Good evening to all my fellow followers, apologies for the lack of content these past few months, managing the Anime club has proven to be a hassle than I thought (especially when your committee members are pretty much being unhelpful so I have no choice but to carry it on my own) which personally I don't mind at all because it's something that I always wanted to do ever since high school.

Anyhow, how's everyone been doing far? I understand that Vanguard G has come a long way at this point and with the current state of scenario I'm in, I might not be able to catch up what's happening recently in this card game community.

Luckily for me, this particular fanfiction only reaches until Booster BT-12 which is the last booster for the Link Joker arc so I don't have to expand the story too much.

Anyhow, enough about me, lets move on to the Reviewer's Review section and then to the main course of the day! (or the night for my case)

To CrocoerGinex01:

Hello, my fellow ASEAN sibling! :D

To Revengermajestyliberator:

Yeah, apologies for the delay, I'm handling the Anime club of my college at the moment so my hands are tied really bad.

To Mickey Yoochun the Brony:

Yeah, Salome indeed has a nice figure, it'd be a shame if someone were to see it by pure accident :)

Also, hahaha, awu bro, payah sikit kn handle schedule college masa ani. Ani lg kn menjaga kelab yatah makin sibuk

To Warmach1ne32:

Yeah, apologies about that. It was nearing the exam revision session and I sped up my timeline a little too much. Hence, the chapter was rushed. The campfire scene was indeed planned to be spent on them on just catching up on pretty much almost everything. We'll try to improve on that in future updates.

To YukiTerumi23:

Ooooh, a fan from India. Hello there!

Well, its your lucky day as we finally posted a new chapter after a few months of being dead silent.

To Izayoi Mikazuki:

Hello, fellow ASEAN sibling! I'm from Brunei, your neighboring country! :D

To Echo751:

I wouldn't say our country is that cool just yet but we do try to improve and make do with what we have :)

To Nvn50:

Blade and Salome will indeed realize their love for each other but I won't tell when exactly ;)

To ReversedAngel:

Hello, fan from Myanmar! :D

To Hayashinkage17:

Well, Vanguard is a fun hobby but it mostly depends on how devoted you are to it especially in terms in time and budget. Personally, I had a hard time keeping up with the latest trending cards because they're often more expensive than they should and sought after by almost everyone.

Reconciliation

What is the PRISM idol group?

The PRISM is an idol group belonging to Bermuda Triangle, led by the one and only PRISM Promise, Labrador.

Initially, they were comprised of less than a dozen members only in the beginning. However, upon their highly successful debut, more potent members began establishing contracts and joining the new group, up to the point where it became a controversial scenario amidst the mermaids of the clan.

Not wanting to see such an unnecessary dispute amidst them all, Labrador split the group into 5 smaller ones. Those groups are: P which stands for Promise, R that stands for Romance, I which stands for Image, S which stands for Smile, and last but not least, M which is an acronym for Miracle.

The names of said groups were made based on the PRISM's motto "To be able to shine with all possibilities".

Not only does the action of splitting them up allows each group members to be more coordinated with each other performance-wise, it also allows members to familiarize with each other even more; hence, further strengthening their bonds; something that Blaster Blade would appreciate in more ways than one.

"Alright girls, let's take five!"

Collective groans and sighs filled the underwater practice room as the Promise idols collapsed out of partial fatigue. Some slowly sunk onto the floor while others simply decided to float by.

"What's the matter? Don't tell me all of you are tired already?"

"But miss Labrador, we've been training for nearly five hours now. Can't we at least take an hour long to rest or something?" One of the Idol asked.

The gingerhead head could only sigh at the sight. These girls have a long way before they can become proper idols if they're going to be as easily exhausted like this.

Before she could lecture them about it, Labrador's train of thought was abruptly cut off by the distinctive hydraulic sound of the reinforced steel door sliding opened. A male entered the room.

