Chapter 113: You know each other?

Ding-Dong!

Kai had already reached the front door when the bell rang, so it didn’t take him long to greet the visitor waiting on the other side.

"I would have welcomed you properly, but since this is your home..." Kai said with a wry smile as he looked at the familiar man standing before him.

Adam shook his head. "Please, make yourself at home. The Association provides accommodation to every citizen who loses their shelter because of dungeon monsters."

"Well, surely not one as big as this," Kai joked, stepping aside to let the man enter.

Adam hummed thoughtfully. "Considering your contributions to society and humanity as a whole, this is the least I could do in return."

Kai shrugged. "I’ve already told you. I did nothing with anything other than my family’s safety in mind."

Adam chose not to argue this time. He understood what Kai must be feeling. Being thanked and regarded as some sort of hero when his intentions had been entirely different could hardly sit well with someone like him. Kai had never sought recognition for his actions, and he certainly hadn’t risked his life for the sake of earning anyone’s gratitude.

As they stepped inside, Adam brought up another matter.

"I’ve more or less instructed my secretary to arrange everything you might need."

"Oh, yes. There’s far more here than we actually need. The medical assistance was excellent, too. Everyone was cooperative, and thankfully, no one seemed annoyed by our repeated questions."

Adam nodded, looking pleased to hear it. "I’m glad everything has been satisfactory. And I’m especially happy to hear that your little girl has recovered well."

He slowed his steps before lowering his voice slightly.

"But what about your family’s mental well-being, Hunter Kai? Miss Jean might come from a Hunter family, but since she never awakened, I imagine she hasn’t had much firsthand experience dealing with such situations. I’m sorry if that sounded rude."

Kai shook his head. "No, it’s fine. And thank you for your concern. As things stand, I don’t think there’s an immediate need for therapy, but I’ll discuss it with Jean."

Adam’s concern was entirely justified. Although he hadn’t witnessed the incident firsthand, he understood all too well the kind of horror a Void could unleash upon ordinary people. And Kai’s family had been caught dangerously close to the very centre of the chaos.

From what Hannah had told him, the Monarch had repeatedly targeted Kai’s family for one simple reason: it couldn’t get past the obstacle standing in its way.

Kai.

Unable to overcome him directly, the Monarch had decided to attack the one thing he could never afford to lose.

His family.

Being targeted by something so terrifying was bound to leave scars, even if they weren’t immediately apparent. The fear and helplessness they had experienced might not affect them much in the present, especially now that the immediate danger had passed. However, such experiences could resurface later, gradually influencing their daily lives in ways they might not even recognize.

And that was precisely why Adam believed their recovery deserved just as much attention as Elara’s physical health.

Kai, however, wasn’t particularly worried about their mental well-being. Thanks to his skill, he could read Jean and Elara’s emotions, allowing him to recognize whenever either of them felt anxious, frightened, or troubled by something. With this skill any strong change in their emotions or daily life could be noted easily.

Still, he wasn’t about to dismiss Adam’s advice.

"I won’t take your advice lightly. Thank you again, Mr. Adam."

They finally entered the living area, where Jean was setting two cups of tea on the table. Noticing their arrival, she turned toward the visitor.

"Ah, Miss Jean. It’s a pleasure to meet you again," Adam greeted her, extending his hand for a handshake.

Jean smiled politely and shook his hand. "Hello, Mr. Adam. It has been a while."

Kai hummed in surprise as he glanced between them.

"You two know each other?"

"Not personally," Adam clarified. "I’ve met her once or twice when she..." He paused briefly before continuing, "When Miss Jean was still living with her family."

His hesitation was deliberate. He knew Jean had drawn a clear line between herself and the Scarlette family, and he had no intention of bringing up those people unnecessarily.

Kai blinked in surprise before turning toward Jean.

"You never mentioned that."

Jean shrugged, looking slightly embarrassed. "I... was confused, actually. You see, I never learned his name or who he was back then. I’m sorry about that, Mister Adam."

Adam chuckled softly. "There’s no need to apologize. Those formal gatherings have always been rather exhausting for me as well."

Kai watched the two exchange pleasantries in silence for a moment before gesturing toward the seating area.

"Please, have a seat, Mr. Adam. And Jean, could you bring us some water as well?"

Jean nodded. "Sure."

With that, she left the two men to settle down.

Adam glanced around the living area, taking in the changes with a faint smile. "When I last visited this place, it looked no better than a warehouse. But now, with a family living here, it finally feels like a home."

Kai chuckled. "Don’t get too attached to the sight, though. We’ll be leaving soon."

"Hmm." Adam nodded thoughtfully. "Have you considered where you’ll buy your new house? Of course, the Association will compensate you for your old one."

Kai picked up his cup of tea and took a leisurely sip before answering.

"Not really. Kreacher’s Block and Blue Mountain are out of the question now, so..."

"Why Kreacher’s Block?" Adam asked, looking slightly puzzled. "It’s the most secure location in the entire nation."

Kai offered him a wry smile.

"You know perfectly well why I can’t live there, Mr. Adam."

"Because of Miss Jean’s family, right? About that...Hunter Kai, I have come here today with a motive. To discuss something very important with you."

Kai raised his brows. Somehow he had a feeling that this was bound to be a good news.