54 Exposed! (1/2)

”Of course, you don't! Did you forget that you forgot almost everything?” Kino exclaimed before asking another question in alarm.

”Do you remember what I told you a few minutes ago?”

”Huh?” Mina shot Kino a blank look, confused on what he was referring to. When the monkey lifted the stick, Mina shielded her head with her hands before saying something.

”I remember! I remember! You told me about the nodes, the Checkpoint Nodes!”

Relieved Kino placed the stick behind his back. Mina saw something and she quickly forgot about Kino's stick antics.”

”Who's that?” she asked, genuinely curious. When Kino didn't answer, Mina repeated the question.

”Who's that?”

”Where?” Kino asked in a tone as if he was just humoring Mina.

”That!” Mina pointed at the opening of the pod. Following the direction of her fingers, Kino turned around and all Mina could hear was the monkey's troubled voice.

”Uh oh.”

The pod opened and a young man entered. Mina couldn't help but stare at him. He was a tall guy with small eyes and an angular jaw. She couldn't tell the color of his eyes because his eyes were too small but he could sense that this guy did not look too happy when he entered the pod. With skin as white as snow and hair as black as ebony - he would be the perfect male version of Snow White. He was wearing a black suit which, paired with his other features, made him look like a formidable force.

Mina stared at Kino to ask him who that person was but the monkey disappeared and the cleaning cart was slowly inching further from her pod. She couldn't tell when Kino bolted away but the monkey moved at an amazing speed.

The man blocked Kino's path and pulled him out of the cleaning cart by his scruff. It was as if he was carrying a kitten.

”Hey Buddy! Long time no see!”

Mina looked at Kino who greeted the newcomer reluctantly. Her eyes eventually settled on the person who just entered the pod.

'Was this Kino's supervisor or something? The guy looked furious. It was like he would feed Kino to sharks and feed those same sharks to a T-Rex. He was that furious.'

”You!” The man's booming voice echoed inside the pod.

”You annoying orangutan. Everyone has been on red alert because of you! I have been detained for a long time because of your antics!”

The man shook Kino but the monkey appeared oblivious and his expression didn't change even with the accusations. Before Kino could reply, the man realized there was another creature in the pod.

”Who's that?” The newcomer's tone shifted when he realized Mina was also in the pod. He eyed her with suspicion before shifting his gaze to Kino. The man continued to hold Kino by the skin on his back and based on Kino's expression, the position was uncomfortable.

”Let me go! You think I'm a cat or something?” Kino exclaimed while flailing both his arms and legs but the man ignored the monkey's words and asked again.

'Who's that?” He motioned towards Mina. Mina, on the other hand, wanted to disappear to somewhere else. Who knows who that man is.

Despite his uncomfortable position, Kino still managed to slap his head. Without missing a beat he smacked the newcomer on the head.

?”

”That!” The man clearly lost his patience for Kino's antics and he didn't make any attempt to conceal it. He pointed at Mina with his free hand before turning Kino to face her.

”Ah... that!” Kino reacted in realization. ”I almost forgot. They sent her here, didn't they?” Kino turned to face the man and looked at him as if he was being ridiculous.