This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange - Chapter 796: 796: Sister or Snake

Chapter 796: Chapter 796: Sister or Snake

The silence that followed hit like a thrown stone through glass.

The director’s hand froze halfway to his cup. Bridge blinked, then sat forward so fast his chair scraped. “What?”

“She’s alive,” Kain said. “I saw her. Spoke with her.”

Emotion crashed across their faces: shock, joy, grief tangled into one. The director closed his eyes for a moment, lips moving soundlessly before he found words. “My niece… after all these years…”

Bridge shot to his feet. “Where is she? Why didn’t you bring her? We have to—”

“No.” Kain’s word struck like cold water. “You can’t meet her.”

That stopped them. Bridge’s jaw dropped. “What do you mean ‘can’t’? Kain, it’s Airalai! We thought she was dead! The nearly half of the orphanage—she—she raised us before she even left. And you’re saying—”

“I’m saying,” Kain interrupted, voice iron, “that she is dangerous. That whatever person you remember isn’t the same one standing in front of me now. She’s aligned with a group I’ve crossed paths with before. They’re the ones responsible for kidnappings, for experiments. For Cherry’s disappearance and Gabriel’s torment.”

The director’s knuckles whitened around his cup. Bridge’s face flushed red. “You’re wrong. You have to be. She would never—”

“She would,” Kain said. His tone left no room for argument. “Or at least, she already has. Whether willingly or not, she’s been with them for a decade. And she’s very, very good at lying about it.”

The director’s voice was rough. “What proof do you have?”

Kain looked between them. “Enough. More than enough. And if she sees you—Director—she’ll notice immediately. Your spiritual power. You’re red-grade now. Your spiritual power is almost completely orange, making you nearly equivalent to a three-star beast tamer. An ordinary man past awakening age doesn’t just… change. She’ll report it. And then the people behind her will want to know how. And if that happens, it won’t end with suspicion. They’ll tear you apart piece by piece to find the answer.”

He didn’t stop there. His gaze hardened further. “And Gabriel… if she sees him, we’re finished. He’s only twelve. Too young. Even Serena, with her freakish talent, awakened at sixteen. The founders themselves, who one would argue were the peak of human talent, were in their late teens. Never in history has someone awakened at his age. If Airalai realizes he’s already red-grade, she’ll likely investigate him. She’ll find that he was originally one of their experiments before being rescued by me—and she’ll assume they succeeded. That they found the key to awakening ordinary people. She’ll drag him back into their hands without a second thought, thinking she’s recovering their greatest achievement. And if she can’t drag him back, they’ll come here. For him. For all of us.”

Bridge’s protest died in his throat. He stared at Kain, then at the director, then back. “So what, you want us to just ignore her? Pretend she doesn’t exist? After everything?”

“Yes,” Kain said flatly. “If that keeps this family safe, then yes. At least for now.”

Bridge slammed his massive palm onto the table. It was a testament to the superb craftsmanship of the wood that it didn’t just crumble under the heavy blow form him. “That’s insane! She’s our sister!”

“And I’m telling you she’s not the same sister anymore!” Kain snapped back. “Do you think I wanted this? Do you think it didn’t tear me up to sit across from her and listen to her lie with a smile so perfect I almost believed it? If I didn’t know better, I’d have brought her home myself. But I do know better. And if you let her near this orphanage, you’ll be signing everyone’s death warrants.”

The director exhaled slowly. He looked older in the lamplight, lined with memories. For a long time he said nothing, while Bridge fumed beside him.

Finally, he spoke. “Kain is right.”

Bridge whirled on him. “What? You of all people—she’s your niece!”

The director’s gaze was heavy. “And you are also all my children now. I took responsibility for you all. And that is why I will not risk the other children for her. I’ve lost her once already. Better that pain than to lose all of you to whatever shadow she drags behind her now.”

Bridge’s fists trembled at his sides. He looked between them, hurt written clear across his face. But the director reached over and put a steadying hand on his arm. “You don’t have to like it. Neither do I. But Kain has earned my trust a hundred times over. If he says she’s dangerous, then she is.”

The fight drained out of Bridge, though resentment lingered in his eyes. He sank back into his chair with a sharp exhale. “Fine. But if there’s even a chance she’s still herself and you misunderstood—”

Kain cut him off, softer now. “Then I’ll investigate and apologize for misunderstanding her. But until then, I am not willing to risk it all. Not you. Not the others.”

The director nodded once. “Then we’re agreed.”

For a while they sat in silence, the only sound the crackle of the lantern wick. The weight of Airalai’s name still hung in the air, heavier than the night pressing at the windows.

Finally, Kain rose. He looked between them gravely. “There’s one more thing. We need to set strict protocols. For now, none of the children should be leaving the grounds unattended. If they need to go out, they must be accompanied by Bridge or myself, and never alone. Be wary of strangers approaching any of you out of the blue.” His gaze shifted. “Director, you and Gabriel should also remain within the property until I can figure out a way to conceal your spiritual power levels. If Airalai or anyone connected to her senses either of you, it will raise suspicions we cannot afford.”

The director’s mouth tightened, but he inclined his head. “Understood.”

Kain’s hand curled at his side. “I’ll figure out the rest. For now, keep the children close. I’ll handle Airalai.”

Bridge’s eyes burned across the table. “You’d better,” he muttered.

Kain met his gaze without flinching. “I will.”

The night wore on, and the house quieted. But for Kain, sleep would not come easy. His sister was back—and with her, the shadow of the Black Dawn behind her now loomed closer than ever.