ARCANUM

CHAPTER 44

RUBY POV

Two weeks have passed since that incident.

I walked in the sun in the beautiful garden inside The Arc. We were back that night. By taking a helicopter that took us to Ashgabat and immediately continued by using the black jet that Rosie, Rattle, and Irene used to go to Turkmenistan, we returned to Seoul. From Seoul, Rattle parted ways with us. She brought Punpun back to Thailand, while I and the others went straight back to The Arc by helicopter.

For three days, Rattle was in Thailand. She informed us that their acquaintances there were helping Punpun's recovery process. She had been informed of who Bambam was and his death. She was also offered to come with us, but she refused. Even so, she had a lot of trauma, so she didn't want to get involved with anything or anyone for now and just wanted to recover first. For mental and physical health. And Rattle promised to keep an eye on her.

Talking about Bambam and his death. After being in the same situation they were in, I finally fully understood Manoban's feelings. Understand his sadness and sorrow. Beforehand, I considered our circumstances were similar, was not the same because, at that time, Bambam didn't have any protection, whereas I thought Manoban was wearing a safety net and wouldn't harm him when I shot him. But after knowing that our circumstances were the same at that time and Manoban's life was in danger, I understood his guilt. Understand how he doesn't want to have a partner anymore. Understand why he turned them down.

"Ruby, what are you doing here?" Rosie's sweet voice disturbs my calm in this garden.

"Nothing, just enjoying this bright sun," I replied as I continued to close my eyes and look up at the sky. Let the sun shine on my face.

"You're not there?" she asked, and I shook my head before replying, "It's very sunny today. And I just want to relax."

That's right, after the mission to save Punpun was over, I was given time to rest. I was offered to go on vacation, but I turned it down. How can I take a vacation after all that has happened?

I sighed, leaning back with my hands beside me. Immediately, I opened my eyes because my right hand touched something hard. I turned to the thing I had placed on my right and lifted it.

"What's that?" Rosie asked.

"This is a device from Prof Jessi. This morning she asked me to come to her lab and gave this. She said Manoban asked her to make a device for me when we were in Turkmenistan," I replied and showed her the 6-inch device. It's like a smartphone. But what makes it different is that it can project the screen into a hologram where I can make maps and make notes there at the same time. Something I used to do on paper and notes. But now I can do it on this small device. So, I no longer bother carrying paper or notes. After all, the size of the mission maps I can draw is limitless, and the notes I write can be directly linked to the maps I've made. Very practical. And it was Manoban who asked for it. All this time, he was paying attention, and I was quite surprised and touched when Prof Jessi explained that he ordered it specifically for me. The first and only device I'm using at the moment.