Chapter 158: _Not A Fan Of Change

Phoenix Flight HQ

In the lobby, every available Guild member gathered, buzzing close to the main entrance. There was a makeshift elevated stage in that direction and the Guild master was already waiting.

Ambrose and Devon joined the crowd—most giving way for them when they saw the S-Rank. Ambrose kept his chin high, although he avoided any eyes that cut him as much as a glance.

Hunters were annoyingly perceptible pricks. He couldn’t afford someone sniffing him out as a suspect in this whole charade.

"Alright!" Guild master Magnus boomed, bringing silence to the lobby. His sharp golden-red eyes scoured the place before he went on. "I’m going to make this as brief as possible. As you’re all aware by now—there was an attack. On four of our Hunters. Right here in this Guild."

Someone whispered behind Ambrose just then. "I heard the guys were so traumatised that they screamed repeatedly even while the nurses were dragging them out."

"Damn, that sounds scary." Another added. "I wonder what they did to attract the attention of someone so terrifying."

"I know right?"

Ambrose turned his attention back to the Guild master when the whispering ceased.

"... Before now there have been a series of other concerning events happening in this Guild," Magnus’ tone became more serious. "From a break-in at the suite of one of our... Guides. And then the suspect behind said break-in exploding and taking out most of our Guild’s executive floor."

Ambrose stiffened when the man’s eyes met his. Just for a second—but long enough to make him feel like he was cornered.

He lowered his head, his fingers digging into his palms. Fortunately, Magnus didn’t linger.

"From now on there will be stricter security measures in place. Nine pm is the curfew in all suites. Unnegotiable. Security personnel will also be assigned to every floor, making sure this rule is followed."

Gasps rippled through the crowd in limited numbers. Ambrose couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Curfew?

What was this? Middle school?

"But sir?" A voice was brave enough to pierce through the chaos. "What about the perpetrator? What’s the point of the curfew if we aren’t even sure who they are? Or if they’re even from this Guild?"

Someone else also dared to chime in. "Yeah! What if they’re from a rival Guild?"

"Glacier Talon! It has to be one of theirs—there were traces of frost in the training hall."

"What if it was Viktor Morozov himself?"

And just like that, another round of murmurings resounded through the lobby. Magnus’ brows creased but he let the talk go on.

Once it had started dying down, he shook his head. "I am highly positive that this had nothing to do with Glacier Talon." He let the words sink in. "Someone in this Guild either sent another Hunter to do their dirty work. Or did it themselves. Whichever it is, it only points at an internal rot that must be quelled before it spreads."

He didn’t bother elaborating, but rather gave a dismissive wave. "The curfew begins tomorrow. Ready yourselves if you’re still too stubborn to accept it. And if not..." he drawled. "Then you might as well live outside."

With that, he strode down the steps on the stage, his posture straight as an arrow.

Slowly, people began departing, either walking to a corner to gossip with their respective cliques or heading back to their suites.

"Big yikes." Devon whistled. "I haven’t seen the old man that mad since Viktor and I wrecked one of his cars during college."

Ambrose didn’t say anything.

All he could think about now was how the Guild was going to lock down because of him. Of course, he barely gave a fuck about the other people it affected.

But for himself though?

Curfew meant he wouldn’t be able to carry out system missions that required him to be out at night. The black key for example.

That thing could randomly teleport him for a special daily quest at any time. To make things worse it could even blip him outside the Guild like it did last time.

How would he navigate that if it were past curfew? Not to mention there was that footage of him walking out of the lobby bathroom without any time stamps of him going in.

He still didn’t know who sent that to him. But it sure was a sign that he had to be more careful. Stealthy.

"That’s more silence than usual." Devon’s voice interrupted his thoughts before he could go full 007 mode. "Why do you look so worried?"

The suspicious edge in his words wasn’t even hidden. Ambrose snapped his neck away from the Esper, shaking his head once.

"It’s—"

"Nothing?" Devon completed the sentence with a wry smile. "Yeah. As always. Even though it’s clearly about something."