The man was obviously one of the top brass in the Aqua Force fleet as indicated by his regal navy uniform and numerous badges and medal of honors pinned. He had a pair of piercing turquoise blue eyes and well-trimmed raven hair that is both messy yet neat at the same time partially covered by well-decorated captain hat. The person obviously was unarmed in a form of way, yet the strong aura he carries was more than enough to act as a deterrent for people who are unfortunate enough to be in his way.

Yet, that doesn't appear to be the case for the mermaid idols whom immediately beamed upon sight.

"Captain Genovius!" Everyone cried out in unison.

At the mention of his name, the Aquaroid's stern expression faltered and was replaced with a polite smile.

"I hope I'm not interrupting you ladies in your practice."

Within a matter of seconds and newly-profound surge of energy, the fleet captain found himself surrounded by the idol members, each and every single one of them intent on gaining his attention.

Labrador could only sigh apologetically at the Thundering Ripple. While the Aquaroid has no interest in getting a date any time soon, it doesn't stop him from gaining fans from all over Cray. And her PRISM idol group wasn't exception to this either.

Deciding enough was enough, Labrador clapped her hands together a few times to garner her beloved idols' attention. The action was proven to be effective as everyone including Genovius refocused their attention to her. "Alright everyone, stop hogging around lord Genovius. He's still the Captain."

The mermaids whined about it but obliged anyway and gave the Thundering Ripple the personal space he rightfully deserved.

"You seem busy." Genovius pointed out the obvious with his arms crossed.

Labrador nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders at that. "Our next performance is coming in a few days' so we have to make full use of the time we have for practice. We can't afford any more delays." She explained. "Which brings me to my next question, what brings you here? I'm pretty sure you have other duties to attend to in this submarine rather than keeping tabs on us."

Compared with other high ranking Aqua Force officials she knew, Genovius was one of the very few people that weren't too strict with the rules and regulations. Hence, she had no problem with being on friendly terms with him. However, as friendly as he was, he still bears the ranking of a Captain of an entire platoon, hence, he has a lot to handle on his plate.

Genovius' smile faltered and was replaced with a mild solemn expression. "Actually, I do. However this is not the best place to do so." Glancing around the practice room, the Thundering Ripple leaned closer to her so that only the Labrador can hear him. "Can I have a word with you in private, please?"

Silence, she nodded. "Of course," Turning to her fellow Mermaids, Labrador spoke, "Alright girls, I'll be going somewhere with the Captain for a bit. We'll resume practice once we're back."

Upon hearing the prospect of a longer break, the Mermaids was more than glad to voice out their absolute relief: "Yes ma'am!"

Nodding in confirmation, Labrador turned back to Genovius.

"Shall we?"

…

Several minutes later, the Mermaid found herself inside the captain's office alongside Captain Genovius. The room wasn't anything too fancy but it was filled with numerous additional medals and mementos he acquired throughout his service to the Aqua Force. A lacquered Oakwood is situated at the center of the room, having the name

"Please, have a sit." He offered, gesturing to the lone chair in front as he took a seat of his own behind his desk.

Not wanting to be impolite to her host, Labrador gladly accepted the offer. "So what is it that you want to talk about?" She inquired, getting straight to the point. The Aquaroid was a man of many things but jokes is definitely not of them. So she was assured that whatever he had to say to her was anything but a trivial matter.

Genovius tilted his captain hat out of discomfort, an unusual action that prompted her to quirk a curious eyebrow.

"You went to meet Blaster Blade a few days ago, am I correct?"

Labrador nodded. Seeing as how his platoon were in charge of half of their security, it was only natural for her to inform them about their meeting. Besides, her sibling-like relationship with Blaster Blade was pretty obvious to the whole Magallanica continent at this point so there was no reason to hide it.

"Yes, I did." She answered with a tilt of her head. "Is there something wrong?"

"Not at all." There was a minute of hesitation before he continued. "Truth to be told, there has been a lot of…rumors running around the fleet lately."

Labrador frowned. "What kind of rumors?" Rumors were idol's worse enemies. On their own, they're nothing but should it escalate any further, it will grow into scandals and gossips that will not linger away for an indefinite duration.

