Ainsley was only asking a few things in passing because he didn't want to eat in silence with Sinclair. At most, the CEO's office was already too quiet that he needed Sinclair to talk a lot when he's outside their dungeon company. However, he didn't realize that his topic would lead to serious matters. He stopped opening the box and stared at Sinclair.
It was as if he expected Sinclair to enumerate the names of the people. The CEO friend did, and Ainsley flattened his lips into a thin line. Some of his friends seemed to be afflicted. He then asked, "And the whole building? Are we getting an outbreak?"
"None for now. The studies were still being conducted, so we don't have any advisories." Sinclair hummed as he brought down the empty box and received a new one from Ainsley promptly. "Based on chatters from other companies, it seemed like nine-to-fives were very susceptible to it. It must be connected to the mental faculties."
"A disease among the working class? How strange…" Ainsley frowned before crossing his arms before his chest. "I am not affected, am I?"
"Hm? I wouldn't be able to talk to you if you are. Let's wait for more conclusions before discussing matters again." Sinclair dismissed the topic that he only decided to open deeper because he didn't want Ainsley to come after him for the unpleasant surprise. Moreover, big companies had the tendency to have high counts of the disease.
After all, even if it was called a disease, no one still knew what was happening.
Their topic moved on, and Ainsley remembered more things that he wanted to talk about. Even if the visiting hours had been long finished, the nurses didn't really kick Sinclair out of the room and even offered to give him a blanket and pillows. He could only sleep on the couch as he decided not to leave for the night.
…
Flashes of unknown memory came to Ainsley's mind. They were from the eyes of someone else… the people in them did not even appear fully human. The pictures were vague and blurred, but he was sure. However, as soon as he woke up, it was as if the dreams had not even shown themselves to Ainsley. The man's eyes opened, and irises of green met with pink ones.
"!!!" Ainsley was shocked, but the woman held onto his mouth and made a shushing gesture. The woman was very pretty, but she looked like an anime character with her baby pink eyes and candy pink hair. There were even highlights of blue on it.
"Don't get so loud. You're going to disturb him," she whispered with a soundless giggle before turning to the sleeping Sinclair. In the soft light of the sun, his frowned brows were like he was struggling in a dream. "Say, Ainsley Leneghan, right?"
"Who are you?" Ainsley didn't choose to be civil to this stranger. He was even more concerned that she might have done something to Sinclair. "If you're planning to hurt Sinco, you can bet your ass I won't be merciful!"
The woman lifted her brows. A mortal man actually threatened to harm her? Over what? His assumption that she was going to hurt their clan prince? She then shook her head in ridicule and disdain that barely made it to her expression. "Don't be all talk, Ainsley. How are you even planning to stop me—?"
She moved away from the bed like a phantom and leaned towards Sinclair's sleeping form. Her hand suddenly turned into a claw and dangled her pointed nails at the man's face. "If you can't get here just as fast?"
Ainsley was actually shocked by what she did. That was not something a normal person should be able to do! However, she was still threatening Sinclair's face with her hand. The patient clutched at the blanket. "Alright, what is it that you want, then? Surely, you didn't go here, to a stranger's private ward, for no reason."
"No need to be so guarded—" The woman was supposed to speak, but she suddenly felt like someone pulled on her wrist. Before she could quantify what happened, she was already on the ground, clawed hand behind her back and head pressed against the floor. She didn't even see Sinclair act against her or even felt him wake up. "S-Sinclair! It's me!"
"Sinco!" Ainsley grew elated despite the confusion. He didn't know how to save his friend, and yet Sinclair could perfectly save himself.
"Michelle, what are you doing here?" Glaring at the receding claws, Sinclair even pushed her head harder to the floor. "If you don't give me a good reason to stop, I will break your arm and then your neck. Speak."
The woman grew so scared at her failed stunt. She was just trying to make fun of the mortal. How did it end up like this? "S-Sinclair, he's watching."
He's watching? Sinclair brought his eyes up to Ainsley who was attentively waiting for the next move. She's right… how could he kill in front of Ainsley? He only huffed and released the woman before moving to stand between him and the woman. Out of sight, his hand also transformed into a glinting white claw. "You better tell me what you're doing here."
Michelle got to her feet and dusted her yellow ensemble. Just when she thought she looked cute in a golden dress, Sinclair dared to push her to the ground and creased it. "I'm here to take a look at a few things. I just dropped by when I heard from Roth. Actually, he was talking to your father instead, and I only overheard it."
"Give me a reason not to kill you in the future." Sinclair didn't even soften his stance. Both of them knew that he was still way faster than her that was already part-phantom.
"Because you don't need to? Don't be too guarded. I learned my lesson already." Michelle huffed as she decided not to take the stance seriously. "I'll just leave and speak with you soon enough. But I need to remind you… something is happening to this city. If I find out something troublesome, you should expect being summoned by your father."
Sinclair only softened his stance as he watched the woman walk out of the room. He then recalled his claw and turned to Ainsley. "Did she harm you?"
Ainsley only stared at the man before him. "Sinco, who was that? I saw her teleport from my side to yours! Is she even a real person?! Wait, am I already awake?!"
Blink. Sinclair just walked to his side… and delivered a hand chop to Ainsley's head. "Now, you're awake."