He already didn't like the fact that he is going to temporarily replace Leonardo's place, but adding to the fact that his son just said that to him, is making him hate that he is here.

"I'm just telling the truth, you know? Honesty is the best policy, that is what grandmother always says." Even though his father is bad at teaching, Zen is quite happy that his father is here to teach him and his friends. It has been a while since the last time since his father actually taught him something.

"You think I'm happy being here?" It's clear in Zack's voice that he is holding back his temper, and that somehow ignited his son's naughtiness. 'I should be here at all! I should there! In the field with Mary and the others! Why do I have to do this?' He inwardly cried.

Every time he remembers how he ended up temporarily replacing Leonardo, he can't help but feel like he is about to cry. It has been a while since he last went on a mission. His chance of having a mission again was taken away from him.

He, Mike, and Alfonso were arguing on who is the person temporarily replace Leonardo. They argue and argue, but there was no progress. The only choice they have to have a final decision is to play a certain game. The loser of the game will be the one doing the job, and obviously, Zack is the unlucky one who got the job.

"Well, my friends and I sure are happy that you're here, Dad." Now that Zen knows that his father will temporarily teach him and his friends, training will not be as harsh as how Leonardo does things.

'For these next few days, things will go as easy as pie.'

"You're certainly right, Zen." Aaron smiled. From what he heard from his mother, she said that Zack is the type of person who is not motivated to teach, and if he does, then it would mean that his wife told him so.

"What's this? You little brats think that I can't do better like Leonardo? Heh." Zack scoffed. For the first time in a while, he felt provoke and he wouldn't say that it wasn't such a bad feeling. The only sad part of it is that the reason why he got provoke is because of some brats and his son. "You brats better not regret this later on."

~~~

"Tell me again, why did you guys pick Zack?" When Leonardo found out that the person temporarily replacing him will be Zack, he is somewhat reluctant to leave the children under Zack's supervision.

"He lost the game. It is how it is." Alfonso replied in a matter-of-fact tone. He understands why Leonardo is questioning them, but there is nothing they can do. They all want to be on this mission. They want to feel the thrill again, the thrill of having their lives on the line.

"You guys are adults, why can't you act like responsible adults in making decisions like this." Leonardo is greatly disappointed that three of his friends would do something so childish just to justify their own needs.

"Come on! You can't just say that to us like that. It's been a while since we're out here in this dangerous field. I'm sure that you would do the same things as us." Alfonso spoke with a frown plastered on his face. Leonardo is just like them, there is no way that Leonardo would pa.s.s such an opportunity to go back in the field just because he has to act like a responsible adult.

"I might, but right now, I'm sure that I wouldn't." Leonardo honestly replied.

"Nonsense." Mike interrupted. "As far as I know, you haven't been out on a mission in a while. How can you be so confident to say that?"

"I'm confident because I was not too long ago that I've got a mission from the organization."

Hearing that Mike and Alfonso halted, then they stopped Leonardo's tracks. "Mary gave you a mission?" Alfonso asked.

"Yes."

Alfonso turned around and yelled Mary's name. He and Mike walked in front of Mary and said, "Just because Leonardo is your best friend that does not mean that he should get special treatment!"

It is way too unfair for Alfonso's opinion. Many years have pa.s.sed by and during those years, he has been waiting for Mary to give him a mission to do. He thought that Mary was being considerate of him and the others because they have their lives to live on. But to think that Leonardo is the only one who is receiving direct orders from Mary is not making him and the others happy.

"What special treatment are you talking about, Alfonso? I am not giving anyone special treatment. Even my kids are not having any." To think that Alfonso just accused her of giving special treatment to Leonardo is quite an insult to her.

"You've been giving Leonardo missions all these years, while we, you other friends, are waiting for nothing." Mike usually don't these types of thing, but when he sees something not fair, he has to say what is on his mind.

"Okay. I don't exactly understand why is that seems so unfair for you guys, but all I can say is that giving Leonardo missions is not me giving him special treatments." Mary can't believe that reason why Alfonso and Mike are acting like this right now is that she's giving missions to her best friend. "As a matter of fact, it was Leonardo who came knocking on my door and asked me to give him missions. Tell me, how is that called 'special treatment'?"

Since all of her friends have a family of their own and a business to run, she didn't dare to give them missions. She was surprised that Leonardo asked her for one, but she didn't mind it either. It made things easier for her.

"If you want to go out on a mission, you should have asked her. Don't just jump into conclusion, you guys." Arion said. He is holding back his laughter because of this unexpected conversation. He guesses that their almost perfect normal daily life is not enough to make them feel satisfied. 

He initially thought that they would happy not to receive any more missions so that they could spend more time with their family. Now that he is seeing this, this just proved that their habits of wanting to do dangerous missions are a hard one to erase.

If he were them, he would be glad not to go to any dangerous missions and just spend time with his dearest family.

"How embarra.s.sing," Leonardo smirked. He purposely misleads them, and he can't believe they didn't notice it. They have been friends for so many years, they should have known that he is very sneaky with his words.

"You..." Mike gritted his teeth. To think that, he, Mike Visser, fell for such a trap. It is utterly ridiculous and embarra.s.sing for him.

Seeing that a ridiculous fight is about to start, Mary sighed, then she gets in between them. "Enough with this. We're here to do our mission, not to fight each other." 

'I hope you're doing a much better time than me, Zack.' Mary inwardly said. She is now regretting not having Zack around. If Zack were here, they would most likely be laughing right now at his lame jokes.

~~~

"Dad! This is not fair! We're just beginners! Why do you have to be like this on your first day of teaching?!" Zen and his friends are now huffing and panting from exhaustion. They can't believe that they are having a much harder time than they were under Leonardo's supervision.

"Stop complaining, Zen. Look at the twins, do they look like having a hard time? Why can't you three be like them, hmm?" Honestly speaking, it is quite frustrating that the twins are not having a hard time like his son is. He purposely did this to make them suffer for underestimating him, but it seems like not everyone can be like his son.

'How annoying...' 

"Dad, I did some training of my own, but it's not the same as the twins. I'm not like them. In fact, Josh and Nathalia are definitely not like them! How can you be so cruel." Zen is now starting to feel bad that his father is giving them a hard time.

"Aren't you worried that uncle Leo will get angry at you once he found out you did that to Nathalia," Aaron said, trying to get into Zack's head.

Zack stared at Aaron's face for a minute and said, "You think you can scare me by saying that?" 

Leonardo might be strong and smarter than him, but it doesn't mean that Leonardo scares him.

"No..." Aaron slowly said. "I'm just saying."

"They're exhausted now? Is this some kind of joke? When they get into the real stuff, it's much more exhausting and dangerous. I'm sure you and your sister already know that it's not that easy." With all seriousness, Zack thinks that it's not a bad thing for Nathalia, Josh, and his son to have a little knowledge of how hard it really is when the real thing comes.