HSBA Delta Branch: Where Paths Cross Again - CHAPTER 6

[Gaius Mansion — Guest Room | 6:13 A.M.]

Soft golden sunlight slowly slipped through the enormous curtains.

The elegant guest room remained quiet.

Peaceful. Almost too peaceful.

Ravielle stirred faintly beneath the blankets.

For several seconds, she simply stared upward sleepily.

White ceiling.

Elegant chandelier lights.

Massive curtains.

A room far too large.

Far too unfamiliar.

Her brows slowly furrowed.

“…Where…”

Silence.

Then instinct immediately struck her.

Her body almost straightened automatically—

The same military reflex she had carried for years.

Deployment?

Emergency recall?

Base quarters?

But the surroundings didn’t match any military facility she had ever stayed in before.

The air smelled different.

No concrete walls.

No metal lockers.

No nearby boots marching outside.

No distant commands echoing through barracks.

Only silence.

Ravielle blinked slowly.

Then—

Reality returned.

The discharge papers.

The restaurant.

Headmaster Gaius.

The job offer.

The mansion.

Her shoulders slowly relaxed again as memory fully settled back into place.

“…Right…”

Her voice came out quietly.

“I’m not at camp anymore…”

A strange ache suddenly hit her chest.

Because for the first time in over two decades—

There was no military camp waiting for her outside the door.

No unit.

No command structure.

No operations schedule.

Nothing.

Only uncertainty.

Ravielle slowly sat upright on the edge of the bed.

Then lowered her gaze toward her hands.

“…Instructor-in-training…”

Even saying it mentally still felt strange.

Unfamiliar.

Almost unreal.

She exhaled slowly.

Then anxiety quietly began creeping into her mind again.

What if Headmaster Gaius’s grandchildren had impossibly high standards?

What if she kept making mistakes?

What if she embarrassed herself immediately?

What if she failed adapting completely?

Military life and HSBA operations were different worlds.

Different systems.

Different structure.

Different expectations.

And worse—

What if they regretted accepting her?

Ravielle rubbed her forehead tiredly.

“…What if I don’t survive under their guidance…”

KNOCK. KNOCK.

She immediately straightened slightly.

A gentle female voice spoke from outside the room.

“…Miss Ravielle?”

Ravielle blinked.

“…Yes?”

“…Breakfast is ready in the dining room.”

A small pause.

“…Headmaster Gaius asked me to inform you there’s no need to rush.”

Ravielle quietly inhaled.

Reality returning fully once again.

“…I’ll be there shortly.”

“…Understood, Miss Ravielle.”

Soft footsteps slowly faded afterward.

Likely heading downstairs to inform Headmaster Gaius that their guest was already awake.

Silence returned again.

Ravielle sat quietly for another few seconds.

Then finally exhaled.

“…Alright.”

No more avoiding reality.

She immediately stood.

The habits from military life remained automatic.

Blankets folded neatly.

Pillows fixed properly.

Bedsheets straightened perfectly.

Within minutes—

The bed looked almost untouched.

Ravielle then quickly fixed herself up slightly in the restroom mirror.

She hadn’t showered yet.

But at least she could make herself look presentable first.

Hair fixed.

Face washed.

Uniform posture returning instinctively.

Then finally—

She left the guest room.

[Gaius Mansion — Main Hallways | 6:33 A.M.]

The mansion looked even larger during daytime.

Morning sunlight illuminated the marble floors beautifully.

Massive paintings lined the walls.

Elegant chandeliers reflected warm golden light across the quiet corridors.

Several household staff members politely bowed as Ravielle passed.

“…Good morning, Miss Ravielle.”

“…Good morning.”

She still wasn’t used to being greeted like this.

It honestly made her uncomfortable.

Ravielle quietly continued walking.

Then finally—

She found the dining areas.

And immediately realized—

There were two of them.

One massive formal dining hall clearly designed for huge gatherings and events.

And beside it—

A smaller private dining room for quieter meals.

Ravielle quietly headed toward the second one.

Inside—

Headmaster Gaius already sat calmly at the table.

Reading paperwork.

Several documents neatly stacked nearby while breakfast had already been prepared.

The moment he noticed her—

His expression softened warmly.

“…Good morning, Ravielle.”

Ravielle immediately bowed slightly.

“…Good morning, Headmaster.”

Then quickly added apologetically—

“…I’m sorry for making you wait.”

Headmaster Gaius chuckled softly.

“…You barely took any time at all.”

He calmly folded one of the documents closed.

“…Sit down.”

Ravielle hesitated briefly.

“…I…”

“…That’s an order from a senior officer.”

She blinked.

Then immediately sat down obediently.

Which made Headmaster Gaius laugh quietly.

“…Still follows military command structure perfectly.”

Ravielle looked mildly embarrassed.

A maid politely began serving breakfast shortly afterward.

Warm rice. Eggs. Soup. Tea. Fresh bread.

And suddenly—

Ravielle realized how hungry she actually was.

Headmaster Gaius noticed immediately.

“…Eat properly.”

“…Yes, Headmaster.”

The breakfast atmosphere remained peaceful.

Quiet.

Comfortable.

Surprisingly normal.

Headmaster Gaius occasionally reviewed paperwork while Ravielle ate carefully across from him.

No pressure. No interrogation.

Just calm silence.

And honestly—

After the emotional chaos of yesterday—

It felt nice.

Several minutes later—

Breakfast finally ended.

A maid respectfully cleared the table.

Then—

Headmaster Gaius suddenly reached beside him.

And picked up a brown envelope.

“…Ravielle.”

She looked up immediately.

“…Yes?”

