.
"Karius-sama, please don't overdo it..." she called out cautiously.
"It's not over yet!!!" Father Nebraska showed his true form. The lower part of his body which was a large weapon was aimed right at Vash. "I will never forgive you... How dare you do that to my cute son...!!"
Vash was shocked to death to see Meryl and Milly take out their weapons. Preparing to aim at Father Nebraska when they saw a green figure behind the old man moving a black long colt from his right hand to his left.
"Huh? Who's that?" Milly lowered her stunt gun.
"I'll finish you...!!"
Cluck!
Father Nebraska stopped short as he felt the cold metal touch his temples. He glanced to the side and cold sweat immediately flooded his face to find the face of a white-haired devil who was glaring at him. Her eyes glowed red behind her sunglasses and her lips grinned showing a pair of fangs behind them.
"Finish who?" asked Karius grimly.
"Huh?" For the first time Father Nebraska was scared to death. "Who are you...?"
"Shoot him, and I'll blow your head off at the same second," Karius threatened while pressing the muzzle of her gun.
"I'm sorry... I won't do it..." said Father Nebraska later. "Please don't kill me..."
Karius finally smiled. "That's what I wanted to hear," she said, gesturing to Meryl and Milly.
"Wow, he managed to threaten him..." Meryl was amazed to see Edward approaching Karius with the townspeople with a rope on his shoulder. While at Vash's side, he was staring intently at Karius who was stepping towards him.
"You're not hurt are you?" asked Karius when she got to Vash.
Hearing that question, Vash's expression became more relaxed. "Yeah, thanks to your help," he replied. "The situation is under control now."
"Really, you're an unbelievably nice person," muttered Meryl, propping her chin at Vash who was about to eat his sandwich.
"Hm? I'm just traveling from east to west right? Carrying large amounts of money would be very troublesome," Vash replied with a sandwich in his mouth. He took a piece of his sandwich to give to a cute black cat under the table.
"But still, that 700,000 $$…"
"So what? I can eat all the salmon sandwiches I want. Right, lady?"
"Yes!! Eat all you want!!" said the old lady behind the counter.
"I'm jealous..." Milly muttered, Meryl immediately cut her off.
"That's enough money to buy a sandwich factory!!"
"Eat until you're satisfied. I'll pay for everything," said Karius who suddenly appeared from behind.
"Are you serious, Harlan-san?" exclaimed Milly happily.
Karius pulled up a chair next to Vash to sit on it. "Yeah. You too, Miss Stryfe. Order whatever you want."
"Thank you, Harlan-san. You're really kind."
"Don't be shy, I really travel to spread goodness. This is the example," she said, placing a white box in front of Vash.
Vash, who had been busy finishing the sandwiches on his plate, immediately squealed with joy. "Donuts??!!!"
"By the way, how long will you two be following him?" asked Karius then.
"No set time period," Meryl replied. "At least until we get fired."
"Wow, that's quite a job, isn't it?" Karius laughed awkwardly, and Vash's expression hearing Meryl's answer made things even more ridiculous.
"Our report will be very important for insurance regulation" Meryl explained excitedly.
"You guys look excited," Karius smiled as she propped her chin up. It wasn't long before her ears caught the roar of the arrival of a sand steamer. "Ah, it's finally here."
"Woah!!! That's a sand steamer!!!" exclaimed Milly, who had been in front of the window for some time.
"Are you leaving?" Meryl asked.
"Yeah, we can't stay in one place for long time. Being a mercenary is a very busy job," Karius replied as she stood up from her seat.
"It's a good thing you guys came to Voldoor not for the Nebraska Family."
"Right, we just happened to be passing by. Then I'll go first. See you again."
"See you..."
After Karius left, Meryl approached Milly in front of the window. They ignored Vash completely who was still struggling with his sandwich.
"It's huge, isn't it? And the caravan that follows must be really long," muttered Meryl in awe. "By the way, it's been a month since we've been here. When are you thinking of leav-ING!?"
"AAHHH!!!"