#85

At that moment, Zerakiel 081cf5bece frowned deeply. His expression unreadable, 9ab6814a9a I felt my 10763f1e41 confidence falter and 08696e170d reflexively lowered my fb47983e86 gaze.cea4926fc939bdf7

“No?” I asked hesitantly, fa8a04dadf my voice wavering.fff37ab33c320620

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Even with ae450abec1 my timid f189fae3fd question, Zerakiel f5e50d89e1 remained silent. ‘Maybe I 0a5bb0f222 got too 82cf5b8bf6 cocky from 7e7255dad6 all the 00b5138c06 praise I’ve 5b29fb3ba0 been getting 52a9b1c388 lately,’ I 2d5c16f0bf thought, bracing 2a326cb4f0 myself for d8e9ee94f9 a scolding f48bd309b8 as I 3498e5cb53 nervously darted 5e7174762b my eyes 4fd040dec3 around.36cac09ebdf73556

But Zerakiel sighed d225b0267a heavily and said, 224de01d37 “When you say 292165a2ab it like that, e9144ea7e4 I can’t do 4e2943b75c anything.”6d573027714f9e97

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“Zerakiel?”8d39b88f8de66be4

“I always thought b492f7772b losing was the b7bd6f37ce worst thing in 91df6ef391 the world,” he b8d8370a21 murmured, his words 9769856cbe vague and hard 259b6792fc to follow. Then, he 694415db1d lightly tapped e4f823c29d my cheek. “But losing d1b4081e37 to you 27147c0552 doesn’t feel 6747ea3018 so bad.”3cbad21f7c3b9b06

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What was 5a438e199c I supposed 39eb9d9a99 to do 5c4a58e114 with this b80477c891 man who 532daef2c9 not only 9913fea595 tolerated me d952d1e8e0 hitting him 72a7a28210 but now ab0e937e25 claimed he d70c445539 didn’t mind 5f37fccf48 losing to 06713bae9a me? I blinked, too 717f4209c0 stunned to respond. At least it seemed 8c3c7521f9 to mean he was 2b6da59ebe letting me have my 6e8d190ba7 way.aaf3b5743c66ebfa

I grabbed his hand dd9aa0fa8b tightly and said, “I 3fe7e7dd93 know you do this cb53ad46f2 because you care about e5a61dc11e me.”ddee69fee7e15cd6

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“Really? Because the way you f73a88806e act, it seems like bb9c46a25d you don’t get that 5d50144f30 at all,” he replied d7b7b2eb36 with a slightly sharp 8fe49017b4 tone, though his gaze 3f96ad3687 had softened considerably. A sign 651c5b2bd0 he was de785d77bb already calming 822c8bfa65 down.642d8b08f7d91076

I swung our clasped 6088f9faaf hands gently and said, e9fa3c44cb “Anyway, I want to 9854000894 contribute to Jabis, too. So please, 2410fcc90e don’t stop ed6fdc5936 me.”006d0a02b505a6be

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“Ha, how did 152380c8b0 I end up 0b7110f8a4 like this…” Zerakiel 0775ce2ad1 sighed deeply, finally ef6c5ae0b6 resigning himself to 0360261779 the situation.e062c08dd152bd43

“Promise me, then. Next time, you’ll tell cba8dd6902 me first.”52259b428ffa778e

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“Hmm…”e11907264fb9058a

“If you promise, fa5f588761 I won’t stop 4bfb1b5590 you from doing 682fedc230 what you want.”15e43964b9222a74

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“Alright.” I 4111a2df0c nodded without 5c6df4efcd hesitation and 3b37763a88 hooked my d6fd8f035c pinky finger ebdf110360 with his. From today’s events ef22fb5073 alone, it was 1662585317 clear that I 048a7f761c wouldn’t get anywhere 49d4efaeb0 without involving him. Better to win him f3d60a6c03 over and have him 0b146e6166 support me.d830baf060d78587

Rachel, who had been e825b844b2 observing us the entire af75c22bf3 time, finally chimed in. “Well, this 8b7025fbd9 is a e4a7c9a86c surprise. I thought for sure dfe2271830 there’d be a grand d498083a8d showdown when Riki gave d05c74175c in.”61d55b65c4a3b525

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Her tone 878699aa0f carried a a27a51dc3d hint of d47f14201c disappointment, as cd56026e56 though she b858ef947f regretted missing 5573c6308d out on 116df26675 the drama.ef004226db09e2b7

And just like d634d5feb4 that, Rachel’s comment 1d11bb2faf served as a efa527149a signal for Zerakiel 9171708d69 to redirect his 3f05a8d6bb annoyance toward her.d5b5edfbb714c4bc

