Ye Muo changed into the clothes Brian had brought over after showering. His hair was still damp as he pushed open the door.
Theodore remained perched on the desk, peering out the window.
Ye Muo covered his head with a towel. “Do you want a shower too, Theodore?”
Theodore turned and meowed at Ye Muo. He behaved no different than an ordinary cat now that the entire settlement was enveloped in a Grantz’s psychic power.
Ye Muo grumbled as he took a seat. “Fine, if you’re sure you don’t want to.”
Theodore mewled as he leaned in to lick Ye Muo’s hand. He then hopped from the desk to the windowsill, letting out a drawn-out meow before turning back to face Ye Muo.
Ye Muo and Theodore’s eyes met for a few seconds. “Alright, be sure to come back early. Don’t stay out too late.”
The white cat turned and slipped through a gap in the window. He glanced both ways before hopping onto the roof.
Theodore sprinted straight toward the central building. He slowed as he neared his destination, taking care to quieten his movements. As he prepared to leap across, he froze with his paw still in the air.
His head snapped warily to the side. A figure had emerged from the build and was peering this way.
Theodore hadn’t seen this man before. The man tossed a small rock at him. Theodore deftly dodged it, jumping down to the alleyway before sprinting away.
They were on high alert. It seemed that getting close to the building was out of the question. Not even the treasury’s guards were this vigilant. The only apt comparison that came to mind was how closely the Grantz guarded Xavier.
That Grantz was probably more than just injured.
Theodore thought, glancing over his shoulder as he ran. The young man stood there until Theodore was well away before returning to the building.
The hall, once empty, now held tables and chairs brought in by the others. Elias quietly asked from his seat, “What was it, Alanson?”
Alanson approached. “A cat, Big Brother. I drove it off already.”
Ye Wang, who had been keeping a low profile leaning against the wall, finally broke his silence. He frowned. “A cat?”
Alanson sat down. “Yes, a cat. What about it?”
Ye Wang seemed reluctant to elaborate, so Elias answered for him, “There was an offworlder child who arrived with a cat recently.”
Alanson immediately recalled the unfamiliar child from earlier, the one he’d seen when opening the door. “A dark-haired child quite striking in appearance? We should have seen him when we arrived. The Grantz didn’t notice anything unusual about him.”
Alanson paused, “Of course, that’s only based on Ethan’s word. As for Ambrose…”
Brian was also leaning against the wall. His gaze remained fixed on the unlit inner corridor which seemed to stretch to infinity. His tone was brusque, “He’s perfectly fine. The Grantz recover quickly.”
Elias shook his head at Alanson.
They fell silent.
Nighttime had fallen. A bonfire blazed in the center of the main hall, and torches lined the walls. The space was eerily quiet despite how many people were present, the silence broken only by the occasional crackle of burning wood.
Elias rose. “I’ll go check on them.”
Alanson nodded. “Be careful, Big Brother.”
Brian followed. “I’ll come too.”
Elias wordlessly walked down the corridor. He turned a corner and climbed the stairs. He finally stopped before a door at the end of the second-floor corridor. A voice came from inside just as his hand rose to knock, “Come in.”
Elias pushed open the door. Ethan was kneeling by Ambrose’s bed, in the same bloodstained attire that he arrived in.
Ambrose lay there, now dressed in clean clothes. His eyes were closed peacefully. One might think him asleep if you ignored the bite guard clamped over his face, the collar around his neck connected by chains to the floor, and the shackles on his wrists.
The room’s desk was laden with various nutrient solutions, canned goods, and even a lavish spread of fresh food like roast chicken, grilled meat, and sliced fruit.
Yet it all appeared untouched. Only an empty syringe lay discarded nearby.
It seemed Ethan had only administered some nutrient solution to Ambrose.
Ethan glanced at Elias but remained silent.
Elias had never seen him so quiet. Yet he radiated an unsettling presence even in that stillness, like a rabid beast about to go berserk at the drop of a dime.
The room was fraught with dangerous signals.
Brian stood quietly behind Elias.
Elias steeled himself and spoke, “Would you like something to eat, Ethan? I’ll go prepare it.”
Ethan answered hoarsely after a long pause, “No need for that.”
Elias lowered his voice, “Ambrose wouldn’t want to see you like this.”
Ethan tilted his head, offering a half-hearted curl of his lips. Not like Ambrose could see him now anyway. “Who cares what he thinks?”
Elias noticed his hands hanging limply at his sides clench into tight fists.
Behind him, Brian’s eyes widened. “Ambrose seems to have moved…”
Both Elias and Ethan turned to look. Ambrose’s brow was furrowed. His fingers trembled slightly.
Ethan leaned forward slightly, staring intently at him. “Ambrose, if you can hear me, wake up!”
As he spoke, he tightened his grip on his sword.
