Seed of Titan-Chapter 100: The Boy Who Dallied

Following Samara’s lead, the other three also leaped off the sidewalk.

"These trees aren’t that tall, but they provide decent cover, especially with this blackout. Make sure to stay hidden until we reach the mansion," Samara ordered.

The four of them proceeded through the trees, occasionally crouching or dashing when they passed an area without much foliage.

Shortly after, the group arrived at the wall surrounding the mansion. Still hiding behind a tree, Samara made a signal to Paul, who slowly walked to the wall and tiptoed beside it, peeking at the mansion’s courtyard.

A few seconds later, he returned to the group.

"I don’t see anyone. The house looks really dark too. Do you think the professor’s asleep or has he been kidnapped already?" Paul whispered.

Samara contemplated briefly and asked, "Did you notice any signs of fighting or anything that looks out of place?"

"Nope. It’s all neat and tidy. You can take a look for yourself if you doubt me, but there’s really nothing here."

"No need. Thanks," Samara replied before turning to Drai.

"What do you think, Drai? Are you perhaps mistaken about this Manic Friend or is this entire matter a false lead? Even if we’re too late, there should have been traces of fighting here unless Professor Ravi had decided to surrender peacefully, which I think is unlikely."

Drai closed his eyes and pondered over the matter.

’Like Professor Samara said, there’s a possibility that Donk had misled me. But for what reason? It’s not like I could easily break in here without Liam’s help. And if I had failed to breach the dome, wouldn’t that make his misdirection useless? Unless it’s some kind of prank, I don’t think Donk was lying. But maybe he got the info wrong in the first place since it was from eavesdropping. Hmm...

’But if the info is true, then did I wrongly guess Manic Friend’s identity? I don’t think so. Donk mentioned ’working together’, so the other likely options are my party members and maybe some of VV members, like Enda or Muzie. But can any of these students really help this organization with their research?

’If I really had to suspect someone else, it would probably be Christo since there’s a chance he actually comes from a renowned or fallen alchemist family. The intruders could be aiming to hold him hostage in exchange for help from his family, but then why didn’t they send someone strong to our dorm to secure Christo? Hmm, I don’t think Christo is really the one they’re looking for...

’Wait! Now that I think of it...’

Drai opened his eyes and looked at Samara, who was currently waiting for his reply.

"Where are the others, Professor?" Drai suddenly asked.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Samara asked back, confused by Drai’s question that didn’t seem to relate to the things she was asking him.

"The other professors—where are they?" Drai asked once more.

"Well, I don’t know. After I finished my training, I came out to check on the blackout and stumbled into Professor Paul and Smith. After that we decided to head to the faculty, and there we found you standing at the junction," Samara explained.

Hearing this, Drai turned to Paul and asked him the same question.

"I passed by several professors after Smith was finished with his consultation since we were using the common room near my residence complex. Because of the blackout, I had intended to accompany Smith on his way home while checking on students. But on our way out, we met Professor Samara, and you know the rest," Paul explained before asking, "What is this all about, Drai?"

"I’m just wondering why we haven’t met other professors on our way here. I actually suspected they were somehow forced to stay inside their homes, but now it doesn’t seem likely since you’ve met a few of them, Professor," Drai answered, looking slightly confused.

"If there really was some kind of spell that could contain the professors, then it’s unlikely that Professor Samara and I can still roam freely outside," Paul remarked.

"Hmm... There’s also a possibility that we were somehow excluded from the spell. It could be because I was training underground, and maybe in your case it’s because you’re with Smith," Samara said, conveying her thoughts.

"What about the ones I saw earlier?" Paul questioned.

"They could have been excluded too for whatever reason. Honestly, I also find it strange that it’s been so quiet since I left my house. Normally, the Combat Faculty brutes would’ve already held a fighting tournament in the Central Plaza just to kill boredom, which would result in most of the professors gathering there to watch. But let alone a loud commotion, I didn’t even hear so much as a whisper when we passed near the area," Samara said, feeling more suspicious of the whole situation.

"Then what do you think we should do? Knock on all their doors?" Paul asked.

Samara thought about it briefly before saying, "We check on the professors after we’re done here." She then stood up and inspected the surroundings once more before signaling the group to follow her.

Drai and Paul looked alert as they followed Samara outside the trees and onto the sidewalk.

"Looks like I was right. If there really is an ambush squad nearby, they should’ve attacked us by now," Samara commented as she made her way to Ravi’s front gates.

Since the mansion’s security system was down, Samara easily opened the gates and entered the courtyard, heading to the front doors.

Paul followed closely. He was looking way less alert now, curiously inspecting the surroundings.

As Drai was about to enter, he suddenly realized Smith wasn’t there. He looked around and couldn’t spot him.

’Don’t tell me...’ Drai thought suspiciously. His gaze was glued to the trees where they had come from.

Shortly after, Smith finally emerged. He jogged toward Drai and stopped beside him, looking slightly exhausted.

Sensing Drai’s gaze on him, Smith hurriedly explained, "Sorry, I was just—"

"I know," Drai flatly remarked before turning around, walking to Ravi’s front porch that was too familiar to him.

"Wait!" Smith exclaimed as he hastily caught up to Drai. "What do you mean by that?"

Drai glanced at the seemingly frantic boy and said, "You did that, didn’t you? Don’t worry, I understand."

"H-how could you u-understand?" Smith nervously questioned. A bead of sweat ran down his forehead.

"Experience," Drai curtly replied.

Smith somehow felt like he was being toyed with. His heart began to palpitate as he began to feel a sense of apprehension toward the infamous young man in front of him.

When Drai and Smith arrived at the porch, Samara asked the latter suspiciously, "I know you took your time, Smith. What were you doing?"

Hearing Samara’s words, Paul immediately raised an eyebrow while Drai looked unconcerned.

Meanwhile, Smith’s hands quivered. He didn’t expect this sudden interrogation. Opening his mouth, he slowly stuttered, "I-I... I was..."

But before Smith could finish his words, Drai suddenly interjected.

"Pooping."

"..."

"..."

"..."

A few seconds later, Smith nodded reluctantly to Samara.

Seeing the boy’s confirmation, Samara quickly turned around, visibly trying to suppress her disgust.

"Let’s see if the professor’s home," she said before knocking on the door, trying her best not to think about Smith’s turd which she believed was lying somewhere among the nearby trees.