Adopted Soldier

Alex, lilitth, and emily got back to the mansion, carrying the huge teddy bear. When they arrived Alex noticed that the atmosphere in the house was very different, it would seem that Emily, and even Lilitth noticed the change in atmosphere.

"What happened to dad where is he?" Seeing as his dad who usually greeted Lilitth wasn't around, Alex asked the ever present head butler, who bowed his head.

"The master has left for some urgent business."

"What kind of business?"

"The master told me that it was confidential, and gave me no details. He also told me to pass this letter to you, since you wont be able to contact him for the next week."

The head butler handed the letter to Alex.

"To my son, and cute daughter.

Something urgent has happened that needs my immediate attention. Don't worry it's nothing too big, and I will handle it as fast as I can. The quickest I can return would be a week from now, and the longest would be around a month or so. Alex I know you're curious about what I'm doing, I also obviously found out that Emily was trying to hack into my computer for you. So I hope you stop doing that and just believe in me. Who the hell do you think I am anyway. I'm Carlo Samarita, the messenger of Death, the father of Alexnder Samarita the silent flash, and the leader of a mercenary squad that was the stuff of legends. So you and Lilitth take care, and don't bother trying to get information in my computer, I deleted all the files.

From your loving Dad

Carlo Samarita."

Reading the letter made Alex really want to figure out what needed his dad's immediate attention. His sudden departure, that happened the moment Alex, Emily, and Lilitth were not home, and the the way he even bothered to add the detail that he knows Emily was trying to hack into his computer; obviously indicates that this urgent matter was likely related to the one who kidnapped Evangeline.

Alex really wanted to delve deeper into this, but Carlo told him to believe in him. If he Alexander Samarita couldn't believe in the person who saved his life and raised him, who else should he believe in.

"Onii-sama will tou-chan be okay." Lilitth looked into Alex's eyes worry evident in her face. She was truly scared at this moment. The life she dreamt about was in her hands, but at this moment it could all easily fade away.

Alex patted Lilitth's head, as he knelt in front of her. Alex's expression that revealed neither joy nor anxiety looked at his frightened little sister.

"Don't worry Lilitth, everything will be alright. Our dad, Carlo Samarita is not one to fall so easily. If he says we should believe in him, that's what we should do."

...

Riding in a military transport airplane, Carlo felt a weird sensation.

"What is it Carlo? Are you actually getting cold feet before a mission? You just recently retired like a few weeks ago. Don't tell that was enough to tame you?" Michel asked as she noticed Carlo's weird look.

"No that's not it, even with this prosthetic leg I could never have cold feet... But I suddenly have this weird feeling. I don't understand what it is, but it's a bit of an irritating feeling. I seem to be restless for some reason, and even though we are in this plane with enough oxygen I still find it a little hard to breathe."

"You're having an anxiety attack." Dan gave out his opinion, after hearing Carlo's symptoms.

"Anxiety attack? Me? I have been in hundreds of missions, and I never had an anxiety attack."

"It's because you had nothing to lose at the time, and you were confident in your victory. Now not only do you have Alex, you even have that cute little daughter of yours to worry about."

"That doesn't make any sense... If what you're saying is true then why haven't I felt anxiety before? I didn't have Lilitth before but I did have Alex to worry about, so then why didn't I feel anxiety then and only now?"

"That's because the you feel that the dangers now are real. Also you and Alex had no other place but the battlefield, that's why you always accepted death... But now you have tasted a normal life, and you know that the stakes are real now. You have finally matured enough to understand it, unlike before." This time it was Ryu who gave his opinion on the matter.

Carlo who heard what his friends had to say, realized that they might be right. Unlike before dying seemed more terrifying than ever. If he died he wouldn't be able to see Alex, and Lilitth grow up. He wouldn't be able to carry his grandchildren. He wouldn't be able to punch the guy who steals his little girl away.

Death would take all of that from him. Realizing this, got Carlo even more anxious. It was at this moment, someone placed their hand on his shoulder.

"You don't need to come with us for this mission. The three of us are more than enough to handle some psychopath and his goons." Michel tried to calm Carlo down by giving him a way out, but this only made Carlo smile wryly.

"Heh, Michel actually worrying about me? Have I fallen so low? There is no need for that, I will go with you guys. Like I told my children in that letter, I am Carlo Samarita the messenger of Death. I will not allow this mission to fail, for the future of my children."

Carlo spoke with renewed vigor. Since anxiety was a new feeling for him, Carlo was simply surprised by it, but he didn't let it consume him. He wasn't some weak as* dad that sits on a couch, while his children's future was on the line. He was a man of action, how can he let his friends go clean up his mess. If Alex learned of this, that boy might actually laugh at him.

"Thank you guys, I'm alright now. So let's make sure this mission is going to be a success. If we fail Alex might give us one of his long as* lectures."

When the three heard Carlo, they all started to laugh as even Ryu chuckled.

"That's not something I want to go through."

"Yeah you're right, so we better succeed."

"Really that disciple of mine is such a nag."

"So we are all in agreement, let's finish this mission as efficiently as possible. So Alex wont nag at us."

"SO ALEX WONT NAG AT US!" The four adults screamed, their supposed battle cry. After which they looked at each other laughing.