<<Unfortunately… I can’t draw it…>>

However, it turned out that Albert had quite a few tricks up his sleeve.

The next day, after Ranen got into Albert’s car, he belatedly realized that the direction they were heading seemed a bit off, as if they were driving west?

“Actually, we’re heading to Arkham University,” Albert explained sheepishly, “Your application is still at the university…”

Ranen looked at Albert in confusion. “From the text you sent me yesterday, I thought my application was with you.”

“It was,” Albert blinked, his innocent blue eyes wide, “but it still needed a stamp, so I sent it back to the university for you.”

“…? Then why not just give me the address so I could pick it up myself?”

“But if I did that,” Albert mumbled under his breath, “then I wouldn’t have an excuse to ask you out…”

The last part was barely audible, but a hint of shy awkwardness and vulnerability seeped through.

Ranen opened his mouth slightly, unsure how to respond. In the end, he pretended not to hear, turning his gaze out the window.

From Ranen’s perspective, the atmosphere was quite awkward, but Albert didn’t seem to think so. At every red light, he would quietly glance at Ranen’s profile, only to quickly turn his head back before being caught, wearing an innocent expression as if nothing had happened.

Ranen had no choice but to pretend he didn’t notice Albert’s actions, saving them both from further awkwardness.

Gradually, in the atmosphere of one sneaking glances and the other pretending not to notice, the car entered the university district.

Arkham University was a comprehensive university located in the western part of Arkham City. Most common majors could be found here. Its reputation wasn’t particularly strong, but it wasn’t weak either. However, if someone were aiming for a prestigious school, this definitely wouldn’t be their choice.

Hmm, speaking of which, since they set the background in Arkham, why didn’t they just go with Miskatonic University ^[1]Miskatonic University is a fictional university located in Arkham, named after the Miskatonic River which flows through the town. The school appears in numerous Cthulhu Mythos stories by Lovecraft … Continue reading?

Casually, Ranen asked, “Is this the only university in Arkham City?”

Albert hesitated and replied, “Yes, why?”

“Nothing.” Hearing that there was no Miskatonic University, Ranen felt a bit disappointed.

Though he had already expected it—if Miskatonic University really existed, the players would have surely blown up the forums long ago.

Unlike domestic universities, foreign universities often had more open environments without fixed walls. As soon as they entered the campus, small groups of students could be seen gathered, chatting and laughing, enjoying their carefree youth.

Ranen couldn’t help but feel a bit envious as he watched. He had long outgrown that innocent period, both in his previous life and now, and hadn’t set foot in a campus for a long time.

Albert accidentally caught a glimpse of the light in Ranen’s eyes and suddenly suggested, “Shall we get out and take a walk?”

Ranen agreed, “Sure.”

Albert parked the car in the campus parking area, and the two got out, walking side by side.

As they strolled along the shaded paths of the university campus, that nostalgic feeling became even more intense, as if they could easily be pulled into a whirlpool of memories.

However, Ranen hadn’t taken more than a few steps before nearly being surrounded by students.

“Look, that person is really good-looking!”

“Seriously, is he a TV star?”

“Hey, handsome, can I get your number?!”

Ranen hadn’t gone out for a casual walk in so long that he almost forgot the power of his “app” (appearance). Before they were completely surrounded, Albert decisively grabbed Ranen and pulled him through the crowd, running away.

“Wait, hold on!”

Unlike the environment Ranen was used to in his previous life, people here were noticeably more enthusiastic and open. Seeing Ranen trying to escape, several eager college students quickly gave chase. Albert zigzagged through the paths, almost employing counter-surveillance tactics, before finally ducking into a men’s restroom to take refuge.

“Huh, strange. They definitely ran this way, right?”

Muffled voices came from outside the restroom. Albert and Ranen were hiding in one of the stalls, standing very close to each other. It was only then that Ranen realized they were still holding hands. Instinctively, he tried to pull away, but Albert held on tighter.

“Shh—someone’s coming in.”

Albert made a silencing gesture and whispered in Ranen’s ear, “Help me press the flush button.”

Ranen nodded and pressed it.

Luckily, the people outside weren’t that persistent. Hearing the toilet flush, they assumed someone was just using the restroom and left, without checking each stall. If they had, and if Albert had made some awkward request, Ranen would’ve been at a loss for what to do.

Albert, however, had a fleeting look of regret in his eyes.

After escaping from the overly enthusiastic appearance-lovers, Albert went out and bought Ranen a mask and hat. “Sorry, I didn’t anticipate this happening and didn’t prepare ahead of time.”

