“No. You are someone trying to survive the best you can.” Gut said, trying to pacify her doubts.

“That’s not really that different…” Charlotte tore her sight away from the gun and looked at him, smiling wryly at his words and blinking slowly.

“You’re Charlotte Eschette. A girl who wants to be happy.” He patted her head and smiled softly at her for a split.

Even if it was only for a second, she still saw it. She didn’t know why, but that little smile of his made she feel better. Sighing out her worries, she nodded at his words, indicating she was better, albeit still a bit down on her emotions.

“Let me get it ready for you, I will later tell you everything you need to know about it.”

“Ok.”

He took the gun from her hands after pushing the seven bullets inside the cartridge, and then pushed it inside the gun. Giving it back at her, he closed the case and left it in the living room’s table.

“Ready?”

“Yeah.”

After they left the house and took the elevator, Charlotte had a serious face, having made her resolve, but still with her doubts and fears in her heart. There was nothing she could do right now to relieve them.

“Hey, you will teach me how to use it well, right?” She asked without looking at him as they waited inside the elevator.

“Of course, that is part of the plan. It will have to wait until we get to Igny, though.”

“I know… Then, will you teach me how to fight, too?”

“How to fight?”

He asked this as he couldn’t believe what she was saying, how could someone who was a as small as her hope to learn how to fight.

“Yep, I need to protect myself, remember? So, uhm, interpersonal fighting is a must, no?”

“It would help indeed, but it is not what is more decisive while surviving.”

“Then, what is it?”

“Taking the best choice available.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. Knowing when to act and when to stay still are the best survival guidelines. So keep it in your mind.”

“Roger.”

Once they were out of the elevator, they went past the clerk waiting in the reception desk, he wasn’t the Cris she had med occasionally during the week; and took a cab to a metro station far from their home. Once in that station, they got inside it and then rode it for an hour before coming out and taking another taxi. Charlotte was utterly lost, even if she could remember the station’s name they arrived at, which she couldn’t, she would still be doomed by how far away they were from his house.

They arrived at a private urban zone, it was closed off to the public and had a guard manning the entrance.

“Where are you going?” Asked the guard when Gut and Charlotte were in front of him, waiting for the front door to be opened.

“We’re going to Mr. Kent’s residence.”

“Let me check, you are?”

“Xavier.”

“Xavier… Bartek?” Gut nodded when the guard asked. “Right, you can go in. You know where is it?”

“Yes.”

Entering the private urban zone, they walked for about ten minutes before arriving at a three stories big house. It wasn’t big enough to be considered a mansion, but one still needed considerable wealth to be able to own it.

Gut walked to the door without looking around while Charlotte was curious about the other houses on this place. All of them were of considerable size, but every house was different. Some had four or even five floors while being thin, others only had one floor while occupying all the assigned area to them, without any room to the garden or other things.

On the door was a button to sound the bell, but Gut didn’t touch it. He simply opened the house as if he was its owner and went in. Charlotte followed behind without asking anything. From what she knew this was a highly dangerous place so she had to be cautious each time she eve opened her mouth.

Once inside, she saw that all the first floor was without walls, it was a giant living room. On the opposites corners from where they entered stood circular staircases leading to the upper floor. Beside the walls were multiple tables on which were dishes and fruits served. All around the room were sofas, couches and chairs so the guests could sit.

In total, Charlotte could see 15 people. Some of them were eating while holding a plate, some others were talking between them and two of them were simply waiting silently in some chair like the misfits they were.

When Charlotte and Gut entered, the people inside only gave them a glance, studying the new guests as quickly as possible, and continued going on their business. Gut walked to a table, found two plates and started serving some food. Even if they had already eaten, it was only polite to accept the food that was served.

Giving Charlotte a plate which doubled his, he started to eat. She didn’t think something was wrong and started to eat promptly, the guests who saw the little kid eating so much couldn’t believe when she globed it all down as if nothing. In the meantime, more people entered the house sporadically.

After waiting for half an hour, a man descended the stairs. He had dark blue and green hair, piercings all over his right eyebrow and ears, tattoos all over his body and darkish Caucasian skin. He was wearing an unbuttoned yellow shirt, white loose pants without belt so it was kind of hanging there and trimmed black boots. He had a vicious grin on his face and bloodshot eyes which told that he would leash out at anyone who disrespected him, even a baby if given the chance.

Had Charlotte seen this man before she became a criminal on the street, she would had immediately called the police to have him apprehended, even if he had not done anything wrong yet. She would even tell the police that he had tried to assault her just to keep him off the streets.

Now, however, she was in the same side as him. Heck, this was apparently his house, so he was most likely the one moving the strings on the commotion that was arising on the country and the protest that was to take place the next day. She simply waited for him to start this reunion while continuously eating.

The man, Kent, looked around, measuring everyone in the place. After eyeing the people in his home, he opened his arms and grinned evilly.

“I’m glad all you friends were able to arrive safely at my humble house. Now, we don’t want to waste any time, so let’s get to it. Tell me what you all can do to help me decide if you’re worth the risk of taking you out of this hellish place!”

That was the purpose of this reunion. The instigator wanted to steal something from the government and be out of here while the protesters acted as a distraction. As for the rest, no one was any better. Some wanted to commit a murder or steal one or two things from an influential person.

Kent had a yacht which he was going to use to get out of here. And while he could get out of here without the help of anyone else, there was no problem to invite people who had grudges with the government. After all, if they all were given a way out, they could cause commotions in other areas reducing more the manpower the government had, making his own operation go more smoothly.

