Richard had already told the newcomer that he would take him to a pastry shop.
During this mission, between the newcomer's dialogue with the captain and his exchanges with Karen, Richard could clearly sense that this rookie was no ordinary fellow...
And precisely because the rookie was out of the ordinary, Richard felt all the more reason to take him to a pastry shop to get closer!
After all, the young master of the Guman family had a cheerful personality and was best at networking.
The captain stretched his arms and swept his gaze over the room. Instantly, everyone fell silent—though there had hardly been a whisper before.
Even though the fake captain had been shot dead by Karen, the fact that the real captain had been deemed worthy of "being disappeared" was itself a testament to his strength.
The hounds of Hound Squad had always seen their leader's worth the clearest.
After waiting for more than half an hour, black mist gradually manifested in the secret chamber.
The sight inflicted immense psychological pressure, evoking a sense of déjà vu as if being locked in a gas chamber awaiting execution.
Karen knew, however, that this wasn't deliberate on their part. It was like a pre-set template: since they had adapted the setting of a Whip of Order interrogation room, subsequent operations naturally followed that motif. In all likelihood, this tactic was routinely used in interrogation rooms to shatter a prisoner's psychological defenses.
Finally, once the black mist reached a certain density, every source of light around them vanished completely.
"Whew..."
Karen opened his eyes and sat up. Mr. Aisen was just sitting up as well, while the captain was already standing at the front, stretching.
The sky was still dark, but a whole day had passed in reality. Having lain on this hillside for so long, everyone inevitably felt stiff and sore, alongside severe pangs of hunger from their bellies.
Gradually, everyone woke up.
Marlo and the others, acting as the second squad, walked up from down the slope. Karen took the initiative to approach him and said, "I'm very sorry. In that environment, I was certain the captain was a fake, so I took it for granted that you, brought back by him, were also fake. That's why I shot you."
Marlo clapped Karen on the shoulder and chuckled.
"What's the big deal? I completely understand. Look at you, coming all the way over just to explain. Was that really necessary?"
Karen nodded.
Sure enough, once freed from the restraint and isolation of those chairs, the atmosphere among teammates immediately reverted to mutual understanding and tolerance.
"Ah, my neck."
Fanny rubbed her neck; she seemed to have gotten a stiff neck from how she had slept.
Karen squatted down and reached out to massage it gently for her.
"Mmh... ah... that feels so good..."
Seeing this, Peige said to Karen, "Oh my, my chest is cramping too."
Still working on Fanny's neck, Karen replied, "Watch out for mammary hyperplasia."
"..." Peige.
"All right, much better." Fanny smiled at Karen.
Karen stood up and walked over to the captain. "Captain, everyone is starving."
Neo looked at Karen. "Do you know how much it costs to find a random farmhouse out in the suburbs to feed this many people?"
"Uh... I can imagine."
Generally speaking, agritourism dining wasn't cheap.
"So there's no rush. Someone will come treat us to a meal shortly." Neo continued his stretches. "When I first took this assignment, I felt something was off, but I didn't think in this direction. I'll be more mindful next time and try to avoid this sort of mission."
*No worries, I've already taken care of it.*
Sure enough, two trucks soon drove up and parked below, driven by clerics.
Neo walked down on his own initiative, spoke with the person leading the group, and signed a document. Then, he shouted up to the squad members above:
"Come down! Sign and eat!"
Everyone came down and signed the nondisclosure agreements. Almost none of them read the clauses carefully—not because they didn't care about their rights, but because everyone knew full well that even if they had objections, the document wouldn't be changed anyway.
The food was fairly plain: bread and milk tea.
The milk tea was the kind made by steeping a pinch of tea leaves, splashing in a drop of milk, and heavily diluting it with water.
Aside from that, there were nutrient vials. These counted as point coupon goods; though one could buy them with riels in the real world, they were quite expensive.
Next, these people would have to feed Anthony's and Kanse's squads to keep their physical bodies from starving or dying of thirst in reality.
Karen suddenly realized a rather dire consequence: his squad had only been lying there for a single daytime period, and since they were all adults, their bodily control was decent enough. But if someone underwent several more time loops, wouldn't their physical bodies end up relieving themselves right in their clothes?
Tsk...
For a moment, Karen felt all the more grateful that he had declined further arrangements for this kind of mission.
When drinking the nutrient vials, the captain grabbed a large handful and shoved them into Karen's chest. Seeing this, Karen had no choice but to stuff them into his inner pocket.
Beside them, Richard saw this and followed suit, secretly grabbing a large handful and stuffing them into Memphis's arms. Caught unprepared, Memphis let several vials slip and hit the ground.
"Pick them up, quick! Hide them!" Richard urged.
Memphis didn't pick them up, continuing to chew his bread slowly.
"Heh, I can tell you've never endured hard times."
