Threads of the Soul

Chapter 487 - 487: Award Winning Badger

"WHOOOO! YEAH! THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! GO NIX- GO LITTLE KNIGHT!"Alfie shouted at the top of his lungs before starting to clap loudly and with far too much enthusiasm for an awards show. Thankfully, the crowd was just as noisy, so his overzealous attitude was drowned out that not everyone's eyes were on him, but even still. This many eyes looking awkwardly in his direction was making Zero feel more humiliated and embarrassed in this singular moment than he had ever felt in his long, long life.

He had to admit though, the festivities were fun, and even if it meant being embarrassed by hanging around with this goofy fool and his children, he was enjoying himself thoroughly. Just like Alfie had suggested, he had bet a lot of money on the little knight who had been at low odds mainly because of her less flashy display.

The odds had been in favour of the man three times her size, riding a rhino and who had the ability to literally turn his arms into rockets by blasting flames out of his elbows.

Yet, despite all of those odds stacked in his favour, it was not him that stood at the very top of the winners podium. However, as a man of pride and honour, he did not think any less of it. Even if he towered over the actual winner, despite her podium being higher than hers, he took the medal from the official and gladly put it over the next of the tiny victor.

To those who knew her, Nixie's victory was a sure thing, which made betting on her all the better.

Alfie slumped back down into his chair, pulling his youngest daughter, Blueberry, back onto his lap and bouncing her on his knee while he nudged Zero.

"See? I told you. Absolute sure thing. You just know that if she took off her helmet, that everyone that lost money to her would cry blood in agony."

He muttered with a childish laugh, causing Zero to shake his head in amusement. The closing ceremonies had been a massive payday in general. Nixie had won in jousting whilst Honey had absolutely dominated in the beast competition and was basking in the glory next to a nervous looking Bob.

Both of them he had bet on, giving him a sizeable payday, ready to be spent on his next vacation. Just that thought alone, 'Next Vacation', surprised him.

He had spent so long thinking about work and only work, and all it took was a few days out of the office to turn him into the type that was counting the days till his next bout of freedom. Although really, with his age, he should have been retired long ago. Oh well, such thoughts could always be left for another year or so.

With his mind back on work, however, he couldn't help but lean over to Alfie and ask,

"I hope that you don't mind, But would you be open to coming to the facility after the awards are finished? It will be easier for us to discuss things while the office is empty and people are still winding down from their vacation.

Of course, if you would rather spend the day with your family, I understand completely."

"Hmm? Oh no man, It's fine." Alfie said with a smile, not taking his eyes off the awards ceremony. He glanced up at the box where Corvus and Astra sat just in time to see Corvus bend over and cover his face with his hand.

Alfie couldn't help but chuckle at that. Big tough crow boy was being brought to tears just from seeing his daughter winning her first competition. How utterly adorable. He was never going to let him live this one down.

"I don't mind coming over. I have to drop the kids off with their mother anyways, they've got a family thing that I thankfully don't need to attend. So I wasn't really going to be doing much anyway." He continued, bouncing his daughter on his leg the entire time, before casually reaching over and stopping a slap fight between two of his children with the third cheered them on.

Across the arena, a pair of individuals sat perfectly straight, half heartedly clapping much like those around them, yet their eyes were not focused on the awards ceremony. Instead, they were locked onto Zero, who sat directly across from them.

Even if he seemed like just a dot from this distance, one of the men had amber eyes like that of an eagle, and feathers growing around them like a white mask of some kind of comic book hero.

This mans hand moved, scribbling into a journal, as he kept his eyes locked on Zero. Every single word that the pair exchanged was jotted down onto this man's paper, and only when they finished speaking did he hand this journal to his comrade.

The Comrade in question plugged the journal, which happened to be a Knowledge gift, into his communicator and transferred the contents of the transcribed conversation, before sending it off.

After a few seconds of wait, his communicator beeped again, displaying a short and direct message.

{Confirmed. Follow the target to the site, then await further instructions. Intel suggests that the Device has been activated. Elimination and extraction may be required, prepare accordingly.}

The two silent individuals glanced at the message that they had received, before nodding to each other as exchanging a wordless look. The man with the eagle eyes remained seated where he was, watching Zero like the Hawk his eyes belonged to. His comrade, on the other hand, rose from his chair, pushing his way through the crowds and ignoring the protests of the people.

When the award ceremonies finally ended, Zero and Alfie rose from their seats, leading the children out of the arena as they buzzed with excitement. The crowds were bustling around them, so Alfie had his children hold his hands tight so they didn't get lost.

Since he only had two hands, that left Zero holding the hand of Alfie's other daughter, Fern. The girl had wrapped her vines around his hand tightly, as she was glancing around them nervously.

When someone bumped into them, she flinched slightly and pulled herself closer to Zero, tightening her vines around his hand as she looked up at him with large, doe eyes filled with worry.

It was a sight that Zero had never thought he would ever see in his life, and it melted his cold, stubborn heart immediately.

Without hesitation, he lifted Fern from the ground and held her in his arms, unaware of the individual staring holes into the back of his head.

"Don't worry my dear," He said in the most reassuring tone he could muster, "I won't let anything bad happen to you. You have my word."