Nick walked into Dark Dream and went to the eighth floor.
When he entered his office, he left the door open so that Vernon could also enter.
Vernon walked in after Nick and closed the door behind him before looking at Nick with furrowed brows.
Vernon's appearance hadn't changed in any way within the last decade.
He still looked like a charismatic 20-year-old.
After he closed the door, only two people were left in the room.
Vernon and Nick.
Well, and the couple of mouths representing Julian, but Vernon didn't know that they were there.
Naturally, Julian wouldn't let Nick talk alone with Vernon.
Well, and the couple of mouths representing Julian, but Vernon didn't know that they were there.
Naturally, Julian wouldn't let Nick talk alone with Vernon.
First of all, he didn't want Vernon to get some stupid ideas and kill Nick as some form of revenge for his dead son.
And second, Julian didn't want to risk his secret getting out.
Vernon sat down in one of the chairs and looked at Nick.
Judging by his expression, he was not happy to be here.
"What do you want?" Nick asked evenly.
Vernon looked back at Nick. "It's customary to offer a visitor a drink."
"What do you want?" Nick asked again.
Silence.
Vernon sighed like he was disappointed in Nick's lack of mannerisms.
"No drink, then," Vernon said.
Nick didn't say anything and just looked at Vernon.
"Let me get right to the point then," Vernon said.
"Is there something you can do against Anatomy?"
Nick's brows furrowed, and the mouths on the walls chuckled.
"Me," Nick said with a flat voice. "Do something against Anatomy…"
"I'm a Peak Veteran."
"They have three Heroes and a Demon," Nick stated matter-of-factly.
"I know that," Vernon said. "So, can you do something?"
Nick leaned back in his chair in exasperation. "What am I supposed to do against Anatomy?!"
"I don't know," Vernon said with annoyance. "But answer the question. Can you do something against Anatomy?"
Nick took a deep breath. "What makes you think that I can do something?"
Vernon remained silent for a couple of seconds.
"You killed Wyntor," he said.
Nick's eyes shot open with rage, and he wanted to protest, but Vernon just lifted his arm to stop him.
"It doesn't matter what you say," Vernon said. "I know what I know. Even if you are not involved, I will still think you are involved."
"But that's not why I'm here right now," Vernon added. "I'm here because I, foolishly, I might add, believe that there is a chance that there's something you can do."
"You survived an ambush of ten equal fighters."
"I gave you the Shadow Shroud."
"Not even a couple of hours after giving you the Shadow Shroud, the CEO of the Spartans gets assassinated by a bunch of Specters and someone completely clothed in black."
"Yes, that one black Specter revealed itself later, but I don't think it was that Specter that did everything."
"I think it was you."
"And I also believe that you released the Crimson Sea," Vernon said.
"Are you insane?" Nick asked with annoyance. "I was a Peak John back then."
"Yes," Vernon said, "which is exactly why I believe that you might be able to do something against Anatomy."
Nick gritted his teeth. "That's not what I meant! The Spartans had five Veterans and something like 30 Johns! How would a single John even be able to get in there and do all of these things?!"
"I don't know," Vernon said. "I'm not you."
Nick took a deep breath in frustration.
"Is this your plan?" Nick asked as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. "You're trying to frustrate me to death because you believe that I killed Wyntor?"
"No, I'm serious," Vernon said.
Nick leaned back in his chair, looking like he had given up.
"Vernon, if you genuinely believed all of this, you would have long since reported me to the governor. After all, the Crimson Sea ruined your precious little blood spring that was the Dregs."
Surprisingly, Vernon scoffed. "And implicate myself? I gave you the Shadow Shroud. I don't think the governor knows that I gave you the Shadow Shroud, but I'm not taking any risks."
"If you get convicted of freeing the Crimson Sea, I also get convicted."
"But that doesn't matter," Vernon added. "I'm asking whether or not you have a way to deal with Anatomy."
Nick looked with annoyance at Vernon.
'I'm a Peak Veteran! What am I supposed to do against a company like Anatomy?! They have three fucking Heroes!' Nick thought with frustration.
'Yes, my abilities are perfect for such a mission, but I only have two of them since my third ability is for fleeing, not staying hidden.'
'Even more, all the coral people are mentally connected. That means I can't be suspected by any of them, and I can't kill any of them. If I kill even one, everyone in the entire building will know where I am.'
'On top of that, Anatomy doesn't have light shafts like the Spartans.'
'There's simply no way. I would be found without a doubt,' Nick thought.
"No, there's nothing I can do," Nick said.
Vernon furrowed his brows. "Are you certain?"
"Yes, I am," Nick said.
Silence.
"What if you became an Expert and had the choice of any ability for ability advancement?" Vernon asked.
Nick fell into thought.
An Expert?
Any ability?
"What's with these what if questions?" Nick asked with annoyance. "I just started creating my Shell. Even at my speed, that will take me a decade."
"Again, you're dodging my question," Vernon said with a calm tone. "If you were an Expert, would you be able to do it?"
Nick looked with annoyance at Vernon.
Then, he fell into thought.
With an additional ability and double his current power, would he be able to do something?
Sadly, it still seemed almost impossible.
However, things went from impossible to almost impossible.
Nick shook his head. "I can't get past the Heroes."
"What if two of them are not there, and the last one is busy watching over the Sea King?" Vernon asked.
Nick furrowed his brows.
Was it possible?
There were still the coral people, and Anatomy still had five Specialists.
"What does it matter?" Nick said with a disregarding tone as he leaned back in his chair. "I'm not an Expert, and I won't be for a long while."
Vernon looked at Nick.
"What if you could get your shell right now?" he asked.
Nick looked with skepticism at Vernon.