#85

At that moment, Zerakiel 42f152fedb frowned deeply. His expression unreadable, I caba337215 felt my confidence falter 30e73725fc and reflexively lowered my 0e8c6e7c26 gaze.46d0c1461620227e

“No?” I asked f194e0627a hesitantly, my voice 3b7eb728e1 wavering.64d836203110e27f

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Even with my timid 2e20c7a83c question, Zerakiel remained silent. ‘Maybe I f693628ba6 got too 59b045f541 cocky from 3992d2ce0d all the 28f5ea638f praise I’ve 3c25f36dee been getting 2e8bd134b6 lately,’ I 6c405ed326 thought, bracing 862cf9f736 myself for d955868917 a scolding eec58d834a as I 2b00287561 nervously darted ca1722abb3 my eyes ef0d470694 around.44dc6142613b55c9

But Zerakiel sighed heavily 865f2e5c6e and said, “When you e86c0b2678 say it like that, 6e91c98d56 I can’t do anything.”15eaa88aa3c96cd9

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“Zerakiel?”54dce78c4a4fe7c8

“I always thought a7becc742c losing was the c1516d1a8a worst thing in ff9ff056b8 the world,” he a474a429ea murmured, his words b89effa4a5 vague and hard d7df10dfa3 to follow. Then, he 7d4461a2f2 lightly tapped 258cdce9ac my cheek. “But losing 0e650947df to you 61168581bb doesn’t feel 06cbc44d23 so bad.”d58f143fd3e4fe70

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What was I supposed 62fbf9b992 to do with this e962501ca3 man who not only a638d4da72 tolerated me hitting him 72ab127e56 but now claimed he 5d3733b3da didn’t mind losing to 8e12501a00 me? I blinked, too stunned bbf08436d2 to respond. At least it seemed 1405686cb7 to mean he was ddaf442b21 letting me have my 1f16b2b714 way.e9d833b001d1f2d8

I grabbed his hand ab19b78c5b tightly and said, “I 48b3c453d5 know you do this 854d8a2d92 because you care about 804b9213ce me.”b076daeacd08d34d

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“Really? Because the a55b42d784 way you 1cbf7f16ff act, it 9196e86ad9 seems like d5ccadb6be you don’t 7fcb15c3b5 get that bc0dce8a1d at all,” 29e5acdb8d he replied fe6f102ef2 with a 41a6c1a635 slightly sharp 131954d9dc tone, though b83d28537d his gaze 63faf33626 had softened a6c341c843 considerably. A sign 4355f54ae0 he was 75a1523983 already calming f0b7ca07dc down.fd3e2ba351def37e

I swung 8d705b8ca4 our clasped 9f5e8f98ef hands gently 6333c83748 and said, 4c4ab20615 “Anyway, I 0ae72991dc want to 404c8ec7ec contribute to 8a728c13c4 Jabis, too. So please, don’t 9868bcfd10 stop me.”b3d419d411a5c099

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“Ha, how did I cb67e10e6e end up like this…” 55722cb750 Zerakiel sighed deeply, finally 94281d7047 resigning himself to the d94748fec8 situation.088e93e7628686d2

“Promise me, then. Next time, you’ll 81c4cd4e43 tell me first.”23daa836910b36df

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“Hmm…”db796e1ed6b10a09

“If you promise, I 47b263550d won’t stop you from 2b7299f05b doing what you want.”311db785043f9db1

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“Alright.” I nodded b5b32093d0 without hesitation and 6b45c9fc33 hooked my pinky 81f3ee1317 finger with his. From today’s events e5a79c5f71 alone, it was cac3c97ef4 clear that I c082b8bbe7 wouldn’t get anywhere eb2bb4dc85 without involving him. Better to win him 3730a31336 over and have him c2c51b611d support me.ae5a62ccd09c6cb2

Rachel, who ed99671652 had been 527f524c71 observing us e3443b94ff the entire 62c91e2b89 time, finally c1be63cb15 chimed in. “Well, this is 6efee3ece6 a surprise. I thought for sure 6630af379d there’d be a grand 0fa166df8e showdown when Riki gave 06d5911e98 in.”bc83cdb41d9cc446

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Her tone carried f6938a09c8 a hint of fb133644ef disappointment, as though 89a1ef24a3 she regretted missing eaa90a73f5 out on the 3529ec2227 drama.f5bc4665ed7e9134