More silence lingered by, it seemed Genovius had a hard time finding the proper words to use.

"Lord Blaster Blade is supposedly in a relationship with lady Salome of the Jewel Knight."

The two was immediately engulfed in an awkward silence. Labrador unconsciously found herself gaping like a fish stranded on the ground.

Unless…

Refraining from facepalming herself, the Labrador could only clench her fist as the image of two certain Mermaids popped up in her mindscape. "Those two…" She mentally growled, already imagining the numerous methods she was going to berate them for starting these false rumors. She expected better from those two but she was wrong apparently. "I should've known this would happen…"

Hearing no coherent response from the PRISM Promise, Genovius spoke, "Miss Labrador?"

There was a brief pause before the mermaid spoke once more. "How many heard about this rumor already?" She inquired, already feeling an incoming onslaught of headache.

Genovius rubbed his chin in a deep thoughtful manner. "I've heard of the rumor just recently this morning but at this point, we can safely assume that almost everyone in this ship knew about." How such info was able to pass through without her knowledge is beyond her comprehension. "Fortunately, I was able to relay a command to prevent it from spreading any further."

"That's good to know." The Labrador sighed in a mix of relief and gratitude. For once, she was glad for the Aqua Force's strict no-nonsense policy. "Goddess knows what would happen if it spreads any further."

The Thundering Ripple quirked an eyebrow at that. "So the rumors were true then? That Lord Blaster Blade are indeed in a relationship with Lady Salome."

Leaning her back against the back of the seat, Labrador rubbed her temples in an attempt to soothe her newly-profound headache. While she was hoping she wouldn't have to explain on behalf of her hopeless of a brother, she figured Genovius deserved an explanation or two after everything that he has done.

"To be honest, I'm not quite sure myself, Genovius." She finally responded.

"What do you mean?"

"My brother is a man good in a lot of things but romance is not one of them." She finally said it out loud. "He's a total dunce. You can flirt with him in between his eyes and he won't bat an eyelash."

"That's…an interest thought." If Genovius was expecting an explanation, it certainly wasn't that. Regardless, he nodded as he finally understood the situation now. More or less. "Is there something we can do about him?"

Labrador could only stare down at the oakwood desk with a deep thoughtful expression on her delicate face. Then, she looked up to gaze at the Thundering Ripple.

…

The news regarding Bermuda Triangle spread around like wildfire.

Within a matter of hours upon public announcement, almost the whole castle knew about such fact and everyone went into a frantic state of preparing themselves for such a big occasion.

Here and there, Paladins worked hard in doing the necessary things needed. Some wanted to look their best when the mermaids actually arrived while others went off to make their experience here in the castle as pleasant as possible.

However, as motivated as the soldiers were, it was nothing compared to how motivated a certain Future Liberator was.

"Hey, careful with those things! They're very fragile!" Llew barked when he saw one of the rookies dropped a box of decorations.

"Yes sir!" Panicked more than ever, the rookie carefully picked up the spilled content and ran away.

Darting his eyes somewhere else, the blond found another unfortunate newbie who attempted to hide form him.

"You! Don't forget to send that to the dining hall! The people over there need it ASAP!"

"Y-Yes sir! Right away!" Not waiting any longer, he hastily left the scene with the box in tow.

"And where in the name of Ezel is my coffee latte! I asked for it over five minutes ago!"

"Well this is a rare sight if I ever see one." Gancelot remarked with his arms crossed as they watched said individual barking random orders here and there from a balcony high above.

"Me neither," Gallatin agreed with an amused smirk. It was difficult to tell if the Silence Liberator can actually see what he was looking at or just pretending to do so. "Then again, I'm not so surprised. After all, this is one of the rare occasion where he'd be this serious."

"In any case, you have any idea on what to do when the Bermuda Triangle comes here?"

Gallatin shrugged. "Probably nothing."

"Are you sure? From what I heard, you're quite popular amongst the mermaids."

The Silence Liberator snorted in derision. "I'm not Llew, I'm not interested. Besides, if I knew any better, you're as famous as I am so you're not excluded from this treatment." He said before smirking. "Or is it because you've already had someone in mind?"

