Chapter 482 What Is That?
Just as Hugmuinn was about to slip the folded note into Raven’s pocket, the sound of approaching footsteps suddenly echoed through the corridor.
His hand froze mid–motion the moment his peripheral vision caught sight of the figure rounding the corner.
“Lady Valor,” came a low, strained voice.
It was Thorian–pale–faced and clearly still injured–walking toward them at an unhurried pace.
His eyes flicked briefly to Hugmuinn’s hand, lingering for a fraction of a second before calmly glancing away.
Hugmuinn instantly drew his hand back, as if scorched. The note remained clenched in his fist.
Raven noticed Hugmuinn’s subtle, evasive movement but didn’t question it–not yet. Instead, she turned her gaze toward Thorian and asked, “You’re injured. Why are you out of the hospital?”
A faint, fragile smile touched Thorian’s lips. “I heard something happened here. I couldn’t rest easy, so I came to check in. I know this area better than Hugmuinn–if there’s anything I can assist with, I’m at your disposal.”
Raven looked him up and down. Despite the injuries, he still insisted on being of service.
“You’re not needed here anymore. Go rest.”
She didn’t offer warmth–just a calm, final tone.
Then, turning to Hugmuinn, she said, “Seventy–two hours are almost up. Go to Indigo Lab. Bring Rin to me.”
“Understood,” Hugmuinn nodded.
As he answered, he stole a glance at Thorian’s face. Only after confirming there was no reaction–no sign that Thorian had spotted the note–did he finally breathe a little easier.
But just as he stepped away to leave, Thorian suddenly spoke again. “Hugmuinn just got to Broson City. He’s not familiar with the area yet. I’ll go fetch Rin.”
He couldn’t risk Rin blurting something out to Raven. He had to get there first–had to warn him.
Raven studied Thorian for a second, then gave a slight nod. “All right.”
She cast a glance toward a shadowy corner nearby.
Hidden there, exactly as instructed, was a Star God Association operative tasked with tracking Thorian.
They’d kept their distance to avoid detection, but so far, the only thing they’d discovered was a single meeting between Thorian and an unidentified man. No details. No words.
Still, her instincts screamed that Thorian was hiding something.
But she knew his personality–if he didn’t want to talk, no amount of interrogation would change that.
Now that he was heading off to find Rin, maybe the agent in the shadows would finally uncover something useful.
With that thought, Raven made her way to the car Hugmuinn had brought.
He followed quickly, falling in beside her.
But just as he passed Thorian, Thorian gave him a long, sharp look–a silent warning, unmistakable in its weight.
Hugmuinn sighed, his expression growing darker and more conflicted.
He and Thorian had disagreed before–on methods, on loyalty–but he had always considered Thorian a partner. Someone who fought beside him. Someone he could trust.
But now? Thorian had allied himself with outsiders. Worse–he was working with the man who had kidnapped Hugmuinn’s brother. And for what? To betray Raven?
The truth still sat like stone in his gut, heavy and unbearable.
“Hugmuinn?” Raven’s voice brought him back. She glanced at him sideways, noting the way he still hadn’t started the car… or unclenched his hand. “Is there something you want to tell me?”
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