Memphis tore off a piece of bread and asked, "Have you?"
"Yeah. When I was little, times were tough at home. My dad moped around the house all day doing nothing, and my mom ran away. We lived hand to mouth, never knowing where our next meal was coming from. Sigh."
"Oh. Is that so."
Hearing their exchange, Karen could barely hold back a laugh and turned toward Richard. But Richard beat him to the punch, saying:
"Karen, let's hit the pastry shop together later. This mission was such a headache—I think we should properly unwind." As he spoke, Richard hooked an arm around Memphis's shoulders and grinned. "I already promised the rookie we'd go together. Heheh."
"The two of you... going to a pastry shop together?"
"Yeah, you in?"
"I'll pass. Enjoy your pastries."
Karen figured that once they got home, this cousin of his was in for a miserable time.
People who usually spoke little tended to be even more explosive when truly enraged.
The trucks took everyone to a railway junction. When a train passed by, they all hopped aboard.
Karen noticed that after boarding, everyone was staring intently at the scenery outside, somewhat traumatized and dreading that this might be yet another loop.
Evidently, this kind of test took an undeniable psychological toll on the subjects.
Fortunately, the train eventually pulled into the station. As everyone stepped onto the platform, relief was written across every face.
"The post-mission squad dinner will be postponed for now, as I'm sure what everyone wants most right now is to go home, take a hot bath, and get a good sleep in bed. All right, dismissed!"
Neo dismissed the squad without holding a debrief or analysis. After all, today's test was subject to confidentiality regulations, making it unsuitable to discuss in public.
"Captain, I'll head back first."
"Yeah. I'll drop by tomorrow to chat." Neo mimed holding a phone to his ear. "If I'm coming over, I'll call ahead."
"All right, Captain. You're welcome anytime. Call in advance and I'll cook."
"Oh? I'm already looking forward to it. Head on back. I need to visit the Church Affairs Building first and drag out that deputy director who assigned me this mission for a beating."
"Remember to land a punch for me too."
"Naturally."
Karen got into his car. Before he could start the engine, the rear door opened, and both Richard and Memphis climbed in.
"Want me to drop you two off at the pastry shop?"
Karen had done plenty of crazy things since his awakening in this life, but nothing seemed to top driving a father and son to a brothel.
"The rookie got shy and didn't want to go! Just look at his face and mannerisms—you can tell at a glance he's the quiet, gloomy type who hates talking. Sigh."
Richard let out a sigh and continued:
"Don't worry. In the future, you cover me on missions, and I'll cover you in everyday life. I've got the most experience bringing introverts out of their shells."
Karen nodded. "Good luck with that."
"Haha! Karen, drive me home. I came by taxi. Oh, right, rookie, where do you live? You rode in Karen's car on the way here, right?"
Karen said, "Memphis lives very close to my place. I'll drop you off first so you can let your family know you're safe. Actually, back at the station, you could have borrowed the phone in the supervisor's office to call home first."
"No rush, no rush. I'm not a kid anymore. It's just a mission, no big deal."
"I'm worried your grandmother and the others might be anxious about you."
"They'd be better off worrying about my dad than me. You know what, Karen? My dad took an extended leave—the very day before we went on this mission."
"Oh? Really?"
"Yeah. Right now Grandma, Mom, and Auntie are probably more worried that my dad might suddenly snap and kill himself."
"It's not that severe."
"Who can say for sure? Ah well, I can't be bothered to worry anyway. Sometimes I even think my mom would be better off remarrying some normal guy sooner."
Karen quietly drew out a cigarette, placed it between his lips, took out a lighter, and lit it.
"Don't you not smoke?" Richard asked curiously.
Holding the cigarette between two fingers, Karen tapped the ash outside the window and said:
"To you."
"To me? Then give me one too."
Karen handed the cigarette pack and lighter back to Richard. "Smoke while you can."
Holding the pack, Richard pulled out two cigarettes and offered them to Memphis. Memphis didn't take one.
"Heh, don't even know how to smoke, do you?"
Richard lit one for himself. Without inhaling into his lungs, he took a puff into his mouth, puffed his cheeks, and blew a perfect smoke ring forward.
Glancing at Memphis,
he said:
"This is a man's charm. It ropes in a woman's heart. Otherwise, your wife will run off on her own!"
"Hehehe..."
Unable to hold it in any longer, Karen burst out laughing.
"Hahaha..."
Seeing his performance draw a reaction from Karen, Richard laughed along heartily.
Karen knew full well why Richard was so lively in front of Memphis. There was a bit of deliberate showing off, much like the enthusiasm he had shown when meeting Karen for the first time. He had a natural affinity for blood relations; precisely because he "liked" this newcomer, he went out of his way to say exaggerated things and put on dramatic antics before him.
At last, they arrived at the Guman residence.
