Chapter Text
Rudo felt somewhat strange. His instincts were incredibly tense, locked in a state of constant alert. He knew the Hell Guards were very important people here in Terra, but after Zanka's detailed explanation, he couldn’t help but be reminded of how the Apostles were back in the Sphere, which only heightened his tension. And though Zanka hadn't explicitly told him, Rudo had quickly figured out that his older brother's biological family was part of that organization—a suspicion later confirmed when he asked Follo and Tomme.
Naturally, this made him completely furious. Enjin had told Rudo the truth in soft whispers while they both sat in the infirmary, watching over a critically injured Zanka after Mymo’s attack. It was a night where Rudo’s childhood curiosity had gotten the upper hand, and he had asked why no one from the Nijiku clan had come to check on the Omega.
Rudo could say with absolute honesty that he despised them. At first, he might not have gotten along with Zanka, but that was no longer the case. He had grown deeply fond of the blue-eyed youth, slowly coming to view him as one of his safe havens and as true family—a feeling that had only intensified after the agonizing experience of losing him.
So, he didn't understand the Nijiku clan's way of thinking. But if there was one thing he knew for certain, it was this: he wouldn't let them separate Zanka from his real family.
The young pup’s beautiful, ruby-colored eyes scanned the training yard, watching as Zanka used a training staff to sweep a poor Follo off his feet once again. The impact made the rest of the pack wince and groan in sympathy, but Rudo could clearly see that everyone was smiling, thoroughly enjoying watching Zanka put Follo through his paces.
Seeing the man he looked up to as an older brother having fun and wearing a massive grin while helping Follo back up made Rudo's shoulders relax just a fraction. Maybe—just maybe—the Hell Guards' arrival wouldn't go so badly after all. Maybe Rudo was actually ready for this!
That hope lasted until Guita came bursting into the yard, completely out of breath but wearing a huge, excited smile. With that single sight, Rudo knew his attempts to relax and psych himself up had been utterly shattered.
At least Guita wasn't as noisy as usual when she came in, but many noticed her arrival anyway. After all, they had decided to send the little one on that very mission to warn them when the Hell Guards arrived. Rudo could see how some of the members tensed up, while others preferred to just sit down on the ground.
But at the very least, he felt relieved that Zanka hadn't noticed Guita’s arrival, as he was once again completely focused on training Follo. Rudo felt rather than saw Guita sit down right next to him, and he could easily detect that underneath the youngster's soft, milky scent, there was a clear note of amusement and excitement for an "adventure."
Rudo silently wished he could be anywhere near as relaxed as Guita was.
"Rudo, Rudo! The guards are here! I counted twenty-two of them, and there was this really beautiful woman with red hair—she looked amazing!"
Rudo hummed at the girl's excitement, taking mental note of the information she had gathered. It turned out that sending Guita had been a spectacular idea, since she didn't take long to bring back such useful details. But before he could even say a word, a sudden tap on his hair and on Guita’s head startled them both.
The pups quickly spun around to see who had surprised them, relaxing instantly when they realized it was only Tomme. She was offering them an apologetic smile, though Rudo could see a massive grin reflecting in the Alpha's eyes.
"Did I scare you? Forgive me, pups, but I overheard some interesting information and I’d like to join your little chat."
Guita was the first to speak up, quickly recounting all the details she had gathered to Tomme, which earned her an affectionate pat on the head as a reward.
"Mhm, sounds like Zanka's older siblings are coming." Noticing the stunned and curious looks on the kids' faces, the brown-haired girl let out a soft laugh as she leaned further over the bench, bringing her head close to the little ones' ears. "That striking, red-haired woman? That's his older sister, the commander of the Hell Guard’s Red Horns Squad One."
"And I can assure you that if she's here, her brother will be too—he's the second-in-command of the Hell Guard’s Red Horns Squad One."
Calmly, Tomme walked around the bench where the kids were sitting and, once she was in front of it, sat down comfortably on the floor. Without hesitation, Guita plucked off her assistant cap to playfully ruffle the older girl's hair. Rudo, on the other hand, made a sour face upon hearing that Zanka’s real siblings had been chosen; a horrible, bitter taste of jealousy rose in his throat, an emotion that was inevitable for a kid in his position.
Noticing this, Tomme didn't hesitate to reach up and run her fingers through Rudo's ash-white hair, silently soothing him. After all, Rudo's pup scent had quickly turned sour with distress.
"Aww, don't worry, Rudo. No one is going to take your big brother away from you~"
At the touch, Rudo simply let out a small whine, but he relaxed slightly at Tomme's words. He thought to himself that the older girl was right; Zanka wouldn't abandon him for his two biological older siblings, right? Rudo was a good kid, right?
Tomme made a sad face when she noticed that Rudo's scent still hadn't sweetened up, his bitterness lingering, though it was a bit fainter now. Fortunately for her, Zanka began walking over to them, likely having caught the shift in Rudo's pheromones. Tomme offered the Omega a welcoming, supportive smile before calmly standing up, picking up Guita in her arms, who let out a squeal of excitement.
