(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 327

Chapter 327: Not all tests should be scary Chapter 327: Not all tests should be scary “What did he think he was?” She asked as they turned back to the giant screen.

Kellen couldn’t help but chuckle.  “He thought he was a C Class.” He told her and she glanced at him.  “Oh, like how you were previously?

Gosh, that’s almost funny.

Everyone says that now.” She muttered.

“Whether or not that is true is another story, obviously.

I find that we do have quite the force of C Class, and most people trying to hide their identity say that too.” Kellen gave the Doctor a strange look.  Why did she, of all people, know that kind of information?

Especially as she worked at the Center of all places?  Dr.

Hainle noticed Kellen’s look, and flinched, glancing away from him.  “You are probably curious as to how I know that information.” She muttered, glancing around the room before she leaned in closer to Kellen.

“I was hired on recently.

Lieutenant Fisher and I are…cousins.” She admitted quietly.

“I may not be an Esper or a Guide, but I do care about my work, and the people under me.

In my previous line of work, I often dealt with people who…didn’t want to disclose their true identities.” She told him with a wink, before pulling away and turning her gaze towards the two Espers and the now clearly classified Guide.  Charlie was grinning, having no idea what kind of turmoil he was about to set off.

As far as Kellen was concerned, the boy never would know.  A kid who hadn’t had a chance to be a kid wasn’t going to worry about something he had no control over, especially when it was clear that others had taken advantage of that fact and had used and abused him for it.

Kellen didn’t even want to think how young he’d started ‘officially’ doing guide work.  If he did, he was sure he was going to kill someone.  He wasn’t even 20, and he’d been doing work like ‘that’ as if it came natural to him.

Kellen knew that it wasn’t anything to be ashamed of, but damn it, there were lines that even the regulators knew not to cross.  Kellen couldn’t believe that his city had this kind of underbelly.

He was not going to let it stand.

He had a lot on his plate, but once this was cleared up, he was going to tackle it with gusto.  His city was going to be cleaned up, that was for damn sure.  “So…I assume we should keep this to ourselves, but is it alright if we inform Lieutenant Fisher about this?” Dr.

Hainle asked and took Kellen out of the budding rage in his gut.

Kellen shook himself lightly, appreciating the distractions from the constricting fear he felt welling up from other parts of him.

It was coating everything he did like a slick slime, but the other emotions were powerful enough to fight it off.  “I would prefer to let him know personally, rather than have someone else tell him, or through a text or email.” Kellen told her, and she gave him a strange look, but nodded.

“Should I tell him to expect you today then?” She asked and Kellen hesitated.

Should he be making these kinds of calls without the Captain nearby?

He wasn’t so sure, but as the pair of the Captain, and as the highest ranking Guide from the Guild at the moment, he felt he had some authority on this.

Kellen fought with himself for only a second, before he gave a brisk nod.  “Yes.

We’ll speak to him after this.” Kellen affirmed, before he turned to look at the trio in the other room.

Hill seemed a bit…dazed, but Rhys was doing a good job of taking care of her.

Rhys clearly was chatting to Charlie, who was overflowing with excitement.

“We should call them in here to tell them.” Kellen murmured, and Dr.

Hainle nodded.  “Of course, Mr.

Woods.” She bent, pressing a button that allowed her to speak into the mic.

“Now that everyone is dressed again, can you all come into the second room, please?

We would like to disclose the results of the test!” She kept her tone light, happy, and Kellen watched as Charlie’s eyes lit up.

No doubt he was excited that his test had gone completely different from the last time.  Kellen’s pocket burned, a small gift he’d grabbed before they had left the Guild a pulsing reminder.

He wasn’t going to let him leave with any bad thoughts.

Not a single damn one.  They watched as they shuffled out of the room and Hill pushed open the door to the room first, her expression bright, but confused.

Kellen’s expression was grim when he met her gaze, causing her eyes to widen, but his expression shifted immediately as Charlie came in behind her, his expression bright and hopeful.  Kellen matched his energy, and Charlie came prancing over, grabbing onto Kellen’s arm without a worry.

Kellen wondered if his sister’s influence was the reason why Charlie had no fear of him.

Rhys entered the room, closing the door behind him.

His yellow gaze was piercing as he scanned the room, and Kellen could tell that everyone was going to hold their tongue.  “Is it good news?

Am I a C Class?” Charlie asked and Kellen grinned.

He shook his head.  “No Charlie, like I thought, you are a higher Class than a C Class.” Kellen told him, and Charlie’s jaw dropped.  “What?

B-But that’s-there is no way!