After getting out, Richard leaned over Karen's window and added, "Come over and hang out sometime! My grandmother really likes you."
"I will. And as for your father..."
"Him? He's a lost cause. Don't waste your energy."
"All right."
Richard struck a theatrical pose, spun around, pointed ahead at an angle, and declared:
"A loyal Whip of Order is about to return to his warm home!"
Karen chimed in, "The leather whip is going home."
"Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
Karen started the car, drove out of the block, and pulled over. He couldn't drive too far—Memphis... no, Uncle Aisen still had to go home.
"May I ask something?"
Karen nodded, thinking to himself that what must come would always come.
"Go ahead."
"What was that about?"
A concise, straightforward question.
Karen stretched, his mind frantically weaving together an explanation. It wasn't an easy excuse to fabricate, so he could only stall while spinning it:
"Take a guess?"
"I dare not guess."
Karen pursed his lips, looked up, and glanced through the rearview mirror at Uncle Aisen sitting in the back seat.
Uncle Aisen was also looking at Karen through the rearview mirror.
Yet Karen noticed that Uncle Aisen's eyes were somewhat evasive.
In fact, Karen had noticed it long before. Ever since emerging from the secret room, even with Richard cracking jokes between them, Uncle Aisen had never looked him straight in the eye.
Presumably, in that unique space, Karen's colossal and majestic figure had cast another deep shadow across his uncle's mind.
All right,
you're afraid.
Since you're afraid, I don't need to be.
The smile on Karen's face gradually faded, his gaze turning deeper and more profound.
In the mirror, Uncle Aisen's neck instinctively shrank back. His eyes darted about restlessly, not daring to meet Karen's.
Hailing from an orthodox church family, a Temple Elder signified solemnity, majesty, and greatness to him.
In truth, outside of Karen's peculiar family, almost everyone in the church community held an overwhelming reverence for an entity of that caliber.
The silence lasted for about a minute.
Karen's expression grew increasingly solemn, while Uncle Aisen looked more and more like a startled rat.
He had probably mustered all his courage just to ask Karen that question earlier. After all, deep down, he already had some inkling of an answer. Most importantly, in that realm, he had witnessed it with his own eyes—no, hundreds of gazes had witnessed it together. It was absolute truth, undeniable and beyond question, leaving zero room for dispute or doubt.
"Heh..."
Karen let out a soft chuckle.
Aisen parted his lips as if struggling to breathe, his hands instinctively clutching his trouser legs.
Looking at his uncle like this, Karen felt a pang of sympathy. He didn't want to keep up a facade before his own relative after having just played a part in front of strangers; it brought him no joy.
Yet he had to be responsible for himself, for Diss, and for the Guman family.
His uncle's current reaction was proof enough of the sacred status the Church of Order held in the hearts of the Guman family.
Aisen was unlike Captain Neo. The captain and Karen were both heretics at heart—no, the captain had even completely cleansed himself into Light, literally white.
Karen spoke up: "Since certain things have happened, there must be a reason for them. Don't you think?"
Uncle Aisen immediately nodded. "You are right."
"However, now is not the time for you to know."
"Yes, I understand."
"Get out of the car. Act as if everything is normal. I do not wish for my identity to be known to others."
"Understood."
Karen placed both hands over his chest and said solemnly:
"Praise Order."
Uncle Aisen immediately assumed the same posture.
"Praise Order."
Uncle Aisen stepped out of the car.
Karen called out, "Mr. Aisen."
"Yes?"
"You could show a bit more care for your son."
"Understood."
...
"Are you tired? Were you hurt?" Seeing her son return, Kaixi immediately took his hand, sat him down, and inspected him carefully.
"I'm fine, Mom. This mission was completely safe; not even a single hair was harmed."
"Really?"
"Really, really. By the way, where's Dad?"
"Your father didn't come home yesterday."
"Didn't come home? He must have had something to take care of."
"He took time off work. What could he possibly have had to take care of?"
"Mom, Dad needs his privacy too. Everyone needs privacy, especially between a husband and wife."
"All right, I know you have a silver tongue. I'll go see what's left in the kitchen and whip up something for you to eat."
"Oh heavens, look at this virtuous and beautiful woman! Who could she be? Ah, she is my mother, the charming Lady Kaixi!"
Kaixi shook her head with a smile and walked into the kitchen, not forgetting to remind him along the way, "If you're hungry, have some pastries from the coffee table first. I baked them myself."
Sitting on the sofa, Richard took a sip of water from a cup, then picked up a pastry and popped it into his mouth.
Just then, a shadow fell across Richard.
Richard looked up
and saw his father standing before him.
"Dad, you're back."
Mr. Aisen didn't say a word.
Richard blinked, pointed at the handmade pastries on the coffee table, and asked kindly:
"Dad, have a pastry?"
*Slap!*
Chapter 242