[Timeskip: Later that Night]

Nightfall had come upon today as in the dorm, everyone was having a festive dinner congratulating the three girls on passing the exams as Mei had cooked a rather large feast.

Right now at the moment everyone was feasting on any food they wanted, more accurately it was Kiana who was scarfing down the food while everyone else was eating at a normal pace.

As the diner continued on, everyone was more or less done with Kiana being the only one left eating.

Eventually she herself had finished eating as Mei went on ahead and started washing the plates.

No one had left the table yet as they were just wanting to let the food process completely before getting to bed.

During this period the girls were having chats amongst one another while Alex was just minding his own business scrolling through his phone as he saw numerous angry voicemails and texts as Alex could only sigh at seeing these.

'Crap. I can't leave until I'm paid the remaining half but the longer this takes the more clients I'm potentially losing. But at the same time if I just ask about the money, it'd make the others think that I'm only focusing on the money. All I can do is wait.' Thought Alex about his current situation.

As he pondered on this ordeal, his attention was called upon as he looked up.

"Hey kid. You listening to us? We're thanking you for helping out in battling Ganesha." Said Himeko.

"Hm? O-Oh thanks. It was nothing really." Said Alex.

"Was there something on Subject Alex's phone that was attracting his attention?" Asked Bronya.

"He was probably looking at pervy photos he's sneakily taken of us." Said Kiana who received a smack on the head from Mei.

"It's nothing important. And stop calling me a perv you pea brained snowflake." Said Alex.

"Pea brain!? I'll have you know that I'm an uber-genius!" Said Kiana as Alex sighed.

"You say that yet Himeko showed me your results. You barely squeaked past the writing portion of the exams. If it weren't for your contribution in the Ganesha fight, you probably would've ben 50/50 on passing or failing." Said Alex.

The two almost came to blows until Himeko managed to separate them.

As this happened, Bronya looked at Alex's phone and noticed all of the voicemails and messages.

"Subject Alex has 32 voicemails and 51 messages with all of them seeming to be rather angry at him." Said Bronya.

'Shit I left my phone on.' Thought Alex as there was no way out of this one.

"Yeah. Being a well known merc means that I'm being offered multiple contracts in the span of hours. As you can see, they're upset because I've been declining many of them cause I can't really leave this place until the remaining half is paid off." Said Alex.

"Why not just ask Theresa about the money? If this keeps going you'll lose more clients." Said Himeko.

"Yeah but if I did ask it probably make her feel rushed. So I'm just gonna wait." Said Alex.

"Don't worry Alex. I'm sure Theresa will pay you soon." Said Mei.

"Yeah I hope so." Said Alex.

With that conversation over, the girls all went up to their room ready to sleep while Alex sat on the couch watching television.

He was eventually accompanied by Bronya as the two sat there watching tv until Bronya spoke.

"Subject Alex is an orphan correct?" Asked Bronya.

"Hm? Uh, yeah I am. Why ask?" Said Alex being a little confused as to why she brought that up.

"Why didn't Subject Alex join Cocolia's Orphan Hone?" Asked Bronya.

When Alex heard that name he tensed up a bit as he kept quiet for a bit.

"I, actually was apart of the Orphanage. Thing is, apparently I needed extra attention compared to the others for some reason so Cocolia cared for me separately from the others, including you." Said Alex.

"That must've been why The Bronya didn't recognize Subject Alex if you indeed were apart of her orphanage. Either way, The Bronya apologizes for asking a sensitive question." Said Bronya.

"N-No don't apologize it's fine. I'd just, rather not talk about Cocolia. Things just, really ended on bad terms between me and her. That's all." Said Alex.

Bronya nodded as the two decided that it was best to call it a night now as after turning off the tv and remaining lights, the two walked up the stairs and then entered her room.

After Alex finished setting up his blanket bed on the floor, he laid on the floor as Bronya got onto her bed as the two eventually went to sleep.

[TimeSkip: A Few Weeks Later]

Everything returned to normal once the Valkyrie Exams went by.

Now with the girls being A-Rank Valkyries, they were ready to take on more difficult missions.

