[114]
Returning to the private player’s room, Yuri found Chris who was just drinking water. Upon Yuri’s entrance, Chris hurriedly lowered his water bottle.
“You’ll choke that way,” Yuri said.
Though it sounded like scolding, it meant Chris didn’t need to rush with formalities. But Chris approached Yuri with an unconcerned expression.
“Welcome back.”
He looked heavy like a large dog, but if he were smaller, he probably would have come running to greet him with his feet pattering.
‘That might have been cute too.’
Yuri inadvertently imagined a tiny Chris and briefly swallowed.
“Yeah.”
His mind was elsewhere, so he merely nodded. Yet even that small gesture was enough to spread a slight smile across Chris’s stoic face.
“There’s a gathering for players,” Chris reported.
Yuri nodded at Chris’s information.
“Surprising, but I suppose social connections are necessary even here.”
Although Colosseum players tended to plot each other’s deaths rather than build friendships.
“Should I attend?” Chris asked with a serious face.
“Who gave you this information?”
“In the players’ waiting room…” Chris’s voice trailed off at Yuri’s question.
Yuri immediately understood what his dog’s response meant.
“You don’t know who told you.”
“Yes. An invitation was slipped to me.”
But he had verified it.
“I went out and asked other players to confirm, and they said that’s how invitations are always received. When you gain ‘qualification,’ an invitation finds you.”
The players said there were substantial benefits to be gained, so it was an open secret among them.
Chris had only just learned about its existence because he hadn’t socially mingled with other players.
Afterward, Chris had completed cross-verification through at least three different people.
So he had only told Yuri after thorough confirmation.
“The host is unknown and only players attend…”
As Yuri turned the invitation over, he discovered a platinum seal.
This kind of old-fashioned, pretentious decoration was familiar.
Humans are weak to appearances. No matter how ostentatious, when form and procedure exist, people derive authority and meaning from them.
Could such an invitation have been sent merely for socializing?
Yuri didn’t think so at all.
“It wouldn’t be bad to go.”
Even if encouraging socializing was the purpose of this invitation, there must be something to gain from the gathering’s existence.
Yuri wanted to find out what it was.
“But Yuri cannot come with me.”
“I figured as much.”
They even decorated it with platinum as if to say “look here.”
Someone without a sense of entitlement like Chris might not notice, but a “secret invitation” given only to “qualified people” with “decorations matching their rank” all stimulated vanity.
Even a dog with an owner would be tempted to step in out of curiosity.
“There are things that can only be discussed without sponsors, audience, or owners around.”
‘It’s not an elaborate conspiracy, but that makes it easier to let your guard down.’
How would the players behave when alcohol was involved and the atmosphere heated up?
“Go and report back to me what happened.”
“Yes.”
“No drugs. And drink in moderation.”
Yuri said this and checked Chris’s face.
But there was no sign of disappointment.
‘Doesn’t he feel suffocated?’
Yuri was acting as if he was tightly holding the leash even in invisible places.
Still, it was fortunate for someone like Yuri. He was the type of person who was only satisfied when he possessed everything.
“We’ll need to get you new clothes.”
His fingers moved as if wrapping around Chris’s collar, then briefly touched it before withdrawing.
“…”
Chris, who had tensed at the graceful movement, realized his mouth had gone completely dry the moment Yuri stepped back.
“I’ll add this to your debt too.”
“Debt…?”
Chris’s voice was cracked and dry.
“Of course. As you well know, I have little interest in charity.”
Yuri pulled up the corners of his mouth in a meaningful smile.
“I understand.”
Chris’s lips stiffened in response.
It happened naturally as he tried to hold back a smile.
He wondered how a statement about adding to his debt could sound so sweet. He was also concerned that Yuri seemed completely unaffected.
Having already obtained the outing permit, he wanted to leave soon.
“What is it?”
Yuri’s indifferent tone contained a warning.
It meant to step back since there might be watching eyes.
Chris blushed, realizing how blatant his desire must have been.
“I’m sorry.”
There could be cameras anywhere in the arena. So restraint was appropriate.
Still, the situation itself—enjoying the thrilling tension with Yuri while avoiding others’ gazes—wasn’t entirely unpleasant.
Nevertheless, he longed to touch Yuri’s skin. He wanted to kiss those lips tracing ambiguous curves and meet the heat that occasionally lingered in those purple eyes.
Day by day, he realized that one could miss a lover even when they were right in front.
