Chapter Seventeen: Betrayal

“Dumps?” Virak stood up but did not immediately step forward. “What are you doing here? Where’s Nord?”

“Long time no see, Virak!” Dumps stepped forward and embraced Virak. “I thought we were all going to die…”

“That won’t happen. Mr. Fletcher wouldn’t kill us,” Virak replied.

Fletcher finally began to explain: “Remember our agreement? I promised to arrange for your friends to be with you as soon as possible. During this time, I trained your two friends. Dumps progressed the fastest and just met the standards today, so I brought him here. From now on, he will serve as your personal bodyguard.”

Something felt off, but Virak didn’t have time to ponder. Instead, he responded in the most appropriate way for the moment, bursting with joy as he clasped Dumps’s shoulder, wearing the brightest smile he had shown in days: “Thank you, Mr. Fletcher! I will work even harder and won’t let you down!”

“Heh.” Fletcher smiled faintly and left the room. “You two catch up first.”

After the door closed, Virak, as usual, lay by the door to confirm Fletcher’s departure. Only then did his genuine emotions surface; the once eager smile faded, replaced by deep worry. “How’s Nord doing at the inn?”

“Not bad. They haven’t mistreated us, but they don’t allow us to leave,” Dumps answered.

“In my impression, Nord should have been progressing much faster than you in training. Why did you come here first?”

“Virak, you need to be careful,” Dumps said something that left Virak utterly confused.

Virak’s face darkened quickly. “What do you mean?”

“That old man didn’t bring me here because of any promises. He sent me to watch you,” Dumps stepped closer. “Nord learns faster than I do, but he rejected Fletcher’s deal. I, on the surface, accepted it, but in reality, I’m here to pass messages to you.”

“So it’s not about who learns faster. Only those who accept Fletcher’s deal can come here?” Virak couldn’t understand where he had gone wrong. This lifetime, he had already drawn Fletcher’s suspicion so early that Fletcher sent his own friend to spy on him.

“That’s right,” Dumps lowered his voice. “Fletcher said that in six months, once everything settles down, they’ll get rid of you to keep the secret forever. If we want to live, we have to serve him by monitoring your movements. After six months, we’ll receive a generous reward and leave Lazein.”

Virak frowned. “Six months?”

In his previous life, he was eliminated within two months. Why had it now stretched to six? He hadn’t done anything that should have changed the future so drastically. It was suspicious—and no matter what, such a crucial matter wouldn’t be casually revealed to Dumps.

“Yes,” Dumps said, unaware of Virak’s doubts. “Only six short months left.”

“Nord rejected Fletcher’s demands. Won’t he be in danger?” Virak was concerned about Nord’s well-being.

“He’s fine for now. Fletcher hasn’t touched him,” Dumps replied.

Virak rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Maybe he’s afraid something might go wrong. He’s been threatening me with your safety. As long as I still have a chance to rebel and refuse his orders, he wouldn’t sacrifice a minor like Nord just to drag me and the Thomas family down together.”

“What are you thinking now?” Dumps asked. “I think we need to figure out how to escape from here as soon as possible.”

“Did Fletcher reveal anything useful when he made the deal with you?” Virak avoided the urgent questions Dumps wanted to ask. Instead, he tried to deepen his understanding. “Why does he want to monitor me? And why get rid of me in six months?”

“No, he said nothing,” Dumps shook his head. “I’m also curious—what exactly have you done to make him so wary of you?”

The two men locked eyes.

“I haven’t done anything. I’ve only diligently done everything he asked. I never expected it to end like this… certain death in six months? Ha…” Virak smiled bitterly.

“That’s strange. You haven’t done anything, so why send me to watch you?” Dumps looked puzzled. “Virak, think carefully—have you done anything questionable?”

Virak lay down on the bed. “What could I do? I’m a puppet, a disposable pawn. What do you want me to do? Rebel against Fletcher or even the entire Thomas family? I dare not, and it’s impossible.”

“Then I’ll talk to Fletcher. If we behave well and truly haven’t done anything harmful to them, they shouldn’t want to kill us all,” Dumps tried to comfort him.

“It’s useless. You can see it for yourself—Fletcher is determined to have me dead,” Virak’s face turned pale, and his voice was weak. “Let it be. At least if I die, you’ll live. That’s better than both of us standing together and getting eliminated. But Nord… he’s too stubborn. I’m afraid he’s doomed as well…”

“Leave Nord to me,” Dumps said as he approached the bed, looking down at the dispirited Virak. “At least for now, Fletcher sees me as one of his own. As long as I can persuade Nord to be a bit more flexible and only outwardly obey Fletcher, it should work. As for you, don’t lose hope. We still have six months—plenty of time to escape Lazein.”

Virak closed his eyes and covered his face with his hands. “Let me rest for a while. I’m exhausted.”

“…Alright,” Dumps agreed. “I’ll leave first. Fletcher is going to assign me a room.”

“Where will you stay?” Virak asked.

“Probably with the servants. Staying with you would raise suspicion,” Dumps patted Virak. “Cheer up. I’m off now.”

Virak didn’t respond or move until he heard the door open and close. Then, slowly removing his hands from his face, he revealed a look of disbelief.

“Nord…”

An endless sadness surged from his heart.

If it had been the Virak of the previous life, no matter how clumsy Dumps’s acting was or how illogical his words, he wouldn’t have doubted him even a little and would have told him everything without hesitation.

But now, he saw through Dumps’s disguise at once. It was a truth he was reluctant to face, yet after repeatedly probing Dumps and confirming, he had no choice but to confront it.

Dumps had truly been bought by Fletcher.

And Nord was very likely already in grave danger.