In This Rebirth, The Male Lead Is Mine [BL]-Chapter 185: First Meeting Again (1)

"Communicate with my secretary everything you need."

This was an expected response, but Rise still sighed in relief. They talked about something else after that, but they were not exactly people who had a lot to say to each other.

Rise soon dismissed himself after an hour and returned to the designated room for him, planning to stay for a while longer. Which also surprised the general, but he did not ask further.

A few minutes later, after he left did the old man, or the general, let out a sigh. In fact, by his appearance alone, no one could call or consider him as an old man. Only, Rise could.

"Make sure they are supporting him with their all." He whispered to the man beside him, the leader of the secretaries. Hearing the affirmation, he sighed and looked at the window. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

As a Union General, one who should be impartial and seen as a protector, what he just did was allow someone to use his influence in an obvious plan that would not benefit the federation.

He did not know what Rise was going through, but he knew him enough to see that this was not like the usual mess or tricks he made. This had the potential to escalate to something more.

His eyes landed on one of the plaques on the display.

Union General, Niftan Lee.

The general, Niftan, closed his eyes. At the end of the day, he was still selfish. He was never a hero. When he saw Rise that day in the orphanage, and when he planned to adopt him, Niftan had already decided to support him until the end.

Perhaps, he already anticipated that this day would come. All his life, he spent it at the battlefield, and when the person he loved badly needed him, he was not there.

This time, Niftan swore not to regret anything. He would protect the last bloodline of that person, whom he also now treated as his real son. No matter what.

Rise did not know of this, and maybe the real reason he hesitated to ask all along was because of this. He was always scared of people getting close to him with ulterior motives. Even with good intentions, he still thought of it as betrayal/

His adoptive father’s care for him was genuine, but at first, he could not say it was truly for him. Yes, he was kind, but Rise noticed that he saw someone through Rise.

On the day when he met his old man, Rise was aware it was not a coincidence. He had come specifically for him. Rise even thought his father had come for him, but it was not.

He was always suspicious of this in his past life, so he conducted a DNA test secretly, but the result was negative. He was not his biological father.

Now, Rise looked at this from different perspectives. While his father could have been driven by something to take care of him, at the end of the day, he still cared for him. And that Rise could discern at a glance.

There was no resentment; if anything, he was guilty. Maybe it was fortunate that the connection between them was not disclosed to the public; only a few knew. No one suspected, at least not the general public. Lee was a common last name for those of Korean descent anyway.

And in his last days, the old man was not around, entangled with nobles.

Rise sighed and slumped at the bed, closing his eyes, planning to have a deep sleep.

Maybe, he would try... becoming a good son. At least, act like one.

And that was what he did, Rise stayed at the residence of the general. Of course, he could not magically act like a good son, and Niftan did not expect him to.

Him showing up more and trying to be was already commendable. There were words left unsaid, but for now, this kind of relationship was already an upgrade to their usual one.

"Riri..." Niftan called and smiled, a gentle one like an elder.

Rise urged him and whispered, "Go, ask grandpa for money."

Niftan was an S-rank esper, so he could hear just fine but still pretended not to and waited for Riri to say it.

Riri held tightly in the hem of Rise’s shirt, hesitating. Looking back and forth between Rise and Niftan. Still, under their gentle encouragement, he spoke in a little embarassed voice.

"Grand...pa, money, please..."

Rise grinned, and Niftan laughed heartily. It seemed his days would not be boring now. At first, Rise planned to let Riri stay in his house, but thinking about it, the little monster would be bored and lonely there.

He decided to bring him to his old man’s house; at least here, he was much safer. Niftan knew his hobby of adopting monsters and was even gifted with a special gate to house them. And seeing at a glance, Riri was no ordinary person, and his intellectual ability was no different from that of humans.

Now, Riri was fully accepted into the Lee family. If he had not stopped the old man, he might have already registered him officially. Rise did not want to, as technically, Riri was supposed to be Han as well, okay. Not that surnames mattered nowadays, but he was not the parent alone!

His days were spent like that. Although he was being leisurely in the house, his plan was still in motion. The only ones left were those he needed to personally take action on.

Rise did not even do gate raids, one thing that surprised many, but not one inquired. He was always unpredictable like that. There were some invitations through his terminal, especially the group with Captain Nikolai.

He ignored them all, only with Captain Nikolai, he gave a refusal. Days passed like that.

"Last time, I’m on a gate raiding date with Guild Leader by this time." Rise reminisce as if that happened years ago. Fortunately, he was not alone, and so Riri had become his personal diary.

The little one only listened most of the time, but it was enough. Rise brushed his hair gently.

"Hope the annual convention arrives faster."

On that day, he planned to officially meet Kamille again. He was getting nervous, but most of all, anticipating it more than ever.

"He..." Riri licked his lips and was about to say something, but suddenly buried his face in Rise’s chest, breathing loudly.

"Do you want to say something?" Then he paused, while gently caressing Riri’s back. "Don’t force yourself, okay?"

Riri nodded. He himself had forgotten what he was about to say, as if destiny was submerged in fog. Even if he wanted to glimpse into it more, Rise would not let him.

Since Rise did not take Riri for his ability, if Riri could help with his ability, fine. But would not demand anything from him.