World's Best Protagonist [BL]-Chapter 46: A Familiar Face

I’m full, so I’m taking a nap as soon as I arrive home.

After the vortex raid, the team hasn’t yet received another mission. We were given time to recover despite getting healed by Etienne. So, I assumed it was for our mental recovery. Even though the other members are already veterans, the NSA still provided well deserved breaks between missions to them.

I stepped out of the taxi right in front of my house, but then my face distorted into unpleasantness after seeing a familiar sulky face leaning on his expensive car eyeing me with impatience.

My brows furrowed. What the hell is he doing here? It’s not even a day passed since we saw each other last and he’s missing me already?

"Do you own any black formal suit?" Claude asked as soon as he approached me.

What? Did he come here to borrow clothes? Him? To me? Seriously? But why would he when he was already wearing one?

"No."

I do have one. The one I used to wear in job interviews before, but even if I lend it, it’s not going to fit him.

"Then, get in." He went back to his car without explaining anything.

"What?"

"Get in."

"I heard you. I meant, why?" I followed him nonetheless.

He opened the door to the driver’s seat and got in without saying anything. Do I go back or do I follow?

He honked, and my soul almost jumped out of me. I sighed and got in, still confused.

"Where are we going?"

"Where have you been?"

We asked at the same time. I looked away, feeling guilty. Why did it feel like I met with the enemy behind his back? In the first place, why is there tension between the two national associations?

It’s a mystery.

"Did you meet that girl?"

Hm? "How did you know?"

He didn’t answer again. He just drove silently, but I could feel the tension in the air. "Hey, captain, are you spying on me?"

"The fuck? If I’m going to, why do I have to let you move out?"

"Well, why, I wonder? You even sacrifice your favorite chocolate to convince me to stay—woah! Hey, drive carefully! Why are you breaking all of a sudden?"

Claude glared at me. My eyes moved to the tip of his ear, noticing its redness. Is he...flustered?

"Nonsense," he sharply muttered. He looked ahead again and continued driving, but his grip on the steering wheel tightened, seeing his whitened knuckles.

I ensured my seatbelt twice and even held onto the grab handle for safety. I zipped my mouth after that, convinced that he would drive the car to a tree next if I spoke nonsense again.

But then, unexpectedly, he asnwered again.

"If you decide to have an exclusive Minder, you will need to have a separate place for privacy."

I blinked. An exclusive Minder for me...did not even occur in my head. Is he talking about himself?

"I am not even considering that...?"

Claude briefly glanced at me, unconvinced. "Were you not considering that female Minder that tends to you on the island?"

"No."

"Then, what’s the point of meeting her continuously if you’re not going to consider her?"

"Huh?" Are we speaking the same tongue here? "Who did I meet? Certainly not Freya. Don’t lump Freya with that headache-inducing-smelling woman."

"Head...what?" Claude glanced at me, but I tapped his shoulder because the light changed already. I heard him whisper, "Why did that remind me of someone?"

Well, it should. It was your former exclusive Minder after all.

The car arrived at the mall. He dragged me to a clothing store and picked a formal suit—all black, shirt, coat, trousers, and even shoes. Then, he ordered me to try it. I stared at him for a second, wearing questionable eyes, but the man just pushed me to the changing room.

I had no choice but to try them, but I swear if he dashed and left me here alone dealing with the suspecting eyes of the saleslady... I’m going to tell that crazy woman his Sanctum’s passcode.

Thankfully, Claude was sitting on the waiting lounge like a king waiting for his seamstress to present their new clothing designs, flipping the magazine.

I cleared my throat to get his attention, but the bastard just looked at me one second then rose to his feet and went to pay. I was about to change again when he called out.

"Let’s go."

"Where?"

Claude walked ahead. "I thought you finished reading the books? Funerals are held for Seekers who died inside a vortex. Attendance is not compulsory but as part of the raid members, it’s only polite we show our face."

Honestly, I don’t even know the name or remember the face of the one who died.

"You don’t seem to care."

"I didn’t expect you to care." I paused. Shit. Did I say that too loudly? I looked up and saw Claude’s face darkened for a moment.

"I stopped generalizing all of them," he replied, then walked away.

Generalizing what? Sometimes, he speaks in riddles I don’t understand. Although I’m intrigued to solve the puzzle, it’s hard since there are still missing pieces.

We arrived at the funeral hall in the city. The rest of the Alpha and Charlie team members were already there, and after showing my face around and offering my condolences to the bereaved, I stepped out for a bit.

"Jade," Allen called out. I glanced over my shoulder to look at him. "Did you see the captain? I need to talk to him about something."

"I last saw him talking with Commander Lan," I answered.

Allen nodded. He stayed for a bit, seemingly hesitating to tell me something. I stared back, he looked uncomfortable. At last, he waved his hand dismissively and excused himself.

I didn’t think too much about his strange behavior and just walked around until my body froze after passing another wake where a fight was currently occurring. Some people in floral shirts and tattoos were trashing tables and bottles inside.

I heard the bereaved crying and shouting at them to stop. I was completely stunned, frozen at the entrance.

That familiar face...haunted me when I was younger.

"Hah... This is the last warning. If you don’t pay your debts by the end of this month, you’re going to have to sell your organs. Understood?!"

The mourning family kneeling on the floor nodded incessantly as they cried. The sight was too pitiful, but the guy did not show any remorse at all. Then, his head turned to the entrance, where I was standing still.

A cold chill ran down my spine as our eyes met, and recognition flashed in his. I bolted, as fast as lightning, out of the place. He chased me, faster than lightning.

My unlucky ass will soon be caught, I just know.