Chapter 51: Compensation

Eight o’clock that evening, Underground Casino.

The spatial ripples faded, and Ethan appeared inside the main guest room with a faint wave of dizziness from the teleportation.

He had barely steadied himself when he heard a soft rustle near the bed.

Ethan’s eyes snapped toward the sound.

"Who’s there?"

Under the dim light, he could make out the silhouette of a woman drying herself with a towel. The room was too dark for him to see her clearly.

His sudden appearance startled her.

The towel slipped from her hand and landed on the floor with a soft thud.

A short gasp escaped her lips.

Ethan recognized the voice immediately.

Rose.

An idea instantly took shape in his mind.

He stepped forward and quickly covered her mouth with one hand, keeping his voice low.

"Don’t make a sound. It’s me."

Rose’s body tensed in surprise.

"Come with me."

Before she could ask what was happening, Ethan activated his Space Teleportation Ability.

The two of them vanished from the room.

A moment later, they appeared inside the Survival Space.

The lights came on automatically.

Ethan immediately released Rose and stepped back.

She stared at him in shock, her breathing still uneven from the sudden teleportation.

"What... what just happened?"

Her face flushed when she realized how abruptly he’d pulled her into the Survival Space.

"I didn’t know you were in the room," Ethan said calmly. "Sorry about that."

Rose quickly retrieved her clothes and moved toward the wardrobe.

"At least give me a warning next time."

There was a trace of embarrassment in her voice, but Ethan could also hear the irritation underneath it.

He waited until she had dressed before speaking again.

"I have something for you."

Rose turned around.

Ethan opened his palm.

A dark-green Core rested in his hand, its surface reflecting the light of the Survival Space.

Rose’s expression changed immediately.

"This..."

"Consider it compensation for startling you."

Rose stared at the Core for several seconds before slowly shaking her head.

"No. That’s too valuable."

She looked at Ethan seriously.

"You obtained that by risking your life. I can’t just take it."

She hesitated.

"If you’re willing, give it to Sofia instead. She’s younger, and increasing her strength would help her survive."

Ethan studied her for a moment.

Then he withdrew the Core without hesitation.

"Alright. I’ll give it to her later."

Rose’s expression froze for the briefest moment.

She had expected him to argue.

Instead, he’d agreed immediately.

A strange feeling settled in her chest.

She had been the one to suggest giving it to Sofia, but somehow hearing Ethan agree so easily made her feel as though she’d just pushed herself out of the picture.

She lowered her eyes.

"Okay."

Ethan noticed the subtle change in her expression.

He understood exactly what had happened.

First step accomplished.

He didn’t say anything.

Instead, he picked up the walkie-talkie.

"Daisy, get everyone to the main guest room. There’s something important I need to discuss."

A few minutes later, everyone gathered.

Ethan didn’t mention what had happened between him and Rose.

He simply activated his spatial ability and brought everyone into the Survival Space.

Once everyone had settled down, Ethan explained what he’d learned from Tom Hurst.

"There are established power classifications among survivors, Ability Users, Evolved Zombies, and mutated animals."

He went through the information carefully, explaining the Ability rankings from B-Rank through SSS-Rank, as well as the classifications for mutated creatures from Normal Level to Calamity Level.

He also explained the different forms of energy, the relationship between an Ability User’s strength and the rank of their Ability, and the importance of Cores.

Most importantly, he explained that consuming Cores could accelerate the evolution of Ability Users, mutated animals, and Evolved Zombies, while also warning them that blindly consuming powerful Cores could be dangerous.

When he mentioned that the Snake King was already a King-Level creature comparable to an SS-Rank Ability User, the atmosphere became noticeably heavier.

Everyone understood just how dangerous the creature chasing Ethan really was.

After finishing his explanation, Ethan looked toward Sofia.

"Sofia, stay behind for a moment."

"Everyone else can go back."

Sofia looked surprised.

Rose’s expression also changed slightly.

She glanced at her daughter before leaving the Survival Space with the others.

She didn’t say anything, but Ethan noticed the uncertainty in her eyes.

---

Back in the room she shared with Sofia, Rose sat on the edge of the bed.

Moonlight spilled through the window.

She stared outside without really seeing the street below.

The events of the evening kept replaying in her mind.

Ethan’s sudden appearance.

The awkward situation.

The Core he’d offered her.

And the way he’d immediately agreed to give it to Sofia when she suggested it.

Now he’d deliberately kept Sofia behind.

Rose couldn’t help wondering what Ethan intended.

She had suggested giving the Core to her daughter herself, yet watching Ethan actually do it left her with an uncomfortable feeling.

She couldn’t explain why.

Perhaps it was simply the realization that she had voluntarily given up an opportunity to become stronger.

Or perhaps she had started thinking too much about Ethan’s attitude toward her.

Either way, she felt strangely unsettled.

---

Inside the Survival Space.

Sofia stood in front of Ethan, looking slightly nervous.

"Ethan, what is it?"

Ethan took the dark-green Core from his storage and held it out to her.

"Here."

Sofia stared at it.

"Your mother didn’t want it. She insisted that I give it to you because she thinks you need it more."

Sofia’s expression changed.

She remembered seeing her mother’s clothes on the bed earlier and noticing how distracted Rose had seemed.

A strange thought immediately entered her mind.

Did something happen between Mom and Ethan?

She couldn’t figure out what.

But the more she thought about it, the more uncomfortable she became.

Maybe her mother had been upset about something.

Maybe she’d refused the Core because of it.

Maybe Ethan was now giving it to her as some kind of compensation.

The thoughts kept piling up until Sofia suddenly shook her head.

"I don’t want it!"

Her voice came out sharper than she intended.

She looked at the Core and then away.

"I don’t want something Mom gave up for me. Give it back to her."

Ethan’s eyes flickered.

Inside, he was satisfied.

Exactly what I expected.

But he kept his expression calm.

"Alright."

He slowly began withdrawing the Core.

"If you don’t want it, I’ll give it back to your mother."

Sofia’s expression immediately changed.

Ethan sighed deliberately.

"Although she’ll probably be disappointed."

He turned as though he intended to leave.

Sofia suddenly became anxious.

"Wait!"

Ethan stopped.

Sofia stared at the Core in his hand.

Her thoughts raced.

If Ethan gave it back to her mother, Rose would become stronger.

And if that happened, Sofia would be the one left behind.

She bit her lower lip.

"Ethan..."

"What?"

Sofia hesitated.

Then she slowly reached toward the Core.

"I... I’ll take it."

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Ethan’s mouth.

The plan was working even better than he’d expected.