Fate Online: Shadow

"We're here"

"Wow, do they own the entire mountain or something?"

"This is a gated community, similar to where you guys live. We wouldn't have been able to enter if Allison didn't instruct the guards at the gate to let us pass when we arrive"

"I know that much lad"

The trio is standing over a view deck beside the road where they can see the city below the mountain and the large estates built at the side of the mountain they're at.

"I guess rich people are truly different"

Dylan sighed with a little amazement.

"Shut it, Randy, you're making Dylan more nervous by saying that, geez" Michael scratched his hair in frustration as he has little regrets in bringing this guy with them.

"What~? It doesn't change the fact that Allison's family is rich and they would certainly underestimate Dylan's stature in life, but don't worry kid, because as long as I'm here with you, I won't allow them to bully you"

Randy wrapped his arms around Dylan's shoulders while laughing with confidence, while the latter can only laugh dryly because Allison did tell him before that her family is rich, but he just didn't expect that it's on this scale where they actually owned the entire mountain where a gated community is built and where rich and influential people live.

"Come on, delaying things won't get you anywhere, let's go man"

Michael tapped one of Dylan's shoulders as he walked back towards the car and on the driver's seat.

"Let's go, young lad!"

Randy laughed as he slapped Dylan's back as he also walked back inside the car.

"I hope everything goes well later"

Dylan gave a glance at the surrounding scenery and could only sigh and pray inside before following after the two.

Then the trio drove towards the visible building in the distance that was built in the middle side section of the mountain.

"Damn!"

"Damn!"

"F*ck, that's really a huge mansion!"

Randy couldn't help but curse after the two because he couldn't believe how insane the person who ask for such a large mansion to be built on the side of the mountain.

"Aren't they afraid of nature's disaster called landslide?" Dylan couldn't help but comment, and then he looked around their surroundings and remembered that calling this place a paradise for flora and fauna wouldn't be an exaggeration because of how nature had almost covered the whole mountain, making the houses here almost invisible to the naked eye when looking from afar.

"I don't think that's what we should be worrying about right now"

Michael reminded the two while waving at the security camera that turned its attention towards them.

[Is there anyone named Dylan among you?]

The intercom attached beside the gate suddenly activated and the voice of a woman can be heard.

"Y-yes, it's me" replied Dylan with a little stutter.

[Who are the other two with you then?] asked the woman from the other side of the intercom.

"They are-"

"Dylan!!!"

Dylan was about to answer the woman's question when heard another woman's voice calling out to him which sounded oddly familiar.

Dylan and the other two men turned their heads to the front and saw Allison in a casual outfit waving at them from the front porch of the mansion with a huge smile on her face.

Then soon after, the gate before them slowly opened.

Randy laughed and said to them, "I guess that's our cue boys"

Dylan hurriedly followed soon after and overtook Randy as he was in a hurry to reach Allison.

Michael just smiled at the two, and at the same time, he suddenly started getting a little nervous like he was actually the one meeting Allison's parents.

"Guess I won't be doing this in the near future"

Michael smiled as he soon followed after the two, but behind his smile was tinged with sadness when realized something.

Dylan had already arrived beside Allison and was talking to her enthusiastically while Randy slowed down in his steps and allowed Michael to catch up to him.

"Can you feel those eyes poking your skin?"

Randy chuckled as he asked Michael in a soft voice the moment Michael arrived beside him, the two of them walking side by side.

"Yeah, seem like this place is heavily guarded by others like us"

*****

Michael and the rest then entered the house, and there are seven people waiting for them inside.

And Michael saw two familiar people inside, who were Allison's sister Dana and their cousin Rick.

Dana lightly waved at him with a smile while Rick just nodded to him in greeting.

On the other hand, Randy's eyebrows jumped when he actually saw someone he knows among the crowd.

And the person in question also saw Randy, and when the man recognized Randy, he was startled in nervousness that he suddenly stood straight like he had just seen his superior walked in.

While Dylan was busy introducing himself to Allison's parents, Michael and Randy stood in a corner and started whispering to each other.

"I know that guy" whispered Randy to Michael.

Michael glanced at him sideways and replied, "Who?"

"The one who's a Major," said Randy with a smile, and when the man glanced towards them and happened to meet Randy's eyes. The man can only smile warily towards him while Randy smirked in the other hand as he really wasn't expecting to meet someone here.

Michael then looked at the said Major and saw that he was around Randy's age and couldn't help but ask because he doesn't recognize him at all.

"Who is he?"

"We started in the same year in the organization, but I was already six months in before he joined. I actually didn't expect that I would meet him here because it's already been a few years since we had since each other" answered Randy as he couldn't help but reminiscence a bit.

"Will it be trouble then? Cause I'm pretty sure he recognizes you" Michael asked as he was worried about Dylan's prospect if he turned out to be someone who hated Randy's guts.

Randy thought for a bit before answering, "Nope, but I did beat him a lot back then"

Hearing what Randy said, Michael couldn't help but glare at him and cursed softly.

"Dammit"

"Relax, if he really causes trouble for the kid, then I'll just beat him up like back then, right?" Randy couldn't hide the devilish grin on his face, and it's a good thing that the others are all focused on the matters regarding the young couple and didn't see it, probably except for the soldier in question who shivered in fright when he managed to catch a glimpsed of it.

"Are you still sane!? He's a f*cking Major now" Michael sneakily kicked Randy on his shin in annoyance when he heard what the latter said.

Randy couldn't careless and said, "So? Ten percent of the current members of the Continental are soldiers like him. Besides, bullets don't have eyes lad"

Michael just ignored him because he might not be able to control himself and punch him.

"And who might those two be? Are they your friends?"

Suddenly, the attention was shifted towards the two men standing in the corner when Allison's mother asked Dylan about them as she had been very curious because the two seem to be in their own world.

"Ahh, yes, They are my friends who insisted on coming with me, Mrs. West" answered Dylan in a polite tone as he introduced Michael and Randy to the family.

"I'm Michael, Mr. and Mrs. West, and we are...good friends of Dylan," said Michael as he shook their hands along with Randy, and when he uttered the word "friends", he gave Dylan a sharp look which made the latter just smile at him like he didn't see it at all.

"And I'm Randy, I'm kind of his uncle. I was worried about him so I insisted on coming along with this trip"

Randy laughed while eyeing his good old friend who is standing at the back of the sofa from where the old couple is seating on.

"Besides, I actually didn't expect that I'd actually bump into an old friend here today! Surprisingly, he's already a Major!"

The woman called Mrs. West turned her head towards the man in question and her voice was tinged with surprise.

"Ashton! An old friend of yours is actually here! Aren't you even going to say "Hi" when they have been here for quite a while now? Now, that's just rude!"

Ashton could only smile helplessly and looked at Randy, "It's been a while...Randy"

"It sure is" chuckled Randy.

"Alright, enough of the introductions. Feel free to look around you two, and Rick and Dana, why don't you two show Michael around the place as he seems to be around your age?" Mr. West quickly interjected as he wanted to know and observe more of his daughter's boyfriend.

Dana happily came over to their side and replied, "Of course, Dad! We are actually friends with Michael! We went with him during Uncle Arthur's concert!"

"Oh ho!"

Mr. West was suddenly interested when he heard that and started observing Michael from head to toe.

"Are you one of Dana's suitors?"

"Dad! He's not, he already has a girlfriend!"

Dana was flustered as she quickly clarified the situation, afraid that there might be a misunderstanding because of what her father said.

Even Michael was flustered as he wasn't expecting those words to come out of Mr. West's mouth.

'Shouldn't they be all about discipline and all? So what the heck is this?'