"Uh... you're Executor, right?"
Amiya held a smile that was polite, nervous, and painfully awkward.
The HR office had closed hours ago, yet here she was—the CEO of Rhodes Island—leading by example, working unpaid overtime. It would've been admirable if it weren't so tragic.
Lucian and Hoshiguma stood beside her like a pair of bodyguards.
Outside the door, a whole crowd of Rhodes Island operators—who were absolutely not here to gossip—pressed against the crack, all curious about the black-haloed Sankta who had suddenly appeared.
To Amiya's question, the towering Sankta with the intimidating presence answered without shifting his gaze:
"Correct. I am an Executor of the Laterano Notarial Hall, codename Executor. By order, I have volunteered to join Rhodes Island. My background is fully recorded in my résumé. Please review it."
"Ah... right, I-I did sort of look through it..."
Amiya answered with very little confidence.
She held a thick stack of A4 paper covered in perfectly uniform handwriting—tidier than any printed font—each line listing one of his past assignments.
Unfortunately, every entry was a formulaic, contextless task description. Things like:
October 12: Delivered designated compliant relic to the final inheritor.
March 5: Closed enterprise violating notarized contract.
June 2: Retrieved assets from contracted party.
Very concise. Very formal. Absolutely incomprehensible.
Amiya rubbed her eyes, laughing weakly.
"Um... let's put the résumé aside for now. Mr. Executor, could you please have a seat?"
"Negative."
He answered immediately. "I am currently executing an important target-protection mission. Remaining standing is optimal for work."
"T-Target... protection?"
Amiya stammered. "Mr. Executor, do you... have a personal reason for joining Rhodes Island?"
"We respect every operator's personal freedom. You may tell us anything."
He replied without even blinking. "Per instruction, I have no personal motives."
"But—but just now you said you're protecting an important target," Amiya insisted.
"Correct. I am currently executing an important target-protection mission."
"But... but... you also said you volunteered to join Rhodes Island and have no personal motives..."
"Correct. Under orders, I volunteered to join Rhodes Island. And per instruction, I have no personal motives."
"Then... then... please sit?"
"Negative. I am currently executing an important target-protection mission. Remaining standing is optimal for work."
Amiya's ears drooped as she let out a tiny, strangled whimper.
She cast a desperate look at Lucian and Hoshiguma.
Lucian tried to play dumb and even attempted a stealthy retreat toward the door.
But under the desk, Amiya's small hand grabbed his finger and held on tightly.
It was too cute. Lucian's legs nearly locked up—there was no escaping.
And Hoshiguma, who could never stand to watch Amiya being bullied, reacted much more explosively.
She slammed her hand on the desk. "Hey! You're clearly here to cause trouble! Amiya, you don't need to be polite to weirdos like this! Call Ace over and kick him out!"
"I harbor no hostile intentions."
Executor stated flatly. "An Executor is always loyal. An Executor keeps no secrets. Every statement I make is true and reliable. You may trust me fully."
Hoshiguma practically choked. "Who trusts someone who tells people to trust him?!"
Even someone whose brain supposedly lived in her chest felt there was no talking to this Terminator look-alike.
With nowhere else to dump her frustration, she glared at Lucian.
"Hey, Lucian! You're an Sankta too, right? Say something! Don't you Sankta all know each other?!"
"Don't know him, don't know him—we really don't know each other."
Lucian worked overtime trying to distance himself.
His blatant avoidance only irritated Hoshiguma further. She lunged to grab him by the neck—
And then the Terminator moved.
Executor dashed forward faster than sight, stepping onto the desk and landing in front of Lucian, grabbing Hoshiguma's hand.
Amiya and Hoshiguma both froze, stunned speechless.
Oh no oh no oh no—Lucian nearly cried.
He finally said, "Let go. Return."
"Yes."
Executor released her and stepped back, expression unchanged down to the pixel.
Lucian forced a smile under Amiya and Hoshiguma's gaze.
"Executor, have a seat."
"Yes."
Executor obediently sat.
Hoshiguma was still processing, but Amiya understood immediately.
Under the desk, Amiya tugged Lucian's hand again and whispered in his ear:
"Big bro... can we let him join?"
Lucian sighed. "No choice. If you reject him, he'll plaster himself to the hull of the Rhodes Island flagship even if it runs him over. Leave him to me."
Being too popular was suffering. Lucian accepted his fate.
———————————————
Moments later, Amiya completed the official procedure and accepted Executor's résumé.
Then she dragged Hoshiguma away, leaving the room to Lucian and Executor.
Once he confirmed they were alone, Executor immediately rose and knelt on one knee like a knight.
"My lord. By the order of Lady Saint Joan, I have come to protect your safety."
"My lady left two messages. Shall I relay them?"
Lucian let out a weary sigh.
"So it was her... I told her to stop fussing over me, but she never listens."
He rested his cheek on his hand. "Fine. Go on. If I refuse, she'll probably fly over here herself next time."
"Yes."
Executor answered with perfect solemnity and recited in a synthetic, emotionless tone:
"『My lord, Rhodes Island is an organization with deep ties to Kazdel. It has been confirmed that the frame of this battleship was excavated from a ruin beneath Reimventor. Suspicious in many ways, its dangers remain unknown. If possible, please keep your distance.』"
Lucian raised a brow. "So this ship really is a relic warship. Figures."
He ignored the warning entirely, letting it blow past his ears.
But the first half of the message was interesting.
Rhodes Island being tied to Kazdel. He already knew that part.
But the ship being a relic excavated from underground rather than something the Sarkaz built themselves? That was new.
Terra held countless ancient civilizations. Even the guns treasured by Sankta were rediscovered relics.
That discovery was what drove Sankta to see themselves as the chosen children of Faith, zealous beyond reason.
Lucian filed the information away and asked:
"And the second message?"
"Yes."
Executor inhaled once.
"『Metatron is fully prepared to depart and will answer your call at any time. I look forward wholeheartedly to our reunion.』"
=-=-=-=-=
Note: I know this is abysmal update schedule, I'll make up for it soon