(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 344

Chapter 344: It’s for real this time
Kellen was helping out in the conference room, taking over Hill’s place of going through emails and responding to them when the emergency meeting alarm blared again. From what Rhys had told him, since Kellen’s ‘outburst’, the other Espers had been too scared to call a meeting again. At least, not as an emergency. They went through the proper channels instead of forcing a meeting.

So it was a surprise that someone had done so. Rhys seemed surprised as well. The Esper who had assisted him last time, got to work pulling up the screen and Rhys got into place. He pushed back the chair he had been sitting in, sighing as he got to his feet and turned. He pushed his hair back, before standing in a relaxed stance, his arms crossed as he waited for the broadcast to come onto the large screen.

Kellen, who was curious as to why they would call it, turned and faced the screen as well. Slowly, the faces began to appear and once again, a meeting was called.

It felt like there was a tension amongst everything this time, and Kellen didn’t know why. Rhys had a little smirk on his face, his arms flexing as he looked around at the familiar faces. Uncle Tom and Captain Sergei looked as if they were next to each other, but both had projected their own screens. Kellen wanted to shake his head, but also understood. He’d probably do the same thing if he was in Captain Sergei’s position.

“Is…Guide Woods not with you today?” Lieutenant Fisher asked and Rhys’ lips turned up more. He glanced towards where Kellen was sitting, only a few feet away from him. Kellen watched as everyone else followed his gaze, as if they expected Kellen to pop up suddenly.

“He is, so watch what you say. I heard all about what happened last time.” Rhys said, the warning was clear. Sakura started laughing.

“That sounds like Kellen.” She murmured, her eyes bright. Everyone turned towards the others, trying to see who called the meeting. Lieutenant Fisher cleared his throat. He looked nervous, his gaze darting around the screens. Even his cheeks were a little flushed.

“Uh, I called the meeting this time.” He said carefully and Captain Sergei grinned.

“Again, Lieutenant Fisher? What happened this time? You caught sight of them?” It was clear that Captain Sergei was teasing him, but Lieutenant Fisher’s face grew dark.

“Actually, that is what happened. After some more digging and tailing from our people, we were able to find their hideout. At least, partially. We made a move on it, and-”

“-How come this is the first time I’m hearing about this?” Uncle Tom interjected, anger on his features. As the Captain of the D. E. C. this shouldn’t be the first time he was hearing about it, but as Kellen knew, and so did everyone else, he was losing his grip on his seat of power.

Mainly because Rhys was on a mission to get him removed, and no one was stopping him. Kellen had an inkling as to why, and thought the man was being ridiculous, but this was a blatant action by one of his people. By one of his Lieutenants, no less.

Lieutenant Fisher sighed. He ran his hand over his face, before he looked towards where Uncle Tom was on his screen.

“Captain, I did tell you about it. You never responded, so I assumed you agreed to my actions. I let you know in advance, as ordered, and waited. I waited so long that I missed catching them.” Lieutenant Fisher’s tone held quite a bit of anger. “In fact, the reason I actually called that last meeting was to prompt you to speak of it, or reach out to me after the meeting was called, but you did neither. I know that the messages got to you since who I sent is someone I trust explicitly, but if you want to call me out in front of everyone, I have no problem doing the same in return.” Lieutenant Fisher’s tone told Kellen that the man was reaching a point of no return.

Uncle Tom was losing control a lot faster than it appeared Uncle Tom was aware. Then even Kellen was aware of, but Rhys? His Captain Thatcher?

He looked pleased as punch.

His yellow gaze was turned up, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled with absolute glee watching Uncle Tom sputter and complain, arguing with Lieutenant Fisher in front of everyone. Lieutenant Fisher’s calm anger, in the face of Uncle Tom’s more loud, boisterous anger only made others like the Lieutenant more, and it was like Rhys had planned this perfectly.

Kellen felt a shiver run down his spine. He was really glad that Rhys wasn’t his enemy. He hadn’t forgotten that Rhys had almost acted on a plan he had put into place months in advance, and Gunther and Hill had finally caught him and ‘convinced’ him to not do it.

Uncle Tom had no idea he was only digging himself a deeper pit to fall into.

Kellen, wanting to save the humiliation, and also time, stood up and joined Rhys at his side.

“What was this about almost catching them?” Kellen asked, watching as his face poked onto screen and the Espers who had been arguing with each other froze. Uncle Tom’s already red face flushed even more, clearly forgetting Rhys’ warning from the beginning. While he looked embarrassed at having a side of himself exposed so publicly, Lieutenant Fisher looked ashamed.

