366 Unexpected Visitors
"Uh, what?! Seven days?!" Nero widened his eyes, unsure of how to react.
"Yes," Quinn sighed. As he walked into the light, the baggy dark circles under his eyes became visible. "I haven't slept a wink!"
"Wh-Why?" Nero asked.
"I was told to keep a close eye on you and protect you in case something unexpected were to happen," Quinn responded in an even tone.
"Told by who?!" Chase was the one who asked this question, his tone filled with frustration. "I've been hearing this since day one! But you still refuse to tell us who was the one who asked you for this!"
"Oh, no," Quinn shook his head. "I don't have a problem telling anyone else. But I refuse to answer someone like you."
"S-Some… Huh?! What do you mean someone like me!" Chase erupted, his face turning red.
Not minding him or the ruckus he was creating, Nero left Anastasia to handle him and asked Quinn a question, "Who?"
"Lucas," Quinn shrugged. "He sent me– I mean, us… He sent us here. He also asked us to bring along a healer when we visit you above the auction hall."
Anastasia chipped in. "It's because we were given immediate treatment by the healer they brought along that we barely survived long enough to reach the hospital in time."
Chase calmed down when he was reminded of that. Indeed, all three of them were only alive because of Quinn and Grace… and Lucas?
Wait a minute…
Wait just a damn minute…
"Wait, why did Lucas ask you both to bring along a healer? Did he know what would happen?!" Chase exclaimed.
Quinn clicked his tongue in annoyance. He shot a quick glance at Chase and answered in an exasperated tone, "Just how would I know that?! I was asked to save you all if you were dying and keep an eye on Nero and Anastasia."
The side of Chase's eye twitched. So he wasn't on the priority list?! Wow! Shaking his head, he accused, "I know, I think he is secretly working for Spider! We should go report him to the police!"
Everyone in the room except Nero turned to look at him with a deadpan expression before Quinn spoke up:
"Are you dumb? If he was working for Spider as you say, then why would he ask me to save you all."
"...." Chase remained silent for a while before coughing awkwardly.
Meanwhile, Nero was in deep thought.
Yes, even he was intrigued to know how Lucas knew about what was going to happen.
He said he would send him people to take the Petal Of Ambrosia from Nero since it would be needed to brew a potion that could cure his master.
So these were his people? He never knew Lucas was friends with Quinn and Grace… Wait, was he even friends with them?
None of them seemed like the people he would keep in his hangout group. Wait, did he even have anyone in his hangout group aside from Kent?!
Shaking his head, Nero pulled himself out of his trail of thoughts and regarded Quinn with a cautious look.
He had met Quinn a few times in the academy, but after the Mock War, both of them never really interacted much.
There was no need and he always felt a twinge of hostility from Quinn. Well, to be honest, he was a little feral. He was hostile toward everyone!
How did Lucas manage to befriend someone like him, if he even did?
"So, I guess you are here for the Petals?" Nero asked.
"Yes," Quinn immediately replied. "Thank god, I didn't need to explain all that to you. Now, hand me over the petals so I can get the fuck out of here. Do you even know how bland hospital food is?!"
Nero blinked a couple of times. "I… No, I just woke up."
"....." Quinn stared at Nero in silence for a few seconds before rolling his eyes with a deep sigh. "It was obviously a rhetorical question."
Right then, the door to the room twirled open with a squeak, and a stunning blonde stormed in.
It was Grace Goodwill. Despite the plain clothes she was wearing – a black capri and a pink crop top – to blend in with the crowd, she looked absolutely arresting.
She carried a regal air with her, effortlessly conveying her high status without needing any introduction.
Her long blonde hair flowed down to her slender waist, ending in curls, swaying with every step she took. In her hands, she carried a large tray filled with food.
Upon entering the room, her eyes darted toward the patient's bed. Seeing that Nero had woken up, her eyebrow shot up in surprise.
"The king is awake," she commented.
"I'm… not… yet," Nero squinted his eyes. He couldn't put a finger on it, but for some reason, Grace seemed different.
Previously, it felt like she was wearing a mask to hide her true self. But now, even though they hadn't spoken, he could sense that she had changed somehow.
Quinn, meanwhile, frowned upon seeing the food plate and asked, "How could you even eat all that?"
Grace turned to Quinn, her face blank. She shrugged nonchalantly and replied, "Well, it's food."
The frown on Quinn's face deepened into a scowl upon hearing that dumb answer.
"Huh?! Aren't you supposed to be an elite? A noble? Shouldn't your palate be... more... I don't know, fancy? How can you eat that garbage!"
Grace continued to stare at Quinn, her expression still blank, before repeating herself as if it were a sufficient answer. "It's food!"
Quinn held Grace's gaze. He didn't know if she was truly a noble, since her manner of speaking was that of a slum rat discovering edible food for the first time.
And people call him the weird one.
He then shook his head and turned to Nero, extending his hand as if demanding something to be handed over.
"Anyway," he said. "Give us the Petals. I'm getting out of here."
