Chapter 387: _Time To Find The Child

Hale-Ferguson Residence

A door flickered into existence right in Ambrose’s bedroom. It swung open, the SS-Rank stepping out with a satisfied smile a second later.

"Now," The white light beaming from the other side dimmed as he took off the Black mask, "that was quite the insightful trip. Right, Aura?"

[If you’re trying to butter me up into giving you more time for the mission, it’s not happening, hon.]

"Oh, hush." Space folded, the door disappearing along with it. As the Black key and mask slipped into the system inventory, he continued. "I’m being serious. Before now I never considered how Beherath had an entire tribe waiting for him after I... y’know."

[Killed him and made him your undead general?]

"Yeah, that."

After Beherath was proclaimed king of the Mordak tribe again, Ambrose decided to leave him behind for a bit. It won’t be the same now that he was undead.

But at the very least, he hoped the orc king’s presence would bring some sense of safety to his people and family.

Plus, as king, he could literally help in smoothing out diplomatic progress.

Two birds with one stone.

"It’s just good to be home." He opened the bedroom door, his nose immediately catching the scent of something delightful. "Well, well, well. Looks like I made it just in time for dinner."

Soon enough, the cheerful laughter of Orion resounded from downstairs, filling the house with a warmth that made Ambrose stifle a laugh of his own.

Was it just him, or was he getting better with children these days?

[It’s just you, sweetheart.]

’Haha. Very funny.’ Rose rolled his eyes.

It was when he got to the first set of steps leading to the living room that he went on.

’Seriously, as someone who never imagined having kids EVER... I’m starting to like them.’ Images of the cheerful smiles on the faces of Beherath’s daughters flashed through his head.

Yes, Orion alone was... a lot to handle.

But maybe he’d be a good girl dad.

With Gabriel, Valentine and even Loki helping out, it shouldn’t be too hard raising two kids.

Just one tiny hiccup.

How the hell was he going to go about introducing a new family member?

Adoption?

Because even after all these months, he was still clueless on how exactly future Ambrose was able to create—

"Daddy, you’re back!"

He’d barely stepped into the living room when a tiny human barreled into him, wrapping those small arms around his waist.

Ambrose laughed under his breath, scooping Orion into his arms with practised ease.

"I leave for one afternoon, and suddenly you’re tackling people?"

"It’s called a hug," Orion corrected with all the seriousness only a child could manage. "Papa said hugs are healthy."

"Oh?" Ambrose glanced toward the dining room. "Then Papa’s been filling your head with dangerous information."

"I heard that." Devon’s voice drifted from the kitchen before the S-Rank himself emerged carrying an absurdly large serving platter. "Wash your hands, Rose."

"That’s your greeting?"

"My greeting is making sure nobody dies of food poisoning."

A snort escaped Gabriel from where he sat at the dining table.

Valentine, swirling a glass of juice between his fingers, didn’t even look up. "Welcome back, Rosy. Anything new?"

"Yes. I am surrounded by traitors."

"You’ve always been surrounded by traitors," Viktor replied smoothly as he set another plate onto the table. "We’re simply becoming more honest."

Laughter spread around the room.

For a brief moment... It felt impossibly normal.

Orion tugged on Ambrose’s sleeve.

"Daddy."

"Hm?"

The little boy leaned closer, lowering his voice dramatically. "I saved you chicken."

"...You what?"

"I hid the biggest piece before Uncle Gabe could eat it."

Gabriel gasped. "I’ve been framed."

"You’ve been exposed," Valentine corrected.

Orion nodded enthusiastically. "Uncle Viktor helped me."

Viktor immediately raised both hands. "I refuse to answer questions without legal representation."

Even Devon barked out a laugh at that.

Ambrose simply stood there looking around the room.

At Gabriel smiling again after everything that had happened with his father. At Valentine quietly rolling his eyes despite the corner of his lips betraying him.

At Viktor pretending complete innocence.

At Devon, who looked more relaxed than Ambrose had seen him in weeks.

Then... At Orion.

The child grinned back without a single care in the world.

"Yeah," Ambrose murmured almost to himself. "This isn’t so bad..."

★★★★★

Somewhere on Earth.

A woman’s fingers twitched beneath a pool of drying blood.

She gasped a few seconds later, chest rising and falling with heavy, strained breaths. Her eyes flickered with a white light as she slowly sat up.

"Earth." She blinked, raising a hand with an odd look of curiosity.

Like this was her first time in this body.

She studied the scene around her.

It was a hotel suite with a gorgeous view of the city below. The source of this body’s bleeding was a screwdriver driven deep into the back of her neck.

With a grunt, she reached for the weapon like it was a mere inconvenience, pulling it out. Blood rushed back into the wound, which eventually closed up.

"Ah," She sighed, getting on her feet.

The reflection on the large mirror ahead made her pause.

Long blonde hair. A white long-sleeved shirt. And a once distressed face now replaced with frightening boldness that wasn’t there originally.

DINGDONG!

"Room service!"

Her head swerved lazily to the door.

Ignoring the blood stains on her shirt, she crossed the room.

The moment she opened the door, the man waiting at the other side didn’t seem to register her condition at first.

"Good evening, Ma’am." He greeted. "Did you ask for the tea or—Jesus."

He rushed inside, eyes blown wide with horror. "M-Ma’am... you’re... you’re bleeding."

The woman blinked.

She took a quick look at herself, realising what he meant.

"Oh, the blood." A disapproving look lingered behind those cold eyes. "Such a weak meat sack. But I guess it would have to do for now."

The room service staff had just stretched his neck out of the room, hoping to call for help.

"Be quiet."

Silence.

When the man touched his face, his heart skipped a beat.

His mouth.

His mouth was... gone.

Seeing this, the woman smiled with satisfaction. The lights blinked as she walked gracefully through the hallway, ignoring the muffled cries of the man behind her.

"Time to find the child..."