Ethan simply followed his desires and curiosity. Basically, he acted on impulse. But it turned out that his impulse yielded unexpected results.
The woman who claimed to be the Floor's Guardian looked up. Horror was clearly etched on her face. When she looked up, what she saw was an evil grin on Ethan's face. A grin he had seen on a Guardian from high Floors before.
Ethan didn't say anything. He released his hand from the woman's grip. Behind him, Irene realized that something strange had happened.
The atmosphere became tense, and suddenly the woman who claimed to be the Floor Guardian turned pale while looking at Ethan.
"So, what next? I've touched your hand, right?" Ethan said. He removed the grin from his face so that it wouldn't be obvious to Irene that he had done something.
The woman gulped. She looked at Ethan with trembling eyes. Then she realized that she was facing a threat she had never encountered before.
"Do you want to take us to your... I don't know what it's called. A throne room, maybe?" Ethan said again.
She knows that it's not a question. He wants her to take them both to her room. It was an order.
"Follow me," said the woman, walking ahead of them.
Ethan followed her, and Irene followed behind her.
"Hey, what happened?" Irene asked.
"Just like what she said. She'll help us if we obey what she wants, right?" Ethan replied with a flat expression.
Irene eyed him suspiciously. "Why does she look scared?"
"I don't know," Ethan shrugged. "But listen, this is a big opportunity for us, isn't it? When else can we get a Floor Guardian as an ally?"
Irene decided to remain silent for now until she knew something. She also wasn't sure if the woman – the Floor Guardian – really wanted to make them her allies. She had never heard of alliances with Floor Guardians before; she had only heard of Floor Guardians making the Invited their slaves and toys.
But right now, it didn't seem like she wanted to make them her slaves. Something she didn't understand was happened and she didn't feel comfortable.
Irene warned Ethan about the danger of a Floor Guardian. He just nodded his head curtly.
The woman led them through a door set within a giant tree. As they entered, they were greeted by a long corridor. Strangely, this corridor resembled the corridors of a building in their world. More precisely, it looked like a corridor in an apartment building.
They followed the woman until they arrived in a room that once again resembled an apartment unit. But this was a luxurious apartment, unlike the rundown one Ethan and his father owned.
Silence hung in the air as the woman looked at Ethan and Irene alternately. Ethan gave her a look and glanced at Irene. The woman understood it immediately.
"I need some time to talk to him. Follow me," she said, walking into another room with Ethan following behind her. Then she closed the door.
Once they were in the locked room, Ethan immediately sat on a chair. A grin crept across his face again. He looked at the woman, whose face hardened with anger and fear, then scoffed.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Ethan asked.
"Who are you?!" But the woman ignored his question. "What kind of Talent do you possess? Why..." she couldn't finish her words.
"Incredible, isn't it?" Ethan said. Earlier, he had intended in his heart to place the woman under his control. And so, it just happened. Now, a Floor Guardian was under his control.
Ethan supposed it might be possible because she was just a First Floor Guardian. He wasn't sure, but maybe her power was the weakest among the rest of her kind.
The woman clenched her jaw in anger. Her pride was being ruined right now. What made it worse was that she had put herself in this situation because her arrogance.
"First, tell me your name," Ethan said. "I'm not asking."
The woman had no choice but to comply.
"Claudia."
Ethan nodded, satisfied. "So tell me, Claudia, anything I need to know about this Floor."
Claudia wanted to open her mouth. But before she could, Ethan said, "Once again, I'm not just asking."
Claudia sighed helplessly. At this moment, she couldn't refute anything that this boy said. She didn't know what would happen, but the Rune had spoken to her that her Soul was under his influence.
Whatever happened if she disobeyed his order, it would surely end badly for her Soul. She wouldn't want to take that risk.
"There are powerful Gears on this floor. But, a great monster guards it," says Claudia.
"What is its power?" Ethan asked, intrigued.
Claudia sighed, her expression showing difficulty. "I'm not supposed to tell you or anyone this. I could face a terrible punishment."
"Oh, you'll get that punishment right now if you don't obey me. Look, you came to me, right? Don't tell me this is my fault. You intended to disturb me so I defended myself, and this is where you ended up," Ethan said. "Now, tell me more. Don't hold anything back."
Claudia gulped. "If you obtain it, that power will give you control over the four elements of nature."
A smile crept onto Ethan's face. Even Claudia, seeing it, felt her body tremble.
"That sounds like something I want to have," Ethan said. "Where is it?"
Claudia told him the place and how to get there. Although it was highly forbidden information, she had no choice now.
At least this way, she still had time to think of a solution to her problem. But if she refused to tell Ethan, Claudia was damn sure he would destroy her right now without hesitation.
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