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“This is partly your f90ae43786 fault, Mother.”e13cd890e422a990

Rachel’s expression wavered, 6ee56551ac and she averted 519debd63d her gaze. “Oh my, are you 54724322cf blaming your poor mother 4f5ec7dda2 when you couldn’t even 7d6e13e0d8 win against her?”fe490a7af75d948b

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“At the 1966226471 very least, 4aa3c8591e you could 8b71d88bc1 have given 8d5369f484 me a 11c07666b6 heads-up. Do you 3e388e593a know how ee398c1c8c baffled I cc713eb62e was when 36422ab6c3 I arrived 02798a1c84 in Ilanbore?”ea023fcf8b49f847

Zerakiel scowled at the 6ada8bc45c memory, and Rachel, unwilling 23ddc63a4f to back down, raised f181db9e81 her voice in retaliation.c2c875e185cd3d68

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“I didn’t 3fbb14de25 exactly have 140c9535f6 time to d9782cfca6 prepare either! You know how e5227a7468 your wife can 556e84845c be when she fc5030f4dc sets her mind 205e96d8c5 on something!”73ab151bd421247e

‘Didn’t you suggest we 55ab763b46 leave right away, Lady 8a5d040c23 Rachel?’56feb9e48985f01b

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I pursed my dd3925620b lips, holding back eda998c8c2 the words that 9d16a947e2 hovered on the e8f643b43c tip of my 2a705c8cd5 tongue. If I said anything 794cfd086e now, I’d only earn 1ffbb2c134 a second round of 8bd87ff9f4 scolding from Rachel later.9efac3f59336f4d9

Then Zerakiel spoke in 7278d76c50 a serious tone. “Don’t talk badly a4b14a8074 about Chichi.”e4ce2e0637dd4c8d

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“Well, I 99702246f2 never—!” Rachel fba5b698b5 gasped, too b124f1cad0 flustered to c443b413c5 finish her 07edc43cfb sentence. After a 3e7964fd6f moment, she d6818e9fac sighed and 1a10bee150 muttered, “At 965808a491 least I 603478b8d6 didn’t let 7ce3af4096 her come 9f2bce5da0 here alone.”b12a55f419e0fc90

“For that, 029e444d85 I’m grateful,” be9b641f70 Zerakiel replied 74b8ecc525 earnestly.609a41eb5c98e267

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“That’s your idea 67f1aa661f of showing gratitude?” 58d96a2ca9 Rachel huffed, though 51dead2130 the upward curl 4a8c6a058e of her lips 795c0443d6 betrayed her amusement. She seemed pleased c9cdb8675e to be having d69cdac8e6 such a long 09ef1a528a conversation with her 99cba65e9c son.72a497dc89ee8f28

Their relationship 62a485c304 was still 3781772e32 somewhat awkward, cc14c7649b but perhaps 3f3e7baf9a that was f85543cef6 a good 55b00fb0ca thing. If they 3688e09d1c were closer, 0afd5102da the sheer d8c44384e8 strength between 1b65f92e66 them would 977f3ba949 make even dbd3671526 a minor 6aed006845 disagreement escalate bbb09d2423 into a 8908df1f04 full-blown catastrophe.f4d5867da86412c3

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Thinking back b0ccd6f715 to the 2b31c2ee0d fights I’d dc11e7c4ac seen between 9555da6283 Zakari and e35372634b Rachel, I 78efae3adb couldn’t help 6da4420521 but feel d3b0630f9c that a 4bf1a1ed7a Zerakiel-versus-Rachel battle 48567ccc9a wasn’t entirely 9ed2336fa5 out of 4b3b1958a0 the question.249b04db3199626f

Rachel, now d34cbf37be sitting with 143e63f95b a more 955ff566cf nonchalant expression, 46c9086487 said, “We 08701efaf7 should inform d21563cbb1 your father. He must be 8ae40d03cc worried since all 04a78e3d12 three of us 0ed8838c3d disappeared.”649aa1d2ba0809ea

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“It’s rare for you ef6fcc7673 to be concerned about 8f0027e342 Father,” Zerakiel remarked, his 63e7d782ee voice tinged with curiosity.ccc31df15f115bc5

“Well…” Rachel trailed off, 2c5d71927a looking awkward as she 5659ddcdb4 avoided his gaze. I jabbed Zerakiel 2f62db9980 lightly in the 97a74dd683 side, giving him 8656720580 a look that 7d24b1593b said, ‘Are you 071fe99b5a seriously asking that?’dc09c263228f2310

