Please get me out of this BL novel...I'm straight! novel Chapter 220

Chapter 220: ’Distraction!’

Kane was barking orders, his voice cutting through the crackle of the fire as men scrambled to form a perimeter. Buckets clanged against one another, and the villagers moved with an almost mechanical urgency. Florian stood off to the side, his arms crossed, eyes narrowed as he silently observed.

’They’re all the same...’

Now that most of the villagers had gathered, Florian could finally take a closer look. Thin. Pale. Hollow cheeks. Eyes sunken deep into their faces. They moved like men possessed—tired, yet driven by some unseen force.

’Sick. Every last one of them.’

Even the strongest among them looked barely capable of standing, yet they pushed themselves, muscles strained and limbs trembling.

Florian’s thoughts were interrupted when he noticed a subtle shift in the air. Out of the corner of his eye, Heinz was moving, slipping away from Kane’s watchful gaze like a shadow.

’Here we go.’

Florian stayed still, eyes on the fire, but he could sense Heinz approaching.

"Aden."

The voice was low, just above a whisper. Florian barely turned his head, but he didn’t need to look to know it was him.

"Anastasius..." Florian murmured, keeping up appearances in case anyone was watching.

"Listen carefully." Heinz’s tone was calm, but there was a layer of urgency beneath it. His face was close—too close—and Florian felt his pulse quicken again.

’Damn it, not now!’

"When I distribute the mana stones," Heinz murmured softly, "that’s your chance. Everyone will be too distracted trying to fight the fire. Slip away and head straight for the storage unit."

Florian’s throat went dry at the mention of the storage unit.

’That place...’

The memory of the door cracking open flashed through his mind. The swarm of insects. The overwhelming, gut-churning stench that had slammed into him like a wall.

’Every question we have will be answered once I finally get a peak. I just know it.’

"I’ll keep the fire going," Heinz continued, his eyes flicking briefly toward the roaring flames. "Azure won’t let it die down. It’ll give you plenty of time to search."

"Got it," Florian whispered, his voice steady, but inside, his heart was pounding.

There was a pause.

Florian glanced at Heinz. His lips were slightly parted like he was about to say something else, but... he hesitated.

’There it is again.’

That brief flicker of hesitation. Heinz had been acting off all day. Something was on his mind, but he wasn’t saying it.

’Is it... because of me?’

Florian’s cheeks warmed, his thoughts drifting to the filthy dream that had haunted him. His body still remembered it—too vividly. And to make it worse, his heart had been reacting to Heinz all day, pounding in his chest at the smallest touch or glance.

’Stupid. This isn’t the time to be thinking about that!’

"I’ll be keeping them busy," Heinz said softly, finally pushing past whatever hesitation had held him back. "And... if anything goes wrong..."

His eyes locked onto Florian’s, the intensity making Florian’s stomach flip.

"Shout," Heinz said, his voice low but firm. "As loud as you can. I’ll come."

Florian blinked.

’He’ll come for me...’

He hated how those words sent a rush of warmth through him. His brain was screaming at him to focus, but his damn heart refused to listen. ’What the fuck is this world doing to my brain. Get yourself together!’

"Understood." Florian nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. He swallowed, trying to steady himself.

"Are you ready?" Heinz asked, his expression softening just a fraction, but it did nothing to calm the storm in Florian’s chest.

Florian took a slow, deep breath, willing the tension out of his shoulders. He had to do this. Whatever was inside that storage unit... it held the answers they needed.

Another breath.

’You can do this.’

"Yes," he whispered, his voice steadier this time. His eyes met Heinz’s, determination replacing the hesitation.

Heinz gave a small nod, his lips curling into the faintest smirk.

"Good," he murmured, and just for a moment, his fingers brushed against Florian’s hand before he pulled away.

’Focus, Aden. Don’t screw this up.’

"Be smart," Heinz added quietly, stepping back toward the group, his voice just low enough for Florian to hear. "I won’t be able to watch over you this time."

"I’ll be fine," Florian murmured, though his heart was still pounding harder than it should.

’One task. Get to the storage unit. Find out what’s wrong.’

As Heinz raised his hand and prepared to channel his magic, Florian shifted his stance, ready to slip away the moment the chaos reached its peak.

’Here we go.’

’Of course, they’re amazed...’ Florian’s eyes narrowed as he studied the stones. ’High-quality mana stones.’

’Mana stones... they’re used to draw out the magic stored in an arcanior’s body. A conduit, a tool to channel power into the physical world.’

’And he’s giving them out like candy...’

’He’s putting on a show.’

’Now.’

’Come on... stay distracted...’