Xero woke up to find himself in a room. It was relatively small. He wasn’t sure this was place was in the hospital.
Wait why had he thought of the hospital? Damn. He was in the portal some moments ago. When did he get here? What of the voice he had heard?
He lifted his head up and stared around the room to notice he had been laying on a luxurious seat. The body was extremely foamy just how he liked it.
"Where am I?" He muttered lightly as he stared around the room, or sorry an office.
At the other end of the office was a long desk two seats lay behind it while a larger seat lay in the front.
Just at the edge of the desk, a desk sign read ’Year Four General’.
"What the hell? What am I doing in this place? I don’t have any business with Year Four?"
"Do you?"
He turned as he heard the familiar voice of Valandi. He looked at her shock, his brain tried to register the possibility of always running into the General of Year Four.
"..."
"I know you are surprised at your finding. I am the General of Year Four. Turns out I’m your favourite nurse. Such a world. What do you say." Valandi said as she took a seat across the desk.
Xero watched her closely wondering why he was in her custody. If he was injured from his battle against the demons, he was supposed to be in the hospital.
"What am I doing here?"
"Oh. Don’t be anxious. I’m not going to hurt you. I don’t have any reason to torture you."
"So why did you bring me here?" Xero said lightly.
"Two reasons actually. First what happened in the Dungeon?" She said and picked up a cup of coffee.
"What do you mean?"
"When I met you, you were the closest person the deceased demon. With that in mind, you have some explanations to give." Valandi said then took a sip of her black coffee.
"I don’t have any reasonable answer to that. Besides what happened in dungeon isn’t supposed to pose a threat to the school right?" Xero asked.
"In most cases, yes. But I specifically want to know what happened in there." She said lightly.
"No. I’m not in the position to give such information." Xero said.
He felt something was off about her. He didn’t welcome her presence. Definitely she was up to something but he didn’t have any thoughts of funding out. He already had a bulk of issues at hand, indulging in more wasn’t advisable.
"You know you pretty love pushing me away. I’m your superior and you don’t get to treat me that way."
Valandi stood up from her seat and walked up to him. Xero didn’t flinch as she dragged her figure towards him.
"I hate doing this but I don’t actually have any choice." She said and stretched her hands towards him.
[Ability detected]
[Mind Penetration ]
[Rejecting effect 100%]
Valandi stared at Xero’s face. For the first time since he had entered the office, her calm expression cracked.
Her hand was still stretched toward him, fingers slightly apart, as though she could not understand what had just happened.
"Impossible..." she muttered.
Xero stared back at her.
He had felt something attempt to force its way into his mind. It had been subtle, almost impossible to notice, but his System had detected it immediately.
Thanks to that, it was rejected.
Valandi slowly withdrew her hand.
"What exactly are you?" she asked.
Xero frowned.
"You’re the one who should be answering questions."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Mind Penetration is a high-level ability. It allows me to enter a person’s mind and search through their memories."
"So you tried to invade my mind?"
"I wouldn’t use the word invade."
"Then you’re lying to yourself."
Valandi stared at him. Xero stared back. Neither of them moved.
Then, Valandi suddenly smiled.
"You’re a difficult person, aren’t you?"
"I’ve been told."
"But I really need to know what happened in that Dungeon."
Xero leaned back against the luxurious chair, enjoying the comfort of the power he wielded.
"Then ask properly."
"I already did."
"And I already refused."
Valandi’s smile disappeared.
"I hate doing this."
"Then don’t."
Valandi’s eyes flashed. Her figure blurred. Xero’s eyes widened slightly.
She appeared directly in front of him. Her palm struck toward his forehead.
[Ability detected.]
[Mind Penetration: Second Attempt.]
[Threat detected.]
[Rejecting effect: 100%.]
[Foreign mental interference has been denied.]
BOOM!
An invisible force exploded between them.
Valandi’s body was thrown backward. She crashed against her desk, causing several documents and the cup of coffee to fall onto the floor.
Xero immediately stood up. Valandi slowly straightened herself. A shocked expression was written across her beautiful face.
"What...?"
She stared at her hand. This time, she had felt it. Something inside Xero had violently rejected her ability.
No. Not merely rejected it. It had pushed her out. For someone at her level, such a thing was almost unbelievable. And coming from a Level 1 it was unaccountable.
She slowly turned her gaze toward Xero.
"You really are interesting."
Xero didn’t answer. His eyes remained calm. But internally, his thoughts were moving rapidly.
What was she planning? She was a General. The General of Year Four. Someone with enough authority to bring him into her office without giving him any warning.
