AHEIAID Chapter 14: Choking at the Slightest Disagreement
| Previous | Table of Contents | Next |
Surveillance District 13
At the central core.
Joey, who had been following behind Garius the entire way, could only gape in awe, his eyes darting everywhere to take in the high-tech building.
As the Shield and Spear of the Ottoman Empire, Surveillance District 13 covered an area the size of a first-tier city, boasting an enormous arsenal of advanced weaponry, multiple layers of spies, assassins, operatives, and undercover agents.
All personnel were roughly divided into two groups: the Field Division and the Administrative Division.
Those who clocked in daily at District 13 were part of the Administrative Division, responsible for logistics, intelligence collection, and data analysis for the Field Division.
Meanwhile, the Field Division was rarely seen within District 13. They operated in the shadows—some serving as secretaries, lovers, relatives, or even close associates to powerful figures.
They monitored countless individuals on behalf of District 13—while also living under its constant surveillance.
To them, their true identity was something they would take to the grave.
The Empire feared this razor-sharp spear but also relied on this impenetrable shield.
And they had no choice but to allow themselves to be controlled by one man.
That man was Garius.
Garius Heine.
The most publicly known figure in the Empire—yet untouchable. A man who remained neutral before all powers, someone no one dared to provoke.
As the small starship landed, a team on the ground quickly assembled around the man who seemed to shine under the sunlight, ensuring their boss’s safety.
The towering Ottomans, clad in infrared-equipped sunglasses that responded to voice commands, exuded an overwhelming presence that made Joey feel suffocated.
The imposing procession, coupled with the way District 13’s administrative staff instinctively stepped aside upon seeing Garius, reminded Joey of a sci-fi blockbuster featuring a grand entrance for a major character.
Oh my god.
This is way too cool!
With his mere 1.7-meter frame, Joey felt like an elementary schooler among a crowd of grown-ups. He feared he might get stomped to death by these giants at any moment.
He stared at Garius’ back and the towering building ahead, momentarily dazed—only to realize that in that brief moment of distraction, the others had already left him behind.
Shit, wait for me!
Joey frantically pumped his short legs.
Damn it! So what if you’re tall? So what if your legs reach my chest?!
“Joey?”
Sensing the fading presence of that familiar chamomile scent, Garius frowned, stopping in his tracks and turning around.
At that moment, the Field Division members, who had been guarding their boss, also halted, their eyes fixed on the clumsy, short-statured human with black curly hair, round ears, and big dark eyes—someone who looked nothing like the towering Ottomans.
They watched as this little thing smack—faceplanted right into their boss’s leg.
Like a sticky little rice cake.
Panting, Joey glared at him with wide, indignant eyes.
Then, he started smacking Garius’ thigh with his hands, looking furious.
“You damn poop-scooper, why the hell are you walking so fast, huh?! What, you think you’re the only one with legs?! Huh?! You think you’re the only one with legs—”
I nearly got lost, do you even realize that?!
I swear, I’ll break those damn long legs of yours!
Joey wasn’t actually angry; he was just joking around.
But the Field Division members’ faces immediately changed.
A sudden surge of killing intent erupted like an unsheathed blade. The agents moved with lightning speed, reaching out to grab the human’s throat—only for Garius to be even faster.
The man, whose presence was as cold as the dead of winter, bent down and picked up the human with one hand, pressing Joey’s messy curls against his shoulder.
His half-lidded golden-green slit pupils glimmered with a hint of amusement as he lowered his head and whispered,
"Quiet, Joey."
“…Oh…”
Joey belatedly realized what had just happened. He blinked and shut his mouth.
When Garius turned back around, the trace of a smile had completely disappeared. "Let’s go," he ordered in a calm, detached voice. His sharp gaze carried a warning, making the Field Division agents stiffen with respect and continue forward.
Meanwhile, perched on Garius’ shoulder, Joey outwardly hugged his poop-scooper’s neck, looking obedient and harmless. But in reality, he and his system were internally shaken.
【I swear, can you stop courting death like this?! Damn it! The people of District 13 aren’t some common civilians who idolize humans. They don’t care about gender or race—anyone who disrespects Garius Heine gets eliminated on the spot! Got it?!】
Daring to lay a hand on Heine in District 13…
You might as well be an endangered species—it’ll be your extinction!
