Drayen’s expression was somewhat confused and unpleasant.

  Seeing his expression, she tapped his shoulder. “Well, no need to be afraid. Let’s just go check it out now. It’s not like you can change anything.” She understood his concern.

  Drayen murmured, “It… it’s not that.”

  He knew Kira wasn’t suspicious or anything; she just wanted to help him.

  But Drayen was thinking of using his 32 bloodline as leverage to make a deal with Kira. According to him, she was definitely searching for a solution to non-conflicting bloodlines. He knew she placed great importance on it.

  But even he understood that 32 bloodline and non-conflict bloodline combined was too strange.

  He wanted more information. He didn’t know what stance Kira would take. He had been collecting bits and pieces from books and other sources, but he had been busy recently; his research wasn’t complete. He was even observing her carefully—but it wasn’t enough.

  He already knew these two things were significant. The problem was he didn’t know exactly how significant.

  Not to mention, Kira had helped them escape the Houndswell attack and live safely here. She was kind to her students, but from the way she spoke and acted, he knew she absolutely prioritized her own goals.

  He remembered Instructor Miller. During the fight, Drayen had guessed she could have saved Miller—but doing so would have risked her own life. If the situation had been more dire, he was certain she would have fled, leaving them behind.

  She was neither a kind fool nor a monstrous villain.

  Well, Drayen was the same. He would not choose to sacrifice himself for people he barely knew. In fact, he had cursed himself for following Kira at Houndswell and getting trapped in that fight. Still, he felt it had been better than staying with Fedric and the others. At least with Kira, there had been protection. Fedric and the rest were only alive because that old man had chosen not to attack.

  So he needed to find the correct level at which to negotiate with her. It was not only for his safety, but also to maximize his benefits.

  Otherwise, the situation could turn either way.

  Kira advised, “Then what is it? Drayen, it’s better to check early.”

  “That’s something to worry about after you reach Rank 2 or 3. You’re not even there yet.”

  If you have two bloodlines, the conflict usually occurs at Rank 3. But Kira had seven, so her bloodline conflict appeared earlier.

  Before Drayen answered—

  Ring. Ring.

  The sound cut through their conversation.

  Drayen inwardly sighed. He had been searching for the right balance, but he needed more time to execute it perfectly.

  Should he take the gamble and reveal it early?

  The ringing continued.

  For once, the interruption was convenient.

  “Hello,” Kira spoke in a casual tone.

  “Miss Kira, it’s me. Zuko’s father,” Rolo Valtor’s voice came from the other side.

  They talked for a while.

  Before ending the call, Kira’s tone had already turned more serious. When she lowered the phone and looked at Drayen, her expression was slightly reluctant.

  “It seems,” she said quietly, “we’ll be saying farewell to the others.”

  ---

  Meanwhile in the inn, three figures sat around a table, drinking.

  Zuko, although still introverted, had grown more talkative after a few mugs of beer. If you had to describe it, the alcohol had given him courage.

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  “I was so afraid… when I felt their corpses,” Zuko said, making an ugly expression as he lifted the mug again. He couldn’t finish it and even spilled some while drinking.

  “Zuko, you should drink slowly,” Jim warned from beside him.

  Kael smiled and waved his hand dismissively. “Let him have fun. It’s his first time. So noisy.”

  He leaned back and added, “Where the hell did Drayen go? It’s already afternoon. Are they buying a sword or forging one?”

  At that moment, the door of the inn opened.

  Five figures entered.

  Two had green hair. One of them had slightly darker hair, tall and lean, his shoulder exposed as he wore a sleeveless outfit. On his left stood his lackey—short, ugly, with noticeable moles. On his right was another young man with leaf-green hair, dressed neatly in a green-brown leather jacket. He wore spectacles and had a skinny build, but from his aura and confidence alone, anyone could tell he was the strongest among them.

  The two brothers’ eyes landed on a corner table.

  On Zuko.

  They paused.

  Zuko was laughing, drinking, talking loudly.

  They could hardly believe it.

  The man with the spectacles slowly removed his glasses. Without them, his face looked even more handsome and sharp.

  “Looks like our little brother has grown up,” he said.

  Kael noticed them staring.

  The spectacled man glanced at him and smiled lightly. He placed a finger against his lips to signal silence—not threatening, but indicating that he knew Zuko and wanted to surprise him.

  Kael didn’t sense hostility. He remained relaxed.

  The next moment, the man stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Zuko from behind.

  “Surprise, little bro.”