“It’s clearly my fault, so don’t take the blame onto yourself,” Ranen said, taking the mask and hesitating for a few seconds. “How about we head back to the car?”

“But I want to walk around here,” Albert replied. “This is my alma mater, and it’s been a long time since I last came back.”

Ranen stared at his expression, unable to tell if Albert was being considerate or if he truly wanted to stay.

After putting on the mask and hat, the two walked out through another exit. With the mask on, their presence finally returned to a normal level. The reason it was called “normal” was because Albert himself had a striking appearance—sunny and cheerful, a type especially popular among foreigners. A few stylishly dressed students were already eyeing him, eager to strike up a conversation.

However, Albert deliberately avoided their gazes, moving a little closer to Ranen, crossing into personal space just enough for their arms to brush against each other.

Ranen looked up in confusion and noticed Albert’s slightly tense jawline. “Sorry, it’s just easier this way.”

Sure enough, after seeing how closely they walked together, many of the onlookers backed off. Perhaps it was the openness of the university environment, but they barely gave a second glance at what seemed to be a same-sex couple.

Ranen didn’t react to Albert’s closeness. Without the stares from others, he felt much more at ease and relaxed as they strolled through the campus.

Suddenly, Albert pointed to a well-manicured garden in the distance. “Do you remember that place? It’s one of our school’s most popular photo spots. In the evening, lots of couples come here for dates.”

“Oh, and over there is the classroom building. Every time we had early morning classes, we had to go there. I hated climbing all those stairs.”

Albert seemed to be trying to stir up Ranen’s own university memories, but unfortunately, Ranen had none. What had initially moved him was the overall atmosphere of being in a university again, not anything specific to this school.

Ranen tried to look in the direction Albert was pointing and recall something, but nothing came to mind—he had no memory of this place at all.

To him, it was entirely unfamiliar.

Ranen could only give an awkward laugh. “Yeah, really nostalgic.”

He remembered how he had transmigrated—apparently because the original body had died in a fire, leading to his own arrival in this world.

The location of the fire… it seemed to be at a university?

But here…

Ranen looked around. Maybe it was because several months had passed since the incident, but from the happy faces of the students around him, there was no sign that anything tragic had ever occurred.

“By the way, Albert, do you know where the fire I was in happened?”

Albert’s body tensed slightly. “Why do you ask that?”

Ranen replied, “It’s nothing much. I’m just curious about how it started. It seems like no police ever came to question me afterward. I still don’t know the full story… Albert?”

Ranen called his name several times, but Albert seemed lost in thought, only snapping back to reality when Ranen raised his voice. “Oh, I remember now. Since the investigation confirmed it was an accident, the police didn’t pursue it further.”

“The police were originally planning to come and get your statement, but I stopped them. I figured you were still recovering and didn’t need that kind of disturbance,” Albert said, scratching his head. “Do you want to visit the accident site? Although it’s been renovated now.”

Ranen nodded. “Yeah, I’d like to take a look.”

So Albert led Ranen around most of the campus, eventually arriving at the more secluded part where the lab buildings were.

“The accident happened on the fourth floor of this building. It was caused by a failed chemical experiment in the neighboring lab, which triggered a vibration. That caused the chemicals in your room to fall and react with the air, sparking a fire and an explosion. You couldn’t escape in time and were burned.”

As they climbed the stairs, Albert explained everything in detail. “It’s hard to say who was at fault. You were just there to organize equipment, completely innocent. Likewise, the neighboring lab was just unlucky. In the end, the school compensated you and paid part of your medical expenses.”

Ranen nodded. It sounded like a straightforward accident.

But why did he feel a nagging sense of unease?

When they reached the fourth floor, Ranen kept an eye on his surroundings, but to his disappointment, nothing felt familiar.

They reached a room filled with various discarded items. The room had clearly been freshly painted, with walls a different, newer color than the others. The entire fourth floor seemed to have undergone renovations, likely in response to the explosion. All the lab walls had been reinforced.

As they wandered around inside, the door to the adjacent lab opened, and a few graduate students in white lab coats looked at them in surprise. “Who are you?”

“Oh, sorry about that. We’re former students of this university and came back today to reminisce a bit,” Albert smiled and pointed at the door in front of them. “Has this place been turned into a storage room?”

“Yeah, because of the fire and explosion incident, chemicals are no longer allowed to be stored here. It’s been repurposed as a storage room,” one of the graduate students shrugged. “I heard there was some unlucky guy who got burned, and the school paid a lot in compensation.”

