Michael's expression darkened as he took the poster from Lana's hands.
"I didn't kill her..."
"You're not even going to deny that's you?" Lana frowned, her expectations crushed by Michael's honesty.
"It's my picture on the poster. What can I say? 'Oh my, it's my twin brother'?" Michael folded the poster and placed it in his pocket along with the formula and characteristic.
Lana chuckled. "I know you didn't kill her. I wouldn't hide you if I suspected you did."
She placed a hand on her chin and frowned. "What should I call you now? Michael? Gregor? Or do you have some other name too?"
Michael shook his head, chuckling at his own thoughts.
"Call me Gregor. That'll be the name I'll use from now on."
"Gregor Alighieri. Sounds really fancy for a criminal," she teased.
"Lana, let me ask you again—why did you bring me here?"
Lana looked at him as if the answer was obvious. "You'd get caught in no time if I left you there."
Still confused, Michael asked, "And how does that affect you?"
She walked over to him, pointing a finger at his face with a smile. "Simple—I want you as an ally!"
Michael was taken aback by Lana's words. He stepped back and said, "I think you misunderstood something. I'm a Beyonder, but I was born as one. I can't even be considered a Sequence 9."
"I don't care. I have a feeling you'll be a powerful ally."
"And either way, you already have the characteristic of Sequence 9, so I can consider you one."
"How do you know that?" Michael's expression darkened as he stared into her eyes.
"I'm a journalist. It's part of my job to gather information." She winked.
"Is that the name of your Pathway?" Michael frowned, trying to recall a pathway with a similar name.
"Since we're allies, I'll be honest with you. Yes, it's the name of the Sequence 8 of my Pathway."
"Why do you assume I've accepted being your ally?" Michael asked with suspicion.
Lana shrugged. "It's not like you have anything to lose. Everything you could lose, you've already lost anyway."
Michael rolled his eyes. "Has anyone ever told you that you're an asshole?"
"More than I can count," Lana replied, sitting on the bed.
Michael considered insulting her further but quickly dismissed the idea.
"What Pathway do you belong to, anyway?" he asked, curiosity evident.
Lana smirked. "Hallucinated."
Huh, so the Sequence 8 of the Hallucinated is Journalist...
"Since you're my ally, I need to teach you the basics..." She sighed deeply, her face showing clear misery.
"Don't worry. I probably know more than you," Michael said with a condescending tone.
"You don't make it easy for people to like you, you know?" Lana replied, annoyed.
"Guess that makes two of us." Michael wore a satisfied smile. For some reason, he seemed to enjoy annoying her.
"For someone who just lost his sister, you look surprisingly well."
"Unfortunately, I don't have time to grieve right now. I'll either cry over her death or get out of this situation." Though Michael smiled as he said this, his tone showed a hint of pain.
"I'm sorry for bringing it up..." Lana said, looking away.
"Don't worry. It's not your fault..." Michael's smile faded before he abruptly changed the subject. "I want to make a trade with you."
"I'll give you any information you want about any Pathway other than the Delusional, Hallucinated, and Devotee. In exchange, I want everything you know about those three Pathways."
"Don't worry, Greg. You don't need to pay anything—just tell me what you want to know."
Michael shook his head. "No, I like equal and fair trades. I won't take advantage of you."
Lana sighed heavily. "Fine, but in exchange, I want a favor in the future—one you can't refuse, no matter how ridiculous it might sound."
"I know I'll regret this, but fair enough. I agree."
Lana thought for a moment. "What do you want to know exactly, Greg?"
"Just the names of the Sequences will do." Michael didn't have high expectations for what Lana might know.
"I only know the Delusional and Hallucinated up to Sequence 6, and the Devotee up to Sequence 7. Okay?"
She knows more then i expected...
Michael thought as he waited for Lana's explanation.
"From 9 to 6, the Hallucinated are: Hallucinated, Journalist, Selfish Scholar, and Monopolist."
Without pausing, she continued.
"The Delusional ones are: Delusional, Artist, Schemer, and..." She paused for a second as she seemed to be thinking about something.
"I can't seem to think of a translation for the name since I only know it in Balanese, but it would be something like 'Director of Disaster' or something..."
"If I just translated the name directly, it would be 'Maestro of Calamity'."
Artist, Schemer, and Maestro of Calamity. I wonder what abilities they give...
"The Devotee ones are: Devotee, Philosopher, and Martial Artist."
"Those are all the Sequences I know."
"Thank you, Lana." Michael smiled, finally having a clue about his next steps.
"Don't mention it. I need to buy some things for my research. There's chamomile oil and mint leaves in my bag."
"H-How do you know that?!" Michael's eyes widened as he checked his pockets.
"A little bird told me," she said, opening the door.
Before closing it, she added, "When I became a Beyonder, my mentor told me an old saying that I find really useful: The Delusional see, the Hallucinated hear, and the Devotee feels."