The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]-Chapter 287: Family Dinner Pt.2 - the Allens’ Version [2]

The atmosphere in the dining room, which had already been tense from the start, got even worse now, becoming almost unbearable. The servants seemed to be all holding their breaths, quickly fleeing from the scene to the kitchen, leaving only the butler behind. After all, no matter how curious they were about the situation... Knowing too much wouldn’t do them any good. It was one thing to take a peek at this mysterious Young Master, whom most of the younger staff members hadn’t even known about until he suddenly appeared earlier that year, and another to hear about the Allen family’s deals! It wasn’t something they could gossip about, not even among themselves!

With the lack of their shuffling around, the dining room became even quieter, making Catherine’s cold voice sound jarring as she asked, "Lane, what are you talking about?"

"About that argument we had when you thought that I broke our deal. You know, because I met Damien when I had to visit the Association Headquarters for my routine guiding, and Damien figured out my identity... Then he mentioned it to Nyla at the International Awakened Summit, and you completely lost your minds over it, punishing me with a house arrest, even though I haven’t done anything wrong."

"Lane, what deal are you-"

"Damien already knows everything, so there’s no need for you to play dumb," Lane interrupted, stretching his lips in a smile.

Once again, the room fell into silence, tension almost palpable. Despite all the dishes spread in front of them, no one at the table had eaten more than two bites. Steam was rising from the hot appetizers, mouthwatering scents wafting in the air, trying to entice the dinner participants to taste the food, but they all seemed immune to the temptations, their full attention focused on the conversation instead, leaving not a single brain cell free to care about anything else.

"Lane," Miles spoke, his voice still calm and cold despite the shock he must have suffered. "I believe our deal was supposed to stay between us."

"Was it?" Lane shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "I don’t remember. Was there really such a condition?"

He honestly didn’t remember. Although, to be fair, that kind of came with the condition that he would keep his whole identity a secret anyway...

"Are you sure you know what you are doing? It was a both sided agreement. You should think it through carefully, before you do something you might regret..." ƒгeewёbnovel.com

Lane did nothing out of his father’s clear warning, only letting out a chuckle in response. "Haven’t I already done it? Breaking the deal, that is."

Miles’ eyes twitched. It seemed as if he had something to say, but before he could, Lane added,

"Besides, I came here today to end this stupid deal anyway."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lane felt that unpleasant tingling again. Domination’s effect. Cyrus disregarded Damien’s presence, even after the conversation they had had earlier, and activated his ability again, aiming at Lane.

Honestly, Lane felt like laughing in his face, but he was supposed to only reveal himself as an A-ranker, not the SS-ranker that he truly was, so he scrunched his face, feigning to be in pain, while he met Cyrus’ eyes defiantly.

"Father," Miles turned to Cyrus, lowering his voice in a quiet plea for the old man to stop. Not because he disapproved of his actions, but because he didn’t want the situation to escalate, as it would be hard to bring it under control afterward.

He then turned back to Lane, asking, "What do you mean by that?"

"Huh? Isn’t that obvious?" Lane lifted his brows. "Ending the deal means ending the deal. It will no longer be in effect. Why are you acting so surprised, though? Didn’t you get the message?"

"What message?"

"From grandma Diana."

Cyrus’ brows furrowed at the mention of the name, and Miles’ eyes twitched, but other than that, they maintained their composed facades.

"We didn’t receive anything," Miles said.

"Huh?" Lane blinked, surprised. "Then why did you call me here?"

"That’s because..." Miles paused, casting a glance at Damien. He quickly realized that there was no need for him to hold his tongue, though, since if Damien knew about the deal Lane had with the Allen family, then he would most likely also be aware of his other activities. So, he continued, "We have heard that you have been seen at the Association Headquarters several times over the past two weeks. Since it isn’t the time for your routine guiding yet, that would be a violation of our agreement, if that turned out to be correct... Thus, we wanted to discuss that with you."

"Ah, yes." Lane nodded. That made sense. Actually, now that he thought about it, it was kind of weird that the Allens hadn’t tried to contact him until now, despite the scene he had made in the foyer, and then at the cafeteria. Rumors sure took a long while to reach them! He was almost disappointed in himself. Was the rumor about him and Damien not juicy enough to spread well? Should he have made a spicier show?

That wasn’t important right now, though. "That is correct," he confirmed. "I have been visiting the Association recently. I’m trying to get my license done, you see."

"Your li..."

"My Esper license, yes," Lane grinned. "After all, it’s already been fifteen years since I awakened! It’s long overdue, don’t you think?"

Miles’ cold eyes turned even colder, as he asked, "And what do you need that license for, if I may ask?"

"Well, to work as an Esper, of course! I have already signed a contract with the Association, and as soon as I pass my exams, I’m going to become a Field Agent!"

Now it was not only Miles’ eyes, but his whole face that twitched at Lane’s words. "What are you possibly hoping to achieve? As an F-ranker, there’s nothing you can do. You’re hardly different from a regular civilian..."

’And yet, you have thrown this powerless F-ranker into higher-ranking dungeons before,’ Lane rolled his eyes internally. Out loud, though, he only said with a smile, "Perhaps I’m not just a useless F-ranker anymore."