“I see.”

Ranen’s tense shoulders gradually relaxed. Everything matched up; it seemed he had been overthinking things.

After visiting the fire site, where nothing jogged his memory and no strange incidents occurred, Ranen felt there wasn’t much left to see. After completing the paperwork with Albert at the administrative office, they were ready to leave.

On the way back, Albert seemed oddly excited, as if suppressing a mix of nervousness and anticipation, causing Ranen to glance at him several times.

Five minutes later, the blond man suddenly stopped in his tracks. “I just remembered there’s something I need to take care of. Can you wait for me? I’ll be back soon.”

Ranen nodded indifferently, watching as Albert walked away. Just then, his phone buzzed a few times. He took it out and saw that he had received a text message from Karens.

[I’m very sorry for causing a disturbance outside your psychology clinic yesterday. I didn’t mean to say anything offensive to you.]

[However, please be cautious of that police officer. He definitely has ulterior motives.]

Ulterior motives?

Ranen remained silent for a moment. Could it be the type of ulterior motives he was thinking of?

Soon, another message arrived, and the contents made Ranen frown.

[According to my investigation, Albert has been frequenting gatherings of certain special individuals during his time as a police officer. Please be careful; his approach to you may have a hidden agenda.]

Special… gatherings?

The word “gatherings” could mean formal or informal parties in the real world, as foreigners tend to enjoy such events. But in a cosmic horror setting, it easily made Ranen think of something… less pleasant.

Just then, a cold, hard object suddenly pressed against his lower back.

“Don’t move,” a voice said in a low tone.

Ranen’s pupils instinctively constricted. He hadn’t sensed any approaching footsteps or presence.

“Turn around slowly. No funny business.”

Following the instructions, Ranen slowly turned. He couldn’t afford to gamble on whether the thing pressing into his back would fire a bullet. In this setting, getting a gun wasn’t particularly difficult.

When Ranen turned around, what greeted him wasn’t a gun or a club, but an overwhelming fragrance of flowers—

Vibrant red roses filled his vision, and the blonde man’s smile was as radiant as the June sunshine.

“I thought confessing should be done properly—with flowers,” Albert said.

Passersby noticed the commotion and stopped to watch.

Albert stood confidently, his blue eyes full of deep affection, his posture tall and unafraid of the gazes from others. Only when looking at Ranen did his eyes reveal a mix of nervousness and anticipation.

“I mean, if you’re not seeing anyone, and if you like me too… could I be your boyfriend?”

Ranen was completely caught off guard.

Flashes of today’s frequent glances from Albert, his odd emotional reactions, and those eyes filled with hope suddenly made sense.

So, this is what he’d been planning.

More and more people stopped to watch the scene unfold. Ranen sighed, locking eyes with Albert and said, “Sorry.”

The hopeful blue eyes dimmed instantly, and Albert forced a smile. “Can I ask why?”

Ranen replied, “I should be asking—why do you like me?”

“I can’t really explain it,” Albert scratched his head, “maybe it was that time in the hospital. You were wrapped in bandages, so weak…”

“Hmm?” Ranen was taken aback. The hospital room? That was recent.

“At that moment, my heart felt like it was being torn apart,” Albert said softly. “I thought, no matter what the cost, I wanted to protect you. That’s when I realized—you are the most important person in my heart.”

Ranen suddenly didn’t know how to respond. A flood of complex emotions surged within him, but it all solidified into a single, clear thought: no matter who Albert thought he liked, with the mysteries currently surrounding Ranen, it was impossible for him to be with anyone.

“I can’t accept your confession,” he said.

Albert hesitated for a moment before asking, “Is it because of Archie?”

Ranen was stunned and shook his head. “It has nothing to do with him. It’s simply because I’m not ready for a relationship right now.”

“I see,” Albert forced a smile, though it was unclear if he believed it. Then, with careful hope in his voice, the blond man asked, “If you do want a relationship in the future, could I be someone you consider?”

“We’ll talk about it when the time comes,” Ranen answered vaguely.

Seeing that there was no more excitement to watch, the crowd began to disperse. Ranen turned and started walking towards Albert’s car, but halfway there, he realized Albert hadn’t followed.

“Should I just go find a ride myself?”

“No, no,” Albert sighed in relief, following with the rejected roses still in hand. “Honestly, I was so afraid you’d walk away and never talk to me again because I confessed.”

