The latter half of the family dinner passed in such a subtle atmosphere of mutual suspicion.
After they finished eating, Ansu left Celia sitting alone on the sofa and went with his sister to prepare some tea and snacks to help with digestion.
Quietly stepping to the side of the busy Vera, Ansu carefully glanced toward Celia and whispered, "Vera... you were far too disobedient today. I told you, do not do anything to upset her."
"Sorry, Brother. I didn't expect her to have such a big reaction..." Vera pursed her lips, her small head drooping.
Just mentioning a resignation had caused her face to change like that; she had still severely underestimated her brother's importance in that woman's heart.
"Good Vera, be good." Ansu rubbed Vera's soft hair. "There is a reason I've been cautioning you so much. It is for our own good."
"Brother." Vera looked up, a sharp glint flashing in her deep blue eyes. "This female boss of yours, her identity is not simple at all, is it?"
"Hmm?" Ansu blinked, looking at the suddenly perceptive Vera.
"I am not talking about nobility, or even being a transcendent. I mean..."
Vera narrowed her eyes, her voice growing lower. "She is a paranoid control freak. She is like this because she is confident in her own strength..."
"Her strength must be powerful, perhaps to a level I cannot even imagine... and when resignation was mentioned just now, I felt a cold killing intent in her eyes."
That bone-chilling sensation had nearly made her whole body tremble, but because of her brother, she had still stared back without fear.
If the feeling Master Danielle gave during her test was 'danger,' then Hailey Lawrence was 'naked killing intent.' Someone like that, who didn't care about consequences and wanted to kill at any moment... could only be described as a lunatic.
This woman's heart was insane; she just masked it very well.
Vera quietly turned her head, observing the woman sitting on the sofa in the living room, and continued her analysis.
"Even though she is your boss... I always feel..."
"She doesn't have the temperament of a manager or a superior. She is like a knife... that feeling of sharpness and madness... I really find it hard to find a matching description. What exactly does she do..."
Vera's analysis caused Ansu's eyes to widen in surprise.
Although she hadn't guessed their identities as cultists, she was actually quite close to the truth. To think she analyzed all this after just a day of contact...
"Vera, I don't even know if I should praise you..." Ansu looked helplessly at his clever and sharp sister.
It made sense. She only maintained the personality of an innocent little girl in front of him, but her essence was still that of the Hunter of the Darkness...
When he was around, she only needed to be a cute sister, but if he weren't... Vera's growth would likely be incredibly rapid.
"I'll take that as Brother praising me~" Vera gave a cunning smile.
"But I hope you don't go investigating on your own, nor should you look into it any further." Ansu cautioned her seriously, "The things behind this are more dangerous and complex than you can imagine."
"Mhm, I understand." Vera also nodded seriously. Seeing her brother's solemn expression, she sighed and said, "So... Brother, you've actually been under her coercion this whole time, haven't you?"
"It is not coercion!" Ansu glanced toward the living room. Regardless of whether she could hear their discussion, he had to give the 'correct answer' to this sentence.
"Your brother is doing this of his own free will. I am indeed willing to work for her."
"Oh..." Vera watched her brother's expression with a bitter smile. "I see."
"So you and Miss Hailey must get along well!" Ansu continued, "Brother doesn't want you two to keep arguing. Wasn't the atmosphere between you two great at the beginning?"
Vera burst into a small laugh. Her brother probably didn't know just how awkward the atmosphere between them had been at the start.
Seeing her brother tirelessly cautioning her so much, Vera put on a sensible expression and nodded.
"You don't need to nag anymore, Brother. I know what to do. You can rest easy~"
Vera looked at her brother, who was so coerced that he was speaking against his heart. She naturally knew his so-called "willingness" was all a lie...
But for her brother's safety, she would continue to exchange fake smiles with that overbearing female boss for a while longer...
Vera sighed silently in her heart.
Although she had always yearned for transcendent power, she had never felt such urgency as she did today. She desperately hoped to grow stronger quickly. If she became even more powerful than that overbearing bad woman, then she could rescue her brother...
She definitely would!
Vera made up her mind.
Ansu looked at her suspiciously, confirming once more, "Really?"
"Really!" Vera looked up, revealing a sweet and lovely smile.
"Alright then..."
...
When Ansu returned to the living room carrying the tea and snacks, Celia looked up and let out a helpless laugh. "It's not making me drink tea again, is it..."
"Besides tea, there are also small snacks." Ansu smiled as he pushed the treats forward. "Try these. They're fresh out of the oven and still warm!"
Celia picked up a piece of pastry with a flaky crust and took a light bite. The sweet taste inside made her nod in satisfaction.
"Mhm, this is quite good."
Vera smiled faintly as she handed over a heavy gift box. "Miss Hailey, this is for you. I hope you like it."
Celia was startled, then opened the packaging. Inside were the same pastries she had just eaten, along with cookies, small cakes, and the like.
A smile rose on her face. "Mhm, thank you. Did Ansu make all of these?"
"Vera made them," Ansu explained. "I don't know much about pastries. My sister, on the other hand, is a master of sweets. She knew I liked eating them, so she specifically learned how to make them in the past..."
"Oh..." Celia looked at the half-eaten pastry in her hand and suddenly felt it wasn't that delicious anymore...
"Then... thank you, Vera." Celia revealed a polite smile.
"And thank you, Miss Hailey. I also like the gift you gave very much." Vera revealed a sweet yet distant smile.
The two of them stared at each other with forced smiles for a moment before Ansu coughed, timely interrupting the awkward atmosphere.
"Um... well, since Miss Hailey is here to celebrate our move to a new home, it wouldn't be right not to take a tour. I'll show you around first..."
Celia nodded, her gaze scanning the interior of the old house.
To be honest, she was indeed curious about this place, because she had heard Ansu say that this was the place that held his childhood memories.
However, just as she was about to stand up, the doorbell outside the old house suddenly rang.
Both Ansu and Vera looked toward the front door, wondering who would be looking for them at this time.
"Ansu Morris, there is a letter for you."
"A letter for me?" Ansu frowned as he walked toward the door, just in time to see the back of a postman hurriedly leaving through the window. The letter had already been placed in the mailbox on the left side of the door.
"Eh? Brother, who would be writing to you..."
Just as Vera was about to curiously follow, Celia took a step ahead and walked to Ansu's side.
"That postman... is one of the cult's people." she whispered in Ansu's ear. "This method of contact is not common. Go get the letter quickly."
Ansu's expression grew much more serious. He turned back and gave Vera a look telling her not to follow, then opened the door, took out his key, and retrieved the letter from the mailbox.
Unfolding the letter, there was an address located in a nearby town and Samantha's signature.
"It's actually... written by Teacher herself?" Celia was somewhat surprised. She looked at Ansu and said, "She is summoning you to go there. You are to go alone..."
Rate on N.U.
