Ann's face visibly became paler, and she was shaking uncontrollably, as if the weight of the world rested upon her shoulders.
Since the beginning, she had been feeling off, as if she had transformed into a different person altogether.
"What does that mean?"
Zed gently spread his palm on the table, he stood up with his whole body straightening up. Ever since his rebirth, he had adhered to the principle of boldly seizing opportunities when they arose and observing from the sidelines when there were none.
He rarely displayed unnecessary emotional fluctuations. However, in this rare instance, it seemed like he had reached a breaking point.
"Tell me! what were you thinking before?"
Ann persisted, standing up and appearing even more agitated than Zed. She almost reached out to grab his arm but was swiftly slapped away.
"Okay, okay. I've known this woman is insane for a while now. There's no need to argue with her," Adrian interjected at the right moment, patting Zed on the shoulder. Yet, he decisively tapped his sword on the table and asked:
"Ann, you better explain what's going on here. The will of the witch is not meant for you to satisfy your useless voyeuristic desires."
"You don't understand! He must tell me—"
"What if I don't?"
Zed interrupted her, readjusting his mask and crossing his arms.
"Tell me, what will you do?"
Ann slowly lowered her head, her gaze revealing a hint of fear. Each word tumbled out of her mouth one by one.
"In that case, I won't be able to do a reading for the next person."
Adrian chuckled under his mask immediatly.
"The next person should truly be grateful to Zed."
"You are not listening!"
Ann rolled up her sleeves and pointed at Adrian's nose with a serious expression.
"This boy is going to die, within three years at most."
SMACK!
Zed reached out again, slaping woman's hand to its original position.
"That's impolite."
"You're on the brink of death, and you care about manners? Hurry up and tell me, I can't see clearly..."
Zed stared at her silently for a few seconds. He could visibly see the woman's fear, an fear that seemed to emanate from her very soul. The kind of fear that even Zed behind his mask found unsettling. He was certain that if it weren't for the mask concealing his face, his own rapidly changing expressions would have been noticed.
But this thought only lasted for a second.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, he shifted his gaze and immediately came up with an idea.
Zed Adjusted his expression, he slowly raised his hand and removed the mask.
He met the woman's gaze directly, then asked softly.
"Can you see clearly now?"
The woman was momentarily stunned. Zed didn't give her a chance to speak, patting Adrian's shoulder and adding:
"Is this how a person who lost an arm for DR should be treated? Being offended by a crazy fortune-teller?"
"I didn't mean it like that..." Ann explained helplessly, her voice filled with despair.
"So, are you making a joke out of him?"
Zed dropped those words, not saying anything further, and put the mask back on his face. He walked towards the door alongside Adrian.
One step.
Two steps.
Three steps.
Four steps.
Five steps.
"Wait!"
Ann shouted as if her sanity was crumbling, abruptly turning towards Zed and pleading in a broken voice:
"It was the witch who sent me to check on you. I didn't mean to pry into your abilities. It's just that the things you left behind last time... I really want to know. Please, I beg you. This is my life. Without that answer, I won't have anything to eat..."
As the door swung open, Zed's figure cast elongated shadows under the light, gradually reaching Ann's feet, climbing up her ankles, thighs, belly, chest, neck, and face...
In that instant, she was completely enveloped in Zed's shadow.
Meanwhile, Zed lightly tapped his leg with his finger, not saying a word.
At that moment, overwhelmed by regret for prying into Zed's life and the self-reproach of losing her own abilities, Ann finally broke down and yelled:
"I'm begging you, give me another chance. I'll tell you... you will die in three years, and there's no escape. But I must know what you just thought. It's so powerful that it eclipses the shining stars. I'm sorry. I should understand my position. I'm still that devout girl who willing speaks of destiny. Oh, right! The shadow! I'll tell you about the shadow!"
As if she remembered something, Ann couldn't wait for Zed to ask and blurted out:
"The shadow is coming. It will engulf this city, and you will be one of them. I know this might not be a big deal considering that—that power, but perhaps this piece of information can help you prepare even by one percent?"
Reaching this point, Ann couldn't control the trembling in her hand anymore and sat on the ground, almost sobbing.
"I beg you, let me do anything..."
Adrian watched the scene and walked out on his own, leaving Zed aware of frustration of that swordman.
Honestly, Zed had no connection to Adrian or anyone from the DR organization in his past life. He didn't have the right or power to be involved with them. But when he truly understood the situation of this group, he could empathize with Adrian. Anyone who was used as a tool, whose insurance was neglected without any attempt to fix it, and who was left on the ground to be stepped on and spat at, would find it unbearable.
He knew that being a gun was the best destiny for fulfilling a mission, but...
"Rather than being a gun for someone else, it's better to hold guns for me." Zed thought, his gaze shining obscurely, his aim had been reached anyway.
Now is time time to get Adrian out of hell.
With that thought, he turned around and slowly walked towards Ann.
The woman's eyes sparkled, even though the shadow hadn't completely dissipated, at least the owner of the shadow was approaching her, bringing hope.
Zed's mouth twitched as he crouched down, concealing his cold gaze.
"I've already said it, you're not listening at all."