Lucien suddenly caught himself, shaking his head.

’Oh, what am I explaining to a kid?’

He looked down at Mikky.

"She’s just–"

"I understand." Mikky nodded like some kind of sage, caressing a non-existent long beard. "Subarashi."

Lucien just stared at him blankly, blinking.

’You know what, Lucien?’ he thought to himself. ’Don’t question it.’

"Oh!" Mikky suddenly exclaimed, dragging Lucien’s hand, towing him toward a certain direction. "I have to introduce you to my new friend, Luci!"

Brows furrowed.

’New friend?’

"She’s so cool, and smart, and funny, and she’s been to an amusement park before!"

Lucien blinked, following Mikky’s direction.

’Oh. Lector’s partner.’

Seated at a corner in the room, repeatedly tapping on a camo-watch, was a young woman.

The young lady had light blue hair, which stood out sharply in contrast with her all-black outfit.

She had a deep facial expression as she tinkered with her watch, prompting colorful glows and rhythmic beeps from the device.

"Draena!" Mikky yelled as soon as they got close to her.

Blinking, the lady’s light blue lashes swayed as she looked up from her watch, staring at Michael.

Lucien gazed at her azure-colored eyes.

His eyes widened.

’Is that...’

The lady smiled brightly.

"Michael!"

Mikky immediately left Lucien’s hand, running to meet the lady. And she held him tightly, giggling and ruffling his hair.

Lucien just stood there awkwardly.

He cleared his throat.

Michael stood straight.

"Draena, this is Luci!"

As she freed Mikky from her grasp, Draena looked up at Lucien for the first time, her smile turning rosy and a bit... What was the word for it?

Shit it.

"You’re the Luci I’ve heard so much about!"

Lucien laughed awkwardly, wondering just what Mikky must’ve told this woman.

"In the flesh," he said, outstretching his hand for a handshake. "Although the name is Lucien."

Draena gazed at his outstretched hand, studying the item on his wrist.

The camo-watch.

Her eyes narrowed.

"A really... rare watch you’ve got there."

She looked up at him.

Lucien frowned slightly.

’Damn Prowlers,’ he thought. ’I don’t have time for this.’

Draena Valentine. Mother of Pearl Valentine, who became the love interest of Sky Ravenborg, the protagonist, in the novel.

Draena Valentine was a top hunter in the novel. She was an executive in Lector’s guild, one of the strongest hunters on the Rosegold Continent. And one of those who were Prowlers before Eden.

For a moment, Lucien wondered why the hell he was meeting these to-be superstars in seemingly mundane places.

The readers of the novel hated this woman because she greatly opposed Sky’s relationship with her daughter. Well, that hadn’t worked out well for her in the end, as Pearl still ran away with Sky anyway. And she couldn’t even do anything about it because Sky ended up becoming a monster on par with the five calamities.

Thinking about it now, when Sky killed all the calamities, did he finally find peace and live a happy life with Pearl?

Or did he begin the real war with IT, the one who’d cursed the five in the first place?

Lucien shook his head. That was enough.

He smiled politely, looking down at the woman.

"Eyes of my watch, Miss," he said, voice cold.

And he turned away.

"Luci?"

"Come on, Mikky. Let’s go see our recruit."

With Mikky trailing behind him, Lucien walked toward Lector and Amira.

"That watch is a Sultra’s, Lucien!" Draena yelled. "That design... didn’t you see that, Lector?!"

Lucien grumbled inwardly.

’Great. Just what I needed after a long day. An annoying woman.’

Maybe it was just the fragment of a reader who had once disliked her that was manifesting in Lucien, or maybe the woman really was annoying in that coy way she smiled, as though she knew everything about him.

But whatever it was, Lucien didn’t want to be anywhere near the woman.

Reaching Lector, Lucien sat down on the ground next to the big man. And Michael followed suit.

"Not going to make your concoction anymore?" Lector asked, smiling as he watched the fading evening outside.

Lucien scoffed.

"No. Not anymore. I’m planning to extort a large amount of money from you, a rich, high-ranking Prowler, before you leave, so... I reckon we’ll be able to comfortably buy some food from now on. Or better ingredients."

Lector chuckled softly.

"You’re really shameless, Luciano."

Lucien raised a brow, regarding him.

"We’re back to that name now?"

The Prowler shrugged.

"I prefer it."

Lucien nodded, smiling.

A moment of silence came, then passed away in two breaths as Lucien uttered:

"So, you’re leaving with that woman." He pointed at Draena. "To go meet up with Evelyn and your superior, right?"

Lector smiled.

"Right. After this whole bloody Cerulean Orphanage drama ends, I reckon I might get a promotion. Might even jump to the world’s top 300 Prowlers."

"Congrats."

"It comes with a cost, Luciano. Burdens that I’m beginning to question if I’m strong enough to bear."

"You are."

Lector gazed at Lucien, hazel eyes softening, smile warming.

"I hope so." He stared at Lucien’s watch. "You know, you should probably tell me where you got that watch now."

Lucien gazed at his wrist.

"You’re all so curious about this thing." He smiled, turning his wrist. "Fine. Let’s trade for it. I’ll tell you how I got this watch if you tell me more about yourself and where you came from. Stuff like that."

Lector chuckled.

"Let’s add more to the deal. You still want that large sum of money, right? I’ll trade you every single Unit I have if you tell me how you know most things that you know. How did you become this sharp, mentally present and resolute? Traits that no zeros have. Traits that most Prowlers struggle to attain."

Lucien shook his head, still smiling.

Lector just gazed at Lucien’s watch. Then he shrugged.

"Guess we don’t have a deal, then."

"No, we do."

Lucien sat comfortably.

"First, this watch was given to me by my Aunt just before she died of a certain sickness. Her name was Suzan. The one you call Sultra Suzie."