  Zuko nearly dropped the mug in shock.

  But the embrace felt familiar.

  He turned around slowly.

  His face filled with shock—and something more complicated than simple surprise.

  He stared at the man’s face.

  It was his second eldest brother.

  Zuko’s vision blurred slightly. He hadn’t seen any member of his family since arriving in the Nightmare Realm. After everything he had gone through—the fear, the blood, the uncertainty—the first familiar face he saw was his brother’s.

  “Tho… Thor,” Zuko’s voice trembled.

  Seeing him so emotional, Thor gently rubbed Zuko’s leaf-green hair.

  “You’ve had quite a few drinks, huh?” he said with a faint smile.

  Normally, Zuko would have kept his emotions locked inside. Even if he had to cry, he would have done it alone.

  But tonight, the alcohol made it harder to suppress.

  The dark green-haired man inwardly felt hatred toward his two younger brothers.

  But none of it showed on his face.

  He stepped forward with a warm smile.

  “Haha, Zuko has become quite a crybaby now.”

  He pulled both of them into a loose embrace.

  “Well, I’m glad to see you healthy.”

  Zuko wiped his eyes, still sobbing slightly. “I… I am well, Brother Morven.”

  “Good,” Morven replied smoothly.

  He turned to Thorin and tapped his shoulder. “Let’s have a drink with our little brother.”

  Then he looked toward the counter.

  “Innkeeper. More beer.”

  The tone was casual. Almost cheerful.

  After the brief reunion, Thorin glanced at Jim and Kael. In a friendly manner, he extended his hand.

  “I am Thorin Valtor, Zuko’s second brother,” he said. “And this is Morven Valtor, our eldest brother.”

  Morven nodded slightly, offering a polite smile.

  They talked and chatted for a while. Even the other men who came with the Valtor brothers joined the fun. It became a lively party.

  Thorin coughed and said, “Zuko, you and your friends should prepare for leavi—”

  But he was interrupted.

  Zuko, fully drunk and sitting in a strange position facing the door, saw Drayen and Kira, who had just entered the inn.

  “Drae… Instructor… come, come!” His face was completely red from the booze.

  Drayen and Kira were surprised seeing Zuko like this while drunk. They waved their hands.

  The group turned around.

  The party became even louder with Drayen and Kira joining.

  Thorin Valtor was also Rank 2 from his aura. He didn’t hide it. He looked strong and confident, and his battle strength was very high—normal Rank 2s stood no chance. But he knew about Kira, and throughout the conversation he remained very respectful, even though he was older than her. It was the same with Morven, who was also Rank 2.

  Thorin stood up and said, “Miss Kira, thank you for all the trouble you have taken to take care of my brother.”

  He raised his mug to toast her. Even Morven stood up to toast her.

  “You’re welcome,” Kira smiled, accepting the toast.

  “This small gift from Zuko’s father. Miss, please accept it.” Thorin passed a letter to her.

  Actually, Kira had failed her mission in Tellus after the fight. She had been in Tellus mainly to gather information. After she failed to collect what she needed, she had asked Zuko’s father for help.

  Kira happily accepted the letter. Drayen stared at it for a second.

  She glanced at the contents briefly. “This seems better than what those Etherion scoundrels provided.” She put it away and continued drinking.

  After giving the letter, Thorin looked at Drayen and the others.

  “You all should prepare to leave. We are leaving tomorrow.”

  Kira advised, “Why are you in such a hurry? You should wait for Bright Moon. It rises the day after tomorrow.”

  Thorin laughed politely, refusing. “We have our mission along the way.”

  Jim and Zuko had happy expressions on their faces. Finally, they could go home to Tellus.

  Drayen didn’t mind. He just felt slightly homesick because of his mother.

  But there was another among them who found the idea of returning to Tellus unpleasant—or simply didn’t want to return.

  It was Kael.

  Kael’s expression turned conflicted and uneasy.

  Should he really go back?

  Is it safe to stay here with a fake identity?

  Can he truly bear the consequences of staying?

  He was afraid. He was only eighteen years old. It was natural for him to think about his future and feel fear.

  But the most important thing was—

  He didn’t want to return to Tellus.

  Jim cheered, looking around excitedly. “Finally, we can return! Drae, Ka—”

  “I’m not returning.”

  Kael scratched the back of his head as he said it, but his voice wasn’t joking.

  He stood up from the table.

  The chair scraped against the floor.

  Without looking at anyone, he walked out of the inn.