And just like that, 963e7bb4b6 Rachel’s comment served as d18c0cd170 a signal for Zerakiel 86bdf67f8b to redirect his annoyance 9cefa9e86a toward her.1c32bfdd2303eba1

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“This is 27e72112c5 partly your d8b93efe72 fault, Mother.”0d463b7a7e0a3c6f

Rachel’s expression wavered, and 151626e7cf she averted her gaze. “Oh my, are you c737075614 blaming your poor mother f4c6fabdf9 when you couldn’t even 8a223bb64b win against her?”0aab4cfac6f7882e

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“At the very least, d924dbc1a8 you could have given 386927bc1a me a heads-up. Do you know how 92f1ba6ffc baffled I was when 1d1a6bbeea I arrived in Ilanbore?”da0a3bf87a7495d3

Zerakiel scowled at 5d100c178f the memory, and ad51d37067 Rachel, unwilling to 67494bdac7 back down, raised 14fd327385 her voice in b588ebb9c0 retaliation.a23197bc3892e94b

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“I didn’t exactly f01f9bfd6e have time to 8a19cc1fb7 prepare either! You know how your 778fc64c7c wife can be when 0d537acd7e she sets her mind 8aa8584626 on something!”371a8d2ee64fd5cb

‘Didn’t you suggest we 3bb8e49cfc leave right away, Lady 4d75eb3333 Rachel?’96a50a73b65bfda6

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I pursed f7d1ec432e my lips, 01da88b546 holding back 661190871a the words 95636d8380 that hovered 691357b82a on the 02cecf7efd tip of a6697f9ee5 my tongue. If I said 4cca8c2a1b anything now, I’d 957a35aa61 only earn a a8276ef01a second round of dab32d9d5a scolding from Rachel bff730936b later.5730b5b399a85a69

Then Zerakiel spoke c1c119d815 in a serious dce325a78f tone. “Don’t talk 259a3a6005 badly about 5e0012ae86 Chichi.”130a7fff4766d836

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“Well, I never—!” Rachel 317489cc5e gasped, too flustered to f3e708d2f9 finish her sentence. After a c4c4e616c2 moment, she 77e9e4367a sighed and 671291bc56 muttered, “At 5e9c84119b least I ff2a5beded didn’t let bc0dcbf8cc her come fac2f01cc2 here alone.”40a908ddadd0eca5

“For that, 203f9e569c I’m grateful,” 8e97254ec8 Zerakiel replied bba26363c0 earnestly.8458a803e71eed64

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“That’s your idea of 509ae1cde7 showing gratitude?” Rachel huffed, 609d4e9a9c though the upward curl 0fc800fe88 of her lips betrayed 871678f31b her amusement. She seemed pleased 4ab454a133 to be having 94f21c262c such a long a7960a7c85 conversation with her 6a0b846850 son.0ca57d48d1b62c30

Their relationship was still 7db4a01429 somewhat awkward, but perhaps cd2ec242e8 that was a good 066091fdab thing. If they 1a080bb13d were closer, 7149f2f3b6 the sheer 502630755f strength between e3ea21c2a9 them would 11a3802e3c make even fdd4e093f7 a minor 3ef130820e disagreement escalate 5ee58f60d1 into a ef1de7f28f full-blown catastrophe.de7a659e22704f1d

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Thinking back 1071f09d8f to the fb4726c5f1 fights I’d ac897e02e6 seen between 5b8b231154 Zakari and f38c9b5aa1 Rachel, I e75918565a couldn’t help 9900fd5764 but feel 1a866f589e that a 11a78bb99f Zerakiel-versus-Rachel battle 737ad98967 wasn’t entirely 8157e03684 out of d25175ceba the question.9fc0b67d079c85f8

Rachel, now sitting be3c25acc8 with a more 11f11353ba nonchalant expression, said, f7647430b0 “We should inform 3d2f4d11c0 your father. He must be 21d62c7364 worried since all a9731ba688 three of us d0b4bc382b disappeared.”dba139bb593ee760

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“It’s rare for you 953cdfa2f4 to be concerned about b000aef9af Father,” Zerakiel remarked, his 90f928b1b1 voice tinged with curiosity.176bc087109fc897

“Well…” Rachel 7dcd936e80 trailed off, eb9329418b looking awkward c1b557743c as she 68e7a51f79 avoided his 7f0be97480 gaze. I jabbed Zerakiel lightly 7a2dd3abd7 in the side, giving 373779a4d9 him a look that 80b9c27e1e said, ‘Are you seriously 6de9e6cc75 asking that?’8fd27d50c626165c