To get into his yacht, one had to clear three steps. First, to be recognized by an information broker and be referred to that man. Two, pay fifty thousand Gers for each person who wanted to leave. The third was today’s screening.

Charlotte didn’t know the exact price Gut had paid for them, but she certainly knew it was no cheap. She felt more and more indebted towards Gut. She didn’t know how to compensate it, though.

“Now, show me how useful you can be to me and you’re in.” Kent snapped his fingers as if signaling the star.

Two more people came promptly from the second floor. The two wore black suits and had a bulky body. They were carrying heavy looking boxes. Putting the boxes at both of Kent’s sides, they stood at the extreme of the boxes.

“I have everything you should ask for to prove your skills in these. If I don’t, then I’ll bring down what is lacking. Now, come, the first to have arrived is first to show.”

After finishing his words, Kent motioned for everyone to show what they were capable of doing.

Those who were good at assassination or fighting, had a short brawl with one of the black suited men o a mannequin to show their knowledge.

Those who used with weapons were shown some firearms and asked to describe, arm, disarm and handle them however best they could.

Those who were good at stealing stuff, were given something to steal from: a safe with good enough security or devices that detected the movement to disarm them.

It went without a hitch for Gut, he was good at fighting, handled weapons perfectly and had some expertise when it came to stealing. As for Charlotte, she didn’t have to do anything. He had paid for the two of them, after all. He had also shown enough skill to allow that kind of thing.

Once all the demonstrations were over, Kent made everyone who he deemed not worthy get out of his residence. After kicking out five men and two women, there were still 24 of them, including Kent. He then gave everyone present a little card and said with his mocking smile in full display:

“As I mentioned before, we’re to part tomorrow’s evening at 11, whoever has not arrived yet will be left behind, no exceptions. Except for me, of course.” His smile widened at this last remark.

As he was the owner of the yacht, he could do whatever he wanted.

“I have a question.” Said a man with an arrogant tone.

Kent motioned for him to continue while grinning and raising his head in contempt. The man didn’t mind his action and simply asked what he had in mind.

“If you were to be captured and not arrive to the yacht, what are the rest of us supposed to do?”

“Hehe, the moment I fail to get what I want in my hands, you guys won’t be able to leave by this yacht, so pray I succeed. If you don’t like it, then don’t bother coming. Another one?”

Seeing that no one was asking anything else, he finally said that today’s encounter was over. Everyone was free to go their own way or stay and discuss anything they wanted to do between them. Turning around, he made his two guards follow him to the second floor with the big boxes they had brought down.

The screening had a second meaning to the other people. It was to see if they could make contact with another person and work together in their goals before and after parting Gercy. Once Kent and his guards were completely out of the room, people started moving and greeting each other more freely. They already knew the capabilities of everyone here, so all that was left was to get to know their personalities and if they would be interested in working together.

They all knew what everyone could do, except for one. The little boy who was besides one of the most impressive guys of the night. He had kept eating without care in the world, as if this was of no importance, as if everything would go as he planned. That attitude sparked the interest of many of those present.

Charlotte was sweating profusely as she ate. She didn’t know why everyone was looking at her. But she certainly felt that it was dangerous to stay here!

“We can go now?” She asked Gut, trying to be as indifferent as possible.

“Let us wait a little bit. Do you plan to keep on eating?” Gut asked in return. “This is the fourth one tonight.”

“Oh, really? I didn’t realize, it was delicious and had this particular flavor I can’t get enough of.” Showing him her tongue, she made a silly expression.

She lied through her teeth, now that he had mentioned it, she was on the verge of exploding already. She wasn’t tasting the food at all. Just eating the food while trying to keep her composure.

Before Gut could continue their conversation, a man approached them. He was wearing a green shirt, brown pants and black shoes. On his hand he kept his coat and on his head was a small hat. The man was shorter than Gut but definitely could throw a punch. On the mocking fight he had shown before, he was toe to toe and shoulder to shoulder with Gut, that’s what Charlotte could gather, though, as some people commented on the fights and said that the two of them had the same level at fighting.

The man bowed a little and with a smile spoke to Gut.

“Hello, mister Xavier, and?”

“Shuck. You can call him that.” Gut answered without glancing back at her, keeping his vigilance on the man.

“Alright, may I have a little of your time?”

“Make it fast.”

“I’m planning on causing a little ruckus tomorrow, and I’d appreciate all the help I can get.”

“Sorry, not interested.”

Gut stopped any kind of friendliness with the man before it even started. It was just bothersome and had no merit.

“Is it because of the kid? I can keep him safe if you so wanted.” The man continued to try and convince Gut.

“… I just want out of the country before a war truly breaks out. I do not desire any unnecessary trouble that might arise because of anyone here.”

Gut said as he spoke louder this time, so everyone who had been waiting for the green coated man to finish would be discouraged.

“Oh? So you believe the hacker gal won’t be caught?” The man said, changing his tone of voice.

“I do not know if she will be caught or not. What I do know is that she was mostly used to incite the war, so even if she is captured and sent to Atalasia, the war would still happen.”

“Oh? Why do you think so?” The man asked while tilting his head, that was the first time he had thought about it.

“You can think about it.” Finishing his talk, Gut turned the cold shoulder to the man, making it obvious he wasn’t interested in his offer.

Some other people came to try and convince him, all getting the same result. Gut turned around after waiting for half an hour and made his way to the front door.

Charlotte followed behind him, trying not to care that much about the obvious stares she was getting.

When they reached the gateway where the guard was, they saw there was a taxi waiting for them.