"Friends?" Rory looked at Bree’s earnest, hopeful expression.
She couldn’t tell whether this girl truly wanted to befriend her... or was quietly testing sothing.
But one thing was clear––the news that Bree was a human female had already begun circulating among the Empire’s upper ranks.
If she beca close to her, her own identity might not stay hidden for long.
Yes, they were both human. But Bree was still a stranger. And Rory would never risk exposing herself for soone she didn’t know.
Not now.
Not ever.
With that thought, Rory t Bree’s expectant gaze and slowly shook her head.
Her voice was calm. "I don’t know what you an by this ’sense of closeness.’ You’ve probably heard from Sylas already—he and I were once matched. I think that makes things... a bit awkward between us. So let’s leave it at that. No need to beco friends."
She didn’t wait for Bree’s reaction. Turning away, she led Vincent and the others toward the hospital.
Behind her, Bree stood frozen. The light in her eyes dimd almost instantly.
"...Sylas," she asked softly, her voice trembling, "did I... say sothing wrong? She... doesn’t seem to like ."
She sniffed quietly, her voice thick with hurt. "I only wanted to be friends. I didn’t an anything else..."
Seeing her like this, Sylas felt his heart tighten painfully. He moved closer at once, his voice soft with reassurance.
"Bree, you didn’t do anything wrong. This has nothing to do with you."
To comfort her further, he added, "She used our past match as an excuse. That just ans she feels guilty. She probably regrets breaking the match with . Now that she sees with you... she’s uncomfortable. That’s why she rejected you. My Bree is so lovely––if she doesn’t want to be your friend, that’s her loss."
He gently wiped away the faint tear gathering at the corner of her eye, his touch careful and tender.
"So don’t be upset over soone like that. It’s not worth it."
His tone softened even more. "You’re carrying my child now. The doctor said you need to stay happy—smile more."
***
anwhile, Rory and her group stepped into the elevator. The doors slid shut with a soft hum.
Yuel spoke first. "Rory, I already checked just now. Sylas and that female—Bree—ca here for an examination."
He paused for a mont before continuing. "She’s already pregnant with his child."
Yuel could communicate with all plant life.
While Rory had been speaking with Bree earlier, he had already quietly questioned the plants around the hospital.
Hearing the news now, Rory wasn’t surprised at all.
"That’s about what I expected."
Females who ca here were either visiting soone or here for a check-up. The mont she saw Sylas and Bree at the entrance, she had already guessed that Bree might be pregnant.
Vincent fell into a brief thought before speaking.
"If that’s the case... then Bree is very likely a human female. Sylas is already Rank Ten. The higher a beastman’s Rank, the harder it becos to conceive offspring. Unless... the female is human."
Jasper nodded in agreent, adding calmly, "Three months ago, Sylas was only at peak Rank Eight. For him to reach peak Rank Ten this quickly... It’s very likely connected to Bree’s blood."
No beastman could jump two Ranks in such a short ti.
With Sylas’s natural talent, even under normal training, it would take at least two years just to break into Rank Nine.
Yet in three months, he had reached Rank Ten.
To outsiders, it was almost unbelievable.
Xarion listened to the three of them discussing Bree, his brows knitting slightly.
He clearly felt they were paying far too much attention to this so-called human female.
He glanced at them, then spoke flatly, "Does it even matter whether she’s human or not? The Female Master isn’t befriending her. And Sylas’s match is already broken. They have nothing to do with us."
Unless the insect race was invading again—sothing that threatened everyone—why should they care?
Yes, human females were rare.
Precious.
Their blood could help beastn advance in Rank.
But they didn’t need that.
So why bother?
After a pause, Xarion’s gaze sharpened slightly as he studied Vincent, Yuel, and Jasper.
"...Don’t tell ," he said slowly, "you’re interested in her blood?"
Given how calculating these three could be, it wasn’t an unreasonable suspicion.
"You’re overthinking it." Vincent replied calmly. "If soone wants to use a human female’s blood to advance... They would have to beco her follower—or her partner."
"Then why are you all so focused on her?" Xarion pressed.
There was sothing off. He could feel it. These three were hiding sothing.
But their mouths were sealed tight. If they didn’t want to speak, no one could force the truth out of them.
Yuel spoke at last, his tone calm but edged with quiet gravity. "Of course it matters. It’s because a human female’s blood... can create high-Rank beastn."
He looked directly at Xarion, enunciating each word with deliberate clarity.