“If you keep pushing, that’s a real possibility.”

“Then I’ll definitely show up less in front of you!” Albert immediately promised, looking at Ranen pitifully. “Just… please don’t block me. I swear, I won’t pursue you again until you show any interest. I really don’t want to ruin our friendship.”

Ranen pressed his lips together, initially determined not to meet Albert’s gaze to avoid softening his heart. But Albert shamelessly leaned closer.

He seemed very aware of his advantages, knowing exactly which part of Ranen’s preferences he could exploit.

Annoyed, Ranen pushed him away. “Then just wait.”

This isn’t a fool who blindly follows orders—he’s been tricked. This is a white-lotus-turned-black-hearted schemer!

Damn fanfiction misled him!

Albert, grinning from ear to ear, drove Ranen back. Although it wasn’t the outcome he most wanted, it certainly wasn’t the worst. As long as Ranen didn’t completely ignore him, Albert could accept it. Love was like a long march, and luckily, he was fully prepared for the journey.

In his moment of triumph, Albert even forgot to drive to the apartment and instead stopped in front of the psychology clinic.

The players who had been waiting outside the clinic for half the day finally saw Ranen getting out of the blond man’s car, walking into his clinic with a blank expression.

“Wait, what!? What’s going on?”

“Oh no, something’s happening! My ship isn’t sinking after all!”

Ranen ignored the commotion outside, closed the clinic door, leaned by the window, and after seeing Albert’s car drive away, sent a text message to Karens.

[Come over.]

At nine o’clock in the evening, Karens arrived.

“Tell me about the message you sent today,” Ranen said, resting his chin on his hand, staring at Karens with a faint smile. “It’s quite the coincidence, isn’t it? Just when I was out with Albert.”

The implication was clear—he suspected Karens. The timing of the message was too perfect.

Karens remained unfazed. “I would never dare to monitor your movements. To be precise, I’m monitoring Albert. He’s been investigating that banquet lately, and I’m worried that man might end up investigating you.”

Karens’s explanation was airtight, and Ranen nodded, accepting his reasoning.

“Additionally, I want to confirm something with you. Albert doesn’t know your identity, correct?”

“That’s right, I haven’t told him.”

“That’s good.” Karens let out a sigh of relief, then confidently reported, “That man has serious issues. Please trust me, Lord Ranen, he’s approaching you with ulterior motives.”

Ranen looked at him, slightly surprised. “I’m curious, why do you have such a strong opinion about him? Is it just because he’s trying to arrest you?”

“No, I don’t hold such a grudge against the police. If they perform their duties properly, I’d even admire them. At least then, my tax money wouldn’t all be feeding pigs.”

Karens’s words didn’t sound like those of a death row inmate who could be thrown into jail at any moment, but Ranen’s instincts as a psychologist told him that Karens wasn’t lying.

It truly was strange, considering that Karens was now the new leader of the Black Poker, the biggest criminal organization in Arkham City.

“But Albert is different. I once believed he would be a good cop, but he deceived me—he deceived everyone!” Karens’s expression twisted slightly, his eyes filled with rage. “He’s worse than those corrupt pigs. He’s the greatest threat to this city.”

Ranen’s brow twitched slightly. “What do you mean?”

Karens calmed down a little, though his expression remained grim. “It happened a few years ago, and not many people should remember it. Back then, I was just a low-level grunt in the gang, and Black Poker was nowhere near the size it is today. We had a mortal enemy back then—a gang called ‘Green Colt.’

“Due to some historical reasons, Black Poker’s territory overlapped with Green Colt’s, leading to several bloody conflicts. Fortunately for us, Green Colt was composed mostly of outsiders—people who didn’t understand or respect this city. One of them provoked a mysterious society, and their base was burned to the ground.

“Then, in a single night, Green Colt disappeared—physically vanished. Even their family members weren’t spared!”

“I was sent to scout out Green Colt’s headquarters after the incident. The police had set up a security perimeter, but I sneaked in, hiding in the shadows by the wall. That’s when I heard Albert say with my own ears:

‘Clean it up thoroughly. Leave no traces.’

Karens gritted his teeth at the memory.

Ranen’s mind wavered for a moment, suddenly sensing a second faint light appearing within the gray fog space. Unlike Edmund’s bright white light, this one was much dimmer, flickering in and out of existence.

A sudden image flashed through Ranen’s mind, as though Karens’s words were slowly painting a picture he could vaguely see.

