"Hey! I know how to make friends! I'm not like you! I don't grab people out of the blue like a kidnapper!"

She pointed out as she recalled the first time they talked to each other.

While also reminiscing, Raghnall showed her his signature smirk.

"Do you stare at them in adoration too like what you did to me?"

….

Touché.

Inna had no way to rebut his statement since technically, she liked his face at first. So, childishly, she just stuck out her tongue in response.

Raghnall smiled when he saw that she didn't deny his claim. Most women claiming 'modesty' would, but this girl honestly admitted it with no shame.

He was supposed to tease her more but with her unexpected response, he saw no enjoyment with continuing. Instead, he just ended up laughing.

Then, at the corner of his eyes, he noticed that one by one, her teammates arrived behind her. Realizing his main purpose, he immediately inspected them.

But after a few seconds of looking, he couldn't help but instinctively scrunch up his face.

He pulled Inna to his side as he whispered to her ears.

"Uhm, not meaning to be offensive but they're all….."

Inna already knew what he was going to say.

"Weak?"

"Yeah. It's like they grouped all the low achievers in the batch into one team."

"Yeah, I thought so too. And I think it's another one of that old man's tricks. I mean, this is too coincidental to call it 'random.'"

Raghnall nodded in understanding.

Indeed, it seems like Elder Fang still harbor contempt towards her despite the warning he was given.

Raghnall was still deep in thought when he suddenly felt an arm snake around his shoulders.

"Hey, Mirzo!"

His face turned pale at the familiar voice.

He knew this voice from way back in his childhood years.

He knew this familiar way of addressing him.

Heaven's sent, it can't be him!

It shouldn't be him.

Holy heavens, it really shouldn't be HIM.

That's impossible.

He should've graduated years ago!

Raghnall reluctantly looked back and he paled even more when he saw that annoying yet familiar smiling face.

Holy h.e.l.l….

It really is him.

Favian Frode.

He couldn't be caught now so he decided in the only way he can get out of this.

"H-h.e.l.lo? Uh, who are y-you?"

He pretended not to know him as he slowly maneuvered himself away from his reach.

"Whaaaat?!"

He screamed lightly.

"Cruel! How cruel! How do you not remember me?! We went to--mmppphhh!!"

Raghnall immediately covered his mouth as he laughed nervously.

"Ha ha ha ha… I must've forgotten. It was such a long time ago. You met me in the streets right?"

Frode was about to shake his head but feeling Raghnall's grip tighten on his mouth, he reluctantly nodded.

Inna saw their weird exchange and became more suspicious of what Frode just said.

Mirzo.

It sounded like a name but at the same time, the way he said it was like a nickname.

She was about to ask but seeing Raghnall trying to ignore it, she decided to just bring it up later.

"So you two know each other?"

Inna asked instead.

Before Raghnall can react, the Watcher nodded enthusiastically.

Seeing that he can't pretend not knowing him anymore, he decided to tell her but still kept Frode's mouth shut.

"Yeah, he was actually one of the students who went outside of the campus for their yearly mission. We met by chance in the streets."

Raghnall smiled but his smile held a warning for Frode.

"Why're you covering his mouth then?"

Inna was suspicious of how he was preventing Frode from answering nor doing anything.

"He tends to spout stupid things so it's to keep him in check."

He maintained his composed smile as he placed him in a headlock while covering his mouth.

Seeing their intimate exchange, Inna couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in suspicion.

"How did you two meet for you guys to get so close? And is he a commoner too?"

Raghnall nervously gulped but aside from that action, his face was composed and his voice was normal. It didn't look like he was panicking except for the fact that inside, his heart is now palpitating.

"Nah, he's from the high cla.s.s Frode Family. Wait, why are you so curious about him, Ninny? Don't tell me…"

He gasped for dramatic effect before continuing.

"Do you secretly like him?!"

Raghnall smirked as he smoothly tried to change the topic. But Inna knew what he was trying to do so she diverted it back again.

"Yes, I do. So please continue. How did you two get so close?"

She said nonchalantly, not minding the stiffening of Frode's body and the reddening of his neck and ears.

Raghnall saw that his attempt of a change of topic was a failure so he had no choice but to talk.

"Ah.. uhm… He had this mission in this city. And I was in that city. And he b.u.mped into me because he doesn't know where he was supposed to go. And i accompanied him. And well, you know, the usual things happened. I introduced myself, and he introduced himself and then, you know…. We just got friendly with each other."

Inna wanted to smack him from what she just heard.

It's so f.u.c.king vague that not knowing would've been better!

She glared at him, but suddenly, she noticed one thing about what he said.

"Did you say that he introduced himself?"

Hearing her question, Raghnall found it weird for her to pick up on that precise detail but he decided to humor her with an answer.

"Yep."

Inna narrowed her eyes at him with suspicion

"Then why does he not know his name now?"