BXBX NOVEL Chapter 186: The 2nd Amendment [1/2]
"Yvonne, are you okay?"
The members of the Golden Wick crowded around their guild leader, who was covered in beads of sweat.
"No time. Patron, I will invoke {Rewind} now."
With her words, Yvonne triggered my {Fate}, which teleported her from near the altar to the save point she created.
The people in the room marveled at the near-instantaneous movement. When Yvonne appeared, her former guild mates ran to check on her.
"Yvonne! How are you feeling? Do you think you can try to bless again?"
Everyone, including me, was eagerly awaiting her answer. If just the twelve members of the Golden Wick could spam {Rewind}, then they might be able to beat even the Holy Grail Guild.
The blonde phantom grinned broadly as she nodded.
"Yes, Patron {Rewind} is amazing. For 100 souls, we can get the ability to bless again."
Pleased with the good news, I approached her and placed my hand on her shoulder. I took one of the cups on the tables and the Ruger MK II and shot into my palm. I let the blood fill the cup and smiled at her.
"Well done, here is your mission, ask Cynthia for more stamina medicine and bless as many rounds as you can. Bring more people from the Saint Division at your discretion."
Yvonne hesitated before taking the cup of blood.
"Patron, I feel this is too much of a responsibility. For anyone in Production, {Rewind} is a heaven-sent gift. In the wrong hands, it can practically destroy supply and demand. I am too inexperienced."
I used my non-bleeding hand and patted Yvonne on the head. Yvonne reminded me of Bless and Alana, they were cheerful and full of life. The fact that she had to be in hell at all saddened me somehow.
"Yvonne, I am giving you this responsibility because I have seen what you are capable of. I have seen how you have taken care of your guild and how you have used your intelligence to get my contract. For these reasons, I have faith in you."
"Patron..."
"You can ask your sisters and Phillip if you need help. For now, do not tell anyone except those you choose in the Saint Division."
Yvonne looked at her sisters and saw the bright smiles on their faces. Perhaps finding strength in her bonds, she looked me in the eye and accepted the cup. I also gave them about a hundred rounds of various calibers.
Then I called for one of their girls.
"Claire."
"Yes, Patron?"
The blonde, who wore her hair in a short bun, stepped forward. Whenever I remembered the coming Seeker War, my mind went back to the debate I had with Claire and Golden Wick.
No one knew the future, my morality could just as easily get me killed on Saturday. Yet, in my arrogance, I trampled on this woman's ideals. The time I spent in thought made me want to make amends.
'There are just some things worth dying for.'
Regardless of the difference between us, if I denied their stance but defended mine, I was nothing but a hypocrite. Our positions were the same, in the face of power, we both chose not to compromise who we were.
"Claire, I want to apologize. What I said to you was arrogant and foolish. You were right and I was just prideful. I recently found myself in a similar situation, and I chose the stupid choice instead of bowing to the strong."
"Ah! You don't have anything to apologize for, Patron, I was wrong too! It was silly of me to preach about my principles when I was living a sheltered life. Please forgive me too!"
The two of us, taking a step toward each other, looked at our pathetic apologies and began to chuckle.
"Say, is Patron hitting on Yvonne-unnie and Claire-unnie?"
"I know, right? The atmosphere is romcom worthy."
"Patron, I can fuck better than Claire. Pick me instead."
"Eva! Mou! Please be quiet you thirsty lecher!"
Claire and I, hearing her words, coughed and took a step back.
"Uh, Claire. I know you are frustrated because you cannot fight. Come with me. To prove to the Production Guilds that we all have the power to fight, I will train you."
"PATRON! STOP RIGHT NOW!"
"Yvonne, this does not concern you. I told you before, anyone who wants to follow me must bear arms. I will make it so that anyone who has the will can do so."
"I know that, but..."
"It's okay, sister," Claire interjected.
"Claire..."
"Sister, you know as well as I do. Patron's words are true. If Hellsgate falls, everyone dies The only way to survive is to become stronger."
"...."
"Besides, it would be better to train with Patron than to fight when we have no choice."
Aisha, the girl who saw the carnage I made, walked over to Claire and then hugged her.
"Don't die."
Yvonne then faced me and bowed. Her eyes were sharp as a parent's.
"Patron, I beg you, please take care of my sister."
"I will, I give you my word, nothing will happen to her today."
The Golden Wick girls then hugged Claire before leaving. They must all be on the move to find stamina soulgears.
After they left, Claire followed me back to the misfits.
"Boss, I am against bringing her today."
"Don't be so uptight, nigga, Boo needs to figure it out on her own. At least she got us today."
"White boy, this girl is weak, zombie food."
"Hombre, are you serious you want her with us?"
Against the mixed reception, I held up my hand and replied.
"There will come a time when you will all need to train reapers. The production guilds will all eventually serve as our army. Mike, Santiago. You remember the guns I upgraded with {fates}, right?"
"You mean the scam AR-15 boss?"
"Heh... Hombre, you want to mass produce those?"
"I do, you know how helpful and easy to use that is. Even with a build like Claire's, she should have no trouble."
Both men nodded and accepted after hearing my plan, Scott and Joshua had no qualms to begin with.