Chris inwardly suppressed his impatient yearning.
‘It seems like it used to be much easier to endure.’
Chris lowered his eyes, making the unfair conjecture that perhaps this was because he had spent so long as a four-legged beast.
***
“Hey.”
Finally away from the arena, Chris narrowed his brows at an unexpected face waiting at the safe house.
It was Chase Dalton.
“No need to scrunch your face like that. It’s been a while.”
“Why are you here when you should be on the Winter Continent?”
Chris asked in a stiff tone.
Chase looked at Yuri as if asking for permission.
When Yuri gave a slight nod, Chase spoke.
“I came to escort Fortuna and deliver information.”
“Fortuna?”
Chris looked puzzled.
“We recently confirmed there’s a mental-type Esper in the Thorns Order. As for Baekyah… Logan will handle it.”
At his additional comment, Chris finally noticed the irritation plastered all over Chase’s face.
It seemed he hadn’t left the Winter Continent by choice.
‘Well, his sister Gwen must have remained in Orum City…’
As Chris’s expression softened a bit, Chase grumbled.
“What? Does knowing Logan is protecting Baekyah give you that much reassurance?”
“Chase.”
Yuri called Chase’s name in a quiet voice.
“I apologize.”
Chase straightened his posture immediately and continued.
“There were eyes monitoring organization members’ movements, so we deliberately set bait to lure an attack from the Thorns Order. As reported, the captives all died due to a taboo, but… we found those who were serving as their eyes and ears.”
“I heard that much.”
“The route used to bring in the drugs was the Barrel Society’s network.”
Chris’s lips tightened.
Like the recent flea market terrorist incident, there was indeed a Thorns Order collaborator within the Barrel Society.
“I’ll discuss that part with our collaborator inside the Barrel Society.”
Yuri replied in a calm voice.
“As for coming as Fortuna’s escort…”
“Yes. She seems to want to meet the mental-type Esper in the Thorns Order directly.”
Chase said nothing more.
Chris vaguely, very vaguely understood Fortuna’s feelings.
Due to the nature of their abilities, mental-type Espers often end up alone. Among them, Rosenhauser had gathered those without connections to use them in creating an inter-continental communication network.
Many mental-type Espers were trapped in terrible exploitation, unable to live or die.
Fortuna was among the few survivors.
If there was a mental-type Esper in the Thorns Order, she probably thought they might also be exploited.
‘Even if they’re an active participant, someone like Fortuna would still want to meet them directly.’
Chris thought calmly.
In some ways, it might be fortunate.
After Rosenhauser’s death, Fortuna seemed to have little interest in the world beyond caring for the rescued mental-type Espers.
“That’s all.”
“Good. You did better than expected.”
“However, the longer the boss’s absence continues, the more frequent attempts to shake Baekyah will become.”
At those words, Yuri smiled faintly.
Chase blinked in surprise at Yuri’s rare smile. Only Chris remained composed.
“That would be quite a spectacle.”
It was quite a bellicose tone.
“Are you saying it’s okay if your absence becomes known, boss?”
To Chase’s question, Yuri responded with a “Well…”
“I’m considering whether to leak the fact that I’m on the Spring Continent.”
After saying this, Yuri’s gaze turned to Chris.
“No.”
Chris, who had been quiet until now, spoke up.
Chase nodded as if he had expected this.
“I’m not confident I can manage it without Chris’s supervision.”
It was sincere without any exaggeration.
“How incompetent.”
When Yuri received his joke with an expressionless face, Chase looked surprised.
But quickly changing his expression, Chase whispered:
“It’s just that the boss’s dog is excessively capable.”
“Shut up.”
Chris growled in a low voice.
Not to be outdone, Chase made an exaggerated sad face and said:
“And he’s also violent.”
Yuri clicked his tongue.
“He’s not violent when I haven’t ordered him to bite. That’s quite an exaggeration.”
It was clear protection. Chris’s gaze toward Yuri seemed to contain a hint of triumphant pride.
Chase opened his eyes wide and moved his lips a few times without speaking.
He didn’t know what had happened on the Spring Continent, but he could tangibly feel that the relationship between the two had changed from before.
It was half intriguing and half chilling.
‘Wait… since when has the boss had such an expression?’
Chase made a genuinely forlorn face.
Having finally, barely made it to the Spring Continent, he already wanted to return to the Winter Continent.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