He calmly handed the envelope toward her.

“…Open it.”

Ravielle accepted it carefully.

Curious.

Then slowly opened the envelope.

The moment she pulled out the contents—

Her eyes widened slightly.

CLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL FILE RECORDS

Name: RAVIELLE V. SANTOS

Below it—

Special Transfer Order — Main HSBA International Headquarters

Assigned as Instructor — HSBA Delta Training Camp Branch

Signed: Headmaster Gaius

Official Seal.

Official Logo.

Completely authentic.

Completely real.

But—

As Ravielle flipped through the rest—

Her expression slowly changed.

Because almost everything else was hidden.

Experience — CLASSIFIED

Skills — CLASSIFIED

Graduation Rank — CLASSIFIED

Operational Records — CLASSIFIED

Mission History — CLASSIFIED

Combat Evaluation — CLASSIFIED

Field Leadership Records — CLASSIFIED

Everything.

Sealed.

Restricted.

Untraceable.

Only one line remained fully visible.

“Instructor Ravielle is authorized to serve as Instructor under HSBA Delta Training Camp Branch.”

Ravielle stared at the file blankly for several seconds.

Then slowly looked up.

“…Headmaster.”

Headmaster Gaius calmly sipped his tea.

“…Hm?”

“…Why does this look incredibly suspicious?”

He nearly laughed.

“…Because your records are dangerous to expose openly.”

Ravielle looked even more concerned.

“…Everything is classified.”

“…Correct.”

“…Even my graduation rank.”

“…Correct.”

“…Even my operational records.”

“…Especially those.”

Ravielle stared at him in disbelief.

“…This literally looks like I’m some kind of hidden government weapon.”

Headmaster Gaius smiled calmly.

“…Close enough.”

“…Headmaster.”

He finally chuckled softly.

Then leaned slightly back in his chair.

“…Ravielle.”

“…From this moment onward, you are Instructor Ravielle.”

Silence settled briefly.

His expression remained calm.

But serious now.

“…You are no longer actively serving within the military.”

“…You are entering a completely different environment.”

“…And for your own protection, certain records must remain sealed.”

Ravielle slowly lowered her gaze toward the documents again.

Still processing everything.

Headmaster Gaius continued calmly.

“…You will officially enter HSBA Delta Training Camp Branch as an instructor.”

“…Not as a trainee.”

“…Not as an instructor-in-training publicly.”

“…Only a select few will know your true adjustment status.”

Ravielle blinked slightly.

“…The others won’t know?”

Headmaster Gaius shook his head once.

“…Most instructors will accept you as an official instructor immediately.”

“…Meanwhile my grandchildren will quietly help train and guide you behind the scenes until you adapt properly.”

Ravielle swallowed slightly.

Again—

That anxiety returned.

What if his grandchildren were strict?

What if they lost patience with her?

What if she disappointed them constantly?

Headmaster Gaius seemed to notice immediately.

Because he smiled faintly afterward.

“…Relax.”

“…My grandchildren will take very good care of you while you stay at the camp.”

Ravielle nodded slowly.

“…I understand…”

But internally—

She still felt nervous.

Because she had absolutely no idea—

That the “grandchildren” Headmaster Gaius referred to—

Were actually her former Phantom Crest Squad members.

Instructor Britney.

Instructor Sapphire.

Instructor Skyrish.

Instructor Amethyst.

Instructor Bailey.

Instructor Raphael.

Instructor Nexcialine.

The very same gremlins she once led during military service years ago.

Meanwhile—

Far away inside HSBA Delta Training Camp Branch—

Seven phones had already received messages earlier that morning.

From: Headmaster Gaius.

[Prepare yourselves later.]

[I have a special surprise for all seven of you.]

[You will definitely love it.]

And ever since then—

Confusion had spread among the Phantom Crest Squad members.

Inside the instructors’ dormitory hallway—

Instructor Bailey frowned while holding her phone.

“…Why does this feel dangerous?”

Instructor Raphael narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

“…Whenever Grandpa says ‘special surprise,’ someone suffers emotionally.”

Instructor Skyrish crossed her arms.

“…Or physically.”

Instructor Nexcialine blinked sleepily.

“…Maybe he bought us food.”

Instructor Sapphire immediately answered—

“…No.”

Instructor Amethyst sighed softly.

“…Definitely no.”

Even Instructor Britney looked mildly curious now.

“…What exactly is he planning…”

None of them realized—

That their former squad leader was currently sitting inside at the Gaius Mansion holding her newly processed HSBA instructor files.

Back inside the dining room—

Headmaster Gaius calmly stood.

“…You may shower and prepare yourself properly now.”

Ravielle immediately straightened slightly.

“…Yes, Headmaster.”

He extended his hand calmly.

“…The documents.”

Ravielle immediately returned the classified envelope.

Headmaster Gaius accepted it carefully.

“…I’ll personally hand these to Instructor Faye later during your official introduction.”

Ravielle nodded once.

“…Understood.”

Then Headmaster Gaius added calmly—

“…I’ll personally escort you to the HSBA Delta Branch afterward.”

“…There’s no need to worry.”

Ravielle quietly inhaled.

Then nodded again.

“…Thank you.”

She politely excused herself afterward and began heading back toward the guest room upstairs.

The moment she disappeared from sight—

Headmaster Gaius slowly leaned back in his chair.

Then—

A slow amused smirk appeared on his face.

“…This is going to be entertaining.”

Because for once—

Even he was genuinely excited to see how his beloved gremlin grandchildren would react later.

Especially once they discovered—

That their former Phantom Crest Squad Leader…

Would now become one of them again.

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