When the holographic projection stabilized, it showed a figure seated in what appeared to be an elegant study. The 3D rendering was intentionally degraded, making it impossible to distinguish specific features. But Ethan would know that silhouette very well.

The way the older man held his nutrient solution, the slight tilt of his head as he regarded Ethan with amusement.

"Master?" Ethan’s voice changed into that of respect.

The young master’s rant cut off abruptly. His holographic projection flickered as his eyes widened, darting between Ethan and the obscured image of the other call.

For once in his privileged life, he seemed to understand and hate to admit that he was still lacking. The holographic projection minimized itself to a small corner of Ethan’s visual field, the young master’s face pale and silent.

The older man, Ethan’s one and only master, took a leisurely sip of his nutrient solution. Ethan noticed that the pouch was unbranded. It was probably something the older man made himself. Even though the silhouette was unassuming at one glance, you couldn’t slight the older man based on his demeanor.

"Good day, child."

The voice that emerged from the holographic projection was obviously rigged. It should’ve been running through modulators that made it impossible for one to identify. But the cultured accent underneath remained—educated, refined, and dangerous.

"I see you’re having difficulties with our young friend."

As expected, the old man already knew.

Ethan glanced at the minimized holographic projection of the young master, who looked like he wanted to simultaneously flee and defend himself. The expression reminded Ethan of a pet that had been caught making a mess—guilty and defiant at the same time.

"Nothing that I can’t handle," Ethan replied, though his tone suggested otherwise.

Then he pointed the topic back to the source of his frustration. "Though I have a question. Why do we need to continue to rely on such an... unstable element?"

Ethan could see the young master in the corner of his eye, trembling and indignant for the blatant insult. However, what could he do about it? He needed us more than we needed him.

"Careful with your wording, child," his master said, the word was soft and doting, but based on his tone, he was definitely sending him a warning. "We all have our roles to play. Things that have more value than... competence."

"Value that’s being squandered," Ethan countered and thought, I wonder how long this young man even holds to that value?

He caught his reflection in the window again, saw the bitter twist of his own mouth.

When had he become this? When had he become someone who only listened to someone’s words? Should he change his plans now?

He already knew his answer to these questions, but he couldn’t help but still ask them from time to time. Then he glanced at his master, who was still calmly looking at them, and taking his time to answer.

"Perhaps. But child, comfort has never been a priority in our line of work."

His master’s holographic projection moved, leaning forward slightly. Even through the degraded image, Ethan could feel the intensity of that gaze.

"Remember that in chess, even queens can be sacrificed for the right advantage."

Ethan looked out the window again, watching a military vehicle passing through above the mansion, its running lights blinking in the darkness. This place might’ve been obscured from society, but it was not on the list of places to ’search’.

He could help but think that somewhere out there, Neville was probably still at Maxwell Corporation, still working beside that lying bastard.

The thought of the men that Neville would encounter and accumulate over the time they were separated like this made Ethan’s fingers curl into fists. But when Ethan glanced at his master, he was forced to make a choice.

Ethan sighed, the sound heavy with resignation.

"I admit that I don’t like this at all, but for master," Ethan said word for word, careful and determined, "I’ll retreat for now."

He could feel his master’s approval even through the degraded connection. "But I need to get this straight with the young master. The recent failures have made him sloppy and reckless. If he continues like this, he’ll draw too much attention."

"I agree with that," his master agreed. The holographic projection showed him throwing his with deliberate care. "How’s your research?"

"Progress is steady," he reported. "Though there have been... unexpected variables." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Variables?" That piqued his master’s interest.

Neville’s face flashed through Ethan’s mind.

"Nothing I can’t manage," Ethan said, perhaps too quickly.

His master was silent for a long moment. Then, said, "I see. Just be careful."

"I am," Ethan replied stiffly.

Another pause, another sense of hidden amusement from the obscured figure. "Of course you are."

Before Ethan could respond, his master continued, "The plan remains unchanged. Ensure our pieces are in position."

"Understood."

"And child?" Ethan looked at his master in askance. "Don’t be too harsh on him. We still need him to sit on the top."

His master saying it like this out in the open made him sure that his master was indirectly scolding the young master, too. Still, getting told to retrain again and again made him want to lash out.

He knew that his master also knew about this side of him. No matter how incompetent, how dangerous, how utterly useless the young master proved himself to be, they still needed him.

They needed him as the perfect puppet because no one would suspect a fool of being dangerous. He doubted that even though the young master was listening in, he knew their plans to make him a puppet.

Ethan frowned, forcibly pulling at the corners of his mouth to make it believable. He respectfully replied to his master. "I’ll make sure he will."

"I know you will." The holographic projection raised a hand in what might have been a benediction or a dismissal.

The connection severed with a soft chime, leaving Ethan alone with the considerably less intimidating presence of the young master’s holographic projection, which immediately expanded back to full size.

"You—" the young master started, his earlier bravado returning now that the real power in the room had departed. "How dare you ignore me for so long?!"

"I apologize about that," Ethan said simply, turning away from the window to fix the holographic projection with a blank expression.

"But for now," Ethan continued, his voice dropping into a register that brooked no argument, "you’re going to shut up and listen very carefully to what I’m about to tell you."

The young master’s face had gone pale again.

"You’ve already done enough damage. So from now on, every move you make gets cleared through me first. Are we clear?"

The young master gritted his teeth but didn’t answer.

Ethan just took the silence as a yes and flashed a thin smile. "Now, get some rest. You look terrible, and we can’t have you appearing weak in front of the council."

He ended the call without waiting for a response, and the holographic projection blinked out of existence. Silence rushed in to fill the space. Ethan stood there for a long moment, feeling the weight of the evening settle onto his shoulders.

His light brain chirped softly.

It was the surveillance camera that he left in the dormitory to monitor Neville. It was the one in the parking lot that only detects Neville’s face. What caught Ethan’s attention was not Neville but the man beside him.

It wasn’t Grayson.

Seriously now? Just because he hadn’t been around, he had already replaced Grayson with another? If that was the case, why didn’t he just throw himself toward him? That way, he wouldn’t choose his master over him?

"Damn," Ethan muttered, pressing his palms against his eyes. "When did I become so pathetic?"

Ethan looked at the gap in his fingers and saw the shelf filled with his prized specimens. Three of which came from Neville.

It was such a shame that the research lab was ransacked, but it was still a good thing that he managed to take a few things with him.

He took the vial of Neville’s blood from the shelf and lifted it high. The blood moved around, and the light refracted interestingly.

"Although our meeting was short," Ethan murmured to the empty room. "But dealing with you has been the happiest I’ve been."

That was fun, wasn’t it, Neville?

Ethan wished for them to interact just like two men with quick minds and sharp tongues. Enjoying the simple pleasure of a good argument over something nonsensical. He wished for Neville to have a piece of him to look at, like he was doing right now.

"So survive until then, Neville," Ethan said softly to the image on his screen. "Survive all of this—Survive from me."

Then, Ethan’s expression contorted in pure twisted bliss, and he felt the coldness in his gut. The sensation made him chuckle and then laugh until it finally turned into a cynical laugh—a laugh of someone who was finally broken beyond repair.

Thinking of a future where maybe—just maybe—there was a path that didn’t end in betrayal.