And now, she had attempted to enter his mind twice. He couldn’t trust her. Not even slightly.
Valandi suddenly began walking toward him again. Xero’s eyes sharpened.
"What?"
"Relax."
"I’ll relax when you stop trying to enter my mind."
She stopped a few steps away. This time, however, she didn’t raise her hand. Instead, she placed both hands behind her back.
"Fine," she said. "No more Mind Penetration."
Xero remained silent. Valandi studied him for a few seconds before sighing.
"You really don’t trust me, do you?"
"You haven’t given me a reason to."
"Fair enough."
She turned around and walked back toward her desk.
She picked up a few of the fallen documents before placing them back on the table.
Then she sat down. Xero continued standing.
"Sit."
"I prefer standing."
"Suit yourself."
Valandi leaned back in her chair. For several seconds, she didn’t say anything. Then she spoke.
"Dutch."
Xero froze. His eyes immediately narrowed. Valandi noticed the change in his expression.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"I see that name means something to you."
"Where did you hear it?"
"Ah."
Valandi tapped her fingers against the desk.
"So it really is true."
"What do you know?"
"More than you think."
Xero’s expression became cold. Valandi had successfully gotten his attention. She leaned forward.
"The cult."
Xero said nothing.
"I know they’re looking for you."
His fists slowly tightened.
"What cult?"
Valandi chuckled.
"Don’t insult my intelligence, Xero."
His eyes remained locked on her. Valandi continued.
"Dutch isn’t just a name. It’s connected to something much bigger."
Xero remained silent.
"The people after you belong to a cult. A dangerous organization that has been operating in secret for years."
Her expression became serious.
"And one of their leaders is within these walls."
Xero’s heart skipped slightly. He didn’t show it. Was an agent sent to connect him to the cult but it didn’t make any sense.
"Who?"
"Naman."
The room became silent.
"He’s a Year two student. " Xero’s mind raced.
Valandi watched his reaction.
"Naman isn’t some ordinary student, Xero."
Her voice became serious. "He is one of the people controlling one of the cult’s activities within the school."
Xero frowned.
"How do you know that?"
"I have my sources."
"Who?"
"That’s classified."
Xero stared at her.
"You expect me to trust you, but you won’t answer my questions?" Valandi shrugged.
"You don’t have to trust me."
"Then why tell me?"
"Because I thought you deserved to know."
"Why?"
Valandi was silent. Xero’s eyes narrowed. There it was again. That strange feeling.
He couldn’t understand her. Why would the General of Year Four care about him? Why would she investigate the cult? And why was she trying so hard to discover what had happened in the Dungeon?
Nothing about this situation made sense.
"You should be careful around Naman," Valandi said.
Xero’s expression darkened.
"Why tell me now?"
"Because the cult already knows about you."
"How?"
"I don’t know."
"You know more than you’re telling me."
"Of course I do."
Xero’s eyes became colder.
"But I don’t trust you enough to tell you everything."
Xero almost laughed.
"At least you’re honest."
"Sometimes."
Valandi leaned back in her chair again.
"Now." Her eyes focused on him.
"Tell me what happened inside the Dungeon."
Xero’s expression didn’t change.
"So that’s what this is about?"
"Partly."
"You told me about Dutch and Naman to make me talk?"
"I told you because your life might be in danger."
"And you want information."
"Also true."
Xero was silent. Valandi stared at him.
"Four people faced that demon."
"Cassie, Yelisa, Lora and you?"
Xero didn’t respond. He remained quiet. After a few moments, he finally spoke.
"Cassie and Yelisa killed the demon."
Valandi’s eyes narrowed. Xero continued.
"They were the ones who fought it."
"And you?"
"I arrived near the end."
Valandi stared at him.
"I gave the demon a finishing blow."
Valandi leaned back slowly.
"So you’re saying Cassie and Yelisa defeated the demon?"
"Yes."
"And you only gave the final attack?"
"Exactly."
Valandi tapped her fingers against the desk as she stared at him. Xero stared back. Neither of them spoke.
The silence stretched for several seconds. Then Valandi suddenly smiled.
"Fine."
Xero raised an eyebrow. "Fine?"
"You’re free to go."
Xero stared at her for another moment then he turned around. He began walking toward the door.
His hand reached for the handle.
"Xero."
He stopped but he didn’t turn around. Valandi watched his back.
"Be careful."
His hand tightened around the door handle. Then he opened the door.
"Thanks for the warning."
And with that, he left. The door slowly closed behind him.
The office became silent. Valandi remained seated. The smile on her face slowly disappeared. Her eyes became cold.
"He’s lying." She muttered.