Endless Journey: Infinite Realms

Chapter 13 Why so Serious, Comrade?

Alex was not enthused with his current situation. After all, he had to talk with Alina, who was the first person that tried to kill him.

Alex kept his composure in check as he hid his fear. After all, there are some people that can smell fear, and Alex is not willing to let them sniff it out.

"Just talk to her normally, and everything will be fine." Alex muttered to himself as he asked Clint something.

"Your friend… is she always wearing a mask?"

Clint gave Alex a nod as he said,

"Ever since I first saw her with her sister, she had been always wearing a mask. The only time that she does not have her mask on is when she's eating. However, Alina is making sure that's she's in a secluded place everytime she eats."

"That's some excessive secrecy there." This comment by Alex as heard by Alina, who swiveled his head to look at him.

Alina's voice sounded both cold and seductive as she said,

"That guy… he looks like someone I have met before…"

The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward, as Natasha and Clint both gave Alina strained smiles.

Alex winced inwardly, realizing that this Alina is not that good with people.

The whole crowd stayed this way for a few minutes, as only Natasha was the only one who had the courage to talk to Alina.

As for Alex, Natalia, and Clive, there were just standing there, staring at Alina.

The way Clive looked at Alina made it obvious that he has a crush on her.

"Well, he will grow out of it." Alex thought as he ruminated on how to approach Alina.

Natalia on the other hand, seems to be giving Alina a worshipping look, which is just like the look that children give to their role models.

"Ehem." Clint let out a cough, in an attempt to dispel the awkward atmosphere. He kept wearing his strained smile as he asked Alina,

"Alina, can I ask the reason for your sudden visit? You did not even mention to us that you will come!"

"It's because of my job." Alina said as her body tensed slightly. "I am currently chasing a Class-S Intruder, and my hunch is telling me that the Intruder is staying here."

"Oh, so that lockdown is out of your volition then?" Clint said as he scratched the back of his head. "Well, it might be a little inconvenient, but with you here, I am sure you can catch that Intruder in no time."

"Actually, I am not sure about that." This was the first time that Alex heard hesitation in Alina's voice.

"That Intruder, even though he just newly arrived at our planet, he was still able to dodge some of my blows." Alina said with a hint of irritation in her voice.

"And when I am about to use one of my killing moves, he suddenly disappeared at that place. I can sense that he used some sort of spatial transmission ability that brought him to a different place."

"That's a little worrying…" Clint said as Natasha's expression slightly dimmed. "If we are dealing with an Intruder that can move through space, then we will be in a lot of trouble."

"Do not worry uncle." Alina said as she patted Natasha's shoulder. "I can take care of him alone. If the worst comes to worst, then I will just ask for your help."

"Hehehe, if my help is needed, then that Intruder should be really strong." Clint replied with a light smirk on his face.

"She's your niece?" Alex exclaimed as Natasha and Alina went to the kitchen, probably to prepare something to eat.

"Why, is there something wrong with that?" Clint asked Alex with his narrowed eyes.

"Well…" Alex averted his gaze as he tried to think up of a reason that he can give right now.

"You have been acting weird since Alina arrived." Clint said as he gave Alex a suspicious look. "I notice you sneaking glances at her multiple times earlier…"

"..." Alex's body began to turn sweaty as he started to feel the intensity of Clint's gaze.

A few seconds of awkward went by, and it was Clint who broke this silence.

"Don't tell me… that you like her?" Clint uttered this accusation with narrowed eyes as he stared at Alex. "Just tell me if that's true or not."

"....." Alex was slightly stunned with that Clint just said.

The only reason Alex was looking at Alina earlier was because he was too scared, and he wanted to see if Alina was secretly looking at him.

"Hahaha! Now this is embarrassing!" Asteria laughed hysterically as she rolled on the floor in laughter. Her eyes had bits of moisture within them, showing that she had started to tear up because of too much laughing.

Clint seemed to be not in a humorous mood like Asteria, as his lips were set into a grim line.

"....." Since it had come to this already, Alex decided to just go on with Clint's assumption.

"Yeah… I think I like her…" Alex said as he made himself slightly blush. He then leaned forward awkwardly while his head slightly swiveled away from Alina's direction.

Alex just perfectly emulated the appearance of a shy guy declaring his crush to someone, and Clint seemed to have believed it.

"Do you want to ask her out?" Clint suddenly said as he dragged Alex away from the living room. He brought him into one of the spare rooms nearby, with Clint locking the door to make sure that no one will hear them.

