Grey stood in Baron Giyoto’s office, feeling a little uncomfortable.
It wasn’t often he felt something like that, but the kindness in the old man’s eyes just felt so heavy. It felt like he was looking at his son rather than a retainer he wanted to take under his banner. Even his own grandfather didn’t look at him like that.
Granted, that was probably because the old man was looking for a chance to Batista Bomb him at the drop of a hat.
A small smile couldn’t help but creep up on Grey’s lips.
He hadn’t thought very much about what might have happened to the other people of Earth he knew. Part of him hoped that his gramps was too old to be entertaining for these alien fucks and was at home watching him right now. At the very least, he hadn’t seen a single old participant yet. For that matter, he hadn’t seen any particularly young ones either.
But something told Grey that even if that was the case, it wouldn’t exactly be sunshine and rainbows.
It wasn’t long before the echoes of footsteps clicked across the marbled floors again. But this time, it wasn’t just one or two people, it was at least four or five.
Grey frowned and he looked toward the door to find a team of people he really didn’t want to see appearing.
Stella, Brad, and Mauve.
Or as Grey liked to call them: "the red-head, the meat-head, and the freak in the sheets".
Did Grey know a single thing about Mauve? Nope. But he knew dick-sucking eyes when he saw them. It was always the quiet ones that got you.
Was that also because he found Mauve to be quite attractive? Maybe. But that was beside the point.
He sighed inwardly. The fact that the silver fox had brought them right here meant that his life just got a whole bunch more complicated all of a sudden.
"Welcome, welcome." Baron Giyoto said with a smile. "I’m glad that you’ve all made it."
Compared to Grey who was as shabbily dressed as you could get, the trio had managed to find themselves clothing that was almost noble. Even Brad’s roided up self had squeezed his shoulders into a robe that had probably been designed for a man over 400lbs deep.
The dichotomy was glaring, but then again so were their gazes toward one another.
Grey himself was quite relaxed, but Stella and Brad, at the very least, were eyeing him with daggers.
"Oh." Baron said the words as though relieving himself of a sigh. "I would have hoped that you all would be on good terms, it seems that I have hoped for too much."
There was a sadness in the old man’s words that almost made you want to give him a hug.
"No, no." Stella hurriedly said, taking a step forward. "There are no problems here, Baron. We had a small conflict, but it’s nothing that can’t be glossed over. Water under the bridge."
Grey sneered. They had ambushed him and tried to kill him just hours earlier. Water under the bridge? How amusing.
Baron Giyoto looked toward Grey for confirmation, hope in his eyes.
If Grey had to rank puppy dog eyes, a baby would come first, then a literal puppy, and then right after would be old people. He had a soft spot for old people. He blamed that annoyance of a granddad of his.
He held his hands up in mock surrender. At least for now—in front of the Baron that was—he wouldn’t try to take their heads off.
"No problems here. I won’t bother them if they don’t bother me."
"Excellent. Excellent. In that case, Grey, you cannot in good conscience go to your ceremony like this. How about Silva here take you to the guest room. We’ll have you outfitted with some new clothes and get you cleaned up. Then I can fill you in on what our plans are."
"Baron, he will be part of this?" Stella asked, her face looking a bit unnatural.
Baron Giyoto’s gaze flashed with a hint of sadness that quickly vanished.
"Of course. Grey will be a great asset, I can promise you this."
"Sure." Grey said, nodding. Honestly, he didn’t really want to go looking like this either. Even he had his limits toward how far he could "bum it". "But do you mind if I ask you for a small favor, first?"
"Hm?" Baron Giyoto looked up. "Of course, what is it?"
"I need a Cyber Core, nothing major. Just anything with 10 units or so will be enough."
"Oh, not a problem." Baron Giyoto waved a hand. "Silva, please help the boy."
"As you command, Baron." Silva bowed and then gestured with a hand, leading Grey away.
Soon, the room only had the four left.
Mauve was as unbothered as always, but Brad looked like he would blow his top any moment now, his face reddening more with every passing second. As for Stella, she was shifting uncomfortably, taking meditative breaths to calm her resting heart as well.
If Grey was involved in this, it made their lives a lot more complicated. No one would want someone they couldn’t trust by their side in what was essentially a mission of life and death.
"Baron, I..." Stella eventually couldn’t hold back.
"Hm?" Baron Giyoto looked up with an amiable smile.
"I know that you are a kind and wise man, but you may be unaware of some of the matters related to... Grey. He is cruel and he is not someone that can be trusted. If we want to fundamentally change the city, we need people with their hearts in the right place. But he..."
Baron Giyoto’s smile didn’t falter this time. Instead, he simply slowly shook his head.
"I am aware of Grey Temolt’s misdeeds."
"Then—."
Baron Giyoto raised up a hand. "However, we need a Mech Technician on our side in order to accomplish what must be done. When the time is right, I will atone for my sins by taking his head and then my own. Until then, the greater good requires sacrifice."