Barren, yellow earth stretched endlessly, with nothing but scorched land visible even at the horizon.
Plants were basically extinct here; only cacti could survive, growing surprisingly green. But aside from the cacti, the only other vegetation was the tumbleweeds rolling aimlessly in the wind. You could say the place was completely barren.
Andrew grabbed a handful of dirt. The dry sand slipped through his fingers. Looking at this land where no normal plant could possibly live, Andrew understood why the place was so neglected.
However, before reaching the building, Andrew took a closer look at the thickness of the dust on the windowsill and made a surprising discovery.
"This place hasn't been empty for long... The wind is so strong in the Outer Ring, but the dust isn't thick at all."
Andrew wiped the doorknob with his hand. In fact, there was almost no dust.
"Hey, didn't Lycaon's intel say the Sons of Calydon just took this place over? Maybe it's because they come by to clean it often?"
Belle didn't see a problem with it. Keeping the building clean even when it was empty just meant the other party was responsible, right?
Andrew thought about it and agreed. He was probably being a little too paranoid. It was just clean, surely because they were carefully maintaining it.
Still, Andrew recalled the scatterbrained and socially anxious duo he'd met on the road yesterday who claimed to be from the Sons of Calydon. The scatterbrained one had even said she was the leader.
Could a gang led by someone like that really be meticulous enough to remember to regularly clean and maintain an unused building?
Before Andrew could think further, the roar of a motorcycle and a truck echoed from the distance. Their wheels kicked up a cloud of dust, obscuring the road they had come from.
The effect was like a smoke bomb. If it weren't for that signature short green hair, Andrew's first thought would have been that some yakuza van was about to drop off a bunch of goons.
You know, that human-space-folding technique where a van meant for seven can unload thirty-one people. Andrew didn't even want to imagine how many could pop out of this small truck.
But what Andrew didn't expect at all was that after the vehicles stopped, a mere... three people got out.
Weren't they a biker gang? He had imagined something like a nomad clan, but looking at them now, were the Sons of Calydon... surprisingly short on members?
After all, they even had a kid driving. How could they not be short-staffed?
As for the two girls who got off the motorcycle, they were, unsurprisingly, the same Caesar and Burnice that Andrew and Wise had met on the road yesterday.
With all the information lining up, to say they were just different people with the same names would be pure self-deception.
But while the first two people were normal enough, the little girl getting out of the truck? That struck Andrew as a bit strange.
He watched the... little girl? lazily following behind and yawning. Despite her youthful appearance, her movements exuded a mature air.
"Hello! I'm Caesar, the current leader of the Sons of Calydon. Are you the ones here to rent the place?"
Andrew took the hand Caesar offered and said with a smile:
"I'm surprised you've forgotten me so soon, Leader Caesar. Didn't we just meet yesterday?"
Hearing Andrew's reply, Caesar eyed him suspiciously for a long moment. But she couldn't place the Andrew from yesterday, who had been wearing a full-coverage helmet.
However, after looking him over, she suddenly realized it might be a bit rude to stare at someone like that.
It was only on closer inspection that she noticed the face under Andrew's messy bangs was incredibly handsome. His familiar style involuntarily reminded her of a romance manga she'd stayed up all night to finish a couple of days ago.
The subconscious connection made Caesar's face flush slightly, and she quickly shook her head to banish the scenes that were starting to automatically play out in her mind.
But thinking carefully, she was sure she'd never seen this face before. Otherwise, she would have at least some impression of it, right?
It wasn't until she saw Wise waving at her from behind Andrew that it finally dawned on her:
"Oh! You're the guy from yesterday who was going to watch the meteor shower at the bottom of the canyon while wearing armor!"
The words that tumbled out of Caesar's mouth made Andrew cringe. The most awkward thing about telling a casual lie is not only running into the person again the next day, but having them remember that lie perfectly.
If Caesar pressed him further, Andrew felt he'd have to keep making things up. And then, to cover up one lie, he'd have to pile on countless more.
Andrew didn't want their entire interaction to end up being a web of lies. After all, since he was choosing to rent a place here, Andrew still wanted to maintain a basic level of honesty going forward.
What to do...
His mind raced. Andrew suddenly noticed that, at some point, Piper, who had just been yawning, was now pinning Burnice down.
This was the perfect opportunity. Andrew voiced the question that was on his mind.
"Caesar, who's that behind you?"
Caesar turned around, saw Piper holding down Burnice, and suddenly realized she had only introduced herself.
She pointed a hand toward Piper, who was putting all her effort into restraining Burnice, and said proudly:
"The other one shouldn't need an introduction, and this here is the best driver in the Sons of Calydon, Piper!"
Although Burnice, her mouth covered by Piper, was blinking frantically for help, Caesar, who was long accustomed to this scene, completely ignored her plea.
"The best driver?"
Caesar completely understood Andrew's slightly skeptical look. After all, Piper's appearance was incredibly deceptive.
The fact that Andrew was just a little puzzled and not outright doubtful already set him apart from ninety-nine percent of other people.
"Don't be fooled by her looks; she's already an adult. She started messing with vehicles when she was twelve, so Piper is a veteran driver with six years of experience!"
Hearing Caesar's words, Piper subconsciously scratched her head, a little embarrassed.
"Aww, I'm not that good~"
Meanwhile, Burnice, who had seemed to have given up, took advantage of Piper being distracted by Caesar's praise. She quickly bucked up, breaking free from Piper's hold.
"Ah!"
With a small yelp from Piper, Burnice lunged violently at Andrew.
"Andrew! You promised you'd let me touch your armor! Where's the armor? Where is it? Where is it?!"
But before she could get close, Anby had already stepped in between them.
Andrew had no intention of backing out of his promise, though. After learning the contacts were the Sons of Calydon, he was more or less prepared for this kind of situation.
After all, he really had promised to let them touch his armor. He couldn't go back on his word.
_____
Let's unlock these community goals together!
🎯 Unlock a bonus chapter for everyone at 100 Powerstones!
🚀 Unlock a 5-chapter drop for all stories when we reach 55 SUPPORTERS!
🎉 Your Key To Join: Unlock a special welcome fee!
👻 Use it by finding Walnutchan on platform (P). You know where! 😉