"Dragon, Kuma and Ginny... they're my friends!!!"
Ivankov's roar was like cold water splashed in Dragon's face, instantly snapping him out of that brief, unrealistic daze.
He immediately realized just how cruel and irresponsible his thoughtless remark had been to Ivankov, who had only recently endured the pain of losing a dear friend.
For a moment, regret flickered across Dragon's face beneath his hood.
"Sorry, Ivan... I shouldn't have said that." He drew a deep breath and softened his voice, offering a sincere apology. "I... lost myself for a moment."
Seeing Dragon apologize of his own accord, and the exhaustion he could barely conceal, Ivankov's anger quickly deflated like a punctured balloon.
He understood Dragon. He knew that Kuma's departure, the repercussions of the Holy Land incident, and the pressure the World Government might bring to bear on the Revolutionary Army
had already left their leader utterly exhausted. He probably hadn't had a proper night's sleep in ages.
Under such immense pressure, an occasional thoughtless remark wasn't beyond understanding.
"Forget it... I know you're tired too." Ivankov heaved a sigh, the anger on his face giving way to a complicated helplessness.
He waved a hand, his tone easing. "I'll get back to work. You should find some time to rest too."
With that, Ivankov turned to leave the oppressive room.
But just as his hand touched the doorknob,
"Mr. Dragon! Commander Ivankov!"
An urgent cry, brimming with almost disbelieving excitement, rang out from the corridor, accompanied by hurried footsteps drawing closer, shattering the quiet of Headquarters!
Ivankov abruptly stopped opening the door. Almost simultaneously, he and Dragon looked up toward the doorway in confusion.
The next second, the door burst open with a bang. A young Revolutionary Army soldier appeared in the doorway, gasping for breath. Without even taking a