The sudden shift in Clint's mood threw Alex off the rails. After all, this guy was Alina's uncle. Alex found it hard to believe that Clint would just allow his niece to be courted by some random male who liked her.

"I may have just known you for around a day, but I know that you are a decent person." Clint said as he slapped Alex's shoulder. "I think your openness and Alina's stoic attitude will be a good match."

"Wait, wait, wait." Alex raised his hands defensively as he gave Clint a bewildered look. "Did you just encourage me to ask your niece out?"

"Why, what's wrong with that?" Clint tilted his head as he gave Alex a devious smile. "Even if you are a pervert, I think that you would not be able to do anything against her since she is way more powerful than you. So, you can say that I have no problems if you go out with her. The one that should be worried is you."

"Do you think she will agree if I ask her out?" Of course Alex had no plans of asking Alina out. That will be just too risky for him!

Alex just asked this question to Clint to make it appear that he, Alex, is somewhat interested in Alina.

"Well, I am not sure too." Clint said as he cupped his chin in deep thought. "After all, that girl had no experience with something like this. So you can say it will be an unknown territory."

Alex heaved an invisible sigh of relief after hearing this statement as he said,

"Um, if that was the case, then it might be better if I do not ask her out."

"No! That won't do!" Clint suddenly shouted as he glared at Alex. "Hmph, it seems like you are a wimp regarding females. Well, you have no need to worry! I will help you in your endeavor!"

Clint then dragged the hapless Alex with him towards the kitchen.

There he saw Alina and Natasha cutting up some vegetables.

Alex's eyes could not help but twitch as he saw Clint and Natasha giving mischievous smiles at each other.

"Alina…" Natasha's voice drawled as she looked at Alina. "Do you have any plans tomorrow night?"

"I only plan to sleep tomorrow night." Alina said as she continued on cutting the vegetables. "After all, my only job here is to catch that Intruder."

"Won't that feel so boring?" Clint suddenly said as he gave Alina a sad look .

"I feel like you two are onto something here." Alina muttered as she saw the extremely eager gazes of both Natasha and Clint. She deftly ignored Alex, who was standing behind Clint awkwardly.

"Well… since this is your first time to visit the Dragon Esper City, don't you think that you should also enjoy its sight as a tourist?" Clint said, with emphasis on the word enjoy. "After all , you cannot be just always working!"

"I..." Alina tried to say something, but her resolve to answer failed as she saw the excited gazes given to her by her uncle and her aunt.

"Fine, I shall do that tomorrow night." Alina said in defeat as she sagged her shoulders.

"Uh, uh, uh, I think a mere promise won't suffice here." Natasha said as she smirked at Alex's direction.

Alex felt his body turning cold as he realized where the conversation had been leading to.

"I think someone should accompany you tomorrow, just to ensure that you will really do it." Clint said as he smiled at Alina.

"Well, won't Aunt Natasha be the one to join me?" Alina said as she finished chopping up the vegetables.

"Nope, I think we have a better choice right here." Clint then pushed Alex forward as he said,

"This guy right here is a new resident in this city. So just like you, this guy also needed to see some of the good places in the city."

Natasha swung her hands over Alex as she gave him a small wink. "And since you are about to roam the city tomorrow, then it is better if Alex joins you."

"Hey!" Alex shouted out with embarrassment as he made himself slightly blush. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Huh? Didn't you tell me that you want to roam the city?" Clint muttered as he gave Alex an innocent stare. "Since Alina will roam tomorrow, then you will just have to join her."

"But the training!" Alex started to looked panicked as he glanced at Alina, who seemed to be unperturbed by the situation.

"Don't worry, I will make it so that you will gain a lot from tomorrow's training, while also making sure that your body will be fine." Clint said as he seemed to be intent on shooting down Alex's opinion.

"Come on, you also need a break from time to time. Tomorrow night just turns out to be the perfect time…"

"Ugh. You did not tell me about having a break while your daughter was electrocuting me earlier." Alex said as he rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"Well, since you two have no prior engagements tomorrow, then you two shall roam the city tomorrow night!" Both Clint and Natasha said these words with finality, which sealed Alex's fate.

"…Fine." Alina seemed to be not disturbed by the idea of Alex joining her. No, being indifferent could be the better term.

As for Clint and Natasha, both of them were having silly smiles right now, while Alex tried to not look miserable.

As for Asteria, she was back in her laughing spree as she pounded her fists on Alex's shoulders.

"Hahaha! You have been forced by your master to date the woman who tried to kill you earlier! Hahahaha! Now I do not know if you are lucky or just plain misfortunate!"

"...."

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