"Rudo? What’s wrong, brat?" When the Omega sat down next to his adoptive younger brother, he didn't hesitate to release a bit of his scent to soothe the pup's noticeable bad mood, smiling subtly as he felt the little one relax the moment the aroma of incense and wood wrapped around him.
"... I don't like that the Hell Guards are here. They make me feel strange," was the white-haired boy's timid and honest reply as he leaned his head against Zanka’s shoulder, drawing a soft hum from him.
"What exactly do they make you feel? Are you afraid they'll take you back with them just because you're a Sphere-ite?"
"No. I'm afraid they'll hurt us, or... that they'll take you away from me. I'm your brother, right? I don't want to lose someone from my family again."
Zanka felt his heart break at the pup's words. He calmly pulled Rudo even closer against his side, tucking their bodies together as he turned his head to scent his adoptive little brother. He felt a wave of relief as he noticed the sour, milky smell finally sweetening up under his affection.
"They aren't going to take me away from you, Rudo. And the Hell Guards aren't going to take you away or tear the pack apart, either... After all, that's not what they came here for. They only came to see how we work, so maybe we can form better work alliances in the future."
Faced with the boy's silence, the Omega could only let out a sigh, turning his gaze toward two more supporters who were now gearing up to fight. Calmly, he decided to change the subject, catching Rudo's attention by asking him which of the two burly men he thought would win. Zanka’s blue eyes watched as Rudo gradually relaxed, now completely focused on the pack's training.
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While Semiu answered questions and explained the functions and operations of the Cleaners, Enjin turned to look at his pup. Riyo was pretending to be bored, but her green eyes were constantly darting over toward the Nijiku siblings. Letting out a hum, he threw one of his arms over his daughter, making her let out a soft squeak.
"Easy there, Riyo~ if you keep staring at them like that, you're going to burn holes in the back of their necks with that intense gaze of yours." His pup made a face but noticeably relaxed, making Enjin smile before he turned his attention back to Semiu and her tour.
His golden eyes noticed how some of the young soldiers' gazes constantly traveled all over the base—analytical, critical eyes, but also filled with curiosity. He silently gave a nod to Semiu, who, being as sharp as always, understood him instantly.
"Since we are nearly done with the tour, with only the training yard left, do you have any questions about everything we've seen so far?"
With a nod of approval from the commander, a somewhat timid girl with blue hair—whom Enjin recognized as the one who hadn't stopped analyzing Riyo—was the first to ask.
"Excuse me, I'm interested in knowing exactly how you are divided. I know from what has been said on this tour, and as far as the public knows, that this organization is split into two branches: the Cleaners, who are Givers, and the supporters... But I would like to know how many individuals are in each team."
The blue-haired girl’s question hung in the air, instantly shifting the atmosphere among the visiting soldiers. Enjin kept his expression neutral, but his golden eyes narrowed slightly, tracking the way the young soldier carefully danced around their terminology. She was sharp, he’d give her that, but the deliberate omission of the word "sub-pack" spoke volumes about how the Terra’s military viewed their family dynamic.
Beside him, Riyo stiffened just a fraction under his arm, clearly noting how this girl had been drilling holes into her with that analytical gaze for the past twenty minutes.
Semiu kept her professional smile perfectly intact, though a subtle glint of amusement sparked in her eyes. Before she could offer the official, textbook response, Enjin chuckled, the low rumble of his voice easily drawing the attention of every young soldier who had suddenly tuned in with rapt interest.
"Straight to the numbers, huh? I like the curiosity," Enjin said, casually adjusting his weight as he looked over the group. "But to understand the numbers, you gotta understand how we breathe. It's true that on paper, we’re split into Givers and supporters. But we don't just count heads; we count compatibility. Each crew functions as its own tight unit."
He gestured faintly back toward the corridors they had just walked through.
"The size of each sub-pack varies depending on the nature of their work. For instance, my crew, the Akuta team, stays relatively small and compact because our field operations require high mobility and absolute trust. Other divisions, like the logistics or engineering branches, carry larger numbers because they support the entire infrastructure. But whether a team has five people or fifty, the dynamic remains the same: we operate as families within a greater family."
Enjin’s gaze flicked meaningfully toward the Nijiku siblings, his smirk returning with a sharp, deliberate edge.
"We don't just dump people into squads based on a rank or a quota. We go where our instincts and our bonds pull us. That's why our numbers look different from a standard military division—because a pack doesn't force pieces together that don't fit."
The blue-haired girl bit the inside of her cheek, processing Enjin's sharp words while maintaining her rigid, military posture. Her eyes briefly darted toward her commanders, checking their reactions, but both Nijiku siblings remained stone-faced, their gazes practically radiating a chilling aura of disapproval.
Semiu, ever the flawless hostess, smoothly stepped forward to bridge the sudden tension, her voice dripping with professional grace.
"To give you the precise, technical figures for your notes, Commander," Semiu spoke up, her perfectly crafted smile never faltering. "Aside from our administrative and foundational pillars, our active field divisions—or *sub-packs*, as we officially designate them—maintain a highly streamlined roster. On average, each crew consists of five to eight active Givers, paired symmetrically with two to three dedicated supporters."