Thanks to the Selene's hub giving out talk about the gems a month ago, new mission were now set.

With all that info the Valkyries decided to begin searching for the gems as Kiana, Mei, and Bronya were all sent to New Zealand under the jurisdiction of  Schicksal's Oceania Branch and they'd find the Gem of Desire there.

Because of them being sent away on a mission, this had left Alex on his own since yesterday though he didn't really mind.

Ever since yesterday he had been getting along with other Valkyrie students at St. Freya High due to his contribution in taking down Ganesha.

Yeah these girls were only really wanting to get along with him just to gain more value into their own stock amongst their peers but Alex didn't mind as long as he had some people to talk to.

Currently Alex has just finished eating lunch in the school's cafeteria for the first time after being invited by a group of Valkyries.

Once he bid them goodbye, he was headed on his way outdoors where he'd most likely was gonna walk around the nearby city.

Though those plans wound up being changed as he received a tap on his shoulder as he turned to see Fu Hua.

"Hm? Oh hey Fu Hua. You need something?" Asked Alex.

"I apologize to be interrupting your day Alex, but Principal Theresa and Major Himeko would like a word with you." She said.

"Really? Alright then I'll see them now. Thanks for telling me." Said Alex.

The two bowed at one another before Alex walked over to the school's main office as he eventually arrived and knock on the door.

"Come in." Said Theresa's voice from the other side of the door.

Alex walked in and saw the two behind the desk.

"Fu Hua said you needed a word with me?" Asked Alex.

Theresa struggled to say what she wanted to say until Himeko nudged her.

"Come on just spit it out already or I will." Said Himeko as Theresa sighed but finally spoke.

"W-We'd like to enlist your services again." Said Theresa which caught Alex off guard.

"You, want my help again?" Asked Alex.

"We need your help. As you know we sent the girls to New Zealand to gain the Gem of Desire. Currently they're still on the process of finding it. We'd like to send you to New Zealand and escort them back here safely once they acquire the gem." Said Himeko.

As Alex pondered this Theresa quickly spoke up.

"W-What amount would you like for your services this time? I-I'll pay this off as well as the previous deal together." Said Theresa.

While there was gonna be a bigger payout in the end, Alex couldn't do this do Theresa especially after giving him a home to live in for the last month.

"Don't worry Theresa. This one's on the house. You don't need to pay me for this job. After all it's just a simple escort mission. What could go wrong?" Said Alex.

"T-Thank you Alex! I promise your prior deal will be paid out!" Shouted Theresa in joy.

"Glad to have you working for us again kid. Go and get prepared. Once your done head to the port. We already have an aircraft ready to take off. They're just waiting for your arrival." Said Himeko.

Alex nodded and thanked them before eventually leaving the school as he walked back and arrived at the dorm building.

After getting prepared by dressing in his merc clothing and having his weapon, a dagger in hand, he was now prepared.

He then left and then made his way over to the port.

After spottong his aircraft and telling the guards that he was indeed Alex, he boarded the aircraft as it took to the skies and took off as Alex began his one day flight to New Zealand.

[TimeSkip: A Day Later]

The aircraft finally landed at New Zealand's port as before Alex got off, he was handed and then put on an ear piece as he turned it on.

Once he stepped off the aircraft and onto the ground, he received a live transmission from Himeko.

"Alex Mustang this is Major Himeko. Can you hear me?" She asked.

"I can hear ya loud and clear Major Himeko." Said Alex.

"Excellent. Listen, right now just keep walking down that path. Soon you'll come across the girl. They've already acquired the Gem." Said Himeko as Alex nodded and began to walk down the path.

While walking down the path Alex looked around and surveyed the nice scenery all around him.

This was the first time Alex had been in a different country so he definitely did appreciate the change in scenery.

As he continued to walk along the path, Alex for some reason suddenly gained a feeling of dread and he couldn't really understand why.

'Just calm down Alex. It's just an escort mission. What could  wrong?' Thought Alex to himself.

Then, Himeko came over the ear piece to deliver a message that confirmed his fears.

"Alex! Change of plans you need to hurry there now! The girls are being attacked!"

Chapter 13: Complete