Gancelot gave no verbal reply to that one and instead prompted to appreciating the view of the blue skies instead.

Hearing no response from the Solitary Liberator, he prodded on. "You can deny it all you want, Gancelot, but I know you better than anyone else." He said. "And that is saying something considering how I'm the blind one here."

A long and awkward silence lingered by before the Solitary Liberator sighed in defeat, still not averting his gaze to him. "We haven't reached to that extent just yet, Gallatin."

"I know you don't." He responded as he patted the half elf by the back of his chest plate a couple of times. "But knowing you, I'm sure it won't take long."

"What do you mean by that?" He asked suspiciously.

Gallatin simply laughed heartedly at that. "Nothing, my friend. Nothing at all." He said. "Now come on, let's go somewhere else before Llew orders us around like everyone else."

…

Meanwhile, in another part of the castle, another elf was caught in her very own dilemma and was showing no signs of letting

"I feel so horrible right now, Sharon." Salome remarked in a muffled voice, her face planted right on the desk.

Being the Silent Sage she was, Sharon simply flipped the page of the thick book she was reading, showing no indication of acknowledging her friend's plea of concern.

"What should I do?" Salome begged as she turned her head and looked at her with big round pleading eyes. "He saw me!"

Pausing just for a moment from her daily reading, Sharon gave the Jewel Knight second-in-command a deadpanned look. As if to inquire what she meant by that.

"He saw me naked! Blaster Blade saw me naked!"

With that declaration made, the Leading Jewel Knight slammed her forehead back into the desk, causing an audible thud that echoed throughout the whole archive. Sighing for the umpteenth time of that day, Sharon closed the book shut when it was obvious that she'll have a hard time reading it as of moment to finally pay her friend the attention she rightfully deserved for...whatever issues she was having at the moment.

"I am doomed…" The elf said, her voice muffled to the point where it was barely hearable. "Blaster Blade will never see me the same way again."

Sharon quirked an eyebrow in a questioning manner at that.

"He'll probably think of me as an indecent woman now." She monologued to herself, her facial expression now turned hysterical. "What kind of person would step outside an outdoor bath without a towel?"

Sharon was about to point out that's how standard hot springs in the Genesis and other relatable clans worked but then decided against it when Salome continued to murmur negatively to herself, showing no signs of listening to practically anything anytime soon.

Normally, she would've minded her own business and leave her be but Sharon knew better that wouldn't dwell well with her peace time here in the archive. So the Silent Sage did what she could at that moment. Grabbing the book she was reading a few seconds ago, she carefully aligned it so that the spine of the hardback book was pointing downwards.

Thud!

…and bonked it right into the center of Salome's unsuspecting head.

"Ow!" Salome cried out as she rubbed the top of her head in pain. "What was that for, Sharon? That hurt!"

Sharon nodded with a smirk, obviously satisfied by the elf's pained reaction.

…

"How's the situation going on with the rebuilding process?" Alfred inquire as they walked along.

His response came in the form of an electronic data pad that showed incoherent charts and information. Alfred accepted the device with a nod and gave it a quick scan.

"Everything's going on well so far, milord." She explained. "However, there is one more problem."

The Liberator of the Round Table briefly stopped reading the datapad to spare her a brief a glance. "Does this involve the western side of the continent again?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Swiping a few icons on her data pad, she produced several more information for the Gold Paladin leader to scrutinize at. "Compared to other locations, the western areas received the most damage during the war because the invaders attempted to seize hold of it due to its caches of valuable resources and potential stronghold. Hence, the repair works there is relatively slow at best. The fact that its near to the Dragon Empire's rough terrain made it even more problematic."

Alfred could only grunt at dissatisfaction at that. "Even with the alliance, the Dragon Empire is still unwilling to be on friendly terms with us." While attacks from the Kagero clan is seldom at this time which was a good benefit on its own, the king wished they'd have more than just a neutral relationship with them.

"What should we do about them?"

