Fame, it must be said, is a troublesome thing.
Garde and Muelsyse weren't celebrities, but the matter of the Oripathy suppressant had made them famous.
The outside of Rhine Lab was swarmed with reporters, leaving no room to breathe. It wasn't until Rhine Lab's leadership announced plans to hold a press conference soon that the reporters reluctantly dispersed.
Even so, a number of persistent reporters remained outside, hoping to catch firsthand news by tailing the staff coming and going.
Under these circumstances, it didn't take long for Muelsyse's car to be spotted after leaving Rhine Lab.
However, this was anticipated. The passengers in Muelsyse's car were all water clones she had created.
With these nearly indistinguishable water clones, she managed to fool the crowd of reporters. Only then did Muelsyse leave from another direction, taking Garde and Whisperain with her.
On the way, they passed a shopping plaza, and Muelsyse, without hesitation, launched into a shopping spree.
"Phew, Sargon is such a terrible place—stifling heat, endless sand, and hardly any decent supermarkets or shopping malls. I'm never going back there," she complained while hanging another large bag of snacks onto Garde.
"Muelsyse, haven't you bought enough? Weren't we supposed to be shopping for essentials?"
"How can essentials not include snacks?"
"With all this high-calorie junk food, aren't you worried about gaining weight?"
"Doot doot~! You can't say such mood-ruining things in front of a lady—you'll make her angry!"
Muelsyse crossed her arms in an exaggerated X and put on a mock-serious expression.
"Besides, a lot of this is for Whisperain. Girls must dress up beautifully, you know."
Wearing sunglasses and a mask, Muelsyse grabbed Whisperain's hand and flashed Garde a cheerful "peace" sign.
Whisperain, barely seven or eight years old, looked small and underdeveloped. But just over half a month ago, she had appeared no older than three or four.
In just two weeks, she had grown several years older. With sufficient nutrition, she might even return to her adult form in another two months.
At first, Garde worried whether Whisperain's mental development could keep up with her rapid physical growth.
But he quickly realized he was overthinking it.
As Whisperain grew taller, memories from before her "death" gradually resurfaced. She could even understand the professional terms Muelsyse occasionally mentioned.
Garde speculated that Whisperain's race had a unique survival mechanism: when faced with the threat of death, they would erase their day-to-day memories but retain essential life skills.
It was as though these crucial abilities were imprinted on every cell of her memory.
Still, most people wouldn't envy Whisperain's ability to "rebirth" after a fatal injury.
A person is more than just their body; they are also their collection of memories.
Who you were yesterday is not the same as who you are today.
Without those memories, are you still yourself?
Garde spent two exhausting hours accompanying Muelsyse through the supermarket. If she hadn't repeatedly used Whisperain as a shield, he would have bolted long ago.
He couldn't comprehend why women could shop for hours without getting tired.
"Hmph, since you helped me carry all this stuff, I'll drop you off at Saria's house. But are you sure she really gave you her home's passcode?"
"As long as I didn't remember it wrong."
"Heh, I've always wanted to see Saria's place. I remember she used to live with Kristen, but after Rhine Lab built its new research building, the two of them moved apart."
Muelsyse seemed excited. As someone who had been with Rhine Lab since its founding, she had even attended its first New Year's party.
But as time passed, such parties were never held again.
"What, remembering something sad?" Garde asked.
"I was just wondering if anyone truly sticks to their beliefs without wavering. Time and circumstances always seem to change people. Is it because your lifespans are so short that you have to live so freely?"
"Hmm, that's a question you should ask me in a few hundred years."
"A few hundred years? I've never heard of an Adakrys having a lifespan that long."
"Hehe," Garde chuckled. As long as he continued to grow at this pace, becoming a true Ascended was only a matter of time.
Compete with an Ascended in longevity? Even Kal'tsit couldn't qualify for that.
For a Ascended, time was never an issue.
"Judging by your expression, who are you thinking about?"
"Certainly not you," Garde replied.
"Should I feel a little hurt, then?" Muelsyse stuck her tongue out at him. A gorgeous woman like her sitting right next to him, and he was thinking about another girl?
"Care to tell me what type of girl you like? There are plenty of single girls at Rhine Lab. How about I bring you along to the next gathering they organize?"
"As long as they're cute and pretty, I like them," Garde said casually.
"Wow, should I be cautious, then?"
"Let me add a qualifier: I'm not interested in older women."
"Ugh. Watch out when you sleep next time. If your room starts flooding, don't blame me," Muelsyse retorted with a mock pout.
The conversation drifted into light banter as they approached the villa district where Saria lived. This area, entirely developed by Rhine Lab, had a distinct air of elegance.
Muelsyse herself lived next door and typically returned home unless she was involved in special projects.
"Oh, by the way, when you head home, be sure to avoid Kristen—our CEO. She lives right next door. If she finds out you're staying at Saria's place, it might cause misunderstandings."
Garde shrugged. Following Muelsyse's instructions, he entered the villa's access code and walked inside with Muelsyse and Whisperain in tow.
"You stay here with Whisperain. I'll head upstairs to tidy up a bit," Garde said.
Though he and Saria shared an intimate relationship, Garde had no intention of touching her belongings in her absence. He remembered her mentioning that she usually stayed on the first floor, so he decided to take the second floor.
Climbing the stairs, he noticed the house was immaculately clean. Whether due to automated cleaning robots or regular maintenance, it didn't look like a place that had been unoccupied for three or four months.
Opening the door to the master bedroom, Garde found the decor unsurprising—except for the abundance of celestial-themed embellishments, which created the illusion of standing amidst the stars.
But then, he heard the sound of splashing water.
Was the shower in the bathroom left running?
Just as this thought crossed his mind, the splashing stopped.
A sense of unease crept into Garde's chest.
Could there actually be someone in the house?
Before he could ponder further, the bathroom door creaked open.
Out stepped a woman, casually drying her hair with a towel. Aside from the towel, she wore nothing else.
Looking up, she froze, locking eyes with the crocodile man standing in her room.
Their gazes met, and the room fell silent.
<+>
If you want to see more chapter of this story and don't mind spending $5 monthly to see till the latest chapter, please go to my Patreon[1]
Latest Chapter in Patreon: Volume 2 Chapter 70: Who Wakes First from the Great Dream![2]
Link to the Latest Chapter: https://www.patreon.com/posts/127564092?collection=193798[3]
https://www.patreon.com/collection/193798?view=condensed[4]
[1] https://www.patreon.com/collection/193798?view=condensed
[2] https://www.patreon.com/posts/127564092?collection=193798
[3] https://www.patreon.com/posts/127564092?collection=193798
[4] https://www.patreon.com/collection/193798?view=condensed