Chapter 52: Isn’t he in prison?

Late at night, inside City M’s most famous nightclub, Sylvia Wales sat across from her younger brother, Ryan Wales, whom she had not seen in the past several months.

It was the time when most civilians—along with off-duty Awakened—had already fallen asleep, yet the nightlife of City M was only just coming alive.

Sylvia clicked her tongue in regret as she recounted the incident that had occurred near the Association while Ryan was busy.

She explained how, despite sensing a pure source of power within the Dungeon, she had failed to uncover anything in the end.

"The Dungeon disappeared afterward, and the only people who knew what happened were of no help. Yet, I just can’t shake the feeling that I missed something important."

She picked up her wine glass and took a small sip with a sigh. Only then did she notice the change in Ryan’s expression.

His expression had turned ugly.

Sylvia let out a sneer. Not surprised. After all, they didn’t like each other that much.

"Hah, if you don’t want to listen to me ramble, leave. There is no need to make that face. It’s getting on my nerves."

Ryan rubbed his temples. He was tall, with dark hair like Sylvia’s, and dark brown eyes that resembled their father’s. Sylvia was the only one in their family who was born with blue eyes similar to their mother’s, but after she lost her sight, they lost their sea color.

Now, her eyes were gray.

"It’s not that."

Sylvia leaned back in her seat.

"Then what the hell is it? You only make that kind of face when you are irritated."

Yet, instead of answering, Ryan poured himself a glass of wine and downed it.

Then, he stared at her and asked.

"Sylvia... What was the name of the blind Esper who fell into the Dungeon again?"

Sylvia looked confused but answered.

"It was Zephyr something..."

Repeating the name once again, Sylvia suddenly froze as she finally understood what Ryan was trying to imply. Her gray eyes widened as she looked at him.

"No, impossible. Isn’t he in prison?"

Ryan chuckled at her reaction.

He wiped his face and smiled at her.

"I get it why you failed to recognize him. You never saw his face. But don’t forget that we had another brother in the family records before. And what a coincidence that this Esper happens to be blind too."

His voice was filled with disdain.

"I have not checked on that useless guy since I heard about the Dungeon Break in the prison that nearly killed every prisoner. I thought he had died and that we had finally gotten rid of that idiot since no one reached out to me about him, but it seems he not only survived... he even awakened as an Esper."

Sylvia’s grip tightened around her wine glass. Thinking about the Esper who had helped restore her eyesight by taking that person’s eyes, her expression darkened.

"How are you so sure it’s the same Zephyr?"

Ryan stood up with a quiet laugh.

"Because I don’t believe in coincidences."

He picked up his suit jacket and quickly slipped it on, muttering under his breath.

"I’ll check on him soon. He’s no longer a member of the Wales family. It would be a pain if that idiot came crawling back. Who knows how he even got out of prison."

He paused, then glanced back at her.

"And don’t tell our parents. I already told them he died during the Dungeon Break."

Watching Ryan leave, Sylvia downed the remaining wine in her glass with a curse.

Now, she finally understood why she had felt such inexplicable displeasure when she first met Zephyr at the Association. He had even asked her if the world was beautiful.

Recalling that, Sylvia clenched her teeth.

"The audacity of him... He knew!"

If she had a choice, she would never want to see that younger brother of hers again.

She had only seen his face when he was a newborn—then she suddenly lost her eyes.

To Sylvia, Zephyr, that halfwit, had always been nothing but a harbinger of bad luck.

She had always disliked him.

Her mother and father were the same.

When he was sent to prison by their parents, she had actually felt relieved.

***

Early the next morning, the Association’s heads, who had barely slept after receiving the shocking report that Erick—their best S-Rank Esper—had suddenly threatened to leave the Association, gathered uneasily in the meeting room where Erick was waiting.

The meeting hall was on the topmost floor of the Association building in City M, where the Association’s main branch was located.

It was reserved for discussing only the most serious matters, and they rarely came here. Yet today, Erick had summoned them all there without offering any explanation.

Watching the three old men and a white haired middle-aged woman in expensive attire sit nervously around the table, Erick said nothing. He let the four heads drink some water and settle their nerves. Only after they had calmed down did he place his hand on the table and knock against it.

"Just tell me—whose idea was it to send Zephyr to the Research Lab?"

The four elderly heads of the Association trembled, beads of sweat forming on their temples. None of them was an Awakened.

They worked for the government.

After all, the Association was a government-run institution.

Seven years ago, they had been nothing more than politicians who recognized the enormous opportunities presented by the emergence of Dungeons and Awakens.

While others were still struggling to adapt, they had used their influence to get funding and establish the Awakened Association, placing themselves in positions of power.

Only after taking their positions did they realize how demanding the job truly was.

Especially controlling powerful Espers!

Worse, most of the wealth the Association obtained from Dungeons had to be handed over to the government. Even so, they had managed to find many loopholes over the past seven years to line their own pockets.