Rose slowly opened her eyes, finding herself in the SSD hospital. The room was sleek and modern, with a calming ambiance that seemed to soothe her frazzled nerves. The walls were painted a gentle shade of blue, and the windows let in a warm, natural light that highlighted the sterile white bedsheets. Various medical equipment beeped softly in the background, a gentle reminder of the hospital's purpose.
The nurse, a kind-looking woman with a warm smile, quickly came to Rose's side. "Rose, you're finally awake! Let me call the doctor," she said, her voice filled with concern.
But Rose quickly sat up, and then stood up from the hospital bed, her movements swift and decisive. "Don't worry, nurse. I'm feeling better now. But please tell me something – what happened to that baboon?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
The nurse's smile grew wider as she replied, "Oh, you don't know? That man with the white and red hair defeated it while carrying you. What a man!" As she spoke, her cheeks seemed to flush slightly, and she looked away, trying to hide a smile.
The nurse's eyes lit up with interest. "I wish it was me he was carrying," she said with a playful smile, her tone teasing.
With a newfound sense of energy, Rose began to leave the room. "Okay, then let me go, l will leave you to your fantasies. I have to return to my squad," she said, her voice filled with determination.
The nurse called out to her, "Wait, Rose! I forgot to tell you – SSD Director Yamato instructed me to tell you to report to him when you wake up."
Rose nodded, her expression serious. "Okay, got it," she said, before turning to leave the room. With a sense of purpose, she headed out, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
Rose arrived at the director's office and knocked. "Come in," Director Yamato's voice called out.
Rose entered the room, her eyes scanning the space. The director's office was a spacious, well-appointed room with dark wood paneling and a large, ornate desk at its center. The walls were adorned with various awards and commendations, a testament to the director's distinguished career.
As she approached the desk, Rose noticed a familiar figure standing behind Director Yamato – the man with the striking red and white hair. He seemed amused, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
Rose's eyes met the director's, and she saluted. "SSD Squad 6 Commander Rose reporting in," she said, her voice crisp and professional.
The man's laughter burst forth, sudden and unexpected. Rose's eyes snapped to him, her expression questioning. "And what do you find amusing here?" she asked, her tone even.
The director stood up, his expression calm and authoritative. "Stop, it now, you two. Okay, Rose, I called you here for two important reasons. The first is a bit of bad news, I'm afraid. The SSD board has abolished SSD Squad 6. So, now SSD has only five known squads."
Rose's eyes widened in shock, her face pale. "But why?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
The director continued, "And the second reason is to tell you that you are now being put into a new squad." As he finished his sentence, he pressed a button on his desk, and a voice filled the room. "Security room isolation activated."
The room was suddenly enclosed, and the director's voice took on a serious tone. "What I'm about to tell you should not leave this room. You hear me, Rose?" Rose nodded, her mind racing with questions.
The director sat down, his expression grave. "Okay, Rose. Like I said, there are now only five known squads in the SSD, with Squad 1 being the strongest and having the most clearance. But there's actually a squad that has higher clearance and is more powerful than Squad 1. And that squad is Squad 0."
As he finished his sentence, the man with the red and white hair turned around, pointing to the back of his jersey where "SQUAD 0" was emblazoned. Rose's eyes widened in surprise.
"But why is this squad being held a secret from the world if they're that strong?" Rose asked, her curiosity piqued.
The director cleared his throat, his expression serious. "Let me finish. Squad 0 only has five members, and all those members are accompanied by their guardians... except this guy." He nodded towards the man with the red and white hair. "He has rejected every guardian that the SSD had chosen for him, but surprisingly he requested you to be his guardian. So, you have now been selected to be his new guardian."
Rose looked confused. "But why me?" she said. Rose twisted her head, unsure. The director chuckled. "I don't know why either. But the fact that he actualy requested someone to be his guardian is also surprising. So you will be his guardian, and you are to keep him in check."
The man with red and white hair smiled mischievously, his eyes glinting with amusement as he whispered, "I mean who wouldn't want a beautiful girl like that to be his guardian?" He chuckled softly, his voice taking on a teasing tone. "I mean, do you remember that scream yesterday?" he said, his voice rising in a perfect imitation of Rose's determined cry. "I refuse to die... when I don't even have a boyfriend!"
Rose's cheeks flushed a deep shade of crimson, her face burning with embarrassment. The man's words hung in the air, and for a moment, it seemed like time itself had slowed down.
The man's grin only grew wider as he continued, his voice low and playful. "I was now tired of all those old, fatty men that the SSD kept selecting to be my guardians."
Just as it seemed like the man's teasing would continue unchecked, Director Yamato's stern voice cut through the air. "That's enough, Zen!" he shouted, his eyes narrowing at the man with red and white hair. The director's expression was a mix of annoyance and amusement, clearly trying to keep the man with red and white hair's antics in check. The man's gaze flicked to the director, a hint of a smile still playing on his lips as he replied, his voice laced with a hint of mischief, "Yes, sir."
Rose turned to Director Yamato, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Director, I have a question. With the strength this guy has, why does he even need a guardian?"
The young man with red and white hair,
smiled as he slowly gazed at Rose. "I'm Zen, not 'this guy,'" he corrected, his voice smooth and amused. "So, just call me Zen."
The director looked at Zen, a hint of frustration in his expression. "What did I say?" He then turned back to Rose. "Okay, Rose, so the reason why Squad 0 is so strong and also kept a secret is because all the members of Squad 0 are actually Rift Walkers with human intelligence. And in Zen's case, he is actually a human who was turned into a Rift Walker when he was still young."
Rose's eyes widened as she looked at Zen, her expression now tinged with a mix of surprise and fear. Zen, however, just waved and smiled at her, his demeanor calm and reassuring.
The director continued, "But don't worry, all the members of Squad 0 have chips implanted in their heads. If they disobey their guardians' orders, they will explode. So, it's actually you who is in charge."
The director threw a card labeled "Level 1" to Rose, who caught it with a mixture of confusion and curiosity. "Okay, Rose, so now if anyone asks, you work on the SSD board," he explained, his expression serious.
With a subtle smile, the director pressed a button on his desk, and the room's atmosphere shifted. The previously sealed room now slid open, revealing a bustling office space beyond. The sounds of typing and murmured conversations filled the air as the SSD personnel went about their work.
The director gestured toward the door, his smile broadening. "Now, goodbye ti the both of you. I have other things to sort out, so try to get along," he said, his tone warm and encouraging.
With that, the director dismissed them, his attention already turning to the next task at hand. Zen, seemingly unfazed, nodded and turned toward the door, Rose following closely behind, still trying to process the rapid developments.