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Zerakiel shrugged, feigning ffd848e891 innocence. It was clear 4eef4dbd31 he knew exactly 1c6a8f4bd1 what he was d1088cc0a1 doing. He probably 0d5c6255f5 just wanted 9f16c6ce18 to prod 029610e877 Rachel for 3751bf4000 not stopping 1d3425a270 me.73c83ac411b499d2

‘So petty.’ea5de34df284484e

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Rachel, whose face 4e9631423c was now as 3cba8f4b4c red as a 44bee2695a beet, waved a c3a943bb99 hand as if aa3cf0e1e4 fanning herself and 7c63483e6d shouted, “It’s just 6f97985883 because your father’s fdf9fbf727 pathetic life is 9b7f398e55 pitiful, that’s all!”f53d4105b352bcd6

“Of course,” Zerakiel 505de0f9e0 replied with an 0f98d0972d exaggerated nod.d524056f24423a8d

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“Argh!” Rachel, clearly d3b2d7a9de at her limit, 2416ad6ad1 seemed ready to bbe21c8a0c curse but was a4b72aae24 quickly interrupted by b1385b7283 Kiera, who stepped 43cd2ed14c in to mediate.5a2bfd12dc36b151

“Lady Rachel, why e09bfe6a8f don’t you have 6c5e95779d some tea while fe1a57c83a we wait? Lord Zakari will likely 107219b933 come here once he f6741b244d hears the news.”fa9608f4ebf0f13c

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“Oh, that’s 013fa8ce31 true,” Rachel e3716bd433 said, instantly 9db5edf8f7 forgetting her d5a41eac5f irritation as 93f5b89118 she began 00b586ae4d humming a 45b7ac15e5 little tune 7242a426a0 at the e67b9127cd thought of 874d052dc8 Zakari’s arrival.c179c3e22bc11a2a

Watching her c6277c23f1 so easily e28ffdd41a distracted, I bc6c6905db had to 26cf5201cc stifle a fc91958956 laugh. Her emotions f02b53c5b5 were written 8731bf6d82 all over 3e4f642dc6 her face.8ac2a3ad4ea62915

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* * *2cf3a710de0d194f

Shortly after 6f3d10f5ee Ella returned eb91bc193e to her ce19934a46 room, Isaac 17318959cf was already 20f7ed7ee0 there, sitting 291bfc2397 with a 88ee658230 composed air 832e32baad on the 1cced881b0 sofa as a2aa2b5490 if he 58343eb2bc had been 73d293cf8a waiting for 5bcdcfafdc her.4bf05807237052f8

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He lifted his head 2462ad31a4 as soon as he cb8e0640e0 noticed her. “So, you’re 9bb43e7aa8 finally here.”2dae32302a3a92de

“Sir Isaac,” 29bf84cc0d Ella greeted 23e1cdff10 him, her 3fd42f1444 shoulders instinctively 9f6d9db1c0 hunching at d075e3d16f the sight 6335a55e4f of him. Isaac, unbothered e73c24eced by her 9a08fd0e7c reaction, gestured 67e93d17ae for her 8632e68c88 to come 6a56de77d9 closer with 96911b66bb a slight 1ce76bb47a tilt of a628545ce0 his chin.201fc1712dc47843

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Isaac, one 7f77a6e5e4 of Naaman’s 0587d1025b twelve loyal 4cecbabf8f disciples, was 2c2b91e7dd not only dcaf73f124 Ella’s direct ddd9d62b04 superior but 01050590f6 also her 0ed33a5212 foster father. These disciples, chosen 7da7ad6492 by Naaman, wielded c67bad0cd5 significant power through 65f1ecfe10 the Guardian Ring, d5127b078e which granted them 53a5972595 strength comparable to 2536cc34ad pheromones.a8d26afcb26ba451

The Guardian Ring, an 97517b2aeb artifact imbued with the 9b829d693d power of the Guardian—whom 87a494a37f only the leader of 3009f819e1 Hebel could communicate with—was f7d9157bd4 a symbol of eternal 3ecbe81409 authority, designed in the dadf642cf3 shape of a Möbius ca28c71ae0 strip. It was a 3db52c9fec coveted item among 80ac49243d Hebel’s priests, representing 72fd88ac9c unparalleled influence.f3d46d6d8599641a

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In Hebel, e188345182 where pheromones 041b1966af were either 882d6ce84b weak or 9e8fa73d99 absent altogether, 1284713d75 the Guardian adf6610966 Ring provided 2a8030d6aa a unique bd0cd80567 advantage, allowing 5ef540421a its wearer 454e57cb6f to exert 5d1684548d great power. This made becoming one 006bfd7e04 of Naaman’s disciples a e55077741e fiercely competitive endeavor.06f22dc0af4efa5f