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Zerakiel shrugged, feigning innocence. It was clear dc6df2752a he knew exactly a3b71a7d23 what he was 0c5d15d07e doing. He probably just 4bce163b08 wanted to prod 6cfbd78bf9 Rachel for not 30206d9588 stopping me.340fd5791e69679a

‘So petty.’c1611a8bce08db49

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Rachel, whose face a9ba0e897b was now as dfdf61d44d red as a a42ffc9e3d beet, waved a 37f26a18f9 hand as if f66a7c8dff fanning herself and 4bc842b56f shouted, “It’s just 2c3c41ee7b because your father’s 8c11f94c3e pathetic life is c4b94903ff pitiful, that’s all!”3053db17c4b8cb55

“Of course,” 33ec7bf529 Zerakiel replied c42732ccd6 with an cb2c230808 exaggerated nod.160afe53561a3aef

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“Argh!” Rachel, clearly a84b887ec0 at her limit, 523fe5460a seemed ready to 0ae4dd7e22 curse but was 94993f8e94 quickly interrupted by c78f62fca9 Kiera, who stepped 73e68e269e in to mediate.1c0073726a07beba

“Lady Rachel, why don’t aeb9ff1dfc you have some tea 81e41317b3 while we wait? Lord Zakari 5dd2a76a79 will likely 796e6c3790 come here 73928aa99e once he 16bc103e64 hears the 2b77f49adf news.”7344c01a0576aa8c

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“Oh, that’s 9077a52fc9 true,” Rachel c6d211c915 said, instantly 504f4d843c forgetting her d0aa7514c9 irritation as 6c04533442 she began 142e4fb4e7 humming a 66ab57b0f9 little tune a5735daa13 at the bc5ef1c8c7 thought of b714872587 Zakari’s arrival.87755968da64deaa

Watching her so 035a72d952 easily distracted, I bf9073672c had to stifle 259bc16883 a laugh. Her emotions were written 46f5a433af all over her face.652346963536b88e

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* * *a40eadc82c7d1c9a

Shortly after Ella returned 910d93d05a to her room, Isaac 675944fce3 was already there, sitting afce3b6b06 with a composed air ca0d1fb481 on the sofa as a9e452ff70 if he had been aad67510b1 waiting for her.f6a89d6a43f48717

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He lifted his 352af6ba50 head as soon c7d5321d8d as he noticed 9de554efee her. “So, you’re finally here.”a4d8203f84d2de65

“Sir Isaac,” 451065560c Ella greeted 05acc6d0ad him, her 2f41fe6023 shoulders instinctively c653dc5156 hunching at 341361d313 the sight 8645b47b9a of him. Isaac, unbothered by her e203c714bd reaction, gestured for her da771f37b7 to come closer with 02d53e2aef a slight tilt of 6233826832 his chin.1a2b41e59b8b373f

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Isaac, one of Naaman’s 8377e1dc06 twelve loyal disciples, was 77de79fd13 not only Ella’s direct 779f388e67 superior but also her 8aeede9a8b foster father. These disciples, 09c6d98665 chosen by 1b391f2734 Naaman, wielded 8bf8838e12 significant power 3ceb1aabd6 through the 09bbfdf7bb Guardian Ring, b7fefc3749 which granted eda1a0256f them strength 02a763acbe comparable to c08f82cac0 pheromones.35d8df9336eee786

The Guardian 04996948c3 Ring, an 6348d34d6e artifact imbued bf737c83cb with the 962ee62b8d power of ceb8a00504 the Guardian—whom 99e450b979 only the 0861b8a374 leader of fcbb81316f Hebel could f9ae50dc9a communicate with—was 0e35c0f154 a symbol 7b20a6384f of eternal 6c8399a408 authority, designed 43dae08ece in the 24ba551da7 shape of 86e6797b71 a Möbius d913e1d75b strip. It was a 5320a744f9 coveted item among fdd1c4ee0a Hebel’s priests, representing a9ca468669 unparalleled influence.c6e71d6440f8f897

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In Hebel, where 24c85904f6 pheromones were either 5710299eca weak or absent c48c477117 altogether, the Guardian dbff79068c Ring provided a 084a17f122 unique advantage, allowing 2d7695e4c0 its wearer to 7e8bc9e0d1 exert great power. This made becoming 8278bb7532 one of Naaman’s 7338220e03 disciples a fiercely 14a0b4e88e competitive endeavor.81cc0e04a5249efd

