The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]-Chapter 293: Extra Support

Lane lifted his eyes from the notes he was absolutely not reading without much interest. Just to take a look at who it was who dared to disturb his fun time with his boyfriend. And hoping it wouldn’t take long, and the unwelcome guests would soon leave, so that he and Damien could return to what they had been doing.

But the moment he spotted the person next to Section Leader White, he couldn’t help but freeze.

Just what the hell was he doing there?

The two intruders noticed his presence as well, although neither of them was particularly surprised.

"Is that your new member of your team?" Section Leader White asked. "Lane Allen, an A-rank Esper, right?"

"...Yes, that is correct," Damien confirmed, his voice slightly husky and strained from the suppressed desire.

Even if Section Leader White picked up on this, as well as on Lane’s and Damien’s slightly disheveled state, which hinted at what they had been doing before the door opened, he didn’t let it show. He only gave Lane a polite nod, "It’s good to have you on board. I’m looking forward to working with you."

"Thank you, Section Leader. I’m looking forward to it as well," Lane returned the nod.

While trying his best to ignore the fourth person in the room, who was looking at him with an amused smirk. He clearly had realized what was going on, and wasn’t planning to pretend that he didn’t!

Not like Lane cared. Whatever others thought, it was none of his problem, and that man was not an exception.

Damien cleared his throat, trying to get his voice back in order, before asking, "How can I help you, Section Leader?"

"Right. I would like to introduce you to someone. This is Ethan Wagner," Section Leader White said, gesturing at the man beside him, "an S-rank Guide. He will join your team for the time being..."

"What?" Lane couldn’t help but interrupt, staring at the Section Leader blankly. "Join Damien’s team?"

"Yes, that’s right."

"But... he’s a member of the Allen Guild," Lane pointed out. "Are you telling me he’s transferring to the Association?"

That seemed unbelievable. What Awakened in their right mind would do such a thing? As much as Lane hated the Allen Guild, he had to admit that they were the top of the top. There was no better place for any Awakened. Especially a high-ranker such as Ethan! He had been working for them ever since the Guide strikes, when Guides had been freed from the government.

Not to mention, he had awakened in the early days. He had spent around six years working for the government against his own will, with very restricted freedom. Sure, the Awakened Association was very different from how it had been back then, but still... To think that he’d be willing to return? They had to be more to it!

And sure enough, Section Leader White soon explained, "It’s only a temporary transfer. It’s your parents who had suggested it. They were worried that with an S-ranker and A-ranker in one team, an A-rank Guide might not be enough to support you both in the case of an emergency in a dungeon... Therefore, they sent Mr. Wagner here to fill in until we find another Guide to support you."

Of course. His parents. Which meant that Ethan wasn’t here to ’support’ him, but rather to spy on him...

...Or worse. Who knew, maybe he was here to seduce Damien? To deprive Lane of his support, and to lure Damien to the Allen Guild. Ethan was also into men, after all, so it wouldn’t be too unreasonable...

Lane forced a smile, and turned to the Section Leader, ignoring Ethan’s smirk, "There’s no need for that. According to the regulations, I don’t need a high-ranking Guide on the team. Our B-rank Guide, Cora Peters, will do just fine. As for Damien, he has Lucy Stanley, an A-ranker. We’ll be just fine without Mr. Wagner."

Unfortunately, it was already too late for any protests, it seemed.

"Lane, don’t be like that," Ethan finally spoke up. Although as far as Lane was concerned, he could have just stayed shut forever. He didn’t have any beef with the man before, but from now on, it was all going to change... "I have already signed the contract. I will stay with you on the team for the next half a year... Perhaps longer, we’ll see. I’m sure we will work great together! We had worked together in the past, after all, and it was amazing, wasn’t it?"

’Ugh.’ Lane couldn’t help but groan inwardly, feeling Damien’s eyes on him. The way Ethan had said it... It was really suggestive.

Not that he was wrong. Although Lane wouldn’t exactly describe their past as ’amazing’ in any way, shape, or form... Ethan was the one he had lost his virginity with.

Now that was going to be awkward. It had been years ago, of course, and they hadn’t spoken to each other ever since Lane had left the Allen family. And there had never been any feelings between the two of them, it was just that neither of them had any other options at that moment, one kept on a tight leash by the government, while the other by his family. And Damien had heard about it already. But still...

"I will leave you up to this, then," Section Leader White smiled, although a bit forced. He wasn’t so dumb as to not pick up on the awkward atmosphere in the room... But there wasn’t much he could do about it. The Allen Guild had practically forced this Guide onto him, while promising to fund reinforcing of the Restricted Zones, something that the Association had been struggling with... As the new Section Leader, he had no choice but to prioritize the work that needed to be done in the Capital, even if that meant accepting a spy into their ranks. There were probably plenty of them around already anyway, so one more wouldn’t make that much of a difference!

He had excused himself, leaving the three men alone, in an extremely tense atmosphere.