A weak, low-level thug was being coerced by his superior to sneak into a crime scene surrounded by police to investigate what was inside. Unaware of what awaited him, he scaled the wall, only to find himself in hell.

Powerful figures he had only ever heard of lay dead on the ground, body parts and entrails scattered everywhere. Their guns and security had been utterly useless. The same people who once used violence to intimidate others were now felled by an even greater force.

The small, insignificant man who had stumbled into this scene was so terrified that he crouched in the shadows of the broken walls, covering his mouth and nose to stifle his breath, not daring to make a sound.

Then, by chance, he saw the rising star of Arkham City’s police department standing at the scene, only this time the face that once represented justice was shrouded in darkness.

That face belonged to the same blond man who had confessed to Ranen today.

Ranen didn’t dwell on the vision for long before it faded. The newly emerged white light remained faint and flickering, unstable.

Without thinking, Ranen blurted out, “Do you hate him simply, or is it because when you saw him, you were reminded of yourself—small, like an ant that could be crushed at any moment?”

Karens had never expected such a response after sharing this part of his past.

He thought Ranen would become wary of Albert, but after a moment of silence, Ranen spoke these words instead.

Those eyes, as though they had seen through everything, pierced through the facade Karens had crafted, exposing the fear and helplessness he had tried so hard to conceal.

Karens opened his mouth but couldn’t say a word.

After seeing Karens off, Ranen sat in his office, remaining motionless for a long time.

Is Albert approaching him with ulterior motives?

He hadn’t considered this possibility before, primarily because he felt there was nothing about him that would warrant such interest from another person.

Ranen reflected on the brief moments he had spent with Albert. He didn’t believe the emotions that had shone in Albert’s eyes were fake. The feeling of ‘liking’ someone was the hardest to disguise; if it was genuine, even without words, that affection would radiate from the eyes.

Moreover, if Albert wanted to get close to him, there was no need to find this particular excuse.

However, at the same time, Karens’s words were also true… That illusory little light spot that suddenly appeared in his Dream Rift, Ranen guessed that it might be something similar to faith, or something that would only appear to believers.

Edmund’s white light was very solid, while Karens’s felt somewhat illusory—perhaps because, although he claimed loyalty, he wasn’t entirely sincere?

And then there was Archie, who seemed unaware of the hidden side of Albert; otherwise, he wouldn’t have had such a dismissive attitude before.

Lost in thought, Ranen suddenly sighed. Something feels off. He had just wanted to live an ordinary life, yet it seemed that the troubles around him were only multiplying.

Maybe it is time to leave.

The thought of moving came back to Ranen’s mind. He had saved enough money, and starting fresh in a new city would be entirely feasible. Even if it was a bit tough at first, it would be better than staying here and risking his life.

However, before moving, he still needed to deal with the unknown forces targeting him. He wasn’t sure if their reach was limited to Arkham. If they could track him after moving, it would be pointless and might even put his roommate in danger.

Just then, Ogre walked in.

Ranen glanced up at him and tentatively asked, “I’ve been thinking of moving out for a while.”

Ogre looked like he’d been struck by lightning. “Was last night’s food too salty?”

“No, no!” Ranen waved his hands frantically. How could he, who only enjoyed eating, have the nerve to complain about the food? “It’s just that I’ve got some things going on recently, and I’m worried it might put you in danger…”

The more Ranen spoke, the quieter he got, because Ogre was silently staring at him, his disheveled hair barely concealing his pitiful gaze.

Like an abandoned Tibetan Mastiff.

“Never mind, forget I said anything.” Ranen raised his hands, giving in without much resistance.

What could he do? He is a dog person.

Ogre instantly brightened up. “How about seafood paella tonight?”

Ranen thought for a moment and said seriously, “Can I add a jumbo shrimp?”

“Of course.”

That night, Ranen tearfully devoured three large plates of food, silently vowing that no matter what, he would get to the bottom of the mysterious enemy forces in Arkham. At the very least, he needed to confirm they wouldn’t threaten his or Ogre’s safety.

He couldn’t live without his “male mom”!

…

Midnight.

Archie entered the Dream Rift, sitting across from the figure in black with a heavy heart.

He had been here many times before, and while not every time went smoothly, this was the first time he felt like he was betraying something by helping an evil god. It left him with an inexplicable sense of guilt.

There was also a nagging worry. From Ranen’s words, he could vaguely sense a deeper conspiracy at play, and he feared that if he uncovered too much, it might be impossible to get out.

But since he was already here, there was no turning back. Taking a deep breath, Archie braced himself for the figure’s questions.

