There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 255

Chapter 255: Chapter 248. A Bug In His Stomach

"How was it?" Radia asked as they walked back from the main house to the annex.

"It’s short, so it’s nice," Zein shrugged.

He thought he would have to go through some kind of nerve-wracking event, but it turned out to be a casual short affair. The time they took to walk between the annex and the main building was longer than the meeting itself.

The Matriarch is also more amiable than he thought. The title made him think of a queen-like figure, but if he looked at Radia’s situation, this casual feeling was actually more fitting.

Letting her son resign and roam around the world while giving the Chairman position to the young grandson? Seemed very flexible, this family.

Radia let out another hearty laugh that further proved Zein’s conjecture. The man seemed to be more relaxed and free in this estate, just like how Rina would shed her chic persona once there were no public eyes. The fact that he didn’t bring out his summoned secretary and let Jock stay in the annex meant that he trusted the security of the estate.

Truly the fortress of Althrea.

"We never really liked serving glib," Radia told the guide with a smirk.

Zein arched his brow. "Even though you’re a merchant?"

Well, calling the Mallarcs a merchant was, of course, an understatement. But they were a family whose main power was in the economy; producing things and selling them. Even though the members of the family held high positions in the group, it was still a profession in which the magic of bullshit and glib was prevalent.

"That’s exactly why," Radia chuckled. "We’ve been spending our time working with our tongue, so why should we do that again at home?"

"Huh..." Zein tilted his head. So...like a butcher who was sick of eating meat, or a fisherman who got fed up with fish, perhaps. "Make sense," he nodded.

Zein didn’t think he would stay in this place for long, despite the kind invitation. But even this short time opened his mind and perspective a little bit. How nice, perhaps he should roam around a bit more instead of staying in the compound. Going to places without any goal seemed like a fun option now, perhaps because he started to find his ’home’. Indeed, having a place he could return to make the prospect of a journey away more insightful.

Looking at the sky that was perfect for an outing, Zein was reminded of the many places he still hadn’t visited with Bas. The aquarium, the sea, the Temple...

The Temple...

"Be honest," Zein turned to look at Radia, who was raising his brow in confusion.

"About what?"

"About the Temple,"

Zein stopped walking. They were in the middle of the bridge over an artificial river separating the main building from the rest of the estate, and upon hearing Zein’s tone, Radia walked to the railing, staring at the flowing water with a suppressed smile.

"As I told you, we’ll wait for the investigation result," he said, with an uncharacteristic distress in his voice.

"So you are investigating them?"

"Of course," Radia tapped on the railing slowly, but firmly, the clanking sound and vibration reflected his uncomfortable indignation. "I don’t like being blindsided."

"But can we do anything against them?"

Radia let out a sound that felt like a mix between a chuckle and a choke. "It’s a tricky question in which I have no definite answer to," he leaned against the railing and intertwined his fingers, looking up with a wry smile. "Can we go against them? Of course, we can. Whether or not we can win, however, is a different thing."

Zein leaned his back to the railing, propping his elbow on the red-painted iron. "That’s rare," he said. He could feel that Radia hoped his--their--suspicion was just that...suspicion. That they didn’t have to go against a place backed by deities.

"You think I’m some omnipotent being?" the man chuckled. "I can’t even go against the President."

"Because you’re not the Patriarch yet?"

"Yep," Radia smirked. While he was the Chairman of Mortix, he wasn’t the head of the family. Not yet, anyway. Whether or not he could make a move was decided by the Matriarch. Of course, as long as it was something that would benefit the family, Ludya would give the representative token to the heir, but for something as tricky as going against an Old House or divine entity?

Better not count on it.

"Haa...I can’t even ask a man to stay," Radia muttered bitterly.

"Hmm," Zein glanced at the rare forlorn gaze. Was this why Radia went into this pessimistic spiral? Did he get into another argument? Or a bitter path down memory lane?

Radia’s melancholic mood made Zein think about his own lover.

"Bas..." he muttered. "Is he there because of this?" Zein frowned then, as he realized the possibility. "Is he looking for an answer rather than looking for support?"

Radia patted the girl’s head and told them solemnly. "He’s the Patriarch of House Ishtera, so act properly."

"Oh!" the girls gasped, and then proceeded to let go of Radia’s arms, straightened their backs and curtsied elegantly. "Good afternoon," they said in unison, with a trained melodious voice that bore no trace of their earlier cheekiness.

"...yes, good afternoon," Zein replied with a raised brows. Was changing their vibe in the blink of an eye a genetic trait in Mallarc’s bloodline?

And then, right a second after, they clung to their uncle again, forgoing the elegant act. "Radia! Radia! We meet the younger Han before, but is it true that the Serpent Lord is in the Temple?"

Zein raised his brow and Radia tilted his head. "What about it?"

"Eeeh...why is he still going there?" the older girl purses her lips in annoyance.

"Yeah, we don’t like the Saintess!" the younger one stomped her feet on the bridge. "Isn’t the Serpent Lord her favorite? I heard an insider rumor that she actually likes him,"

"Yeah, yeah!"

Zein felt the corner of his eyes twitched, and something was bothering his stomach again.

"What if she tried to seduce him again?" the older girl pulled on Radia’s arm and whined. "Isn’t that why he stopped going to the Temple long ago?"

Radia heard a creaking sound then, and glanced at the guide’s hand on the railing. "Is that true?" Zein asked. His tone was calm, but his voice was cold.

"There’s a rumor like that," Radia looked at the pretty but cold face with an amused gaze. It never crossed his mind that Zein would have this kind of reaction. If it wasn’t clear from his expressionless face, then the handprints on the slightly dented railing should be enough proof of the turbulence inside the usually aloof guide.

"But we heard it from a guide who learned in the Temple!" as if it wasn’t bad enough, the girls provided even more supporting statements.

"Yeah! So that must be true!"

It took Radia a minute to tell the girls--and Zein, indirectly so--that someone loyal like Bassena wouldn’t be swayed by anyone, not even the Saintess. After calming themselves, and making Radia promise to give them updates, the girls proceeded to move along, going back to their own residence after waving shyly at Zein.

"Anyway--"

Before Radia could say anything more, Zein already shot him a glare. "Get me to that Temple."