Lector’s smile diminished at that moment, and he straightened his position, a serious air forming around him.

"What? What did you just say?"

Lucien feigned a dark expression, lowering his head.

’Finally, a reaction that cracks that bright facade,’ Lucien thought, drawing a tense breath. ’Please don’t say anything now, Mikky. Just continue being the quiet, observing, good little boy that you are and let me wiggle us out of this.’

"We’re looking for a way to cross the border. We’re heading toward Sector 3. The... the rest of our family awaits us there. We’d been left behind a few months ago because we were too slow. It was a do-or-die affair. There was a smuggled vehicle then that took them in and... a lot j–"

"Ha!"

Lucien slowly raised his neck, meeting Lector’s hazel eyes.

The man was smiling. An amused, almost bewildered smile.

"You’re crazy, Luci."

"Lucien."

"Whatever. You’re a crazy guy. Really, really crazy. You brought a kid with you all the way to Shaw to cross Migali’s gate? And that bloody story, you honestly think I’d believe that?"

Lucien’s fingers curled tightly.

’Shit.’

Not his best cock and bull story, he had to admit.

But still he asked:

"Who’s Migali?"

Lector scoffed.

"And to think I almost bought you a drink..." he muttered under his breath. "The question shouldn’t be ’who is Migali?’ It should be ’who are Migali.’"

Lucien frowned.

"So? Who are Migali?"

"Migali is the gang that controls Shaw. And the fact that they control Shaw means they control the border."

"!!!"

Lucien remained frozen in place, staring at Lector.

The big man sighed, crossing his arms.

"You’re way out of your depths, Luciano."

"Lucien."

"You have to leave Shaw while you still can. Your security ends the moment I leave you both. You’ll be forcefully drafted into a random gang, forced to slave away your life. And that kid of yours will end up kidnapped and groomed into being someone’s lackey–"

Lucien slammed his fist on the table, causing the plates to quiver. This action of his caused a minor stir, eliciting gazes from the numerous customers in the joint.

He gritted his teeth, enraged.

’Prowler or not...’

"You do NOT talk shit about my kid."

Lector’s eyes widened, but narrowed immediately. And he smiled.

"Your kid?" He regarded the quiet boy who just kept observing. "He’s your kid? You look nothing alike. And if he really is your kid, then I’d have to dislike you, Luciani," Lector’s voice turned grave. "You’re a zero. The very least you could do is to live with your suffering until you die. You don’t have to bring an innocent soul into this dirty world to continue that miserable cycle of life. It’s unfair. It’s ridiculous. But still, you all manage to reproduce anyway."

Gathering his composure, Lucien sat straight, breathing out.

"You speak like you aren’t one of us. A zero."

"..."

Lector remained quiet.

’I got him.’

"Well? Are you? I did tell you I was curious about you. I really am. How did a man who’s obviously not a zero end up in Shaw?"

Lector flashed a toothy grin.

"Careful now. You shouldn’t poke where you can’t handle, Lucien. The aftermath might leave you–"

"I want to get to The Cerulean Orphanage."

Lector’s eyes widened.

The blond man stood up immediately.

"What did you just say?"

"That’s where I’m headed. I want to get to The Cerulean Orphanage."

"That..." Lector outstretched a hand. But then he paused, squinting his eyes as he regarded Lucien’s wrist. "That camo-watch. Where did you get it?"

Lucien immediately covered his wrist.

"That’s none of your business."

It was the only item he had left of his deceased aunt. The camo-watch once belonged to her.

Lector shook his head, taking a step toward Lucien, who defiantly gazed at the tall man.

Lector crouched, getting a better look at the hidden camo-watch, inspecting it, triggering an irritated sneer from Lucien.

"It really is..."

Sighing, Lector stood up.

"What did you say your name was again, Lucerne?"

Lucien scowled, almost growling.

"Lu. Ci. En."

"Right. Lu, ci, en. You said you’re heading to Sector 3, right?"

Lucien nodded.

"Answer me truthfully. For what reason do you travel there?"

For the first time since he met him, Lucien saw the faintest trace of sincerity in Lector’s gaze. A warmth spread across his hazel eyes.

Lucien found himself fumbling for words.

"I... Well, you were right. I also believe it is unfair and ridiculous that a child should be brought into the world, unjustly abandoned to suffer a bleak fate of constant, inescapable darkness..." He had an expression as though he were remembering something uncomfortable. "But I want to believe that it’s possible to bring light into that darkness..." He tightly held onto Michael’s hand as he said this. "I want to believe that there’s always a way to put an end to a storm. I can’t tell you who, or why, Lector, but I’m going to Sector 3 to put an end to someone’s storm."

Lector remained silent for a second.

A loud exhale echoed.

"I see. Light in darkness, huh." He suddenly grinned. "Yeah. I guess that man wouldn’t mind if it were for that reason." He gazed at Mikky. "So he isn’t your kid. Not biologically."

Lector twisted his neck, the joints cracking into place.

"Eat up, Lucien. Get yourself filled with energy. Because at moonrise we’re leaving Shaw."

Without saying another word, Lector was about to walk toward the counter to pay. But then, dramatically, he paused and turned to gaze at the duo.

"Ah, I’m also heading toward The Cerulean Orphanage, you see. I have a... mission there. It seems I’ll have to go earlier than I expected, though. So I’ll just accompany you. It’ll be fun!"

"...okay." Lucien nodded, unconvinced. "You’re going to pay, right?"

Lector scoffed.

"Me? Pay? Did I not tell you who I am here?"

Lucien shook his head.

"Well..." He glanced at Lucien’s camo-watch one more time. Lucien still didn’t understand why. "Do not let that watch get stolen. I’m just going to give the lovely shop owner some friendly advice."

Lector smiled.

Lucien looked around, noticing the frightened expression of every person in this building as Lector said that.

Just what role was the Prowler playing in Shaw?

"Vice-Leader of Migali. That’s me."

And Lector walked straight to the counter.

Lucien grinned immediately, all former traces of chagrin leaving his body.

He continued munching his food. And in the corner of his eyes, he glanced at the floating system screen and willed the analysis to continue, his perverted grin still present on his lips.

’And that, kids, is how you get a free ’everything-you-wanted’!’

Still needed those ingredients, though...