"...Sell it?"
The representative repeated the words slowly, as if he had misheard them. He seemed completely taken aback by my sudden proposition.
And to be honest, I was too.
Nevertheless, since I had decided to commit, it was only right that I saw things through to the end.
"That’s right."
"....."
The group exchanged glances. The younger members behind him straightened one after another, their earlier grim expressions replaced by cautious ones.
I couldn’t blame them.
From their perspective, the value of the object had fallen, and having seen just how ’useless’ it kind of was, having someone suddenly buy it made little to no sense.
’I mean, it’s not entirely useless, but it’s also not entirely useful.’
Anyone would be suspicious.
"...May I ask why?"
The representative finally spoke, his eyes narrowing as they studied my face.
"Does the reason matter?"
"Considering who’s asking... yes, it does."
He wasn’t wrong to say that. My name carried a certain weight these days, and a lot of it was actually quite negative. Still, I was one of the most renowned Paragons in the world. If I saw something in it, then maybe...?
"I found it interesting."
"...Interesting." The representative cocked his head, his narrowed eyes scanning me from top to bottom. I kept my expression the same.
Behind me, I could hear the whispers coming from my team.
’What is he doing?’
’...Do you think he might be a compulsive buyer?’
I ignored their whispers and smiled.
"That’s all."
"....."
The representative stared at me for a long moment, searching for something in my expression.
"...Did you find something in the item?"
One of the younger members suddenly blurted out from the back, only to receive a sharp glance from the representative. The young man shut his mouth immediately, lowering his head.
Still, the question brought several stares directed my way.
I simply looked and smiled.
"Even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you~"
Eventually, the representative let out a slow breath. His hand slipped into his suit, and after a brief pause, he pulled out a small card, holding it out toward me with both hands.
"This isn’t a matter I can decide on my own. The rights belong to the Guild, and after today, there are... procedures we need to sort through first."
"I understand."
"If the higher-ups approve of it, we’ll reach out to discuss the details."
I took the card. A navy emblem of a lantern was printed at its center, with a single line of numbers beneath it.
"We’ll get in touch with you, Mr. Thorne."
The group proceeded to leave right after that. I could see that they had all grown more curious about the radio, but even if they studied it further, they probably wouldn’t find much. Especially since I myself didn’t know why I was interested in the strange little box.
’Well, I guess I’ll contact them later.’
Fiddling with the card in my hand, I was just about to turn when I heard a sudden voice.
"Are you... seriously going after..." But the words came to a stop the moment I turned, the representative pulling the member away as he hurriedly apologized to me.
My brows furrowed at the sight, but I didn’t say anything else. I then turned around to see Geneva and the others staring at me with weird looks.
I paid no mind to them as I settled my gaze on Geneva.
"Well, I guess we’re done here. Please lead the way."
*
In order to learn more about [VILE - 1048], it was important that I talk to Geneva, who seemed to be the leading expert regarding the case. It was the entire reason why I had gone all the way to Royal Chambers.
Past the main Guild, and a little bit further down the street, we were brought to a different facility.
"I’m sure you guys have this as well, but this is the Medical Ward of the Guild. It’s where... all the patients affected by anomalies stay. It’s also where The-my little brother is staying."
The Medical Ward was quieter than I had expected.
White halls, pale lights, and the faint smell of disinfectant that clung to everything. Our footsteps echoed as we followed Geneva through the corridor, and for once, nobody in the team spoke.
She hadn’t said much since we left the Annex either.
"Miss Geneva."
A nurse passing by stopped and bowed slightly. Geneva returned the gesture right away, her head dipping lower than the nurse’s.
"Miss Erin. How did your daughter’s entrance exam go?"
"Ah... she passed! Thanks to the charm you gave her."
"That was her own effort. Tell her congratulations for me."
The nurse smiled brightly before hurrying off, and we continued forward. It didn’t end there. An older doctor by the station, a young man pushing a cart, another nurse by the elevator. Geneva greeted every single one of them by name, asked about small things, and bowed each time.
’...This is also a different Geneva.’
It wasn’t the graceful smile she had shown the reporters. It was also different from the rebellious version of her that I had seen in Malovia.
It made me wonder...
Which one was the real her?
Ding!
Once took the elevator up, and the atmosphere changed. The floor we arrived at was far quieter than the ones below. There were fewer staff, and most noticeably, there was a guard seated by the entrance who stood up the moment he saw Geneva. She pressed her card against a panel, and the glass doors slid open.
"Miss Geneva. Good timing."
A middle-aged doctor approached from down the hall, a clipboard tucked under his arm.
"Doctor Keller."
Geneva bowed once more.
"How is he?"
"Stable, as always. His results came back clean again this week." The doctor paused for a brief moment, flipping a page. "Though... his heart rate has gotten a little lower this month. Nothing alarming. We’ll keep monitoring it."
"....."
Geneva didn’t reply immediately. Her expression didn’t change much either, but I noticed her hand tighten slightly by her side.
"...I see. Thank you, as always."
"Of course. Ah, the head physician looked in on him this morning as well. We’ve tried our best to preserve the muscle tissue, but with such a prolonged stay in bed, all we can do is slow down the degradation."
"Please thank him for me."
With a final bow, the doctor left, and Geneva led us to the end of the hall.
The door there was like the others. It was plain and white, with a small metal plate on its side. No name was written on it.
Just a number.
’...Like the doors back at the Annex.’
Geneva opened it quietly, and we stepped inside.
The room was larger than a normal patient’s room, with sunlight pouring in through a wide window. It was warm and tidy, with a shelf lined with books standing against one wall, alongside a small potted plant that had clearly been watered recently. If not for the bed in the center, it would’ve been hard to call this a hospital room at all.
There were barely any machines. Just a single monitor beside the bed, its screen dark.
And on the bed, a boy was sleeping.
He couldn’t have been older than thirteen or fourteen. Short blonde hair, the same shade as his sister’s, rested against the pillow, and his chest rose and fell with slow, steady breaths. His complexion was slightly pale, but he otherwise looked quite healthy.
If nobody had told me anything, I would’ve assumed he was simply napping.
My gaze drifted to the nightstand. All I saw was a single book.
There was no illustration on the cover.
’.....’
For some reason, my eyes lingered on the book. Something about it bothered me, but I couldn’t tell what.
"I’m back."
Geneva’s voice pulled my attention away. She walked over to the bed, and gently fixed the blanket over the boy’s shoulders.
"Sorry it took a few days. Work’s been... well, you know how it is."
Her voice was soft. Softer than I had ever heard it.
"I brought guests today. A lot of them, so don’t be startled when you wake up." She brushed a strand of hair from his forehead before gesturing toward us. "This is Seth. Yes, that one from the news. He’s a lot less scary than they say. Probably."
"....."
Probably?
What?
"Well, he can be quite scary."
"Yup, I agree."
No, don’t agree with her.
I turned to look at my team members, who immediately looked away.
"Everyone."
Geneva turned to us.
"This is Theo. My little brother."
She looked at him for a moment longer. Then, pulling a chair from the corner, she sat down beside the bed, facing us. Her hand reached into her pocket, taking out the packet of gum, but she didn’t open it. She simply turned it between her fingers, over and over.
"Right, it’s time to fill you in, then."
Her eyes lifted toward us.
"I’ll... tell you all about VILE - 1048."