"Do what you can to support them for now but do not make it your highest priority. I shall send someone to handle the situation very soon."

Straightening herself, she responded by giving him a firm salute. "Understood, your majesty." She replied back. "If there are no other matters, I shall take my leave now."

The Liberator of the Round Table nodded. "Very well, you are dismissed."

Alfred waited for his advisor to walk out of earshot. Once she was gone, he inadvertently sighed.

"Even after all this time, you are still unwilling to open yourself, huh, Dragonic Overlord."

Shaking his head mentally, Alfred decided to think about other priorities as well. Just as he was about to make his way back to his office however, the King of the Knights' sharp gaze caught sight of a certain blade-wielding warrior that he has known for quite a very long time sitting by the fountain all by himself.

"Hm?" He grunted to himself. "Isn't that…"

…

Blaster Blade sighed as he gazed at his rippling reflection on the fountain water. He wasn't the kind of person who would simply stay put on a single spot without doing anything productive but he couldn't help it this time. It wasn't particularly something that he can ignore in the flick of a finger.

Days has passed ever since their little trip to his hidden logging house and yet the cobalthead could still remember the incident like it just happened the other night.

Letting out a tired sigh, the Liberator gingerly massaged the bridge of his nose. How could he be such an idiot during that moment? He knew she was there and he was also widely aware on the current affair she's doing. Yet he still barged in anyway when he heard her distressed cry; he supposes old habits dies hard.

To make things worse, Salome made no indication of speaking to him after said incident. Even on their way back home to the castle, the two maintained a healthy distance with Blade up front and Salome several meters way behind him.

"You seem rather preoccupied with something." A deep voice asked from behind. "May I ask what's in your mind."

"Lord Alfred?"

"No, it's the embodiment of your subconscious." The Liberator king replied as he made himself visible beside Blade, a barely noticeable amused smirk plastered on his usually reserved face.

"Very funny, milord."

"Shouldn't you be doing your royal duties at the moment." Blade spared his leader a skeptical look. "You're not trying to skip again, are you?"

Alfred simply huffed at the mild accusation. "Well, I was indeed carrying my duties until I saw you sulking here by yourself."

"I wasn't sulking." He countered, slightly offended.

"Yes, you were." Alfred rebutted. "I know you long enough to tell when you are indeed sulking."

"And I knew your majesty long enough to only listen when I should."

There was a pause before Alfred shrugged his shoulders. "Fair enough." He finally admitted. "So what's in your mind now? As far as I'm concerned, you're still on recovery break so you shouldn't be having any trouble."

"It's…" Blaster Blade had half the mind to tell him his situation but something held him back. "It's nothing…"

"…I see. Well then," The Liberator of the Round Table lamented when he showed no sign of elaborating any time soon. "Now as much as I wish to understand what my best knight is being concern with, I have other important businesses to attend to."

"Blaster Blade."

"Yes milord?"

"While I indeed have not the slightest clue on what kind of distress you got yourself into now but if past experiences have taught me anything, I advise you to settle it in your own way." Alfred advised wisely before smirking. "After all, action speaks better than doing nothing, am I correct?"

Blade couldn't help but crack a smile at that. He should know since it was the very same quote that the two of them held onto when they were still new to the Paladins.

"Yes, milord."

Nodding, Alfred took the cue to leave, once again leaving Blaster Blade in absolute silence. This one however, he wasn't feeling as anguish as before.

"Action speaks better than words, huh?" He repeated the quote as if it was a mantra. Then, he chuckled. "Well, there's only one way to find out."

Standing up from his seat and straightening his cape, the cobalthead made his way to a certain elf in mind.

At least, that was what he planned on doing until an explosion occurred.

That's a wrap for chapter 18. There was supposed to be more but I had to cut it to this point less you guys want several more months of delay. We'll do our best to prep the next chapter but I cannot guarantee the proper date it will be published as my club was elected to participate in a major upcoming event in January next year and I have plenty of strings to pull until then. Until then, I wish you guys a super advanced happy new year and I hope to see you guys in the next update very soon.