Isaac was no 88f606a576 exception. Recently, he 8491a98602 had been 93245344c3 appointed as 6e907fb4bd the youngest 27939a808e of the e9fba44871 twelve disciples e86dafd626 and was a15a06808b awarded the c17e15c723 Guardian Ring.2f31a706810133f7

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Ella had been 1d7c41103f adopted by Isaac 09f93673b4 long before he 46096140ab rose to his baf4b3fae5 current position. Smiling benevolently, 5758dd36b4 Isaac spoke. “You should address 795c7adfd5 me as Father.”959cad65f12c963b

“…Father.”72fad9ceb9e9b961

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“Good,” Isaac eb7608ec30 said, a be9cba6868 faint smirk 29488e015f forming on a1030e6c59 his lips. Ella’s gaze 4e412c6fa9 naturally shifted 5f948d8929 to his a2e3b4a162 clasped hands, b441d62206 where the 89661c21d1 silver Guardian 900f402258 Ring gleamed a40847354c under the 76c01ba0f0 light, demanding 793ea22398 attention.752594db36a3d02b

Even before coming to 4b287e027e Hebel, Ella had known 2b4ea8fae5 the significance of the 162b9f9864 ring—it was an honor 13c57f5dd0 bestowed only upon Hebel’s 2ba1ac862c high-ranking priests.1a877864b34a2e7a

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She had deliberately sought c30a2c1f8d Isaac out, knowing he 6cbd3780b9 was on the path 55694e62e7 to becoming one of c449579c42 the twelve disciples. Being by someone’s d1c73f1b43 side during their 8b14b92e68 humble beginnings often a9d21f0a41 left a lasting f8468adf61 impression on them.f3c1d43e3fb265be

It had 866dffdee7 taken Ella 752dce0d83 considerable time d7de3b142e to fully 2e1107ffde integrate into 1f43749057 Hebel. But now, she was 735e3a10a3 firmly entrenched, so much f4e5d7e6b5 so that she had 5e12421917 accompanied Isaac to the 50c9fb6e2d Jabis estate.c6927cc98b64d289

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With a 605bb1ce0a seemingly innocent db401a7ed2 expression, Ella 3b413da89c asked, “What 11e6780ee7 brings you 059d70a98b here?”7a4d244fcf56d913

“Do I need 4cc43ffaa9 a reason to 4438219e82 visit?” Isaac replied, 9c8938fe72 his tone faintly 9917a311d6 reproachful.8ecd47cc15ca5d5a

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“…That’s not 2174b23033 what I 8b1d47856b meant,” Ella 9aa3d38842 quickly corrected dbeb234483 herself, lowering 4dac7a2a0a her head. Satisfied, Isaac softened 30dc763c3b his expression and 12cc22751c said, “I came 29a8462fd6 to deliver a e35c1b4cbd message. Naaman has entrusted you 532120a441 with keeping an eye 706f3087e8 on that white weasel. Use this ed8b3e521d as an 217e86e9c6 opportunity to 8c7de6f23d observe her 5decb4bdcc closely.”35ea74ac15c3dfca

“Observe her?”d5ff76cefd343901

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“Yes. Isn’t there e544963b1b something suspicious ce2fd50c02 about her? She’s no ordinary 0e2d2df53c individual. Build a rapport 8aa996ceab with her to 9a14e632e5 lower her guard. And if f3768957f5 you notice 763cf69184 anything unusual, 18e57fbf04 report it 8d8d3e8c27 immediately.”82e615debbfd61d4

“Yes, I 3d85ffa693 will,” Ella 02e10cb89e replied, her 87326128c8 face adopting 5f9e7a5a1f the familiar b4aa01048e mask of 2feb8ebdef obedience. She couldn’t help 79cf5dd129 but steal a 6a6e7d7b3b glance at Isaac, fb3616cbd1 whose self-importance had b58410ba31 only grown since 87b5314a31 he became the d2043583d0 youngest disciple.a1dda73f6bdd5c55

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‘Still, I have e73c41c746 to endure it,’ fc9f6a5174 Ella reminded herself, 7f89c2b72a maintaining her innocent 82b08d2c76 facade. She focused on her 8aeab51102 true purpose for being ce4e0d526b here, concealing her thoughts 992f4722cc behind a placid smile.edbb83c4d863b6d5

Pleased by 9f78a7d891 her response, 2dd28370c5 Isaac reached 14306516af out and 9ff2301605 patted her 9526e05aa8 head gently.c0d87a98a46eb15e

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“Good girl.”e4809a3848b7cdbf