Chapter 392: You grew up?
Third Underground Level, Auction Hall
Without drawing attention to himself, Lian smoothly edged Aren aside just as the succubus was about to sit next to Rory.
A slight shift of his body was all it took for him to claim the coveted seat beside her.
He leaned in comfortably. Close enough that the warmth of his body was unmistakable. Close enough that, with the slightest movement, their shoulders might brush.
Yet he somehow maintained the perfect sliver of distance—enough to avoid appearing overbearing while still making his presence impossible to ignore.
"Mistress..."
His voice drifted softly into Rory’s ear.
The final syllable lingered, slightly drawn out, like a feather lightly grazing the edge of her ear.
"In a little while, let’s see if there’s anything here that catches your eye."
As he spoke, he deliberately let his breath skim across the side of her neck.
"If you find something you like, just point it out."
The corners of his lips curved upward. "I’ll bid on it and give it to you."
For now, he wasn’t officially Rory’s partner. That meant he couldn’t simply hand over his fortune and tell her it was hers.
So he had to settle for spoiling her in smaller ways.
Rory shot him a warning look.
"Stop calling me that. I’m not your Mistress."
Ever since they had stepped off the shuttle, Lian had called her Mistress once...
And never stopped.
The entire journey here had been one endless stream of "Mistress."
Hearing her protest only deepened the smile in his eyes.
Turning toward her slightly, he gazed at her with those dazzling fox-like eyes.
The amusement in them was almost overflowing.
"Not now. But someday...?"
Rory was instantly rendered speechless. She genuinely didn’t know how to answer.
The more she got to know Lian, the more she realized something.
Everything he did had a purpose. Nothing was accidental.
And somehow... Knowing exactly what he was doing didn’t make him annoying.
If anything, it made him more dangerous.
Because you could see the trap... And still find yourself willingly walking into it.
Seeing her fall silent, Lian’s smile softened further.
He knew he had pushed a little too hard.
Leaning back, he finally gave Rory some breathing room. Then he extended a finger and lightly brushed the back of her hand.
"It’s alright if you don’t answer now. When you’ve figured it out, you can tell me then."
His gaze remained fixed on hers. "I can wait." A pause. "No matter how long it takes."
It was both an escape route and a confession.
He handed the choice back to her. Yet at the same time, with a simple I can wait, he made his intentions perfectly clear.
No matter how much time passed... His destination remained unchanged. And at the end of that road, he would be waiting for her.
Advance when appropriate.
Retreat when necessary.
A flawless strategy.
A fox through and through.
Beside them, Vincent silently glanced at Lian.
As expected of a fox spirit. His methods were truly impressive.
Ding.
A notification suddenly sounded from Lian’s communicator. He casually lifted his wrist and glanced at the screen.
Yuel?
The sight genuinely surprised him.
For Yuel to contact him first... Now that was unexpected.
The message was brief.
Yuel: Location attached. Come down here. Don’t let Rory know.
The attached coordinates pointed to the fifth underground level of the auction complex.
Lian’s eyes flickered briefly.
Then his expression returned to normal.
He locked the screen and lowered his wrist with practiced ease, making it appear as though he had merely checked the time.
Turning back to Rory, he smiled.
"Mistress, I’m going to the restroom. I’ll be right back."
Then, in an extraordinarily generous display, he surrendered the seat he had fought so hard to steal and returned it to Aren.
Rory watched his departing figure. When Lian had opened the message, she had caught a glimpse of a familiar name.
Yuel. The message had come from Yuel.
And judging by Lian’s immediate departure, he was almost certainly going to meet him.
But why? What could Yuel possibly need to discuss with Lian in private?
More importantly... Why did it have to be secret?
Rory hadn’t been able to read the contents of the message.
That only made her more curious.
The moment Lian disappeared into the corridor, she exchanged a glance with Vincent and Vangar.
No words were necessary.
The two men immediately understood.
Rory quietly rose from her seat.
Then, without attracting attention, she slipped away and followed after Lian.
Lian moved at an unhurried pace, yet somehow covered ground remarkably quickly.
Effortlessly weaving through the crowds, he slipped into a secluded corridor and followed the coordinates Yuel had sent him.
A few minutes later, he arrived outside a private chamber on the fifth underground level.
Stepping inside, he immediately asked, "You called me here. What’s so urgent?"
Then he saw what was waiting for him.
His expression changed instantly.
In the center of the room, several deep-blue vines had woven themselves into a cradle-like structure.