Ambrose could feel the frustration clawing up his chest. He was so close to doing one of two things. Either tell Devon he didn’t have the mental energy for this. Or keep being silent and pretend like there was nothing wrong.

But as he stared into those golden orbs, he knew he couldn’t keep his thoughts hidden for long. At least, not all of them anyway.

"Devon," he caught the S-Rank’s elbow, pulling closer to him after glancing around, "this Guild... It’s no longer safe for us. For our son."

The latter’s expression fell.

Because he knew damn well that Ambrose was right.

"I know." He blurted out loud. "But... What do you suggest we do? I’ve lived here for years. It’s been my home for so long that I never bothered getting somewhere I could actually call that."

Ambrose’s stomach churned.

Truth be told, he wasn’t a big fan of change. And what he was about to suggest was a LOT of change to be considered.

Yet he knew they had to.

His hands trailed to Devon’s, clutching gently. "It’s not too late to find a new place." He let out the dreaded words. "Whether an apartment or somewhere comfortable enough to raise a kid together. Without the drama. I’ve got savings for a time like this."

By ’savings’ he mostly meant the money that the past Ambrose kept. He hasn’t really saved a lot since he transmigrated.

Devon stared at him for a few long seconds, like he was genuinely trying to picture the idea in his head.

A home.

Not a Guild suite. Not separate rooms connected by hallways and danger. Something real.

His thumb brushed against Ambrose’s knuckles absentmindedly. "You make it sound easy."

"It won’t be," Ambrose admitted immediately. "But this place is becoming a magnet for chaos."

"No arguments there." Devon sighed, dragging a hand through his fiery red hair. "Still... house hunting? While trying to take Orion to school every morning?" He laughed tiredly. "Rose, I barely even know what normal parenting looks like yet."

Ambrose softened just slightly.

Neither did he.

Devon continued before silence could stretch too much. "And with my schedule? Raids, meetings, Guild responsibilities..." his lips twisted. "I don’t even know where we’d start."

"Somewhere far from this Guild would be nice," Ambrose muttered. "Preferably somewhere that doesn’t explode every three business days."

That earned a snort from the Esper. "Fair point."

For a moment they simply stood there while the crowd around them slowly thinned out. Hunters walked past in clusters, whispering about the attack and the new curfew rules.

Yet somehow Ambrose only focused on Devon. On the exhaustion hidden underneath those golden eyes.

Eventually, the S-Rank inhaled deeply.

"Alright." He nodded once. "We’ll do it."

Ambrose blinked.

"We’ll go house hunting." Devon clarified, shoulders easing slightly. "Maybe after dropping Orion at school tomorrow. If we’re serious about keeping him safe then staying here isn’t helping."

Something strange fluttered in Ambrose’s chest.

Relief maybe.

Or perhaps the terrifying realisation that this was all becoming increasingly real.

A family. A home. Domesticity.

God, when did his life turn into a slice of life novel?

"Okay." He managed quietly.

Soon enough they began walking toward the elevators. At first, neither spoke. Their footsteps echoed softly against the marble floors while Guild members continued dispersing around them.

Then suddenly—warmth brushed against Ambrose’s fingers.

His breath caught.

Devon had slipped his hand into his. Like it belonged there.

The Guide didn’t pull away.

From a distant corner of the lobby, Han Jae-won watched the scene unfold in complete silence.

And although his face remained calm, his eyes glinted with a murderous light.

★★★★★

By the time Ambrose got back to his suite, the emotional exhaustion from the day weighed heavily on him. Devon lingered outside his door briefly before stepping back.

"I’ll give you space for tonight." The Esper murmured.

Ambrose only nodded once before entering.

The suite felt unusually quiet.

Which was good.

He needed that.

After locking the door behind himself, he headed straight for the sofa and summoned the system interface. The glowing screen flickered alive before him.

[Mystery Box Available.]

His pulse quickened slightly.

"Please don’t be something useless," he muttered.

With one mental command, the box opened.

A bright blue light burst across the room.

Ambrose’s expression froze instantly. Then his eyes widened.

"Uhm... What the fuck?"