Both Devion and Khal became more intrigued after hearing this. The two exchanged glances slightly and nodded.

Calson and Farrah remained silent. Calson was determined to let Farrah report until the end, much to her dismay. No matter what. Reporting to Khal, even though she did it so many times, still made her insides twist in anxiety.

"Curse, hmm..." Khal became lost in thought for a moment. Eventually, he looked up again. "Gather more names here where they became obsessed with something before they left the institute. It’s not just the institute... everywhere. Even the clan’s side."

This would be harder, but not impossible.

Farrah solemnly affirmed. Calson was the same.

They talked for a while before he dismissed the two. Finding that organization, if there was indeed any, would be hard without any clues.

Aicel was one, but he had not made contact with the core members either.

"I can’t believe some kind of lunatics are hiding from our noses this whole time," Devion sighed.

He was not one to care about the affairs of organizations, but the way this organization was moving was alarming.

They had a purpose. Just their idea to use the corrupted abilities of curses was enough to put them as the number one threat to humanity besides monsters.

"We’re not omniscient. There’s a lot that we don’t know."

Khal already had a group under him, and this was the first time he focused on this. Given that he was more involved in the curses in the past few years.

"I know that. But it still sucks." Devion propped his chin and stared at Khal.

The two stared at each other.

"Are we taking action against the Nevaris?"

Taking action against them had more to do with Ayen, and this was the only clan they had justification to do something about. The war was going on, but the human rule had yet to collapse; even they could not just move without that.

In that clan, there should be another Aicel. There had to be. Other clans and even the governments definitely had one, but for now, the Nevaris clan would be their focus.

"Yes. I already tasked them to intercept every movement of the clan."

This was not only in the combat, but also on the financial side. Khal was not just a powerhouse but also a tycoon. Drafting some sanctions, even not full force, would paralyze some of their businesses.

This world did not only need power but also money. It was just that the more powerful you were, the easier it was to earn money.

Khal was targeting both.

They lingered there for a while before they decided to return to Ayen’s side.

Meanwhile, on Ayen’s side, Keeran was currently holding the adorable Aegi, who was already looking pitifully at Ayen. Keeran was bombarding him with kisses.

In the end, Ayen finally put an end to his misery and took him from Keeran’s arm. Aegi quickly hugged Ayen, unable to let go. Keeran pouted, looking disappointed and reluctant.

"Seriously, can you let big sister give a few more kisses? "

Aegi shut his eyes and shook his head. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Ayen looked at her. Keeran sighed and could only stop.

"I just missed my niece. She’s only this old when I last saw her."

He knew that Keeran still had an older brother, but had not seen him after she started being a field guide.

"You kissed him enough." Ayen rubbed Aegi’s back and made him sit in his lap. "I brought you food," he gently said after a while, and took a small storage space where only food can be stored.

As he promised Aegi, he would visit him often so as not to make him feel less lonely.

Keeran fell silent and watched them, especially Ayen, who was now putting the fresh meal that Devion cooked and some he personally prepared on the table.

The kid’s eyes glittered immediately at the side. Although his mom cooked for him back at the city... they were, after all, not real in some sense.

"You look fond of him," Keeran commented after a while and helped arrange the food on the table.

Ayen did not deny.

"Yes. I am."

Keeran automatically smiled at the answer.

Ayen thought Keeran would tease him, but she did not.

While they helped Aegi eat, the little one suddenly brought up something that made Ayen frown. Keeran looked at him, confused.

"You said... a group of people arrived in the vicinity of the town?"

Aegi nodded innocently, but he paused and looked at Ayen.

"I... they look scary. I feel, strange. So, I hid."

Ayen nodded at that. "You did great. As I told you, don’t let others enter the town."

Aegi was an anomaly... a very unique one even among the anomalies. Only those with a great sense up to par with an SS-class esper or guide could see it.

The problem was the mana disturbance. Most with higher senses would sense something was wrong and would surely investigate even if the town did not appear.

"What town?" Keeran exclaimed after being confused, but then she added. "Oh, if it’s a sensitive issue, you don’t have to answer."

A mere D-class guide like her could not possibly know confidential matters.

"It’s Aegi’s hometown," Ayen answered her. He then turned to Aegi again. "Are they still there?"

Aegi nodded. "They are." He paused, formulating his words. "Uhm, they... seem to know."

"Know?" Ayen’s brow creased at that.

Aegi became nervous.

"I heard, some words. They said..."

The place where the town should have been was nowhere to be found.

"Is this the real route?"

"Goddamit, Troy. Stop being skeptical; Paula knows what she’s doing."

Troy rolled his eyes.

"We’ve been here for five days! We’re going in circles. Tell me, is Paula still doing a good job?"

The man immediately frowned at the tone, as he was about to fight Troy, when someone intervened.

"Can you shut the fuck up? We’re on an important mission sent by the headquarters. Stop acting like children for once!" Her voice resounded in the group, and all six members flinched.

The others glared at the two men, and even Paula sighed at the side.

"Troy started it."

"Now, blaming me?"

"Then who should I blame—mhmh?" The words get stuck in his mouth; both men feel their throats contract, and their lips seem to become glued to each other.

Before their eyes bulged, the contractions of their throats stopped, but their lips remained tight.

"If you don’t want to be quiet, I’ll make you." The woman stared at them for a moment, and the two felt their alarm bells tingle and lowered their gazes.

The others suppressed their desire to laugh at their misfortune, but they did not want to be subjected to the same punishment. It was uncomfortable.

Once everyone was quiet. The woman turned to Paula.

"Why isn’t the town here?"