Or rather—
Not a cradle. A prison disguised as protection.
Nestled within the intertwined vines was a child who had only recently taken human form.
Yuel stood nearby, his expression unusually grim.
Lian strode forward.
The moment he got a good look at the little boy, he immediately recognized him.
The fluffy dark-blue hair. The tiny flower bud perched atop his head. The striking blue eyes.
There was no mistaking whose child this was.
So this was Terry...
He already knew of the child’s existence, but this was their first meeting.
Curiosity immediately got the better of him.
Bending down, he reached out and poked Terry’s soft, chubby cheek.
The texture was surprisingly satisfying.
Not bad.
Terry’s cheek squished inward. His tiny brows immediately furrowed.
The little boy looked at Lian with obvious displeasure.
This person had no manners. Who poked a baby’s face the moment they met?
Lian almost laughed.
He didn’t even need to ask Yuel what was wrong.
The expression alone told him everything.
"No wonder you called me." He straightened. "This little guy’s inheritance definitely has a problem."
A normal child didn’t come out of transformation wearing an expression like that.
Yuel got straight to the point.
"I remember you saying you could erase inherited memories."
Lian nodded. "I can. But are you sure?"
His gaze returned to Terry. Curiosity flickered in his fox-like eyes.
"What exactly did he inherit to make you consider something this extreme?"
Inherited memories were vital to every beastman child.
They contained racial instincts, survival skills, snnate talents. Generations of accumulated wisdom.
Erasing them was akin to taking a blank sheet of paper and somehow making it even emptier.
The damage to a child’s development could be immense.
At that moment, Terry raised his head. Those clear blue eyes settled on Yuel.
Despite his childish appearance, there was a calmness in them that felt entirely out of place.
"Daddy." His small voice was soft. "Are you really going to do it?"
Yuel lowered his gaze.
Father and son looked at one another.
For a brief moment, guilt surfaced in Yuel’s eyes.
He remained silent. Then, after several long seconds, he nodded.
"Yes. I’m sorry."
Terry listened quietly. Then, like a tiny adult forced to accept an unpleasant reality, he let out a small sigh.
"Okay."
His voice remained obedient. "You’re my daddy. So I’ll listen to you."
There wasn’t the slightest trace of resentment. Only trust. Absolute trust.
Then he turned his attention toward Lian. His little brows immediately knitted together again. The skeptical look was impossible to miss.
The only question was whether this fox could actually succeed.
Lian laughed.
"Hey. What kind of look is that?"
The corners of his lips twitched. "Are you doubting my abilities?"
Terry didn’t answer. Instead, he simply closed his eyes.
The message couldn’t have been clearer: Do whatever you want. I can’t be bothered to respond.
Lian stared at him for a moment before turning toward Yuel.
"Your son is just as annoying as you are."
Yuel ignored the comment completely.
Looking at Terry, he suppressed the pain in his chest and said quietly, "Begin."
The teasing smile vanished from Lian’s face. His expression finally grew serious.
Raising one hand, he gathered a cluster of silver-white light at his fingertips.
The gentle glow illuminated the room.
He extended his hand toward Terry’s forehead. The light drifted closer. Just as it was about to touch the child’s skin—
Bang!
The heavy metal door burst open.
Everyone turned.
Rory stood in the doorway.
Vincent and Vangar were right behind her.
The moment she entered the room—
Terry’s eyes snapped open.
Those deep-blue eyes lit up instantly.
"Mother!"
His tiny body shot forward like a streak of lightning.
Neither Yuel nor Lian had time to react.
The vines restraining him were effortlessly broken apart.
In the next instant, he launched himself straight into Rory’s arms. Tiny arms wrapped tightly around her neck.
He buried his face against her shoulder and rubbed against her affectionately.
Then he lifted his head. His eyes sparkled. His smile was dazzling.
"Mother!"
The sweet, childish voice echoed through the room.
His gaze was innocent. Completely different from the disturbingly mature child who had calmly discussed murder earlier.
It was as though they were looking at two entirely different people.
Beside Yuel, Lian stared at the performance.
Then the corner of his mouth twitched.
Lowering his voice, he muttered, "As expected of your son."
His eyes remained fixed on Terry. "He’s even better at acting than you are."
Rory didn’t hear him. At that moment, all of her attention was focused on the tiny bundle in her arms.
Her eyes widened. Every emotion flashed across her face at once.
"Terry..." She held him tighter, almost afraid he might disappear. "You..."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"You grew up?"
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