Chapter 832 Rain [5]

"How...?"

The Guild Master repeated the words quietly, his expression slowly changing into a stunned one as Seth leaned forward and stared at him right in the eyes

"The loan. How much can I get?"

"....."

For a moment, the old man looked down at the paper between them. Seth’s name was still visible near the top, alongside information that took quite some time to gather.

He looked back up.

"Did you understand what I just told you?"

"Yes."

Seth’s answer came immediately.

"It’s great that we’re related. I’m really happy about that."

The Guild Master’s lips parted, but he eventually forced a thin smile.

"That’s good."

Seth nodded again, his attention briefly moving towards the folder.

"That means we’ve resolved the issue about me being an outsider. There shouldn’t be any problems with that part anymore."

His gaze returned to the old man.

"In that case, how much can you lend me?"

"....."

Rain struck the windows behind the desk.

The Guild Master remained seated, unsure of what to say.

He looked towards the paper once more, wondering whether Seth was deliberately avoiding the subject. Perhaps this was his way of expressing his anger.

That would’ve been understandable.

But when he looked at Seth’s face, he couldn’t find any anger.

There wasn’t much of anything.

Only the same small smile.

"Seth."

"Yes?"

"There are things we should discuss."

"We can discuss them."

The old man waited.

Seth waited too.

After a few seconds, he looked towards the folder again.

"Is there a form I need to sign?"

The Guild Master’s fingers curled around the knob of his cane as he took a small breath.

It was in that moment that he started to understand.

Seth wasn’t trying to upset him.

He wasn’t even looking at the papers anymore.

’It’s as if he can’t think about anything else.’

The thought left him feeling worse.

He could deal with anger. He could answer questions, explain himself, or accept whatever Seth wanted to say, but this...

The Guild Master took another breath as he looked at his grandson sitting across from him, waiting for him to answer.

Everything else seemed unable to reach him.

The old man’s grip over the knob tightened before relaxing.

Right.

He couldn’t expect to place a piece of paper on the desk and have everything turn out the way he wanted.

Perhaps this was part of the price he needed to pay.

"We can—"

"Okay. Then lend me as much as you can."

The words stopped in his throat.

Seth leaned forward slightly.

"I’ll take as much money as possible. Don’t worry. I’ll pay it back eventually."

His hands continued to rest against the armrests.

"Just lend it to me."

The Guild Master looked into his eyes.

The light from the windows reached one side of Seth’s face, but his pupils remained dark. Even when the old man shifted in his chair, Seth’s gaze barely moved.

"....."

The Guild Master drew a breath.

Then another, a little deeper.

For some reason, the first didn’t feel like enough.

That surprised him.

He spent most of his life dealing with people far more dangerous than the young man sitting in front of him.

And yet, he was struggling to converse simply with the young man before him.

Eventually, the old man nodded.

"...It will be sent to you shortly."

"Thank you."

Seth stood up.

The movement was so immediate that the Guild Master looked up at him before he could say anything else.

Seth adjusted his sleeve and pushed the chair back into place.

"I appreciate it."

He turned towards the door.

The paper remained on the desk.

The Guild Master watched him take several steps before finding his voice again

"Seth."

He stopped.

"About the BUA..."

"Tell them."

"....."

Seth’s hand settled against the door handle.

"Tell them everything if you must. To be honest, I couldn’t care less. Since I’m not actually controlled by a disease, all is good. They’ll treat me better than before."

The old man slowly straightened.

"You understand what that could mean?"

"Yes."

Seth turned his head slightly.

From start to end, he never stopped smiling.

"That’s..."

The Guild Master stopped, trying to find the words.

Seth opened the door before he could.

"I’ll be ready."

Then he left.

The door closed quietly behind him.

Clank!

For a while, the old man remained seated, looking towards the entrance.

This wasn’t how all of it was supposed to have gone. No, in his mind, everything had played out completely differently.

"Should I be happy it was this easy...?"

His attention eventually returned to the paper.

Seth returned it so neatly that it was almost in the same position as before he picked it up.

The old man reached towards it.

Then stopped.

Outside, the rain continued falling.

"I feel strangely unsettled."

***

Seth hummed quietly as the elevator descended. He looked to be in a rather good mood as he continued to hum whilst looking at the floor display, his fingers resting loosely against his side.

"I’ve got money~ Money~ Money~"

He didn’t know how much money, but he was certain he was going to be getting a lot of money.

His phone vibrated before the elevator reached the lower floors.

"Hm?"

Taking out, he looked at it. A message appeared on the screen, confirming that the transfer was being arranged.

Seth read it once.

Then again.

His smile grew slightly before he put the phone away.

The humming resumed.

Ding!

The elevator doors opened.

He stepped into the Containment Department and continued past the workstations. Several people glanced towards him, although he didn’t seem to notice.

One of them stopped speaking when Seth passed whilst another stared at him without looking away.

Seth continued humming.

"What’s so funny?"

Suddenly, he stopped.

Marcus stood beside a workstation, his jacket folded over one arm.

"You’re awfully happy after the situation you caused."

"I caused?"

Seth tilted his head.

Marcus’s brows furrowed even more tightly. Especially when he noticed the smile on Seth’s face.

For a moment, he felt something uncomfortable settle in his stomach.

It was the way Crow was looking at him.

That smile of his...

Marcus stepped closer.

"You really think this is a joke, right?"

"Ah? A joke? What is...? I’m just happy. I recently got approved for a lo?"

"I don’t care for that."

Seth blinked, his words stopping mid-sentence as Marcus’s jaw visibly tightened.

He moved close enough to press a finger against Seth’s chest as he poked it several times.

"You’re the reason everything went to shit. If we didn’t have to look out for someone like you, then—"

"Then what?"

Marcus stopped.

Seth’s head tilted a little farther.

His eyes remained on Marcus.

"....."

A few people nearby turned towards them.

Marcus barely had the time to pay attention to them as he felt Seth’s stare directed right at him. For a moment, he hesitated, part of his neck tingling. But the realisation made him even angrier as he pressed his finger harder, pushing Seth back half a step.

Seth let him, moving back with little to no resistance.

From the way he was looking at Marcus, he almost seemed amused.

"What do you mean, then what? I just..."

The words barely left his lips before he stopped.

Looking at Seth, he felt the breath leave his body. Something about the current Seth felt incredibly unsettling. Especially the dark circles beneath his eyes, which seemed even more glaring than before.

Marcus’s finger slowly stopped pressing.

"You..."

Seth blinked, and tilted his head.

"What’s up?"

His smile grew, and Marcus involuntarily shuddered. The realisation hit him quickly as he felt several people watching them now.

His face changed, but when he tried to finish what he was saying, nothing came out properly.

The longer he looked at Crow, the more difficult it became for him to look at him in the face. Something about his eyes didn’t feel... alive.

’No, I must be crazy.’

His hand lowered.

Seth’s gaze remained on him.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Then Marcus looked away.

"...Never mind."

He adjusted the jacket against his arm and turned.

His steps were a little quicker than before.

He didn’t look back.

Seth watched him leave.

The people nearby gradually returned to their work. Someone started speaking again, and a chair scraped against the floor behind him.

Still, Seth remained where he was.

His attention stayed on the empty space where Marcus disappeared.

The same smile rested on his face.

"...What a wonderful day."