Ashamed that he had to air some of his dirty laundry so openly, and Kellen was sympathetic to that. They were dealing with the fallout of everyone witnessing Casper and Gunther arguing still. Pamela was doing her best, but people gossiped. So many rumours were floating around the building that Kellen had given up on trying to pay attention to them.

Gwen was a good resource in that regard. She reported everything to Pamela, and got rewarded with stickers for every rumour she changed. Pamela was surprised something so simple worked, and Gwen was happy.

Kellen was the one who told Pamela to use Gwen in that way, and offered the sticker chart.

It was something to help the Guild, and it kept her out of trouble. She wanted to help the Guild, and Pamela looked exhausted. Two birds, one sticker book.

“Yes, well, we found their old hideout. Unfortunately, they caught on that someone was following them, and we lost their trail. We have a few hints, but we were hoping we could reach out to anyone who was still in town for help tracking.” It was clear that they were asking for either the Peach Guild, or the Saturn Guild for help.

Rhys frowned, and so did Sakura. She sighed heavily.

“I unfortunately don’t have anyone particularly good at that kind of work. Most of our people are researchers, and repair techs. I’m sorry Lieutenant Fisher. If you need anyone on the computer side of things, I might be able to help.” Sakura offered and he frowned, but nodded.

“If you could send someone over, that would be appreciated. We do need to track their tail.” She nodded, turning to speak to whoever was in the room with her. It was Rhys’ turn, and Kellen knew what he was going to say, but an idea crossed his mind.

What could they do with Gunther? What was something that he could do that would keep him out of the Guild, his mind focused, and still feeling helpful?

This was the perfect opportunity!

“Lieutenant Fisher, I-”

“We have the perfect person for the job!” Kellen interrupted and Rhys turned a confused look towards him.

“Kellen, you do not have time to be doing this.” Rhys told him, and Kellen shook his head in exasperation.

“Not me, Rhys. You know, him.” Kellen said, gesturing with his head and eyes upwards. Rhys’ confused expression didn’t relax for a few seconds, until it clicked. Then, it stoned over.

“No. I think that is a horrible plan.” He told him, and Kellen glanced at the screen, at every set of eyes that was clearly watching with open curiousity and Kellen yanked Rhys by the back of the neck and tugged him out of their line of sight.

“Mute the mic, please.” Kellen called and heard several people, especially Sakura groan as they were now out of line of sight, and unable to hear. Kellen met Rhys’ gaze. “It would be perfect for him.” He said and Rhys’ crossed arms remained crossed.

“It would be terrible. He’d be alone, around Espers who hate Guides. He’s unstable, Kellen.” Kellen raised an eyebrow.

“You’re also unstable, Rhys. It’s not very fair to say the same thing about him. You need to have faith in him. He hasn’t gone over to their side before, why would that change now? Plus, they were clearly taunting us with that lieutenant or whatever who looked like him. If we don’t do this now, do you think Gunther will ever recover? He needs something to do. He’s a Lieutenant. It will show him that you still need him, care for him, and that he has uses outside of what he’s put himself in. Because he’s so unstable it could help him. He will be able to sympathize or empathize with those fools, and probably get us access to them.” Kellen said. Rhys clearly didn’t like that Kellen had made good points, and his expression didn’t change for several moments.

When it did, he looked exhausted.

“What if we lose him?” He asked softly and Kellen reached up, cupping his face. He smiled at the man, who was so scared of losing the man who had remained by his side thus far.

“If you don’t do this, there is a chance you lose him for good. You already know that, you’re just scared to let him out of your sight. You have to. Clearly, he needs to grow, Rhys.” Rhys exhaled, ducking his head and hiding his face from Kellen for a moment. Kellen waited.

When he raised his face again, he looked resigned.

“I’ll ask him before I send him to the wolves. Give him a choice.” Kellen chuckled.

“He’s not going to view it as much of a choice, Rhys. He’s going to assume you want him to do this. Use me when it comes to that. I’d rather have a beef with him than you would.” Rhys scoffed.

“I’m not doing that to you.” He protested and Kellen chuckled.

“He’s going to know it was my idea anyways, so you should just own up to it outright then try to hide it. I’ll try to talk to him again before he leaves too, let him know some things he should be aware of. Maybe I’ll ask if I can take him to the Peach Guild.” Rhys furrowed his brows.

“Why?” Kellen smiled.

“To visit the friend I saved from the A. E. G. years ago.”