Chapter 275: Chapter 275- Back

The next morning, a sharp, rhythmic knocking echoed through the residence. Clarissa opened the door to find Miss Beatrix standing there, her usual expression of weary impatience even more pronounced.

"Clarissa," Beatrix greeted with a curt nod, her eyes scanning the room behind her. "Where is Julian?"

"Good morning, Miss Beatrix," Clarissa replied warmly, though a flicker of understanding passed through her eyes. She knew the older woman’s restlessness. "He’s in the rear training grounds with the others."

Beatrix let out a short, quiet sigh that spoke volumes of her frustration. She gave a tight, acknowledging nod.

"I see. I’ll head there then."

Without another word, she turned on her heel, her coat sweeping behind her as she marched towards the training grounds.

The air in the training ground crackled, but not with energy skills. It was thick with the sound of heavy impacts, sharp grunts, and Joe’s booming laughter.

"HA! Not bad, Julian! You can still take a hit!"

Julian and Joe were a whirlwind of raw, physical violence. Fists met forearms with sickening thuds, kicks were deflected with sharp blocks, and the ground beneath them was scuffed and torn.

They moved with blinding speed, a testament to their enhanced physical stats, but both had honorably foregone their primary skills—no lightning, no draconic transformations. This was a contest of pure, unadulterated brawl.

The rest of the team watched from a safe distance. Sefi, sat cross-legged on the sidelines, a notebook in her lap, her hand flying as she tried to jot down every move, her eyes wide with a mixture of terror and awe.

"Will you two knuckleheads stop before you break the entire courtyard?!" Veronica shouted, her hands on her hips.

"Don’t listen to her, Julian! Knock his block off!" Emma cheered, jumping up and down with excitement.

It was into this chaotic scene that Beatrix arrived. Her tired eyes took in the spectacle of the two men trying to pummel each other into the dirt with a profound sense of weariness.

"Miss Beatrix!" Emma greeted, noticing her first. "What’s up?"

Beatrix didn’t mince words, her gaze fixed on the brawling duo. "How much longer are we staying in this city? The delay is grating."

Veronica answered, her tone pragmatic as she gestured towards the garage. "We’re not ’staying,’ we’re preparing. Rushing out in that old deathtrap of a vehicle is suicide. Our new engineer is finally being useful, upgrading our transport. A mobile base that can actually fit all of us and our gear isn’t built in a day. We can’t hurry that process unless you want the engine to fall out mid-chase."

On the training ground, Julian, despite being locked in a brutal exchange, had clearly heard every word. He caught Joe’s next wild swing, using the man’s momentum to throw him over his shoulder. Joe hit the ground with a ground-shaking thud, but his laughter only grew louder.

Julian, breathing steadily, finally looked over at Beatrix. His expression was, as always, unreadable, but his words were clear and carried a tone of finality that cut through the noise.

"The vehicle is the priority," he stated, his voice calm but leaving no room for argument. "We leave when it’s ready. Not a day sooner."

He then turned his attention back to a cackling Joe, who was already pushing himself up from the ground, ready for another round.

Beatrix could only let out a long, weary sigh, the sound filled with resignation. There was no arguing with Julian’s logic, however frustrating it was. "Fine. I’ll... practice patience, then." She turned to leave, her demeanor making it clear she found the entire situation tedious.

"Whoa, already leaving?" Emma called out. "You just got here! Stay and hang out!"

Beatrix didn’t even look back, waving a dismissive hand. "I have no further business here. I’m going back to my quarters. Don’t bother me unless the world is ending."

As Beatrix strode away, Veronica clicked her tongue in disapproval. "So rushed. And so rude."

Emma giggled. "She’s kinda like how you used to be, Veronica!"

Veronica’s head snapped towards Emma, indignant. "Excuse me? In what possible way?"

Before Emma could elaborate with a teasing grin, the match on the training ground concluded. With a final, precise throw, Julian leveraged Joe’s own charging momentum to send the larger man sprawling onto his back, this time hard enough to knock the wind out of him.

Joe lay there for a second, then burst into his characteristic booming laughter, admitting defeat.

Sefi immediately began clapping her hands softly, her notebook forgotten in her lap. Her eyes shone with admiration. "Amazing, Julian-sensei! I learned so much just from watching! The way you used his own strength against him...!"

Julian, barely winded, gave a slight nod in Sefi’s direction, acknowledging her praise.

Joe pushed himself to his feet, cracking his neck and grinning wildly. "Alright, my turn again! Let’s go another round, Julian!"

"Not a chance!" Emma interjected, planting herself between them with her hands on her hips. "It’s my turn to spar with him! You’ve had your fun, you big lug!"

Joe let out a roaring laugh, looking from Emma to Veronica and the others. "Man, Julian! Your women are so possessive! I’m just trying to have a friendly fight!"

He clapped Julian on the shoulder, which felt like being hit by a small log. "Alright, alright. I should get going anyway. Gotta get back to my own territory."

Julian raised a single eyebrow. "Is your business here finished?"

"Was finished yesterday," Joe admitted with a shrug. "I stuck around just for this. Wanted one last brawl before heading out."

His grin softened into something almost resembling respect. "You’re still the best fight around. If you’re ever near my turf, make sure you stop by. I’ll show you a good time—we’ve got strong drinks, strong monsters, and plenty of pretty women I’m sure you’d appreciate."

Veronica’s eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. "Don’t you dare put ideas in his head."

"Yeah! He doesn’t need your help!" Emma added, though her concern was slightly different from Veronica’s.

Julian’s response was a dry, matter-of-fact dismissal. "I wouldn’t go that far." A faint, almost imperceptible smirk touched his lips as he acknowledged the reality of his situation. "But it seems my reputation is beyond saving at this point."

Joe laughed again, grabbing Julian’s hand in a powerful, crushing handshake. "Take care of yourself, you bastard."

"You too," Julian replied, his tone even but not unkind. "And try to keep the ’acquisitions’ to a minimum. I don’t want to have to come clear out your territory."

"Who, me?" Joe boomed with feigned innocence, releasing the handshake and turning to leave. He waved without looking back. "I’m not a thief! I’m a collector! And next time, I won’t be stealing anything... I’ll just be taking it! Ahahaha!"