Seeing the person in his arms stop struggling and nestle in his embrace as if she had given up, Chase Shaw began to relax.

’She must have some feelings for me, right? Otherwise, how could she be so gentle?’

’Touching me so gently, soothing me so gently.’

’She’s like the bright, shining moon, and maybe I’m just a savage wolf that only knows how to howl at it.’

’Everyone loves that moon, wanting to scoop it from the water, but no one can truly leave their mark on her heart.’

’I’ll just be greedy for this one moment.’

’In just a little while, I’ll let her go.’

’A despicable person like me only knows how to use these kinds of tricks, unable to do anything open and honorable.’

As the long afternoon wore on, the light from the entrance stretched longer.

Zoe Pierce carefully extracted herself from the lounge chair. Her whole body felt stiff, but this time there was no resistance as she left Chase Shaw’s arms. Her departure was remarkably smooth.

Standing beside the lounge chair, she unconsciously rubbed her shoulders.

Just as she was about to stretch, she heard footsteps outside the tent and immediately hurried over.

Miles Sherman nearly collided with her.

Zoe Pierce put a finger to her lips. Miles Sherman glanced inside and spotted Chase Shaw curled up on the lounge chair.

Zoe Pierce grabbed Miles Sherman’s hand, pulled him aside, and explained, "Chase Shaw overused his spirit sea. It’s starting to rampage again, just like during the joint exam."

Miles Sherman hummed, waiting for her to continue, his eyes discreetly flicking to her hand still holding his.

"He just finally fell sound asleep, and I’m afraid we’ll wake him if we talk." Zoe Pierce looked around; there was nowhere to sit. "Should we go to the soothing tent?"

Miles Sherman shook his head. "No need."

’It’s just standing for a bit.’

"Then I’ll soothe you right away." Belatedly realizing she still hadn’t let go of Miles Sherman, Zoe Pierce gave him an embarrassed smile and then took his wrist instead.

"It’s fine, no rush." Miles Sherman glanced at Zoe Pierce. She was remarkably adaptable; he’d never once seen her complain, no matter the circumstances. "I just came to see if you were okay."

His own tasks were mostly wrapped up. Next, the military would probably begin investigating the group of experimental Betas from Planet B36.

"I’m fine~" Zoe Pierce smiled at Miles Sherman. "I’m only responsible for you guys, so it gets pretty quiet sometimes."

There were eyes and ears everywhere here, so she couldn’t practice her spiritual power. Every day, when they were away, she managed to find a few hours to practice her Body Techniques.

When her usual group wasn’t around, other Alphas came to her—guards and soldiers who had overused their spiritual power. Since they were all active-duty military, they were more than capable of giving Zoe Pierce pointers.

At least, Zoe Pierce didn’t feel she was wasting her time at all.

Miles Sherman just watched her, his voice full of conviction. "Just wait a little longer. Once this business with Planet B36 is handled, you’ll definitely be able to use your spiritual power openly."

Zoe Pierce looked up to meet his eyes.

"Miles," she said suddenly, "don’t put so much pressure on yourself. I don’t have to show it off."

’Have I become some poor, pitiful thing in his eyes?’

She had been hiding this spiritual power for too long. It was impossible to say she didn’t mind at all, but Zoe Pierce was clear on what she truly wanted.

It was her trump card, not something that needed to be revealed to outsiders.

But Miles Sherman remained silent. ’It’s different.’

"You were an accident," Miles Sherman said pointedly. "But they were premeditated. It’s not the same."

"If we reach a higher position, you won’t have to be afraid anymore."

She wouldn’t have to fear the stares of others. She wouldn’t have to worry about the strange looks people would give her if her unusual spiritual power was discovered. And she wouldn’t have to worry about any other negative repercussions that this abnormality might bring.

Zoe Pierce felt that Miles Sherman was being a bit strange today. After a moment of silence, she asked, "What’s really going on, Miles?"

"You don’t usually talk like this."

"Did something happen?" she asked, catching on at once. "What happened to the Betas on Planet B36?"

Miles Sherman sighed softly, impressed by her perceptiveness.

"All the Betas involved in the experiment have been imprisoned. The higher-ups on B36 are also under control. Once the battlefield is cleared, they’ll be sent to the Federal Court for a public trial."

He didn’t hide anything. "This news is still being kept under wraps."

But... "We probably can’t stay here any longer."

Something this major had happened, and the military had obtained evidence from them. They would need to be questioned. It wouldn’t have any negative repercussions for them—their identities wouldn’t even be disclosed—but they could not possibly remain on Siren Star.

Zoe Pierce couldn’t quite describe the feeling.

Miles Sherman was clearly sympathizing, projecting the Betas’ fate onto her. The ones arrested were Betas from B36, yet his first thought had been of her.

He even made her a promise.

’It was kind of heartwarming.’

"Going back isn’t so bad. I can take the opportunity to deal with my brother’s business." Although they hadn’t stayed for as long as expected, Zoe Pierce felt she had learned a great deal.

Returning to the Capital Star wasn’t a bad thing for her.

The memories she had of Damien Pierce were now enough for her to bluff some truths out of people. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Miles Sherman pressed his lips together. "With us around, no one will be able to touch you."

Whether it was Damien Pierce or anyone else with designs on her, they would not stand by and let it happen.

「Inside the tent.」

The moment he sensed Zoe Pierce walk out with Miles Sherman, Chase Shaw sat up on the lounge chair.

He sat there imperiously, his palm pressed against the wound Zoe Pierce had just touched.

He looked at his Intelligent Brain.

Nearly fifteen minutes had passed.

’A soothing should only take five minutes. What were they doing for the other ten?’

The sun was shining brightly outside, and people were bustling about, but Chase Shaw couldn’t stop his brow from furrowing.

His face was grim. After a long moment, he stood, lifted the tent flap, and walked out into the sunlight.

As soon as he was outside, he heard Zoe Pierce’s surprised voice. "Chase Shaw, you’re awake?"

’I wasn’t sleeping.’

But he maintained his usual taciturn demeanor. "Yeah."

"You weren’t there, so I came out to look."

’The guy who just got soothed discovers the Omega is gone and comes looking for her. A perfectly reasonable excuse.’

"What are you talking about?"

His gaze landed first on Zoe Pierce, then shifted to Miles Sherman.

Chase Shaw understood what Miles Sherman was talking about regarding Planet B36 with just a brief mention. He might have known fewer details than Miles, but he had been the one to collect some of the Betas’ mechas from the battlefield.

"Just that... there’s still no news about Arthur White." News about Arthur White was being heavily suppressed. Chase Shaw had also tried to find some clues, but he wasn’t as good at that sort of thing as Nathan Lockwood and knew very little.

Zoe Pierce also knew that Arthur White was most likely not on Planet B36. Otherwise, with the military practically surrounding the entire planet, there was no way he could have escaped.