Rex Crozzo sighed as he looked at the pout Bronya gave him as he bit through his burger. Sitting beside Adam and Carole while Bronya sat by Shy, he was trapped. 

"Where were you?" Bronya asked as she waited for their order. 

"Around," Rex said as bit his burger. "Russia, Shenzhou, India, the North Pole, South Pole, Germany, Mexico, and more," 

"..." Bronya sighed as she felt her blood pressure increase. "You went missing for years!" 

"Not true, My family knows where I am," 

A wince formed from Bronya as she looked at him. 

"I often babysat the gremlin when I was around," Rex said, smiling fondly at the memory of his niece. 

"Okay..." Bronya said with a pout as she kicked him under the table. 

"I also was in Rein's wedding... I was there during the cherry blossom viewing last year," Rex listed, ignoring the kick on his shin with each thing he listed off, much to the shock and fear of the others. "Oh, I was also there during Reena's graduation from kindergarten." 

"Hmph!" 

"I don't speak Poutenese," Rex snarked as he looked at Bronya while finishing his meal. "Besides, I only stay for a few days at most, I'm busy with my projects," Rex continued, ignoring Bronya's kicks with ease. 

"Should we stop her?" Carole asked while looking at Shy. 

"I won't," Adam said as he inched away from Rex. 

"I'm here to meet up with Rin for a job," 

"A job?! But you know," Bronya whispered, looking at him. 

"And? That never stopped me before," Rex replied with a shrug as he looked at her. For a split second, a light blue glow pulsed on his hand. "Besides, I love Archaeology," He said with a grin. 

"Here we go," Bronya said while rolling her eyes yet a fond smile was on her face.

Surprised by their mentor's actions, the group was surprised when the casual-looking man started to go on a tirade about the numerous archaeological jobs he did around the world. Sadly, the sound of the door opening of the fast food chain they were on and. 

"Bro!" Yae Rin, a member of House Crozzo under the sponsorship of Reinhardt Crozzo, greeted with a smile. dressed in fashionable attire, she gave him a grin only to look at Adam, "Hey, hot stuff," 

Ignoring the way Carole and Shy stiffened, Rex winced as he looked at Adam an at Rin. 

"Holy shit, this is surreal..." He whispered to himself as Rin approached their seats. 

"Thanks for keeping my seat warm, Adam," Rin said with a sweet tone, causing Rex to have a mini-heart attack as an image of a familiar person appeared over Rin. 

"Am I on drugs?" He asked himself as Rin sat on Adam's lap.

Rin was now a full-on Crozzo, even with the shameless flirting. 

"Rex, oh yeah. Aunteri found your employer and you are now under Schicksal again," 

"Fucking damn it!" Rex groaned as he finished his burger, ignoring the look the others gave him. "I have a lot of special projects in place damn it!" 

"Well, you are either gonna teach at St. Freya," Rex looked horrified and shivered slightly while Bronya chuckled at this. She knew Rex did not want to stay too long at one place. "Or be another operative," 

"What?!" Bronya asked, breaking her composure. "Why?! You know why Rex retired early all those years ago!" 

"He's needed," Rin whispered sadly, giving Rex an apologetic look while Adam looked confused. 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

In an unknown location

A beautiful young woman dressed like a teacher sighed as she massaged her forehead. She sat on a table with several more beautiful women. 

"Kiana, are you okay?" A beautiful Blonde said. Bianka A. Kaslana, her older sister asked while looking at her. 

"I'm fine, Sis," Kiana said with a smile. 

"Tough day?" Elysia Apocalypse-Crozzo said with a kind smile as she looked at her while Seele and Veliona sat by each other. 

"Yeah, it's not bad but those students are giving me a headache," Kiana said with a sigh, wondering if this was what Himeko felt like back then. 

Mei just giggled as she drank her drink. 

"Oh, right. Rex is in Japan," Elysia dropped, causing Kiana, Mei, Seele, and Veliona to look at her in shock. "He dropped by a week ago, saying he is here for a contract signing for his job." 

"Excited about seeing your ex-husband?" Mei teased Kiana, giving her a sly smile. Kiana blushed with a pout.

"Hmph!" 

"Well, she should be. Rex is still single and ready to mingle," Elysia said with a smile, showing several photos spread like a fan on her hands, showing photos of Rex during his last visit along with one with him and Reese on his shoulders/ 

Suddenly, several phones blew up and it showed a picture of Bronya with a red face and a bottle of vodka on her hands being carried on the back of one Rex Crozzo. It came from Rin who posted it with a message. 

'Rex is carrying Bronya to her place, be there soon,' Rin sent while Kiana just smiled at the photo of Rex. 

'He needs to rest more,' She noted as she saw some eyebags, unbothered by him carrying Bronya.