Isaac was 0522e04520 no exception. Recently, he had f179494bd1 been appointed as fd762340e5 the youngest of 8eb7c6e651 the twelve disciples aa42febfcd and was awarded d232040759 the Guardian Ring.f370404c4e8be769

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Ella had been adopted c0542c6883 by Isaac long before 49d21866ee he rose to his e74d7c34a2 current position. Smiling benevolently, 5e40eb3793 Isaac spoke. “You should address 55595942b5 me as Father.”89886696a998a112

“…Father.”d47623f9b0100498

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“Good,” Isaac said, bfba0e4a82 a faint smirk 72b5abc199 forming on his 2b3ecfff2f lips. Ella’s gaze naturally shifted cf1a76b64c to his clasped hands, b2d11536f9 where the silver Guardian dd96395c04 Ring gleamed under the db89ae7bdd light, demanding attention.6a71a095d76f799a

Even before coming e141bd227b to Hebel, Ella 590fa3bb03 had known the 6e14b73a71 significance of the b78340bcd2 ring—it was an 7ed559e508 honor bestowed only 619da8f7b4 upon Hebel’s high-ranking d8151dc0e2 priests.2d4a0f6eaf4ab674

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She had deliberately sought 5e313ee102 Isaac out, knowing he d923669252 was on the path f2074b57f0 to becoming one of e99a70b60c the twelve disciples. Being by someone’s side a2b25a1151 during their humble beginnings 619bfff481 often left a lasting b89e6989d3 impression on them.1c8f5b9af4bcdd84

It had f209bfdc60 taken Ella 733ca1946c considerable time a86d57625b to fully cd5ef9c60a integrate into cedcef7e43 Hebel. But now, be0c2e612a she was 0328c24021 firmly entrenched, 145eccb453 so much a03d847ec9 so that 79bdfc5921 she had 11a513a8b9 accompanied Isaac 3599313434 to the 3f53db7000 Jabis estate.15175f794a2f46d8

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With a 5ba4c9668f seemingly innocent 97056e6942 expression, Ella f4ee438f8d asked, “What 8bc702764c brings you 0aaa170091 here?”a8afea612e2adc3d

“Do I need 962625f7ee a reason to 7da409d2c9 visit?” Isaac replied, 383d5663f5 his tone faintly 17aabc7c8f reproachful.1a8671bb218c78f9

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“…That’s not what e75d04e469 I meant,” Ella c5da6cf772 quickly corrected herself, 895f066dad lowering her head. Satisfied, Isaac softened his 708994c854 expression and said, “I 6a8b12cb16 came to deliver a f81d10fdc9 message. Naaman has d35d7c4bec entrusted you 3ff14952f6 with keeping d795c9676a an eye fd9f52c8dd on that 06b6a659b9 white weasel. Use this as 4269c2029d an opportunity to e8eb935f46 observe her closely.”acef6970b84599a0

“Observe her?”d272f018bf043a21

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“Yes. Isn’t there c7187dc73d something suspicious 7c51ddc061 about her? She’s no ordinary individual. Build a 379800ed2d rapport with 6843b15fac her to 07b97190b4 lower her 7b1b3e7bab guard. And if you notice 20f8c42019 anything unusual, report it 07f0fee6e1 immediately.”1c93c9b864da8ce6

“Yes, I will,” Ella d300d49347 replied, her face adopting d618ca615b the familiar mask of 00f98eb590 obedience. She couldn’t 58826e8f31 help but f6ebba5063 steal a 5ca9d31fe7 glance at efd50fba31 Isaac, whose ba4c350fb4 self-importance had 84b46392b3 only grown acd8eb07dd since he da695883bb became the b4f5a63ace youngest disciple.f82028b5a392f22f

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‘Still, I have 2dcc2552c2 to endure it,’ 6d678c27de Ella reminded herself, ffd0ee3690 maintaining her innocent 278c796eb4 facade. She focused on eb9069e5c2 her true purpose da7b0f072c for being here, e19cd07db6 concealing her thoughts 8fb36bb5e5 behind a placid bb974a57e4 smile.05fb6a425162c5d4

Pleased by 73c225ce68 her response, c9db0537fb Isaac reached 1b35fc5432 out and 2fc770865e patted her 9f2c35001b head gently.ad32bf65b686158b

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“Good girl.”fe8c8bf9ec2d43ee