The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]-Chapter 225: In and Out

Although Lane had only been gone for just over one day, when he stepped back into that damned mansion, the atmosphere inside was... different. Even more tense than before. It didn’t take long for Lane to figure out why, as he still remembered that feeling.

Except that now, it was barely a tickle. He could sense it, but it didn’t affect him at all.

Still, as it was not the time to reveal his rank yet, he let out a quiet groan, scrunching his face to put on a performance. It was a bit difficult, as he couldn’t assess precisely how intense his reaction should be...

It seemed his act was more or less correct, though, as when Gia glanced back at him, she just scoffed, her lips twisting in a taunting smirk. "How weak."

Lane smirked back in response (only inwardly, of course. He couldn’t just break his act!). ’How stupid.’

Gia led him up the stairs and into the main office. The very same one in which Lane had made that deal all those years ago... Although this time, it was not damaged in any way.

And, while Miles, Catherine, and Cyrus were there just like the last time, Lane was alone. Without Diana, or anyone else to back him up.

Well, it was fine. Lane stepped inside, letting the door close behind him, his attention focused on the changes in the Domination’s intensity, to adjust his expression when necessary.

"Yes?" he asked, his voice a bit strained. "What do you want?"

In response to his rude tone, Cyrus narrowed his eyes, amplifying his ability, and bringing Lane to his knees. Or, well, causing him to drop to his knees for the sake of performance.

"We’ve decided to let you go," he said, staring down at Lane. "Granted, as long as you follow our agreement. Be more careful this time, as there won’t be any next chances!"

’Right, right.’ Lane barely held back the desire to roll his eyes. He remained on his knees, waiting in silence...

"What are you still doing here? Didn’t you want to get out?"

...Wait, that was all? Did they really summon him back to the mansion just to tell him he could leave? Well, to be precise, they probably did it mainly so that Cyrus could use his Domination on him, but still! What a waste of time! And to think that if it wasn’t for them, Lane could be having sex with Damien right now!

All of this anger and frustration had to be swallowed down, though. It wouldn’t do him any good to get into an argument with the Allens now, when he needed to start preparing to renegotiate the deal. So, he only nodded his head in response, scrambled onto his feet, and got out of the office without a single word. Not even a ’thank you’ - after all, what was he supposed to thank them for? It was unlikely they had decided to let him go out of their ’goodwill’, it must have been Diana who had contacted them, and forced them to do so somehow!

Either way, in just a few minutes since coming in, he was already out of the door again. He stretched his back, and texted Damien and Ava, informing them about his release. Then, he walked out of the gates, called himself a cab - now that he was ’freed’, there were no longer any guards following him, thus he didn’t get a ride - and returned to Ava’s place.

The first thing he did once he was back was to check his laptop. And sure enough, there was a new message from Diana - relayed by Ariana, of course - sent the night before, stating that she had sent a video message to Cyrus Allen, reminding him about the deal.

Lane couldn’t help but smile as he read the few short lines. As expected, his grandmother was the most reliable!

Which is why it was important that if Lane were to reveal even just a part of his real rank, she were to be informed first. In person, preferably. So, Lane quickly pressed on ’respond’, and started writing Diana back, letting her know that he would come visit soon, as he had something important to discuss... He explained that it was something that absolutely couldn’t be solved through emails, and that it was of the ’utmost urgency’, to justify his visit, and was about to press send... When he paused.

It was important that as few people as possible knew about Diana’s condition. Lane knew it. That’s why he avoided mentioning it when he had told his story to Damien. But...

If not now, then when would Lane next get a chance? He couldn’t make trips to country H too often, for security reasons. After this time, perhaps he wouldn’t be able to visit again until the Allens were finally dealt with, which could take a few more years, depending on how things went...

So, after giving it some thought, he typed, ’There’s also someone I would like to introduce to you. Do you think it would be possible for me to bring him along?’ and sent the email before he could grow hesitant again.

Asking wouldn’t hurt. Worst-case scenario, Diana would just say no.

Once that was done, Lane moved on to apartment hunting. Although his block still stood, and had been repaired already, and his area was open to the residents again, it was still a Restricted Zone. People living there could enter... but not delivery drivers. Or housekeepers. Or any other non-essential workers.

So how was Lane supposed to keep on living there?

Besides, a new luxurious apartment building was recently constructed, with 122 floors. Wasn’t it a great opportunity to finally move? He had been living at that place for so long already!

And the same with his car. Although the one he had wasn’t exactly old... Why not get a new model? Who knew if the old one was even still intact, with all the monsters that got into the building, and later extermination efforts!

As for his clothes, and all the other stuff? Replace them as well, why not! Packing and moving seemed too much of a chore, and he couldn’t exactly pay for anyone to do it for him, not with his apartment being in a Restricted Zone!

He had a lot of time on his hands, anyway, as he was temporarily unemployed, so might as well use it to go on a shopping spree!