BXBX NOVEL Chapter 97 - Jojo 1
The forest was quiet while the stench of blood filled the atmosphere. After a couple of minutes that feel like forever, the Ghost Hunter recovered from the after effect of the sudden attack. Now, they took their time looking at the fierce beast that almost took their life. Everyone one of them came and looked at the enormous mutilated beast. Seeing the real body of the beast, their jaw dropped with fear. Where did hell is this. How can a snake be this?
"Assemble everyone," Emma commanded.
Instantly, all the bewildered Ghost Hunter recovered and assemble in a neat formation. "I believe all of you have a lot of questions. However, please don\'t ask. Simply because I don\'t know. This would be our first time seeing this." He pointed at the surrounding.
"But all I find out so far is that. This place or whatever it is is habitable for a human being. As a matter of fact, the air is purer than our world, I may say. Because I don\'t know if this part of earth. Do you get me?"
The Ghost hunter nodded. Every one of them could tell from the plant and trees without being told. This place is extremely different from the world they are familiar with. But all this made them puzzled. Are we on earth or not?
"Since we are here. I don\'t need to tell you how dangerous this place is. We\'ll wait for the others to arrive while Jojo will recover from her injury. Before then, we need to set defensive formation around 500 meters of this perimeter. Surveillance team, I want eyes in the sky."
Hearing the order, the team scrambled off to complete the order. While Emma approached Jojo. Seeing Emma, Jojo put on a forced smile.
"Commander, I\'m sorry for slowing us down," Jojo said with a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"Why."
Jojo shook her head. "This a dangerous unknown environment. Every second is vital for our survival. Besides, we don\'t know what danger is coming our way right now. The last time I check, staying at the location of a fierce battle is never a good thing. We\'re prone to greater attack than when we change our location."
"I know that. However, the life of every knight is as valuable as everyone else. Let forget that you risk your life to save mine. If we start abandoning every injured person. Before we know it, no one would be left to return home. And that is a failure on my part. Don\'t you agree?"
Jojo bit the edge of her lip. She couldn\'t refute her commander\'s reason. But she couldn\'t accept letting others be open to attack because of her. She hates herself for it. "Why are you beating yourself for nothing. I made the call and I will stand by it. Besides, there are still 10 people that are yet to arrive. Should forget about those people. Hmm?"
Hearing this, Jojo\'s eyes widened. she looked at the surrounding, but all the Ghost Hunters were already manning their positions, making it difficult to count the number of arrivals. "Are you doubting me?" Emma asked.
Jojo shook her head. "I dare not… But I can of surprise that I didn\'t notice. During the battle, I was keeping an eye on the arrival of our men. But I neglected the count when the beast was killed." She sighed.
"Why did you beat yourself for something insignificant." Emma chuckled. "I won\'t leave without gathering everyone. It not like I can forget."
>>It is easy to say for you. But not for others. You never can tell.
\'I know. I\'m just giving her assurance nothing will happen.\'
>>You\'re right, she needs something to give her assurance. I don\'t know what she encountered to make her like that. Definitely, it\'s not something good.
\'um hmm\'
Listening to Emma\'s confident word. Jojo sighed and the slight smile on her face disappeared, replaced with sorrow. She looked at the horizon, losing focus. Seeing this, Emma knew she was reminiscing on some bitter experience. He stood still not uttering a word, merely glaring at her face. After a couple of seconds, she recovered from her thoughts and saw Emma looking at her. Though she could not see Emma\'s face, she knew he was staring at her.
Jojo avoids Emma\'s gaze and says with a bittersweet smile "Sorry for blanking out like that in your presence."
She wait for Emma to respond but she heard none. She furrowed and turn her head, only to see Emma still looking at her. Seeing this, she blushed and avoid his gaze. "Commander, is there any problem?"
"None…" Emma pause and avert his gaze from Jojo\'s face and looked at the dead beast. "You\'re part of the family now. Whatever your previous experience maybe. It won\'t happen on my watch. Don\'t let what in the past change your bright self."
Jojo stood up with some difficulty and walked stopping a couple of feet from Emma\'s back. "I lost someone dear to me…. a mission couple of years ago…"
"You don\'t need to tell me. I understand what you\'re feeling."
Jojo looked at her bandage injury and chuckled. "If I\'m going to die, God knows when. At least for once, I need to let out one of the stones in my heart. Don\'t you agree?"
Emma glance at her without uttering a word before looking at the sky. However, he could not see shit. Everything was covered by the broad leaves of the huge tree. \'I\'ve never been calm like this in ages.\'
Discovering that Emma didn\'t reject her. She smiled. "Seeing that you didn\'t reject to hear the shenanigans of this shameless lady. Thank you." She took a deep breath.
"It happen when I took a mission to rescue a young mistress of a powerful in Beta. I have my mercenary group with a highly successful rate. My fiancé was a certified cyber security expert. But because of me, he trains in the arm and joins our mercenary group also our tech guy. Though I was against it at first, later I succumb to him. Every went smoothly….. I\'ve never been so happy in my life…. However…."
Jojo sniffed, her eyes full of tears. But she tried to remain strong. She took a deep breath and looked at his commander for a few seconds before averting her gaze. "This mission was not supported by my fiancé.. I don\'t know what he discovered when he checked the militia defense but he refuse to let us accept the mission… Hahaha," A teardrop from the corner of her eyes.