Starting With SSS-rank: I Get A New Skill Every Livestream-Chapter 81: Returning the favor

Layena frowned. "What do you mean by ourselves?"

It would be better for the base to be aware of matters like this.

Rogue Nightwalkers are so rare that they are treated as anomalies, a source of unrest.

Yes, a major part of her still refused to believe the rogue one was Kyle. She was convinced Ethan was saying all this because of his personal grudge against him.

However, Ethan had planted a deep seed of doubt in her mind by piecing together things even the central intelligence had failed to uncover.

Finally, Ethan revealed why he suggested a personal investigation.

"I know this might upset you, but I truly feel that someone in the base... someone in a position of power is trying to protect Kyle. That’s why, despite all the chaos the rogue one has caused, this matter is still being treated like a common grade rift."

Layena couldn’t deny that, but she couldn’t accept the idea of a mole within the organization.

With a frown, she asked, "If you don’t trust the organization, why are you telling me all this?"

Ethan gave a faint smile, his eyes warm. "Because I trust you with my life. You’re someone I can leave my back to in a fight. That’s why not even Clara or Hannah know about this."

Layena fell silent at his words.

She wasn’t sure what she had done to earn his trust. Was it something that happened during their missions? She couldn’t recall.

Unfolding her arms, she asked, "What do you suggest then? And if you’re even thinking about interrogating Kyle, then know this—"

"No, I won’t go that far, Layena. Relax," he cut in. Shaking his head, he added, "I’m suggesting something safer, a way to gather evidence."

He then took something out of his pocket. It looked like a small metal button, much smaller than a regular one.

Layena’s eyes widened. "How did you get that?"

What he held was a high-grade tracker that could enter a person’s bloodstream and allow the user to track them for at least forty-eight hours.

Because of its small size, the device couldn’t last longer than that, becoming useless after two days. Still, since it didn’t require any procedure to implant into the target’s body, even that limitation was acceptable.

Ethan shook his head. "Don’t worry about that. Just plant this on Kyle. It will let us track his movements at all times... and also detect if he uses Genesis."

When Genesis was activated, the sensor would pick up the waves of magic flowing through the body and recognize it instantly.

Layena bit her lower lip. This was a breach of privacy.

If she got caught, she would be just as punishable as Ethan. There was no doubt about it. She would be going against the very rules she had always followed, no matter the situation.

And yet, after everything Ethan had said, she couldn’t deny there was a strong possibility he was right.

Forget everything else. The massive surge of Genesis detected by the sensors had come directly from Kyle’s home. That alone made things far more complicated.

Ethan leaned in, his voice dropping to a hush. "Layena... there’s no harm in trying. If our suspicion is wrong, no one will ever know. But imagine if I’m right. What if Kyle really is the one who has destroyed things, broken rules... humiliated you?"

Layena neither moved nor reacted. She wasn’t someone who acted on grudges. Yet, the more she listened, the more plausible it began to sound.

"Why didn’t you do it yourself?" she asked, her brows lifting slightly.

Ethan gave a wry smile. "Well, Kyle is wary enough of me to not even let me get close to him."

Layena almost said, ’And whose fault is that?’ but stopped herself, forcing her focus back to the matter at hand.

Her gaze fell on the grain-sized chip, and she let out a quiet sigh.

In the end, she took the tracker, prompting a flicker of satisfaction in Ethan’s eyes. But she added firmly,

"I need full tracking authority over this device."

Ethan nodded without hesitation. "Of course. I don’t want my personal feelings to cloud any judgment. It’s better if you handle it."

Layena didn’t say anything on that.

Why did she feel like she would regret this?

...

[Kyle’s POV:]

"Yes?" I asked. "What did you want to say?"

Being suddenly called aside for a chat, only to see her drift into a daze... yeah, it felt awkward. She wasn’t about to confess just because I gave her some medical supplies and candies, right?

She finally looked up and took a deep breath. Here it comes.

"I don’t have your number. I wanted to send you the money I owe."

So that was it. Something that probably didn’t need that much buildup, but well.

Shaking my head, I said, "It’s fine, really. It was five lumir, right? If I remember correctly. That much the child of Astortia can afford, yeah? Ahaha..."

Awkward.

Right, moving on. "Is there something else?"

Great job, me. Making things even more uncomfortable than they already were.

She sighed. "No, I’d feel guilty taking so many favors from you without paying you back." Then, in a lower voice, she added, "And if I don’t pay now, I might hesitate to ask for help in the future."

So... you’re planning to depend on me now? Please don’t. I don’t need half the university glaring at me.

Not wanting to drag this out, I said, "You can just scan and pay. Here." I took out my phone, opened the payment app, and showed it to Layena.

She actually took my phone before pulling out her own.

...Well, she wasn’t going to run off with it or anything. Right?

She scanned it with her phone, and a moment later, mine chimed.

After pocketing her phone, she returned mine with both hands.

I took it, and for a brief moment, her fingers brushed against mine.

"Ah—" I let out an involuntary sound as a sharp sting pricked beneath my finger.

"What happened?" she asked, her wide eyes blinking.

I frowned and turned my hand over. There was nothing there, even though it had felt like a needle had pierced my skin.

I looked up at her before saying, "It’s...nothing."

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A/N:- Thanks for reading. Drop a comment.