To Lucas, the fact that the person was still walking free was the greatest provocation imaginable.
Luo Ran: “……”
Luo Ran: “Understood.”
………………………
The following day, Luo Ran once again carefully requested leave from both Lucas and the company before heading to see Xia Zhi.
This time, Luo Ran had finally managed to reach the core ore, but he could only circle around it without getting any closer.
“How did it go?”
Seeing Luo Ran stop, Xia Zhi handed him a pouch of nutritional supplement.
Luo Ran took it and frowned as he bit open the spout. “There’s a force constantly pushing me back out.”
“What kind of force?”
Luo Ran thought for a moment. “I’m not sure… It’s just a kind of repulsive force.”
There was some good news, however. The research institute had finally contacted two Omegas with S-class mental power. They had gone to the institute that day to begin the extraction process, and Luo Ran had also written up a report on what he had discovered the previous day and sent it to them.
With more samples and reference data, conducting experiments would be easier.
As for Luo Ran, he had no intention of stopping. He would continue exploring the core, just without rushing so much. At the very least, he could spend half the day at the company handling official business.
“If even you’re being blocked, it’ll be even harder for the other two.” Xia Zhi shook his head.
“Perhaps I’ll have to meet force with force and use my mental power to break through.” Luo Ran considered the idea. “I’ll try again later.”
It was certainly dangerous, but Xia Zhi paused and said nothing. He knew he couldn’t stop Luo Ran from doing what he had set his mind on. All he could do was keep a closer eye on him and make sure he was careful.
Luo Ran finished the pouch of nutritional supplement and was just about to continue when a report from the research institute arrived.
Ever since what had happened the previous day, Luo Ran had been checking his terminal messages from time to time. He had even set a special ringtone for Lucas—one so loud it sounded like thunder and a death knell.
“What’s wrong?”
Luo Ran frowned slightly. “Something happened to the Omegas at the research institute. It seems they entered their heat cycles during the extraction process and suffered mental injuries.”
“Ah…?”
“They said it was because this ore can stimulate mental activity, just like what happened to me. But I only feel mentally energized. I haven’t shown any signs of entering heat.”
Xia Zhi quickly understood the reason. “That’s because you have two additional S-class traits compared with them. Your mental strength and resilience are much better, so you won’t be affected so easily. Besides…” He paused. “You’ve been temporarily marked now. Your mental power has been more stable over the past few days than ever before. Otherwise, how do you think you managed to reach the core after only two days?”
Luo Ran paused. The unexpected mention of that subject made him feel a little awkward.
“Mm.”
Xia Zhi glanced at Luo Ran, frowning slightly.
He really wanted to know who had temporarily marked Luo Ran. He was worried that Luo Ran might have been mistreated.
After all, Luo Ran had always possessed a level of self-control that seemed almost inhuman. Not only was he exceptionally strong-willed, but he also appeared to have no desires or needs of his own.
Xia Zhi simply couldn’t imagine what kind of circumstances—or what kind of person—could have left a temporary mark on Luo Ran.
“Xia Xia?” Luo Ran waved a hand in front of him.
“Ah… Huh?”
“Let’s continue.” Luo Ran put on the measuring headpiece.
“Mm…”
Xia Zhi sighed. Fine. If Luo Ran didn’t want to talk about it, there was nothing he could do to force him.
The two continued working, but Luo Ran left before dusk. He still needed to return to the company to pick up Lucas and accompany him to a dinner with the prince. The Empire was the host, while Luobing was the guest. Although the invitation had been issued by their side, Luo Ran had arranged the venue and all the other details.
Since Luobing had already sent an invitation, Lucas couldn’t very well refuse to attend. As it happened, Lucas had also begun to suspect Andika. So, despite being deeply reluctant, he accepted Luo Ran’s arrangements.
When they arrived at the restaurant, Andika was already seated to one side, looking through the menu.
As a member of the Luobing royal family, Andika was actually quite good-looking, with delicate, gentle features. However, rumors had it that he was timid and submissive because he was an illegitimate child.
“G-General…” Andika watched nervously as Lucas took his seat.
Luo Ran had originally intended to leave, but Lucas shot him a glare. He obediently remained standing to one side, keeping some distance between them.
Lucas wore his usual fierce expression, sitting with his legs crossed and his arms folded across his chest. The natural aura of an Alpha was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe under it.
He didn’t look like he had come for dinner. He looked like he had come to collect a debt.
“G-General, what… what would you like to eat?” Andika was so nervous that he began twisting the hem of his clothes.
Lucas gave the menu a slight wave, signaling Andika to order for himself.
Once the food had been ordered, the atmosphere grew tense again.
Lucas cut straight to the point. “Where were you during the Imperial Emperor’s birthday banquet?”
Andika was startled before answering, “I-I was in the main hall with my older sister, attending to the guests.”
“Do you have an alibi?”
The question made it sound as though he were a criminal being interrogated. Andika hurriedly replied, “Y-Yes! I do! Your adjutant, Lu Cheng. I accidentally fell at the time, and he helped me up.”
“And then? Did you stay with him all night?”
Andika lowered his eyes. “Well… I got a little tired afterward, so I went upstairs to rest.”
“Your alibi.”
“N-No, I don’t have one… But I really did just go back to my room to rest. I didn’t do anything. Why are you asking me this, General?”
Lucas naturally had no intention of explaining himself. Instead, he continued, “When did you leave?”
“The following morning…”
Andika was practically on the verge of tears. Why was this date nothing like what he had imagined?
Had Lucas come to dinner, or had he come to conduct a criminal investigation and interrogate him?
Lucas sneered. “Everyone else left in the middle of the night, after the banquet ended. Why did you stay at the hotel all night?”
“I… I told you I wasn’t feeling well. I had a fever, so I couldn’t get up for a while and stayed in my room to rest. I even asked my maid to buy me fever-reducing cooling patches.”
Lucas raised an eyebrow.
Hah. He had known this prince was suspicious.
Sure enough, Andika had stayed at the hotel for the entire night and only met up with the people from Luobing the following day.