8| Are You Teasing Me?

Kay opened the door with his left hand. His right hand held the gun tightly, ready to be fired.

Someone was standing at their apartment door. Kay's eyes opened wide, and he frowned in confusion. Malvinn was ready to swing his sword, but Kay motioned for him to stop.

"Who?" asked Malvinn.

Malvinn removed Kay from the doorway and opened the door wide. He was stunned to see a figure standing there.

"I thought you were out of here," Kay said casually as he reloaded his gun. "Come in! Is there anything you need from us? You can't come here empty-handed. We only accept jobs that pay properly."

A petite girl who looked to be in her late teens stood in shabby clothes, and her long hair tucked behind a baseball cap. Her face was still full of bruises. That girl was the same girl the Rogue brothers had met in the underground parking lot.

"I have paid your down payment of 5 million Coll," said the girl shyly and a little scared.

"What?" Kay was surprised. "What did you say?"

Malvinn, on the other hand, was silent. He stared at the girl coldly and didn't give any reaction. He kept his sword on guard.

The girl pushed forward without waiting to be invited to enter. She seemed scared and was being chased.

Malvinn crossed his swords. "Did you bring someone here? You as bait?"

"Malvinn stop it!" Kay exclaimed. "Let her talk."

The girl stared at Malvinn's sharp, sparkling sword and gulped. "My name is… Lindy Jasa. I'm 20 years old. Don't ever call me kid. Even though my body looks petite, I am a mature woman."

Kay smiled. "I thought you were 15 years old."

Lindy ignored the joke. She looked up at every part of the Rogue brothers' office.

"I know you guys still have one empty room here. Starting today, I will live here."

"You… what?" Malvinn hissed. He turned to Kay and looked annoyed. "Who is this girl? Your girlfriend? I told you not to bring girls into the house!"

"Wait! Wait…!" Kay tried to calm them down. "Miss, who are you? You admit that you paid us 5 million Coll. Are you?"

The girl nodded. "I called you earlier."

"So you paid us 5 million Coll just to stay here?" Kay nearly exploded. "Sorry, Miss Lindy Jasa. This is our home, not an inn or motel. Please find another place to stay."

Kay walked to the door and opened it wide.

"Five million Coll is the payment for successfully clearing the first mission. As I said over the phone. The real task is… now! That's why I came here."

Malvinn and Kay glanced at each other. They don't easily trust strangers. Let alone a girl who looks like a child.

Lindy was only about 160 cm tall. Looks very tiny compared to Kay and Malvinn, each of which has a height of 183 and 185 cm.

Kay wasn't in the mood for a joke. He dragged the girl and sat her down on the sofa. Kay folded his arms over his chest and stood towering over Lindy.

"You're talking nonsense, right?" Malvinn, silent until now, finally swung his sword at Lindy's neck.

However, the girl was not intimidated in the slightest. She even looked back at Malvinn. Instead, it was Malvinn who was starting to get nervous. The girl is full of mystery. She had come shivering with fear but was now glaring at Malvinn as if she knew she would not die there.

"Do I need to repeat the words I said on the phone when I spoke to him?" The girl pointed at Kay.

Malvinn turned to Kay for an explanation. Kay just cleared his throat and looked away. Malvin sheathed his sword and demanded an explanation.

"So what's the point of that first mission?" Kay asked. "It is impossible if only to thwart drug transactions. Are you part of state intelligence?"

"The first mission is to destroy Henry's gang. I can't kill them all alone. That's why I paid you."

"It was very risky," said Kay. "Why are you so sure we won't finish you off too? You are part of Henry's gang."

"Originally, I was going to tell you I gave the assignments. You guys were kind and left me alone without being asked. Why? Is it because you know I'm just a girl?"

Kay sighed. "Girls are always complicated. All right, so what's our second assignment? Not if you just need a place to stay. With your immense treasure and wealth, of course, you can rent an expensive apartment outside the Black District."

"Your job is to protect me from anyone who tries to kill and get me," said the girl gloomily. "I will pay you one million Coll each month until the second mission is completed."

"When is this mission considered complete?" Kay asked.

"I will decide!" Lindy replied.

"We take!" Malvinn shouted quickly without even seeking approval from Kay. That's something out of the ordinary. Kay is more often active in making decisions.

"Are you sure, Malvinn?" The surprised Kay approached Malvinn and whispered in his best friend's ear. "What if we fail? Surely she will demand a penalty or something to compensate, right?"

Lindy heard it. "I heard that the Rogue Brothers have never failed in any of their missions. So, I hope this time doesn't make me the first client you guys fail."

The girl still looked sombre and spoke sparingly.

"Okay! Since Malvinn accepted it, I consider it a special job. Never did Malvinn want to be involved in deciding which job to turn down or take." Kay glanced at Malvinn.

"So," Lindy said hesitantly. "Can I live here?"

"I'll find a suitable place for you later. But I'm in a hurry and have something to do outside. Can you hold the phone for me for a while?" asked Kay.

The girl raised a face that looked scared and then glanced at Malvinn.

"Oh, do not hope in him!" said Kay, waving his left hand at Malvinn. "He's the laziest at answering the phone and chatting with strangers."

The girl nodded hesitantly.

Lindy and Malvinn were alone in the apartment. Malvinn kept standing by the window, staring at the street outside. Lindy sat behind the desk, waiting for the phone to ring.

Lindy occasionally glanced at Malvinn. She was eager to chat, but Malvinn didn't seem interested. Malvinn is more silent and as if he has his own world.

"Um..." Lindy said softly and hesitantly. She couldn't stand just being like that without doing anything.

Malvinn only glanced at her briefly.

"Do I have to wait for a call from a certain someone? Then, what should I do when the phone rings?" Lindy looked nervous.

"Do whatever you like. I don't care," Malvinn said nonchalantly. He hugged his sword and then walked out of the window.

"Wait!" Lindy exclaimed quickly.

She stood up from the chair and stumbled. The girl almost fell down. However, Malvinn quickly supported her to avoid hitting the table's edge.

Lindy was nervous every time she faced Malvinn. Even the touch of Malvinn's hand caused Lindy to flinch and quickly back away. However, Malvinn felt that the girl was only pretending.

"I'm sorry," Lindy confessed over and over.

Seeing Lindy's refusal reaction, Malvinn became reluctant. He backed away and stepped away from Lindy.

"I have some business. Stay here until one of us returns," Malvinn begged curtly.

When Malvinn opened the door and was about to leave the apartment, he suddenly stopped. He felt his clothes catch on something. When he turned around, Malvinn was slightly surprised to find Lindy standing behind him, holding the hem of Malvinn's clothes.

"What is it?" asked Malvinn coldly.

"That… do I know you? I feel like we've met somewhere."

Lindy looked Malvinn straight in the eyes for the first time.

Malvinn quickly looked away. He does not like to look directly at other people, let alone a girl.

"Are you teasing me?" asked Malvinn.