I’m useless!” The way Charlie said it, with conviction and without any form of sadness or emotion made Kellen’s whole body tense with anger.

He kept his smile Guide perfect as he stared down at the younger man.  “You are not useless.

I only have you on the sidelines because you were hurt just like Lieutenant Casper was.

Both of you had been pushed to your limits, and it was my job to notice that and make sure you rested.

What was the reason for us to get this test if you thought you were useless, hmm?

Wasn’t it to finish your full physical, both power levels and physical levels?” Kellen asked and Charlie exhaled slowly, nodding.  His eyes were warm as he looked up at Kellen, believing his every word.

Kellen felt bad.

He was lying to him, but for his own good.

At some point he’d tell Charlie the truth, but he would wait until the boy had a support group around him.

A group that would protect him, and keep him from Kellen if that was what he wanted.  “I guess you’re right, Guide Woods.

So?

If I’m not a C Class Guide, what am I?” Rhys took the moment to step forward, placing his hand on Charlie’s shoulder and lowering himself to his height.

Charlie had a significant height difference to the rest of the men in the room.

He was shorter than Casper, and a little bit shorter than Hill as well.

Kellen knew that it had to be due to malnutrition, but it still made him angry.  Rhys smiled at him, his eyes crescents as he looked at the younger man, and Charlie met his gaze with confusion.  “You and I, Charlie, are in the same Class.

Welcome to the S Class club.” Kellen was grateful with how Rhys was phrasing this, while Hill, who Charlie couldn’t see, had practically gone into shock.

She covered her mouth, her eyes wide, and the orange shocked out of them.  She glanced at Charlie, before throwing her gaze towards Kellen.

Kellen shook his head once, telling her to keep her mouth shut.

They would discuss it later.  “I’m an S Class?

Does that mean I’m strong like you?” He asked and Rhys chuckled.  “It means you have the potential to be strong like me, but you’ll have to put in a lot of work.

I imagine Kellen is going to be quite busy getting you into shape to be a perfect S Class Guide, hmm?

Between him and his parents, I’m sure you’re going to be one of the best to come out of the Saturn Guild.

After Kellen, of course.” Rhys’ smile reached his eyes and Charlie was so excited and pleased that Kellen felt his shoulders relax.

Rhys reached up, ruffling his hair and Charlie giggled.  Kellen, remembering that Charlie’s hair colour currently wasn’t his natural hair colour, hummed.  “Charlie.” Kellen called, and the man turned towards him.

“What is your natural hair colour?

I can kind of see it peek through, but I can’t tell.” Kellen asked and Charlie paled.  “Uh, it’s ugly, so I don’t-should I dye my hair again?” Kellen frowned at his response, but his conviction to become a murderer of some kind increased.

Rhys’ gaze, when he met those yellow eyes, was much the same.

Kellen imagined that Rhys wouldn’t handle anything to do with the abuse of children well.  “You don’t have to dye it again, and if I can’t even see it, why would I think it was ugly?

I’d have to see it fully to be able to make that call.” Kellen sighed heavily.

“It appears you’re just going to have to grow it all out for me to make that decision.” Charlie’s eyes widened, but he nodded.  “I-I guess that makes sense.” He mumbled, before he swallowed.

“It’s…grey.

Boring, dull grey.” He murmured and he dropped his gaze.

Kellen glanced at Rhys, whose jaw was tight, before he swallowed and nodded.

Reaching into his pocket, Kellen pulled out the handful of candy he’d grabbed from the offering bowl in the research department and held it out to Charlie.  Kellen grinned, taking in Charlie’s surprised, but excited expression.  “Hair-colour schmear-colour.

Doesn’t matter to me.

Congratulations, Charlie.

Here, you can have the whole thing.

Hold out your hands.” Charlie quickly cupped his hands, taking the offering from Kellen with wide, dazed eyes.

Kellen reached into his other pocket, pulling out a few more, saving one of the lollipops in his pocket for Hill.

He stared, watching Charlie as he beamed, excited, and Kellen hoped that this was going to be a good thing.  He needed this to be a good thing, for Charlie especially.

It was dangerous that an S Class Guide had shown up at this point, but what could they do?

Kellen was never going to turn him away, and Kellen knew from history books, and school, that the Espers in the room wouldn’t be able to turn Charlie away.  The man was an addictive substance to them, sweeter than any candy that Kellen handed to the boy.

He just hoped that the people in this room kept their mouths shut.

CREATORS’ THOUGHTS CalyB Kellen just causally understanding that he would kill for this man is so Kellen of him.