The figure in black asked, “What is the highest mountain in the world?”

Archie paused, surprised that this wasn’t another riddle like the ones he had been getting. 

Still, he quickly answered, “Mount Everest.”

“The second question, what is the second highest mountain in the world?”

A sudden sense of unease crept up on Archie. After a moment of strained recollection, he uncertainly answered, “K2?”

“Correct, now…” The figure in black gradually revealed a sinister expression. “What are the names of the third and fourth highest mountains?”

Archie: “…”

Who on earth has time to memorize that kind of trivia??

Archie sensed something was off. Previously, the questions had all been about deduction, so why had they suddenly shifted to general knowledge? And why was the question pool changing? Still, since the quiz had already started, there was no turning back. He had no choice but to brace himself for the punishment.

After failing to answer three questions, Archie lost the function of his left ear, right eye, and nose. In exchange, the figure in black gained three new organs on his face.

Even though Archie knew the loss was only temporary, seeing the empty spots on the figure’s face slowly fill with his lost senses filled him with a strange sense of dread.

“Now it’s my turn to ask.” Archie suppressed his unease and repeated the question Ranen had asked the night before. “Who was the person who cast necromancy in Arkham two days ago?”

Upon hearing this, the figure in black paused briefly before answering, “Soren Hogg.”

As expected, the figure only answered the first question.

Archie frowned deeply, noting the slight hesitation before the answer—a reaction he hadn’t seen before. Did that mean there was something wrong with this response?

But there was no way to ask a second time. Having already lost parts of his vision, hearing, and sense of smell, he knew it was wise not to use his abilities again within the next 24 hours.

After Archie exited the Dream Rift, the figure in black touched the empty space where his heart should have been and, for the first time, spoke words unrelated to questions or answers:

“How unfortunate… I couldn’t draw it…”

Murmuring to himself, he stood up from the stone table and disappeared into the fog of the Dream Rift.

…

The next day, just after Ranen arrived at his therapy office, he received a call from Archie.

“The person you asked me to investigate—his name is Soren Hogg.”

Ranen listened in silence, but when there was no further explanation, he couldn’t help but ask, “That’s it?”

“Yes,” Archie replied, touching the eye that had lost its sight. “I only got this name last night. If you give me more time, I can try again tonight.”

“No need,” Ranen said on the other end of the line. “Knowing that is enough. You’ve done well. As a reward, I’ll offer you a piece of advice… pay more attention to Albert. You might discover something unexpected.”

Archie was taken aback. “What do you mean by that?”

Before he could finish asking, Ranen had already hung up, clearly not intending to give any further hints.

This left Archie feeling increasingly uneasy.

Albert… Why would Ranen mention Albert?

He knew his childhood friend well—a bright and cheerful person with a strong sense of justice, who had long set his sights on becoming a police officer. Albert was supposed to lead a straightforward, sunlit life.

But Ranen’s tone just now hinted that things might not be as simple as they seemed.

“Archie?”

A familiar voice called from behind, making Archie turn sharply.

“Why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?” Albert asked, eyeing him with curiosity.

“You… what are you doing here?”

When Archie had called Ranen, he had purposely chosen a quiet corner. The hallway led to an empty warehouse where no one usually passed by.

“Uh, I came to grab some tools,” Albert said. “The water dispenser in the office broke, so a few of us are trying to fix it.”

Archie stared at him, then glanced down at Albert’s empty hands. “Where are the tools?”

“Couldn’t find them. Maybe someone else borrowed them,” Albert replied casually. “You’re done with your call, right? Want to head back together?”

It was a flawless excuse, and there were no signs on Albert’s face to suggest he was lying. Nodding, Archie walked back with him toward the office. As they walked, Archie caught a glimpse of something shiny around Albert’s neck.

When did he start wearing a necklace?

“You’re curious about this, huh?” Albert asked, noticing his gaze.

Archie watched as Albert removed it. It was a necklace with a black metal pendant, a circular ring around a triangular piece in the middle. It seemed to rotate. Just as Archie was about to take a closer look, Albert quickly tucked it back. “Sorry, can’t show you. It’s from someone important.”

“Someone important? Was it Ranen, the person you met last time?”

“Yeah, you could say that.”

Albert’s smile was sweet, like anyone hopelessly in love. He seemed completely harmless, and Archie’s earlier wariness slowly faded.

Maybe Ranen was referring to something else after all. Archie clung to that small hope.

Still, just in case, he’d use that ability again in 24 hours.