Free Web NovelChapter 228: _You’re Getting Weirder
Hunter Ji-Hoon’s Rented Villa
The glowing light in her eyes dimmed slowly as she withdrew her fingers from the railings of her balcony.
Seconds ago she’d been monitoring the fate thread of one particularly stubborn Guide. It had been so active, sometimes seeming like he was one wrong move away from death.
It got her anxious and excited at the same time.
Because then it would mean all her efforts were finally paying off.
But then—not only did he survive. His fate thread hummed with more unpredictable outcomes. Before this she could at least make vague guesses about his fate then push or pull him to one of her desires.
Now?
She couldn’t guess or see anything at all.
Even grabbing the thread and tugging hard to force it to reveal something wasn’t working. Which meant only one thing.
"He’s completely swerved away from the rivers of fate," she murmured with disbelief. "All my efforts. All my plans... and still he’s managed to slip out of my grasp again."
Her fingers curled hard against the railing.
She hated how she sounded right now.
Obsessed.
Perhaps because it reminded her of Han Jae-won way too much.
"Enough of this charade." She straightened, pulling out her phone.
A few moments later, she clicked on a contact and slid the device to her ear.
"Hunter Ji-Hoon?" A voice at the other end spoke out in Korean. "G–Good day. Your call is unexpected."
"And your response isn’t," Ji-Hoon sighed. "Just wanted to inform you that I’ll be returning to Seoul soon."
"... How soon?"
"I’ll be searching for any available flights once this call is over."
"Does this mean you’re done with whatever was keeping you occupied in Aurelia?"
Ji-Hoon paused.
Her eyes flitted to Guide Ambrose’s fate thread one last time.
Snaking calmly in front of her.
With a simple hand wave, it dispelled out of her sight. "You can say that," she confirmed. "Hope the Korean Federation people didn’t miss me too much."
The person at the other end chuckled while she spun on her heels, heading into her bedroom to pack the little items she brought with her.
As she stepped inside, she found herself hoping the truth about this mysterious Guide came out.
Some day, at least.
★★★★★
Valentine’s Penthouse
He’d been in the middle of stirring a concoction in a white mug when his phone rang.
Pulling it out, he arched a curious brow when he saw Gabriel’s contact on his screen. He turned away from the tall glass walls that gave a view of Aurelia.
Then he picked. "Tired of Canada already?"
"Have you heard?" Gabriel didn’t even bother engaging with his usual teasing.
Sensing his seriousness, Valentine asked. "Heard what?"
"You’re still at your Aurelia penthouse, right?"
"Yep."
"I got a message from a friend in the Federation. Apparently there was a case of a C-Rank dungeon Rift that turned out to be far more powerful."
"How so?"
"Not sure. They’re still investigating and all." A pause. "But Ambrose was part of the raid. The Guild is Steel Falcon and he—"
Valentine’s grip on his mug nearly loosened. "A–Ambrose?" Something throbbed painfully in his chest.
Something he couldn’t understand for the life of him.
"Yeah," Gabriel sounded calmer. More level-headed. "Just felt like telling you. These cases are becoming so much more rampant around the continent. A contact of mine in Milan even said—"
"I’m hanging up." Valentine was kind enough to give him a warning before clicking on the red button.
The Necrotic Mark he left on the Guide wasn’t sending him any warning signals that he was in any life-threatening danger. Although, it was oddly silent now that he closed his eyes to feel it.
What he was about to do next was a long shot... but he did it anyway.
"You better pick up." He mumbled, watching Ambrose’s contact flash on his screen as he called him.
It rang for several seconds. Yet he didn’t pick. So he called again. And again. And even a fourth time just in case.
Nothing.
Unease coiled in his chest as he headed for the kitchen counter. He dropped the mug, grabbed his keys and adjusted his coat.
He didn’t know what was happening yet.
But he was ready to storm that Rift if it meant he’d be able to drag Ambrose out.
★★★★★
Meanwhile, far across the city, Devon’s car pulled to a stop once they were inside their compound.
Ambrose got out first before the S-Ranks followed.
"I’ve got to go pick up Orion soon," Devon pushed back strands of his hair, watching Ambrose take unhurried steps to the front door. "You sure you’re good, Rose?"
The Guide whipped his head back, cheeks flushed with a reassuring smile. "For the umpteenth time, yes." He held back from saying something sarcastic as usual. "Only a bit... shaken from today. I think I need a power nap."
Devon hesitated.
For a moment his gaze lingered on Ambrose’s retreating figure before shifting to Viktor.
The ice Prince stood with his usual carefree expression, hands tucked into his pockets while he watched the Guide head toward the house.
"You’ll keep an eye on him?" Devon asked quietly.
Viktor snorted. "That’s a stupid question." He locked eyes with Devon. "Of course I will."
A smile tugged at the latter’s lips. "Fair."
The tension in his shoulders finally eased.
He glanced at the time on his phone and cursed under his breath. "Shit. Orion."
Ambrose immediately pointed toward the gate without turning around. "Go before he convinces his teachers you’ve abandoned him."
"I’d never hear the end of it."
"No, you absolutely wouldn’t."
Devon laughed, shook his head and headed back toward the car.
A few moments later the engine started.
The vehicle rolled out of the compound and disappeared beyond the gates.
Silence settled.
At least for a little while.
Viktor’s eyes drifted back to Ambrose.
The Guide was already halfway to the front door. Yet something felt... Different.
Annoyingly difficult to explain. But still different.
The permanent link between them hummed quietly.
Ambrose was exhausted. That much was obvious. But beneath the fatigue there was something else.
Viktor’s brows furrowed as he struggled to understand what.
"You’re staring again."
The sudden accusation made him blink.
Ambrose had paused at the doorway and was looking back at him with amusement dancing in his eyes. "You’ve been hanging around Devon too much."
Viktor scoffed. "And you’ve been getting weirder."
"Rude."
Before either of them could continue, a sharp knock echoed from the front gates.
Both men froze.
Another knock followed.
Ambrose and Viktor exchanged a glance before they turned simultaneously toward the gates.
From this distance, Ambrose could already see who it was. And fuck, he suddenly felt like disappearing.