"You may have grown up in the Snow Domain, but you’ve surely heard the stories. Once... there was soone who used a human female’s blood to create a Rank Fifteen powerhouse."
Silence fell for a beat.
Then Yuel continued, his gaze sharpening.
"This may seem unrelated to us right now. But who can guarantee it will stay that way? Bree’s identity has already begun spreading quietly among the Empire’s upper ranks. I have a feeling... it won’t stay hidden for long. When that happens... All the unattached Rank Nine and Rank Ten elites in the Empire... They’ll all try to beco her partner."
"And once they do... They will inevitably seek her blood."
Yuel’s voice dropped slightly. "And what if... among those people... There’s soone who holds a grudge against us? What if that person uses her blood... to break into Rank Eleven... Or even Rank Twelve?"
The implication hung heavily in the air. The Empire hadn’t seen a Rank Twelve in a very, very long ti.
But now... a human female had appeared.
Which ant it was no longer impossible.
Xarion’s silver-gray eyes darkened, a sharp glint of killing intent flashing through them.
He straightened, voice cold and decisive.
"Then I’ll kill her. If she’s gone, the threat disappears."
"Absolutely not!" Rory’s voice cut through the air instantly. She stepped forward without hesitation, stopping him.
"Bree is a human female. If you kill her... you’ll die too."
She rembered clearly what Jasper had told her before. Anyone who killed a human female would face divine punishnt from the Beast God.
No exceptions.
Xarion’s ability might be terrifying, but it wasn’t enough to defy a god.
Vincent spoke as well, his tone firm. "Rory is right. Xarion, you cannot take that risk."
Nix, who had been quietly piecing everything together, finally caught up. He nodded vigorously.
"Yeah—Vincent’s right. You absolutely cannot do sothing like that."
Rory stepped closer to Xarion, her expression serious, her voice steady.
"Did you hear ? You’re not allowed to take that risk."
Then, after a brief pause, her tone softened slightly.
"And besides... what Yuel said might not even happen."
Even if it did, she wasn’t afraid. At worst... she would use her own blood to help Vincent and the others advance.
If their lives were ever truly in danger, she wouldn’t care about hiding her identity anymore.
But for now, nothing had happened yet. And there was no need to act on shadows.
"Ding—"
The elevator doors slid open.
The mont Rory stepped out with Vincent and the others, they were greeted by one of Gina’s partners waiting outside.
"Rory, you’re finally here. My Female Master has been waiting for you in the ward."
Since Vincent and the others couldn’t enter, the man turned to them politely.
"Gentlen, I’ll take you to the lounge to rest."
Vincent inclined his head, then turned to Rory, his voice gentle.
"Rory, go ahead and see Gina. We’ll wait for you in the lounge."
"Alright." Rory nodded and made her way toward the ward.
The door was slightly ajar.
As she approached, she caught sight of Gina reclining against the bed.
Beside her sat a man in a crisp white shirt—refined, elegant, his presence as smooth as jade. He was feeding her fruit with quiet attentiveness.
Their movents were intimate, natural.
Gina’s eyes rested on him with a soft smile, her expression warm and faintly affectionate.
The air between them... was unmistakably tender.
Knock, knock.
Rory tapped lightly on the door.
At the sound, both of them turned.
"Rory!"
Gina’s eyes lit up instantly. "Co in, co in!"
She gently nudged the man beside her.
"Anis, step aside for a mont. I’ll call you when I need you."
Anis nodded obediently. He set down the fruit, stood up, and calmly tidied the table with practiced grace.
Before leaving, he gave Rory a polite, gentle nod in greeting, then carried the fruit tray out.
As he exited, he thoughtfully closed the door behind him.
Once they were alone, Rory set down the gifts she’d brought, then smiled.
"Gina, that was your new partner, wasn’t it?"
Judging by how close they were, he clearly wasn’t just a follower.
Gina nodded.
"Yes, he is. His na is Anis."
She straightened slightly and asked with a playful smile,
"What do you think of him? Handso, right?"
Rory nodded without hesitation.
"He’s refined, and very good-looking. Gina, you’re amazing."
After praising her, Rory tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
"But... haven’t you been staying in the hospital this whole ti? You haven’t even reached your next matching period yet, and you haven’t been discharged. So how did you end up with a new partner?"
At the ntion of Anis, a faint blush spread across Gina’s face.
"He’s Leif’s older brother," she said softly. "A few days ago... Leif asked him to bring sothing."
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