She paused, smoothing the front of her uniform with a slow, deliberate movement that commanded the room's attention.
"Of course, Captain Bro Santa’s Child team is the natural exception to this rule due to the unique nature of nurturing and protecting our growing youth. But if your query stems from a curiosity about our operational efficiency with such compact numbers compared to the vast legions of the Hell Guard's... I can assure you that the absolute synchronization of our biological and emotional bonds more than compensates for any deficit in headcount. We have no need for massive battalions when our members can read a battlefield and adjust their strategy purely by catching a shift in their packmates' pheromones."
A subtle, collective ripple of discomfort passed through the younger Hell Guard soldiers. For military minds trained to rely strictly on ranks, cold logic, and mechanical protocol, the idea of relying so heavily on "primitive" pack instincts was jarring.
Enjin let out a low, deeply amused rumble, his large hand giving Riyo’s shoulder a firm, reassuring squeeze. He didn't miss the way Zanka’s older brother clenched his jaw so tightly a muscle twitched in his cheek. To these high-society Alphas, hearing their estranged younger brother's lifestyle praised for its primal connection was nothing short of an insult to their pristine military standards and of course their own honors as a family.
"Alright, enough lecturing for the day," Enjin interrupted cheerfully, flashing a sharp, toothy grin as he gestured toward the massive metal double doors at the end of the corridor. "Theory is fine and dandy, but I know you military folks prefer to see things in action. The training yard is right through here."
With a fluid, heavy push from both Enjin and Gris, the reinforced doors swung wide open.
The crisp, open air of the Terra afternoon rushed into the corridor, but it was instantly accompanied by a dense, overwhelming wave of combined pheromones that made several of the visiting guards reflexively stiffen. The heavy, grounding scents of sweat, hard work, and intensive training filled the air, laced distinctly with Zanka’s familiar, sharp aroma of wood and incense, alongside the sweet, milky trail of the younger pups lounging by the benches.
As the Hell Guards filed into the yard, the entire scene seemed to freeze for a microsecond.
Rudo, who had been comfortably leaning his head against Zanka’s shoulder, snapped his head up instantly. His striking, ruby-colored eyes narrowed, locking onto the incoming group with fierce, defensive precision. Driven by pure, protective instinct, his gaze zeroed in on the imposing red-haired woman and the stern-faced man walking right beside her.
Zanka, for his part, went completely rigid beneath Rudo's weight, his shoulders squaring imperceptibly. He didn't look away, nor did he try to hide. Instead, his piercing blue eyes—usually so calm, steady, and sharp from hours of discipline—met the cold, calculating stares of his biological siblings head-on.
The silence that blanketed the training yard became suffocatingly thick, like a wire coiled so tight it was screaming to snap but breaking the suffocating tension without a single shred of hesitation, Enjin stepped forward, his booming voice cutting through the heavy air like a blade.
"Alright, everyone, listen up!" Enjin announced cheerfully, clapping his large hands together as if he hadn't noticed the tense glares being exchanged. He walked right into the center of the yard, completely shifting the focus to himself. "Since we’re finally here, let me introduce you to the finest crew on this side of Terra. No need for the stiff military formalities—we do things a bit differently here."
He gestured broadly toward the group standing near the benches first, a proud smirk on his face.
"Those over there—the lovely brown-haired lady is named Tomme Mima, who belongs to our supporters' sub-pack and team. The little pup in the massive Kaiju pajamas is Guita, one of our young Givers from the Child team and pack, currently under the leadership of someone you already know, Bro Santa." Bro Santa raised his hand right from behind Gris with a soft smile.
"And the boy next to her is named Follo Tunito, one of our newest Givers and a member of the same sub-pack as Tomme. Oh, that's right! Gris, the big guy here, is their leader." Gris simply gave a firm nod as the young soldiers turned their heads to look at him.
"And of course, we also have several of our other supporters and cleaners right here—whether they are Givers or not, we are all one strong pack and we work wonderfully together."
Despite the heavy atmosphere, Enjin didn't hesitate to introduce absolutely everyone present in the yard. They all offered their greetings in their own distinct ways. Just three minutes later, Enjin walked back over to his two pups, wrapping his powerful arms over their shoulders, which drew a couple of shy laughs from them—especially from Zanka.
"And these two boys right here! They are my pups and the final members of my Akuta crew: Zanka Nijiku and the very well-known Rudo Surebrec... I am absolutely certain you all know both of them very well."
Kyoka Nijiku’s eyes narrowed slightly at Enjin's actions and words, silently fumes as she felt that good-for-nothing Alpha trying to humiliate both her and the Nijiku clan. It certainly didn't go unnoticed how this Enjin guy rubbed his head against her little brother's hair, marking him with his scent just like any good father would do.
But before she could even utter a single word, Corvus stepped ahead of her, offering a smooth smile as he positioned himself in front of his pack to look the Hell Guards directly in the face.
"With that, we conclude both the tour and the introductions since it's getting rather late. How about I show you where you'll be stationed so you can get as comfortable as possible?"