CHAPTER 371: ETHAN’S MISSION

"Do you know why Ethan was sent to the Association?"

"W-well..." Hearing Lane’s question, Nyla hesitated, not giving an immediate answer. Judging by her uneasy reaction, though, it wasn’t that she didn’t know the answer... But perhaps was reluctant to say it?

Lane lifted his brows. That was... quite suspicious. Nyla had come to the ManaTech to relay Ethan’s report and the suspicions it had raised to Lane, so why was she reluctant to talk about his mission now? Could it be that Ethan wasn’t just a simple spy? But if Nyla knew, and yet wasn’t willing to let him know even when he asked directly, then perhaps he should rethink how much he could trust her...

Just as he was thinking it, though, Nyla finally said, "His primary task is to spy on you and Team Leader Lennox, and report everything he discovers to our father. On top of that... Uh..." She hesitated again, throwing Lane uneasy glances.

Lane just lifted his brows even higher, and maintained eye contact, waiting for Nyla to continue. Although he was growing a bit impatient, he didn’t want to rush her too much, not yet at least. She was his sister, not his subordinate, he didn’t want to stress her out even more than she already clearly was...

He didn’t quite know himself what was the best approach.

Eventually, Nyla closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and spit it out, "On top of that, he is supposed to separate you and Team Leader Lennox. Scout Team Leader Lennox, if possible, but most importantly, ensure that you would lose his support."

"Hah!" Lane scoffed, almost slamming his cup on the table. Almost. He stopped himself just in time, and put it down normally. After all, if he ended up breaking it in AVA’S LAB, he would never hear the end of it.

Of course, what Nyla had said hadn’t come as a surprise to him. He already knew that Ethan was after Damien, and suspected that the Allens had something to do with it. They had previously tried to scout Damien through an arranged marriage with Nyla, so it made sense that the spy that they had sent would be instructed to seduce Damien and lure him to the Allen Guild.

Wanting to separate Lane from his supportive, powerful, and influential boyfriend also made sense, as it was thanks to Damien that Lane had been able to settle the issue of hiding his rank quietly, without any serious consequences. Of course, Lane had his own ways to deal with the situation, but the Allens didn’t know that... They had just seen Damien taking Lane’s side during the family dinner, and figured out that breaking them apart would deal a serious blow to Lane.

It was all within Lane’s expectations. It was...

Still, hearing Nyla confirm it still pissed him off.

And on top of that...

"So it’s just because of the mission he received from our beloved parents?" he asked. "It’s not that Ethan is actually interested in Damien?"

"That... I don’t know." Nyla shook her head.

Lane scoffed again.

Well, Damien was great, and super hot, so even if it was for the mission... It didn’t mean that Ethan couldn’t also be attracted to him. But thinking that Ethan tried to seduce Damien with ulterior motives annoyed him even more!

And yes, he was still aware that his own motives were not the best either. When he had first approached Damien, all Lane wanted was just a short fling. But while his motives were shallow, at least it was out of pure physical attraction! He hadn’t been trying to use Damien or anything!

"Ahem," Ava cleared her throat loudly, snapping Lane back to reality.

...Right, it wasn’t the time to get angry at Ethan or the Allens. There were still things Lane needed to ask Nyla. He sighed, tousling his hair, and asked, "Do you know why Ethan was chosen for this mission?"

"Hmm... I don’t know exactly... But I think he’s the most suitable? He’s an S-ranking Guide, after all," Nyla pointed out. "On top of that, he has known you prior to this, and is also interested in men..."

Lane nodded his head. That’s true, it was far easier for someone who was gay to try to seduce Damien, rather than send a straight man. Even if someone were willing to do it for money and benefits, the chances that it would work out were much lower...

"Has he ever done something like that before? Scouted anyone through seduction, or anything along those lines."

"Who, Ethan? I don’t think so... But I’m not sure." Nyla paused, thinking for a moment. "I can try to check it for you if you want?"

"Mn, thanks."

It wasn’t really important, but... Lane was curious. Maybe not about Ethan’s past - although it could also be useful - but more about how much Nyla would be able to find out.

"About this mission... Do you know what they had offered him in return?" he asked next.

"Money," Nyla’s answer was simple. Surprisingly so.

"...Just this? Are you sure?"

"Yes, I think so."

"How much?"

"Around the double of his usual pay?"

Now that was... odd. Sure, this mission wasn’t super dangerous, but an S-rank Guide like Ethan shouldn’t be strapped for cash. To do something so bothersome for a meager double of his usual pay? It seemed just... odd.

And now he wasn’t even doing his mission well?

"Was he perhaps forced to do it?" Lane couldn’t help but ask. "Perhaps the Allens have some dirt on him?"

"Uh... I don’t think so? I think he seemed pretty content with this assignment..."

It was getting more and more confusing. Lane subconsciously glanced at Ava, but she just shrugged her shoulders.

She was just a scientist. How was she supposed to know what was going on through the head of some Guide that she didn’t even know? She had only ever heard about Ethan a bit when he had been Lane’s assigned Guide, that’s all.

Lane let out another heavy sigh, and took a sip of his coffee. It seemed that he would need to get some of his underlings to investigate Ethan... But under what pretext? Just because the Allen Guild had sent him to the Association? But that might also bring some attention to him...

Well, he’d worry about it later. For now,

"Is there anything else you want to talk about?" he turned to Nyla.

Nyla hesitated for a moment. It’s not that there wasn’t, but...

"No, that’s all. If I have anything else, I’ll come here again."

The rest of the things that she wanted to talk about were not the things she had to say, but rather things she wanted to ask Lane. However, she didn’t know if she could... Their relationship was still too fragile, and she was reluctant to do anything that might strain it. So, unless Lane were to say anything himself, it was better for her to just restrain her curiosity...

"Alright," Lane nodded his head. Just as Nyla was about to leave, though, he suddenly stopped her. "Wait a sec."

He grabbed a piece of paper from Ava’s desk, and quickly scribbled something on it.

"That’s my current address. Instead of coming here, you can stop by my place... As long as you can be sure you’re not followed."

Nyla’s face brightened. "Alright. I will."