Ambrose opened his eyes seconds later. Though they closed again almost immediately, the others were relieved.
Ethan let his sword go and breathed a huge sigh of relief. He rested his forehead against the bedframe.
The danger and fury radiating from him seemed to subside as this fierce beast swiftly calmed.
Ambrose’s eyes remained closed as he shifted his hand slightly, causing the chains around his wrist to clink. Ethan sprang into action, draping Ambrose’s arm over his shoulder to help him sit up.
Ambrose’s arm hung limply over Ethan’s shoulder. Ethan glanced at it and then at Ambrose’s bowed head. “Do you want something to eat?”
Ambrose chuckled softly. He looked utterly exhausted. “I should be asking you that.”
“I’ll eat later. Do you want anything?”
Ambrose hummed in acknowledgment. “Give me a shot.”
Elias handed Ethan a syringe of nutrient solution laced with painkillers. The man bit off the cap and injected it with practiced precision.
Ambrose’s voice was barely audible as he leaned against Ethan. “Let me sleep a while longer. Your heartbeat is too loud.”
Ethan’s mouth opened in instinctive refusal. He wasn’t sure if Ambrose would wake up lucid enough to call his name next time.
But he only replied, “Alright. I’ll be downstairs if you need me.”
Ethan paused, “Casper and the others are still out. They said they’d bring back an advanced treatment pod that might help.”
So just hold on a little longer. Please.
“I know, Ethan.” Ambrose murmured.
……
Theodore returned to Ye Muo’s side. He shook out his fur before calmly stepping inside. Ye Muo had heard the commotion long ago. He opened his arms to embrace Theodore.
Ye Muo’s psychic power cautiously linked to his holomind. [I just tested it and found out my psychic power should be able to fly under the radar. We can communicate safely over this holomind.]
Theodore nodded. It made sense that the Grantz here would be none the wiser if Xavier’s psychic power could evade even Norton when he put his mind to it.
[So? Is Yinghui there?]
[I was spotted before I could get close so I couldn’t tell. Surveillance is tight, but the two Grantz should be together.]
Ye Muo considered it. [I’ll try to slip in when the opportunity arises. At least we know where they are. If that sword is here, it should be in that building too.]
[Now’s not the time. They’re on high alert. Something must have happened. Still, we should try to find a chance to confirm quickly before leaving.]
[Got it.]
Ye Muo set Theodore down on the desk. Brian came in seconds later. He quickly gathered his things as he told Ye Muo, “Something came up so I won’t have time to take care of you lately. Go to the canteen for meals, Berlinda is in the medical ward. Ask for directions if you don’t know where they are. Go find her if you need something. Arval should work in a pinch too. You’re both offworlders, after all.”
He paused before leaving. “Also, stay clear of that area for a few days.”
Brian was referring to the general area of the Grantz residence.
“Got it. Aren’t you having dinner? There are still a few cans left from what you brought.”
Brian didn’t even turn back. “No, I’ve had some nutrient solution. Those are yours.”
He walked a short distance before whirling around as if remembering something. He pulled out several small bottles of nutrient solution and placed them on the deskable. “If the cafeteria doesn’t fill you up, have some of these.”
Ye Muo nodded. Only after Brian’s figure disappeared from view did he close the door. He drank one bottle of nutrient solution, then stowed the rest away. Glancing at Theodore, he hesitated before lifting him onto the bed, only to return him to the desk moments later. “Nevermind. Brian said you shouldn’t be on the bed.”
……
Brian tossed his belongings carelessly into a corner of the main hall. “Alanson–”
He stopped mid-sentence. The hall was nearly empty now, aside from a long table laden with food which Ethan was devouring greedily.
Elias and Alanson sat beside him. Ye Wang stood in the corner.
Brian quietly took a seat while Alanson cleared away the empty plates. Ethan ignored them all and wolfed down his food even more voraciously than usual.
He downed the strong liquor in his glass in one gulp. Ethan tried to pour some more from a nearby bottle, only to find it empty. Annoyed, he slammed the bottle down on the table. It wobbled precariously a few times, almost falling before Alanson caught it.
Ye Wang fetched another bottle from the cabinet. He removed the cork with a dagger and filled Ethan’s glass.
Alanson quietly cleared away the empty bottles and plates.
Ethan set his glass aside altogether after downing another shot. Grabbing the bottle, he tilted his head back and poured the liquor straight down his throat. Liquid flowed down his chin, pooling at his throat and Adam’s apple.
Ye Wang, who was closing the cabinet door, glanced over before silently fetching several more bottles and placing them on the table.
The number of bottles was almost nerve wracking just to look at. If any of the Grantz had drank so much before, even Brian, the one who idolized them the most, would have said something.
This time, though, not even Elias, mother hen that he was, said a word.
They simply stood by, silently watching Ethan vent.
