Chapter 925: Unexpected Mission
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Tension oozed in the air.
The clearing was quiet after Rey had departed, leaving Tess and Josh to handle the exchange with Ezra. Tess adjusted the strap of her weapon, her expression neutral as she faced the man who was both a superior and a thorn in her side.
Ezra leaned casually against a nearby tree, his arms crossed as he regarded her.
The woman accompanying him stood a step behind, her gaze cold and professional, though her hands deftly worked to log the resources Tess and Josh were handing over.
"So," Ezra began, his tone dripping with feigned curiosity, "how exactly did you find my dear brother?"
Tess met his gaze evenly.
"We discovered him in the aftermath of a wreckage not far from our base," she replied. "He was unconscious and injured, but somehow alive. We brought him back and patched him up. Since then, he's been helping out and pulling his weight."
Ezra raised an eyebrow. "Memory loss, you said?"
"Yes," Tess confirmed. "He doesn't remember how he ended up there or what happened before the wreckage. We're still piecing things together."
Ezra smirked, the expression more mocking than amused.
In his mind, he scoffed. 'Memory loss, huh? Convenient excuse. Typical Rey-always looking for a way to cover up his weaknesses. Let me guess, he's pretending to be some newfound paragon of strength now? Acting all confident to make himself seem less pathetic?'
He chuckled softly to himself, shaking his head.
'He can play his little charade for now, but the next time he steps out of line... I'll remind him of his place. No one challenges me and gets away with it.'
Turning his attention back to Tess, Ezra's smirk widened.
"You'd better keep your subordinate in check," he said, his tone suddenly sharp. "Rey might think he's grown a backbone, but it's your responsibility to make sure he doesn't embarrass himself-or you-again."
Tess's jaw tightened, but she forced a polite smile. "Understood, sir."
Josh, standing nearby, clenched his fists, his anger barely concealed. His knuckles whitened as he kept his gaze fixed on the ground, biting his tongue to keep from snapping at Ezra.
Ezra seemed pleased with himself, ignoring the obvious tension.
He gestured to his assistant, who stepped forward to gather the final inventory of resources Tess and Josh had brought.
"Now," Ezra said, his tone all business, "let's talk about your new mission."
Tess straightened, nodding attentively.
Ezra pulled out a tablet and tapped a few commands before handing it over to Tess.
The screen displayed maps and detailed notes.
"Your task is to investigate this location," he explained, pointing to a marked spot on the map. "It's a newly discovered stronghold of the Dragon King. HQ needs intel-layout, defenses, any troop movement patterns. You're to observe and report back. Absolutely no engagement. This is a reconnaissance mission, and it's sensitive."
Tess studied the tablet, nodding.
"Understood. We'll gather all the information and relay it to HQ."
Josh chimed in with a terse, "Got it."
Ezra glanced at both of them, seemingly satisfied.
"Good. Don't screw this up. HQ is counting on this data." He turned to his assistant, who was now efficiently packing the collected resources. "We'll be taking these back to HQ. My assistant will handle the inventory."
Without further pleasantries, Ezra waved them off and began walking toward his transport. His assistant followed, her hands full of the carefully packaged haul.
As the sound of Ezra's departure faded, Tess let out a long breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly.
Josh muttered a curse under his breath, shaking his head in frustration.
"Unbelievable," he grumbled. "That guy is insufferable. I don't know how you kept your
cool."
Tess gave him a wry smile.
"Practice." She handed the tablet to Josh. "Here, familiarize yourself with the mission details. I'll fill Rey in when we get back to the vehicle."
*********
Rey was leaning casually against the vehicle when Tess and Josh returned. He looked up as they approached, his usual calm smile in place.
"How did it go?" he asked, pushing off the side of the vehicle to meet them.
Tess sighed, rubbing her temple. "We've got a new mission."
Rey's eyes lit up, and he nodded. "Good news, then. That sounds manageable."
Josh snorted, his frustration still simmering. "Yeah, if we don't have to deal with him again anytime soon."
Rey chuckled softly, his gaze flicking toward Tess. "Sounds like it was eventful."
"You could say that," Tess replied, her tone dry.
She gestured toward the vehicle. "Let's get back to the base. We'll debrief everyone and start planning for the mission."
As they loaded into the vehicle and began the drive back, Rey leaned back in his seat, gazing out the window.
His mind wandered, not to Ezra's words, but to the mission ahead.
'Whatever it takes,' he thought, determination hardening his resolve. 'I'll inevitably prove that I'm not the person he thinks I am. Regardless, I'm not doing this for him, or for anyone
else.'
It was all selfish ambition.
'I've come too far to let anyone hold me back now.'
***********
[Moments Later]
Back at the base, the team gathered in the central hall where Tess had spread out a map of the region on the table. The room was dimly lit, the faint hum of the base's generators filling the silence as everyone leaned in to listen.
Tess stood at the head of the table, pointing to a marked location on the map.
"This is where we're headed next," she began. "HQ has identified it as a new stronghold for the Dragon King's forces. Our mission is reconnaissance-observe the area, gather intel on their defenses and troop movements, and report back. Absolutely no engagement unless it's
to defend yourselves."
Rey, standing near the back of the group with his arms crossed, frowned subtly at the words.
'No engagement?' he thought. 'Just spying on the enemy?'
This was bad... really bad.
'I can't accept this... it's not what I expected at all!'