Chapter 144: A VISIT TO THE GOVERNMENT.

Chapter 144: 144: A VISIT TO THE GOVERNMENT.

Grey stared at June, confused. "What are you talking about...?"

June interrupted him. "If you want to know about Syll and what I said to him back then, then you’ll have to take us there now."

"Syll would never tell you. Only I will now, and I’m sure you want to know. Especially since it’s related to Mr. Kevin."

Grey hesitated, staring at his brother. "You’re blackmailing me...?"

June smiled. "Exactly. So help me, and I’ll let you know all you need to know. Besides..."

June hesitated before adding, "F-rankers who could easily break through an anomaly dungeon that top Espers ended up dying in... Something even the government doesn’t have complete control over."

He stared at Grey. "Does it look like we’re no match for that same government?"

June was confident, and Grey understood why.

He had always known that June and Nyx’s strange skills were extraordinary. They were not something worth comparing to a casual S-class. And though he didn’t understand how, he just knew.

June added, "If you’re scared for our safety, you can come alone," he said. "You’re an adult, after all."

Grey stared at June. He didn’t know what had him reconsidering his decision. Was it the fact that he was desperate to know that information about Syll, or the fact that he was even more curious about his brother’s powers?

Either way, he had to admit that even though June had changed, his manipulative way with words hadn’t.

"Okay." Grey leaned back, clearing his throat. "Let’s get going, then."

June and Ryan stared at each other with a smile.

"But remember your choice..." Grey said. "You’re old enough to..."

June smiled. "Don’t worry. I’ll protect you, brother."

"...."

Soon, they were done setting up their basic plans. Grey briefed them about how powerful Mr. Kevin was and how heavily guarded his lab could be.

He let them know about the risks involved and confirmed whether they still wanted to go ahead with it. They certainly did, and he guessed he couldn’t pull them out of this anymore.

He simply had to join the madness.

And so, they got up and headed out to look for Nyx.

As they headed out, Kael pulled Ryan by the hand when they reached the door, stopping him from leaving.

"What’s it?" Ryan inquired.

Kael folded his arms as he smiled at him. "If you want to join us, I can only consider doing so if you agree to Guide me again. So what do you say?"

Ryan found himself scoffing. "So is that blackmail or...?"

Kael shrugged. "What do you think?"

Ryan smiled. "Then sure. Stay back. You don’t have to come along. We have Simon, after all. I guess I can naturally Guide him."

He said it with a smile before turning and walking off.

"...."

Kael stared after him, speechless and panicking. "Huh...? Just like that...? Hey..." He quickly chased after Ryan. "Hey! Come back! Don’t Guide him! I’m coming too..."

---

Before they went to Mr. Kevin’s lab, June decided to stop somewhere first. He wanted to meet Katy and confirm something.

While the others stayed back in the car, June and Ryan went out to meet Katy, who came down from her mansion to meet them.

"You came. Come in."

Katy wanted to welcome them warmly, but June shook his head.

"We have something important to do, so apologies, we can’t come in," he said with a smile as he stared at her. "I only have a question."

Katy slowly nodded. "Okay... So what’s it?"

June asked her if she had met with Nyx on a certain day. He didn’t bother telling her that Nyx was missing.

"Oh, that night." Katy folded her arms, shaking her head. "That rascal stood us up. His parents and I were waiting for him at the restaurant all through that night, but he never showed up. He didn’t pick up his calls or anything after that, either."

As she explained, June and Ryan stared at each other in confusion before looking back at Katy.

"I think maybe he really has a beef with his parents and doesn’t want to see them at all. But he should have at least told me before standing me up..." She sighed and shook her head. "And he still hasn’t responded to my messages or calls now... He really did grow up."

June stared at her, not knowing whether to believe her or not. Was she really unaware of what was happening? And didn’t she have a hand in this?

Was she truly ignorant of it all?

"But..." Katy stared at June. "I honestly thought he stood us up to be with you. Why are you asking me this...?"

June smiled. "Well, I just wanted to be sure..."

Katy smiled. "Already being curious about his whereabouts... I understand how that works."

She winked at him.

"Good luck and..."

She added, "Be gentle with our Nyx’s heart. He might be annoying at times, but he’s really sweet."

June nodded with a smile as he turned to leave, though Ryan remained skeptical.

Was Katy really ignorant of all this, or was she playing in his face?

Her character in the book wasn’t evil at all. She was just Nyx’s minor love interest. But with the way the book was changing, June didn’t know whether he could believe her or not.

"She’s telling the truth," Ryan finally said as they headed toward the car. "She doesn’t know about anything."

June stared at him. "How do you know that?"

Ryan adjusted his glasses with a smile. "I guess I just do..."

He added, "Trust me. The same way you trusted me back at that cosmic dungeon... Trust me. I just know."

June guessed he had to trust him.

But that wasn’t important now. What mattered more was finding Nyx.

And so, they got back into the car and took off toward their destination—Mr. Kevin’s private laboratory.

---

As soon as their car pulled up at a distance from the laboratory, Grey rolled down the car window as they stared into the distance.

They watched the entrance of the laboratory, where two security men stood firmly at the gate. Certainly, it was going to be difficult to get past them.

And while they sat in the car, wondering how they’d break in, they suddenly caught sight of someone coming out of the gate.

The person walked out without being questioned at all. It was as though he was part of the organization, judging by the way the security men bowed to him as soon as he stepped out of the gate.

And as they stared at the familiar figure, Grey gasped in utter shock.

"Syll...?" he whispered.