CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 40: STALKER SYNDROME

"I know I called, but I didn’t think you would drop everything to get here?" Uncle Mack asked, partially in a reprimanding tone.

They were sitting in the living room with Aeron, who fell asleep clinging to Zaen. Ann was sitting right by Zaen’s side with a fake smile plastered on her face.

"I have never seen such familial bonds before," she laughed politely. "The moment he heard about it, he dropped everything. That’s why the facility sent me over with him to help him adjust and continue his training."

Uncle Mack nodded, though he was still a bit skeptical. How could he not be when the strange woman couldn’t hold his gaze and kept glancing over to Zaen?

There was something predatory in her gaze, but at the same time, she had a gentleness Mack couldn’t quite describe.

And the way she’s dressed.

The woman was quite ’gifted’. The fitted blouse and pencil skirt did little to hide the curves beneath.

While he himself had no interest in anyone, woman or man, he could see the appeal she’d have among men, especially boys like Zaen.

Her hand had already disappeared behind his back, perhaps touching him. Mack looked over at Zaen, and he didn’t seem bothered by it at all. Still, he needed to confirm something.

"Dr. Ann, could you let me have a word with my nephew in private?"

"Oh my, of course," she replied, leaning over to Zaen, touching his thigh. "Call me if you need anything."

If Zaen had eyes, he would have rolled them into oblivion. He knew taking her with him was a mistake, but even then, he didn’t expect her to be all over him like that, especially in front of Mack.

"So, that woman," Mack said as soon as Ann was gone. "Are you comfortable with her?"

"Yes," Zaen smiled back. "She’s a bit much, but she doesn’t mean any harm."

Although Zaen said that with a straight face, he himself didn’t believe it. Ann was a wolf that remained in heat at all times of the day. Having her there was already a bit much, but since she could protect everyone there with her ’unique’ skill, he had agreed to her demands.

During their study session, Jenna had told him that all players can have two types of skills. One was generic, meaning multiple people could have the same skill, and the second was unique skills.

These were skills/abilities that only one person in the world could have. Only after the player dies can someone else gain the same unique skill.

Ann’s unique skill was called ’Haven’. It was a barrier skill that protected a building as long as she was residing in the place’s master bedroom.

Obviously, Zaen didn’t believe such a skill existed, but after looking through the shop, he found the same skill. Naturally, the skill was locked and was worth a whopping fifty thousand coins.

That’s why he had no choice but to let her stay there.

But there was a slight problem.

The master bedroom in question was his room.

There’s no way I’m sleeping with her. Thankfully, I won’t have to.

The building had more than enough rooms to stay in. He planned on leaving the master bedroom for Ann and taking one of the spare rooms for himself.

Since Karloff said he’d send someone to pick them up when the ’time was right’, Zaen had no idea how long they’d be there. So it was wise to avoid Ann beyond the complete necessity.

"About the facility," Uncle Mack continued. "Is it any good? I have read the reviews, but it seems too good to be true."

"Why don’t you see for yourself?"

Instead of replying, Zaen smiled and jumped onto the table between them, while showing off his skills. Uncle Mack was worried and shot out to grab his hand, but Zaen waved him back and, after performing a few ’stunts’, returned to his seat.

"What do you think?"

Mack was silenced in surprise. How could someone improve so much in less than a day? He pinched his cheek, wondering if it was a dream, but the pain was real.

Honestly, Zaen felt a bit guilty and didn’t have the heart to tell his uncle that he had been playing him all along.

He had deliberately made himself seem incapable and in need of rehab because he wanted to get away from there in case any harm came to them. All the while, his perception had almost cured him of his ’blindness’.

"Uncle?" Zaen asked when Mack shot to his feet.

He was worried the stunt he just pulled might have given Uncle Mack a stroke. But to his surprise, Mack rushed out of the room. Zaen followed him out, only to see an unexpected sight.

"Sniffling? He’s... crying?"

Uncle Mack was indeed crying while profusely thanking Ann for helping his child get better in less than a day. Zaen was surprised because it was the first time he had seen Mack cry.

As a former boxing champion and a cut-throat lawyer, Mack had never shed a tear, at least not in front of the boys. Perhaps he wanted to stay strong to be an example, but in that moment, the strong man persona shattered.

***

After a nice dinner of Aeron’s favorite food, everyone retired to their rooms. Tomorrow, Aeron would leave, so Zaen went to tuck him in and told the boy his favorite story before returning to his new room.

"What are you doing here?" Zaen asked Ann.

"Just wanted to wish you good night—"

"Good night," he said, pushing past her into the room.

Ann just stood there for a second, her head resting against the closed door of his room.

"Oh, you feisty little man," she whispered, breathing unnaturally. "You can pretend all you want, but I know you want to be my lab rat as much as I want to play with you."

Still thinking of ways to persuade him, she returned to her room, not noticing the person lurking right outside the window of Zaen’s room.