As an assistance system, it had already triggered red alerts earlier. If Garius hadn’t picked up its dumb host, Joey would’ve been pinned to the ground and arrested within seconds!
“Alright, alright, I got it…” Joey muttered sulkily. “I was just messing around, do they really have to be so dramatic…”
Who knew these bodyguards were so aggressive?
It was just a pat on the leg, but they actually released killing intent!
Still, this moment made Joey, a lifelong commoner, fully grasp just how high his poop-scooper stood in the outside world. Tsk tsk, this is what it means to be a VIP.
The system scolded him for a bit longer before softening its tone:
【But don’t worry too much. Even with a low favorability score, your poop-scooper dad already instinctively protects you. Once your favorability breaks into the triple digits, I guarantee you’ll be able to do whatever you want—riding his power, intimidating others, and acting all high and mighty!】
Joey: “…Are you sure those last two phrases weren’t just insults, you damn system?”
System, smiling: 【Absolutely not. I assure you, that’s just the truth, dear dog host.】
Joey: “…”
Lousy system, go choke on some meds!
“…By the way, can you check my current favorability score with poop-scooper?”
【19.】
"19?! What the hell, that low?!"
【That’s not low at all! Please, we’re talking about Garius Heine here! A man said to possess divinity! Your favorability score is already heaven-defying!】
The system widened its virtual eyes and yelled at its ungrateful host.
Joey sighed. “…Forget it. Just update me whenever the score changes so I know what actions increase poop-scooper’s favorability.”
Getting to three digits… How much dignity will I have to sacrifice…?
—
District 13’s central hub appeared to outsiders as a massive tower, commonly known as the Information Tower.
From the 50th floor upward, only an elite few could verify their identity and gain access.
And from the 60th floor onward… only the District Chief’s assistants and Garius Heine himself could enter.
Garius’ office was located on the 66th floor.
Bored, Joey played the role of a clueless little fool, sitting on the floor and absentmindedly learning the Ottoman language with a child-friendly educational robot the butler had prepared for him.
His poop-scooper, on the other hand, was immersed in work, seated behind a massive desk. Behind him was a silver-white wall emblazoned with District 13’s insignia. His sharp features carried the weight of invisible burdens.
Looks like no matter the era, big shots always have endless, tedious work…
At first, Joey had been amazed. But gradually, he got bored and kicked the round little robot aside, flopping onto the plush carpet to stare at his poop-scooper’s stunning face.
Gotta admit—
Poop-scooper is seriously good-looking.
His pronounced brow ridge, slender golden eyebrows that extended neatly into his temples, and straight, symmetrical arch gave him a sharp yet refined look. His high nose bridge cast shadows over his deep-set eyes, and the natural folds of his double eyelids made his already narrow eyes appear even more fox-like.
His thick, slightly drooping eyelashes were like golden feathers, making his gaze appear perpetually half-lidded—lazy, indifferent, and above it all, as if he didn’t bother putting anyone in his eyes.
Sometimes, Joey imagined a vast, frozen landscape with a towering ice throne.
A lightly dressed man sat there, allowing the cold winds to tousle his wavy golden hair. Then, he slowly opened his deep, ethereal eyes, gazing down from above—
Hiss—
Joey quickly wiped away the drool from his mouth.
Just then, Garius’ desk communicator lit up. He pressed a button to accept the call while flipping through the documents in front of him.
“Your Excellency, Team Saxius has arrived at District 13.”
“Send them directly to my office.”
“Understood.”
Moments later, there was a knock on the door. Unlike the usual employees who treated Garius with reverent caution, Joey heard casual chatter and laughter from outside.
The moment the door opened, the leading man turned back and gave his team a warning look, signaling them to quiet down.
“Your Excellency, we’re back.”
The man at the front bowed respectfully. He had striking short red hair, sharp features, and a sturdy build that stood out even among the Ottomans.
Behind him, three more figures followed—a towering, burly man; a red-haired woman; and, at the back, a cheerful blond man.
When the blond man’s gaze met Joey’s curious eyes, he blinked in surprise.
Then, in a hushed voice, he muttered: “Wow~”
It was unclear whether he was marveling at the presence of a human in this place…
Or at the fact that Garius Heine’s office actually contained something that looked suspiciously like a pet.
T/N: Please give support on my ko-fi page, thank you🍊🍊🍊
Comments
Post a Comment