Chapter 39: The Long Walk to the Office (Teaser)

​The massive, sterile spires of the Ranger HQ loomed ahead, cutting through the eternal white mist of the central dimension.

R98 and R76 walked down the grand bridge, their boots echoing against the high-tech alloy.

​R76 let out a long, suffering sigh, adjusting his glasses.

"That damn senior R56... the second the paperwork became real, he 'conveniently' got reassigned back to his home sector. He left us the moment the job was done."

​R98 glanced at R76, his new arm swinging naturally at his side.

"Well... why are you still here with me, though?"

​R76 stopped. "Huh?"

​R98 stopped. "Huh?"

​R76’s face reddened with irritation.

"Huh?! Are you actually telling me to just walk away while you’re facing a Disciplinary Hearing for shooting an Elite? You really think I'm that cold?"

​R98’s eyes went wide, shimmering with exaggerated, dramatic tears of joy.

"What? Bro... what!! You're actually staying to help me?! You're risking your record for a slacker like me?!"

​Before R76 could respond, R98 lunged forward, clinging to R76’s neck like a koala and wailing with relief.

​"Hey! Shut up and get off me, you idiot!" R76 barked, trying to shove R98’s messy, tear-streaked face away.

"People are watching! Let’s just get to the office and try to keep our stories straight!"

​R98 didn't listen. He just kept sobbing into R76's shoulder as he was dragged toward the sliding glass doors of the Administrative Sector.

"You’re a God, bro! No, you're better than a God! You're an Angel with a salary!"

​"I'm going to kill you before the HQ does," R76 muttered, dragging his junior through the lobby.

---

Chapter 39.5: The Shadow of Authority

​The heavy, soundproof doors of the HQ meeting room hissed open. R98 marched in, his face twisted into a defiant pout.

Without waiting for an invitation, he pulled out a chair and slumped into it, crossing his arms and looking everywhere but the front of the room.

R76 let out a long, weary sigh at his junior’s lack of etiquette, then followed suit, sitting beside him with his back straight and professional.

​Across the polished obsidian table, R_N was already waiting.

She offered them her signature, unreadable smile—the kind that usually preceded a mountain of paperwork or a demotion.

​"So!" R98 barked, his voice echoing in the sterile room.

"Why is the Command so happy to invite us here? Planning on giving me a 'Manager of the Year' award for saving a world that was supposed to be scrapped?"

​R_N’s smile didn't waver.

"Well, first of all, congratulations are in order. You successfully stabilized a universe that was on the verge of permanent deletion. But that said...
the Command is not particularly fond of the methods you employed."

​R98 slammed his hand on the table, leaning forward.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?! I did the job, didn't I? The timeline is clean, the variables are reset, and the R300s are out of my hair!
What more is there to talk about?!"

​R_N tilted her head, her gaze remaining calm.

"That is all true. But why are you yelling at me, R98?"

​R98 blinked, the wind suddenly knocked out of his sails.

"Ah... right. Sorry. I—"

He stopped, realizing he was falling for her pace.

"NO, wait! I’m yelling because you summoned us here like we’re criminals!"

​"Well, R98," R_N said, her eyes glinting.

"It wasn't me who called you here this time. I am merely acting as an attendant today. I didn't invite you at all."

​R98’s heart skipped a beat.

"Then who...?"

​"It was C_0."

​A visible wave of cold sweat broke across R98’s forehead. Beside him, R76’s composure cracked, his eyes widening behind his glasses as he turned to R_N.

"Why is she getting involved in a Sector 98 maintenance issue? That’s way above her pay grade!"

​R_N tapped a finger against her chin, appearing to ponder the question.

"I don’t know all the details. But it seems she has some... significant history with R98."

​Before R98 could protest, the secondary doors at the back of the room slid open.

The air in the room didn't just turn cold; it felt like the atmospheric pressure had suddenly doubled.

​R98’s body reacted before his mind did. He snapped to his feet, standing in a perfect, rigid attention position,
his face pale and dripping with sweat like a student facing a terrifying headmaster.

His body moved before his thoughts could catch up.

​"Nice to meet all of you again," a cool, melodic voice announced from the doorway.

​Standing there was a woman whose presence seemed to warp the very light in the room.

C_0 stepped into the light, her eyes scanning the room until they landed—with a sharp, knowing intensity—on R98.

Her eyes settled on R98.

And for the first time since entering the room—
she smiled.

​

To be continued...

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