Chapter 86: Unusual Ability

Everyone in the living room exchanged confused glances, seemingly unsure how the conversation had taken such an unexpected turn.

Felix and Esther looked at Reeta with suspicion, while Celestine remained standing where she was, her fingers clasped nervously in front of her. She had barely managed to conceal her anxiety, and now she could only hope that Reeta had understood the silent plea in her eyes.

Leon, meanwhile, watched the back of Reeta’s head with a faint frown.

’What is she trying to do?’

He knew Reeta well enough to recognize that her sudden decision to let the matter go wasn’t entirely innocent. She was rarely the type to abandon an interesting question without getting to the bottom of it, especially when something seemed suspicious.

Yet, instead of pressing Celestine further, she had chosen to defer the matter to the medical team.

Just what had she noticed?

As though sensing his questioning gaze, Reeta turned her head slightly and arched her eyebrows at him.

It was a subtle gesture, barely noticeable to anyone else.

Leon stared at her for a moment before his eyes narrowed.

:You’d better have a good explanation for this.

Reeta’s lips curved into the faintest smile, as though she had heard his unspoken complaint.

Then she turned back toward Felix and Esther, her expression returning to its usual composure.

"Since Lumi also needs to undergo an examination, we’d like to ask for Master Pei’s permission to take her with us."

Felix’s expression immediately changed.

"Examination? What kind of examination does she need?"

Reeta smiled pleasantly. "We’d like to clarify a few things regarding what happened in the Hell Dungeon, particularly the unusual changes observed in Young Master Leon’s condition."

Her gaze briefly shifted toward Celestine before returning to Felix.

"I’m sure Master Pei wouldn’t object to allowing us to investigate something that might concern his own daughter, would he?"

Felix looked at Reeta sharply, his eyes narrowing as though he were trying to peer into her mind and uncover the true intentions behind her pleasant smile."What exactly are you planning, Miss Bellamy?" Felix asked, his tone noticeably colder. "Do you take me for such a fool that I wouldn’t see through your little trick to get Lumi out of here?"

He leaned back casually against the sofa, his expression carrying a hint of disdain.

"She doesn’t need that kind of examination. We’ve already had her examined more than five times, and every result has been the same. She has no Guiding energy, and there’s nothing wrong with her that would warrant another examination."

Reeta listened patiently, her smile never quite leaving her face.

"More than five times?" she repeated, raising her eyebrows slightly. "That certainly sounds thorough, Master Pei. In that case, you must be very confident in the results."

"Of course I am." Felix’s gaze sharpened. "Are you questioning the Pei family’s judgment?"

"Not at all." Reeta gave a small laugh, appearing entirely unbothered by his hostility. "I’m simply wondering why you’re so reluctant to let us verify something that should already be settled."

Felix’s expression stiffened."There’s nothing to verify."

"Then there shouldn’t be anything to worry about, should there?"For the first time, Reeta’s smile seemed a little less innocent.

"Perhaps Master Pei is simply too proud to admit that he has mistaken a gem for a worthless stone and treated it poorly all these years."

The living room fell silent.Felix’s face darkened almost immediately, his eyes turning icy as he stared at Reeta. Esther, who had been sitting beside him, looked equally offended, while Celestine’s fingers tightened around each other.

"A stone will remain a stone, no matter how many times you polish it," Felix retorted coldly. "You can call it a gem all you like, Miss Bellamy, but that doesn’t change what it is."His gaze shifted briefly toward Lumi, his expression full of contempt.

"Some things simply aren’t worth the effort."

"Then..." Leon slowly rose to his feet, drawing everyone’s attention toward him. His expression remained composed, though there was a faint coldness in his eyes as he looked at Felix. "I believe Master Pei won’t have any objections to us checking on Lumi, one last time."

The words one last time carried an unmistakable implication. If Felix had already examined Lumi more than five times and was so certain that nothing was unusual about her, then surely one final examination would make no difference.

Felix’s expression stiffened, but before he could respond, Leon continued.

"After all, I’m the one whose condition was involved in this incident. I would like to know what happened to me, and if examining Lumi might provide an answer, I don’t see why we should dismiss the possibility without investigating it."

He paused, his gaze fixed on Felix. "Unless Master Pei has a reason to object?"

"Lumi is my daughter, and I don’t give my permission. That’s all," Felix replied coldly, his expression leaving no room for negotiation.

For a moment, Leon simply stared at him.

Then he let out a quiet, humorless laugh. "I see. So, even when the examination concerns an incident that happened during a mission involving the Caesar family, Master Pei’s decision is the only one that matters?"

"Of course." Leon nodded, his tone so agreeable that it almost sounded mocking. "And I suppose that right also includes deciding whether she’s allowed to help an injured Sentinel, even when the medical team believes her involvement might be relevant."

Felix’s expression darkened.

"Don’t twist my words, Young Master Caesar."

"I’m not twisting anything. I’m simply trying to understand your reasoning."

Leon adjusted his cuffs, seemingly unbothered by the tension building in the room. "You said Lumi has been examined more than five times, and every result confirmed that she has no Guiding energy. If you’re so certain that nothing has changed, then one final examination should settle the matter once and for all."

He paused before adding, "Unless you’re no longer certain of those results?"

"That’s enough!" Esther snapped, unable to tolerate the conversation any longer. "Why are you all so determined to examine Lumi? She’s an ordinary girl who can’t even use Guiding energy! What could possibly be so important about her?"

"That’s precisely what we’re trying to find out, Madam Pei," Reeta answered pleasantly. "After all... if Lumi could stabilize someone by using another Guide’s energy, wouldn’t that be rather unusual?"