But they were still brothers so Alan said nothing about the comment leaning back in his chair and folding his fingers into a steeple Have fun today
Yes Hank said simply They both knew that Hank had a very close relationship with Jane And Hank believed that Alan was also aware that Jane needed something like that in her life Especially since she had been transferred to the Lodestone School a move that Hank had vehemently opposed she needed those moments where she could forget the pressure of living under the weight of the System and remember that she was just a kid
Well if you don’t wish to speak on it further then I won’t belabor the point keep your distractions to the minimum alright Now
Distractions Hank interrupted glad that Alan had the poor sense to send away his honor guard Of course Ghost would be watching but there was only so much that the AI could do from afar and it allowed Hank to speak freely What she needs is a childhood The Dungeons are handled the monsters have been pushed back from the populated areas Why drive the children so hard Your own fucking daughter Alan
Alan swiveled in his leather chair and stood When he stood he emphasized that slowly building belly even more Where Hank was tall and a little towards a stockier build Alan had always been shorters and slighter To consider the possibility now that his brother was heavier than him it was somewhat amusing to Hank
You know Alan said interrupting Hank’s thoughts Ghost had run a lot of simulations based on available information According to his calculations we are in the 72nd percentile of possibilities That means that 38% of other Zones might be
Bah Hank scoffed We both know that those statistics are bullshit They are based on the premise that others had a comparable amount of ammunition and foodstuffs prepared in their area and people with the training to use the supplies effectively It’s meaningless How have you convinced yourself your daughter is going to save the world Alan She’s
She’s my daughter Alan said his voice rumbling dangerously True the stats don’t paint an accurate picture But they illustrate the real danger that there will be other Zones that could reach our Level of power even if they are likely below us in technology If a violence crazed warlord rose to power in the vacuum left by the System
Then Alan forcibly stopped himself seeing Hank about to speak They had this conversation in 1000 ways 1000 times They did not agree Finally Alan simply said Dr Karman was assassinated Hank We never caught the killer If things hadn’t god if we had devolved into a civil war Even Ghost was clueless But it cannot be denied that the culprits were looking to sew chaos
They were both silent for a long second Both remembered the two months following the death of the respected doctor and how quickly things had almost dropped out from under them leaving the government hamstrung by cutthroat politicians and short sighted scientists who would have lost the entire forest for their own individual tree
But they made it passed that albeit barely
If something if they took Jane I Alan said his face bleak some of his professional facade falling away Hank wondered how much of the reveal was contrived but at least he believed that Alan genuinely felt that worry for Jane Hank knew he himself did and couldn’t imagine that the father of that bundle of joy would feel any less
Deciding to remain silent Hank just stared at the ground abruptly too tired to argue That was why he continued to work as a sheriff even as he was largely disgraced Because there were people in this Zone worth protecting Children like Jane and that kid from yesterday Innocents who knew nothing of the backstabbing and the posturing who were struggling under the weight of their Tier 1 status to survive in this new regimented world
And if he had to support this corrupt system to do it
Closing his eyes Hank pictured Jane’s smiling face earlier when she had realized she had ice cream on her nose
Why did you call me here Hank said his voice gravelly
Alan straightened turning back to Hank After coughing he said as you know we have two main expeditions heading out in two days to explore the new areas available to us after our Zone joins the reconstructed Earth This was done after Ghost’s careful calculations and all of the members of those are already selected But after some explanations from us beings of flesh Ghost was persuaded that there might be cause for a third expeditionary force You would be in charge
There were so many reasons that Hank wanted to refuse he was momentarily frozen as he decided which was the most pressing The hassle of leading such a force first off beyond that the political niceties that he wouldn’t have time for and also the pointlessness of these mining expeditions
Besides as far as Hank was aware all the Dungeon Divers of note were already part of the first two forces only dregs would be left for the third
Alan held up a hand Wait I can already see you jumping to conclusions It won’t be large like the others at most 5 people Your group would be designed for other reasons You would remain on standby for now and only move when a second Zone connects to another world
Hank’s eyes flickered with recognition Then he frowned What did you have in mind It wouldn’t be a political delegation not if you are sending me You know me better than that You also know that I have no mind for business so any trading beyond some small things I have that couldn’t be it either So I have to assume that we will be involved in some sort of espionage or assassination
Alan sighed Don’t be dramatic You are going for your Pathfinding Skill What we will need to identify the best route between the two Zones through what will likely be very dangerous territory Once there I would expect you to have enough common sense to contact whatever powers that be there but only to lead their agents back to us so we can communicate I’d prefer that you take the time between now and another Zone connects to familiarize yourself with the areas we can explore in two days but if you insist on your two bit crusade for justice
I do Hank affirmed
just consider it alright
Sneering Hank said Who is askin’
Alan seemed to age before his very eyes just your brother Hank You are the best man for this job I’d appreciate if you helped me out on this
Slowly Hank shook his head He pointed at a dossier on the table This is supposed to be my comrades Heath hates my guts and would butcher a stranger as soon as give him the time of day And Ezekial I’ve never met him but I’ve heard the rumors He’s more monster than man at this point
Alan pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose sat down in his leather chair and turned forward facing Hank face on Fine Then here are your orders from the President of the UHF Meet your allies Position yourself in one of the border cities Because as soon as some Zone connects to the world you are going there You are dismissed
Chapter 485
Hank’s father Rick had taught Hank and Alan three things
The first thing was that you only apologize if you mean it This lesson came in the form of a rough shove after Hank had taken a cookie and then blamed his brother for it When they were caught Hank eventually broke and apologized
Are you really sorry Rick asked Hank had hesitated then shook his head After all he had gotten the cookie when they weren’t supposed to If he was being honest he was proud of himself
Rick grinned Being honest is best Time to make sure you told the truth about tonight
At first Hank expected his father to punish him But he just continued to hum and smile until Alan got home from a friend’s house Then Rick had locked Alan in his room without dinner so that Hank would learn who he should truly apologize to’ It was a long night
Hank never forgot his little brother’s sobs after he had stopped pounding on the door If anything the silence was more difficult to bear than the earlier cacophony
The second thing Rick taught his boys was that Clint Eastwood was the greatest actor in the world and everything about being a man could be learned by watching his movies This lesson the boys took too with more alacrity pouring over the entire filmography on VHS during their childhoods