Strictly speaking, this place could not be breached, as this was considered within the SS-class espers’ sphere of influence. Neither the clan nor the government could risk it.

However... Ayen was not worried about them. He was concerned if... Just what if the madmen hiding in the dark suddenly decided to come here? Or if they already had men in the city outside?

Things were developing in an unpredictable direction, so the things they had to worry about kept increasing.

"Is it possible to change... Aegi’s location?"

Ayen was hoping for this, even if it was impossible.

Now, that the town was being targeted by them, Ayen could not help but worry about the kid more.

Khal fell silent, and so was Devion.

Ayen sighed, seeing their reaction. He knew he was hoping for too much.

"I’m sorry, I just..." Ayen’s hand was grasped by Devion on his side.

"It’s impossible for now." Devion could not say for sure; in the future, it might be possible. After all, even curses... could be used.

Anomalies were also something that the humans had yet to tap into. But maybe... Those madmen knew something.

"We can’t move him yet," the two glanced at Khal, who chimed in. "But it’s possible to hide the location without Aegi wasting his energy."

"How?"

"We need to confuse their senses."

He meant the scouts that the organization might send again.

Devion’s eyes lit up in realization. Ayen was not sure what they were talking about, but if the two thought it was feasible, then he trusted their judgments.

Ayen did not ask about specifics; knowing or not would not make any difference. That was not his area of expertise.

This time, the war was given a lower priority. In the first place, the two espers did not concern themselves with this yet. That did not mean they stopped their surveillance at the development.

Ayen was not thinking about that for now. He was back in Aegi’s paradise again.

"The bad guys, are they dead?"

Aegi asked after they met again. The child witnessed what happened.

"No. We captured them."

"Oh." He looked unconcerned but relieved instead.

At times like this, Ayen saw how, despite having a human soul, Aegi was still an anomaly.

Ayen brushed his hair and looked him in the eye.

"Someone will come to you. Don’t be afraid and let them enter the town."

"How, do I know you sent them?"

Ayen smiled slightly at his tone, pleased at the child’s question.

"They will bring you snacks I made. And you’ll know."

There was no better way than this. Instead of secret messages, he preferred it to be this way. Sure enough, Aegi’s eyes lit up at the mention of snacks.

"I want to come and give it to you in person, but I have something to do."

"It’s fine, big brother. You will visit me again, right?"

Ayen nodded.

"I will. I promise."

He stayed for an hour before he left again. Devion and Khal returned to the forbidden zone for a new round of cleanups to prepare for long travel.

They might not return until the next critical season.

Ayen entered the floor where the others were. For some reason, they were complete in the living room. He quickly noticed something.

"I want to go..." Lucian was crying at the side as he spoke of this.

Nolan was comforting him, rubbing his back. Keeran stood by the side, looking worried. Georgina sat beside them, not saying anything.

Her eyes lifted and noticed Ayen first.

"What happened?" Ayen nodded at her and asked. The other soon looked at him. He walked closer to Keeran, staring at the crying Lucian.

Keeran leaned in and whispered.

"The Commander General’s injured."

Ayen’s eyes widened slightly.

How come? Arstem was among the top S-class espers; only a few could truly fight him head-on. Had the clan side had someone capable of injuring him?

Maybe there was. However, have they already dispatched them this early?

Ayen did not ask Keeran, since the other would not be able to answer anyway. He fell silent once more, watching Lucian cry. Soon, the other looked up and met Ayen’s gaze.

Ayen was not used to him crying. Other than Keeran, Lucian was the loudest in the group.

Lucian swallowed and wiped the tears in his eyes.

"Ayen," he called, "can you... help me?"

The others stiffened at this. They knew what Ayen could possibly help Lucian with. Lucian noticed their reaction, and he also knew it was excessive. But... He had no choice.

Ayen did not say anything. There was not a slight trace of displeasure in his face, and he was only waiting.

"I know, I’m not in a position to request something. But... I want to visit him. He’s... not in good condition. I need to guide him. Please, can you... ask them to help me get to the city safely?"

Lucian could not raise this request in front of Khal and Devion. He could only resort to Ayen giving a word to his espers.

Without hearing an answer, Lucian rubbed his head and lowered his gaze. Slowly he looked up again, pleading.

"Please... Ayen."

Ayen silently sat beside him, and the other quickly held his hand, something Lucian would do if he were in his right mind. Clearly, he was in a desperate situation.

Nolan and the others consciously fell silent.

"Your esper entrusts your safety with them. I don’t know if they’ll let you."

Lucian and Nolan were here because their esper wanted to hide them from the prying eyes during this war. Khal took his missions seriously.

"I know that." Lucian rubbed the space between his brows. "But I can’t just sit here knowing he’s... in a critical condition. Ayen, please... I’ll owe you, please...?"

Ayen frowned slightly.

"Critical condition?" He could not believe it.

Lucian nodded, and so did the others. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"I... they told me. That despicable clan dog used tricks." Lucian almost ground his teeth with anger.

"What tricks?"

Could it be?

"I don’t know. But they said..." Lucian paused and sniffed. "...his wounds won’t heal. Something’s weird about them."

Ayen closed his eyes and sighed.

When he opened them, his eyes automatically met Georgina’s, who nodded her head.

So, it was them again.