Ascenders Rift 184 Being Jealous Of One's Self, A Startling Even

At this moment, within a simple-looking store, Evan and Layla had stood before a counter with a variety of sweets and pastry, including unique looking cakes and other things. 

Layla's eyes flashed as she pointed at one plump looking, jelly-like cake and spoke, "Hey, that looks good, I want to try it out!" 

Evan smirked and replied, "Hmm, okay fine, I didn't try it yesterday, but it does have some appeal." 

He then looked at the store owner, which was a simple middle-aged lady that was a bit fat. He asked, "Excuse me, ma'am, but how much does this cake cost?" 

The store owner looked at what Evan was referring to before staring at him and Layla, she looked at them deeply as a warm look came on her face when she spoke, "Young lad, this is our establishment's specialty, the Jelly Cake. It's a bit expensive, but... as I'm in a good mood today, I'll give you and that lovely lady of yours this treat as a gift." 

"Huh? Really? Thank you, ma'am!" Layla said with a happy expression on her gorgeous face, drawing the attention of many. A few men in the area even got into trouble with their women, who slapped them because they stared at her for too long.

Evan showed a surprised look; he didn't think that this would happen, but as long as Layla was happy, he was fine. He made a polite gesture and spoke, "I thank the ma'am for her generosity." 

The store owner smirked as she packaged the cake and pa.s.sed it to Layla and replied to Evan, "It's nothing... now go on. I hope that you will both enjoy a good life." 

After being sent off by the lady, Evan and Layla decided to eat in the park before going back; it didn't take long for them to arrive before they ate and spoke about various things. The night soon after falling as the starlight and streetlights had illuminated the surroundings. 

Layla's face now seemed like a child's; her expression in bliss as if she was lost to the sweet flavor. Evan only took a few small bites as he stared at her with one hand resting on his cheek. 

His eyes were reminiscent, as while watching Layla eat, he was at the same time envisioning the cold beauty with complete ruby eyes eating something of a similar nature with a forced smile. 

Layla seemed to have only now noticed his silence; she glanced at him, seeing the look in his eyes and thought for a bit. 

'Hmph! Thinking about her again, I won't have it!' Layla thought to herself, as though she never met her, she still felt jealousy for the Layla that Evan knew. 

She then made a brighter smile, broke apart a piece of her cake, and raised it to his mouth as she spoke, "What's with that sad look, come on now, open up, it will taste better from my fingers." 

Evan was roused from his state of mind, he stared at her and replied, "Well now, don't mind if I do..." 

He lowered his head and swallowed both the cake and her two fingers, sucking on them while staring at her face with a sly wink. 

Layla's face turned red as she hurriedly pulled her fingers out of his mouth and cursed, "Y-you pervert..." 

Evan chuckled at this and pulled her closer to his side; the two seemed to be stuck to each other like someone used glue. He gently placed his face to her neck, exhaling a soft breath as he whispered in her ears, "It's your fault for waking me from that fantasy... so you'll have to pay extra for it tonight..." 

"Ahh... no... don't..." Layla made a slight moan, not daring to look at his face due to her embarra.s.sment and rising desire, as she felt her sensitive spots being encroached upon in public. She was about to bite him, but soon, there was a commotion coming from the distance. 

Bang! As if an explosion went off from a reasonable distant area, both Evan and Layla looked up in shock. 

"This... what's happened? Is it those of the Anti Human faction?" Layla asked with a puzzled look in her eyes. 

Evan's eyes shone as he thought, "It's highly likely, heh... it might even be that those hidden pieces have finally started to move their hands, let's go, we can find out more from any broadcast back at the room." 

Layla hearing this nodded before she spoke, "Alright then," 

Following this, the two hurriedly left this area as they traveled back towards the apartment. However, though Evan and Layla left peacefully, the situation around that sector was filled with panic. 

"Hurry, seal off the area and protect the weak, as for the strong, follow me, we must ensure that it's not one of those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds attacks!" One person said as he hurried towards the direction of the commotion.

A few others promptly acted as with some stayed behind many stronger individuals moved towards the source, a compound that was set afire entirely, the raging blaze seeming as if it was trying to light up the night sky. 

Leo, Julie, Razel, along with the rest of his party, had been traveling this way to handle some affairs, but when they noticed the seen of the explosion, they were shocked. 

"This, what the h.e.l.l is going on?" Oron shouted in shock. 

'That direction... isn't that the direction of the Cramertons estate?" Irene said. 

Razel had a dark expression as his eagle-like eyes had a bright glint as if he used some skill, he then spoke, "Irene, you're right, it is indeed the direction of their compound. However, this explosion had somehow erupted from their main building," 

When the others heard this, they had a bad feeling, Leo looked at the scene before him with dark eyes as he thought, 'Have they started to move?' 

When he thought here, he was about to make a call with his wristlet device. However, right at this time, the wristlet made a beep as the voice sounded from it. 

"Leo! Where are you right now?" Milon's anxious voice said. 

Leo, hearing this felt warm, he promptly replied, "Father, I am now nearby the sight of the recent explosion." 

Milon heaved a sigh of relief, he then spoke, "Leo, if you can arrive their first, then do a quick inspection before you return with everyone. I have already sent Wilma over, and if you see anyone alive from the Cramerton's don't let them off lightly, even if they are injured..." 

'So father also suspects them, it seems that we weren't the only one's...' Leo thought before he glanced at everyone who looked at him with a nod, he then spoke to the wristlet, "Understood, you can count on us father," 

Milon then spoke, "Good, just remember to be careful." 

After he finished those words, the line had ended as everyone looked at each other before they hurriedly left like blurry figures, rapidly traveling towards the burning Cramerton's manor. 

*** 

Back within the apartment that Joe and the others stayed, everyone was looking at the TV in shock as a piece of breaking news was currently in progression. 

The reporter spoke on the topic of the sudden explosion of the Cramerton estate, showing airborne scenes of the burning compound and even sights of a few dead bodies. When they saw this, Joe, Rick, Layla, and Emilia narrowed their eyes as they looked on with serious expressions. 

''So, they even went as far as to destroy that residence, merely to cover up their traces, they truly are quite a stubborn bunch..." Rick said while looking at the screen in annoyance. 

"Indeed, wasn't the plan to wait for them to try and retrieve those men we'd secured with traps?" Joe asked. 

Breya, who sat around her desk, cracked her fingers as she finally leaned back with a satisfied look. The details on her computer screen were now properly organized, she then glanced at Joe and the other's replying to Joe's words, "Joe, you're a bit wrong about the initial plan Evan had mentioned." 

"Hmm? How so?" Joe asked with a curious look on his face. 

Rick and Emilia also made a similar look, as Evan had only informed Breya of the full details. Breya looked at them and replied, "Our trap isn't for those Anti Human's, it's for something else, those so-called Body s.h.i.+fters..." 

Rick and the others now made looks of understanding, as Joe spoke, "Ah... so that's how it is, haha, then I guess that with this major scene. It would no doubt be some sort of distraction, which means that right now..." 

As if she read his thoughts, Breya smirked and spoke, "Yes, by now, those things should have already started to make their moves in the Hall of Governance." 

The scene here taking on a different mood, as everyone looked at the windows outside, gazing at the two towering buildings in the starry night scene with flas.h.i.+ng eyes.