Seducing the Guideverse With My System — Raising an Anomaly [BL]

Chapter 274: _A Breakthrough

Steel Falcon Guild

"Oh, good," Valentine said out loud when he saw Ambrose stepping out of the manor. "I was so close to barging in there. In case something happened."

Walking beside Rose was none other than Captain Killian. The B-Rank Esper—as composed as he was—couldn’t help himself from marvelling at the absolute legends before them.

Valentine. Gabriel. Devon. Viktor.

Just being several paces away from them made his knees wobble. Suddenly he didn’t know how to maintain eye contact, forcing himself to turn to Ambrose instead.

"Who are they to you?" He asked, noticing how casual the Guide was about it. "All those Espers—"

"Hunter Devon and Viktor are my boyfriends." Ambrose didn’t even bother hiding it. "Yes—weird. Don’t think much about it. As for the other two, our situation is rather... complicated at the moment."

Killian blinked.

Was this guy fucking serious right now?

"Well?" Devon stepped forward first, wrapping an arm around Ambrose’s shoulders. "Did you see anything while you were in there? Or find out something about the Guild master at least?"

Ambrose sighed. "No and yes," he gestured at Killian. "Meet Captain Killian. He’s had suspicions about Dorothy before... You know."

The B-Rank’s eyes darted around in confusion. "I’m sorry but before what?" he was still unable to digest the mental image of a notable S-Rank like Devon Ferguson being so up close with a C-Rank.

"The Guild master has been compromised," Ambrose revealed, his expression turning grim. "By the Void Entity. I’m trusting you with this info because I have faith in your ability to keep secrets."

That was all a load of bullshit but at this point he didn’t care.

Killian was even more confused. "Compromised? Void entity? S–Secrets?"

"Rory, no offence," Viktor placed a hand on his waist, trying hard not to sound disrespectful. "But what’s he doing here? What suspicions has he had that could be useful?"

"Basically, Dorothy grew an unhealthy obsession with me," Ambrose didn’t beat around the bush either. "The same obsession Han Jae-won had. And probably—"

"Augustus as well."

A new voice thundered from the clouds. Every head lifted heavenward, squinting at the feathered figure descending to them. Ambrose’s heart skipped a beat.

Loki.

The lord of chaos landed beside them, their wings furling before shrinking into their back. "I had a feeling you boys would still be here." They folded their arms across their chest, eyes scanning each of them.

Gabriel’s eyes narrowed at the SSS-Rank. "Speaking of Augustus, weren’t you supposed to confirm he hasn’t been possessed as well?"

Loki nodded. "I was," Their gaze locked on Ambrose. "And I can confirm the Void Entity hasn’t touched him. Not yet anyway."

"And your Pantheon buddies?" Ambrose’s chest lit up with the faintest spark of hope. "Any luck tracking the Void Entity yet?"

The others brought their attention to Loki as well, eagerly awaiting a positive answer. Even Killian who had little to no idea what was happening fixed his eyes on the ridiculously gorgeous Esper.

Sadly, Loki shook their head. "Nothing yet." They kept on talking despite Ambrose’s despondent heave. "Each time the Void Entity disappears after a major appearance it makes sure to erase all traces of its presence. It’s hard for Kali and the others to—"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it." Ambrose waved dismissively, turning away from them.

At this rate, he might never see Orion again.

Heavens knows what Dorothy or that temu grade Lovecraft monster was up to.

"Wait," Devon spoke up before the silence swallowed them whole. His gaze shifted between Ambrose and Loki. "You were saying something about obsession."

Ambrose paused.

Loki did the same.

Their eyes met for the briefest moment. Neither of them needed to say it.

They’d somehow reached the same conclusion.

Ambrose let out a slow breath. "I think Kali’s theory was only... half right." He turned to the others, expression grim. "The Void Entity doesn’t necessarily need people who hate me."

Gabriel frowned while Valentine folded his arms.

"Think about it," Ambrose continued. "Han Jae-won hated me. Augustus didn’t exactly hate me too... but you get the gist. Now what did they both have in common besides that?"

"...Obsession," Devon murmured.

"Exactly." Ambrose nodded. "Every decision they made somehow circled back to me. They couldn’t let me go. Dorothy fits the same pattern from what Killian shared. It wasn’t simple curiosity anymore. It became unhealthy."

Loki picked up where he left off.

"The hatred might’ve simply accelerated the process." Their voice remained unusually quiet. "The true doorway appears to be obsession itself."

Silence settled over the group.

Even Viktor couldn’t think of a joke.

Because if that theory was correct... It changed everything.

Killian blinked between all of them like he was desperately trying to catch up to a conversation five Chapters ahead of him.

Loki noticed immediately, their lips curling into an apologetic smile.

"Captain Killian," they gestured toward the far end of the compound. "Would you mind accompanying me for a short walk? I think we’ve just wandered into territory that shouldn’t involve civilians."

"I... uh... sure?" The B-Rank practically welcomed the escape, following Loki away as they casually struck up another conversation, leaving the remaining five alone.

Ambrose watched them disappear before releasing a tired sigh.

"I just..." He rubbed his forehead. "I want to go home."

Nobody argued.

Deep down they all felt the same way.

★★★★★

Back at the house, Ambrose found himself drifting upstairs almost on instinct until he reached Orion’s bedroom.

He pushed the door open.

Everything remained exactly as the boy had left it.

The little books.

The toys.

The messy blanket he’d never folded properly.

His breathing hitched.

Slowly, Ambrose reached into the wardrobe and pulled out the tiny golden suit Orion had proudly worn during Valentine’s hotel outing.

His fingers brushed across the fabric. "You looked so happy wearing this. Stuffing your face with ice cream."

His vision blurred but he quickly held himself back.

No.

Not now.

He clenched his jaw until the tears threatening to fall retreated.

[A breakthrough has been made.] Aura’s voice echoed through his mind just then.

Ambrose froze. "What?"

[Because your Ultimate Mission remains active, Orion’s life signature has never completely disappeared from my network.]

His heart skipped.

[I have finally isolated it.]

A translucent map unfolded before his eyes. A single golden pulse blinked somewhere on the outskirts of Aurelia.

[Estimated location acquired.]

[Target is currently inside an abandoned warehouse.]

Hope exploded inside Ambrose so violently it almost hurt.

"You’re kidding me." He stared at the map before glaring upward. "Aura, you couldn’t have figured this out like... Before I had a fucking mental meltdown?"

[You’re welcome.]

He scoffed despite himself.

Then the map enlarged again.

His silver eyes hardened. "Got you."

Whoever was inside that warehouse... He was coming. And he wasn’t leaving without his son.