Chapter 260: Utterly Oblivious

"Call back every Capitol of the Elite ascender who’s out on missions, taking a break, or currently not in the city for whatever reason," Uhtred said. "We’re consolidating."

"A full consolidation, boss?" Dennis asked.

Uhtred nodded firmly. "A full consolidation."

"Next. Arrange a time for me to meet with the surviving victims of the Ancient Variant attack within the city. I would like to give them a few words," Uhtred said. "The girl, Sophie Albert... I would like to meet with her first."

Dennis nodded, mentally filing away Uhtred’s orders as Uhtred continued to speak:

"Also, we definitely need a show of force against the Ancient Variants. They cannot just go scot-free after such an attack. How has our push into Zone 2 been going so far? Any updates regarding the Ancient Variant outposts there? Have we found any yet?"

"We’ve been able to push further into Zone 2, but unfortunately we still haven’t found any Ancient Variant outposts there yet... The Ancient Variants in Zone 2 are a different breed entirely. Whatever cloaking device or array they are using to hide their outposts is very effective. Not even the World Government has found any either..."

Uhtred frowned and rubbed his chin. He was well aware that barely five days had passed since he left for the Tower. But at the same time, a lot of things had happened in that short span. He was hoping that finding an Ancient Variant outpost was also among the many things that had occurred in his absence. Unfortunately, it seemed that was not the case.

"I have some time on my hands before I have to leave for the Tower again, so I will push into Zone 2 myself to scour. I have a feeling I’ll be able to find their outposts much easier now..." Uhtred touched his left eye lightly, thinking of how useful his new Gnostic eye would be in this situation.

"I’m going to let a few heads roll once I find their outposts. And we’re going to make it very, very public. Make preparations for that when I make my move."

"Of course, boss."

"The World Government," Uhtred asked next. "What is their stance regarding the kidnapping of the children? I reckon it’s not just our allies who fell victim to that, right?"

"Yes. The kidnappings didn’t affect us alone. Territories being assimilated by the World Government also fell to some of the attacks, and lots of children were taken. The World Government has made a public statement and shown lots of their ascenders moving out into Zone 2 in an effort to recover the children," Dennis said.

"They’re using this as an opportunity to gain public favor, and it seems to be working. There are even some of our allies beginning to sway in their direction already."

Uhtred’s eyes narrowed in thought, and he hummed in response. "Hmm... This might actually be a good thing. I will hold off on forging into Zone 2 for a few days. In the meantime, announce my return. Let those shaky ’allies’ know that I am back... and doing nothing yet in response to the Ancient Variant attack. We will see those who are loyal and those who are ready to jump ship at the slightest storm."

Dennis nodded in approval. "A great idea, boss. Shall I set up a meeting with foreign dignitaries in a few days’ time, then? The announcement of your arrival will make many parties eager to meet with you."

Uhtred waved a hand dismissively. "Not for the time being. I won’t be meeting with any outside faction until after a week, at least. I need to find the Ancient Variants and show the world my response before I meet with any of them."

"Besides," he continued, his eyes shifting toward Zara and Diya in a peculiar manner. "I also have some other matters I need to attend to."

.

.

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Hours later, after the conclusion of the meeting...

"You want to know how my magic works...?" Diya asked, a look of utter confusion on her face.

Right after the long meeting wrapped up, Uhtred had asked to see Diya and Zara personally. It had been a weird request, one that made Diya very clearly suspicious, judging by her expression.

Minh Quan had carried a stupid grin on his face after Uhtred asked the two ladies to follow him to his quarters. Even Dennis had been taken slightly by surprise, though he said nothing, simply moving on to attend to his managerial duties.

Diya had been hesitant to follow after Uhtred, but at the same time, she still found herself doing so, a light blush rising on her cheeks.

She had looked up at Zara, who followed along without a moment’s hesitation. Zara’s calm demeanor made Diya try to replicate the same composure. But as the gates to Uhtred’s manor drew close, her heart began to pound louder in her chest...

But in the end, it turned out it was all for nothing. Uhtred had only invited them in to ask some random questions about their abilities.

Diya glanced at Zara, whose face remained perfectly calm as she sipped the cool drink Uhtred had offered them upon entering his manor’s lounge.

"I’m not sure I heard correctly," she said, turning her eyes back to Uhtred. "You said you want to know how my healing magic works?"

"Uhh... Yeah?" Uhtred drawled out his response, somewhat confused as to why Diya was repeating his question back to him. Was it really that strange a request? ℴ

"Not only yours, but I also want to know how Zara’s magic works too," he said, looking back and forth from Diya to Zara.

Another beat of heavy silence reigned, causing Uhtred to scratch his head in confusion. He searched for what might be causing the awkward atmosphere, and he quickly ’realized’ what it was.

"Oh, I guess this is very forward. The specifics of your powers are a deeply personal thing, after all. But I don’t need you to tell me exactly how it works... I just want to gain a surface-level understanding, that’s all..."

Zara, who was contentedly sipping her drink, suddenly cracked a slow, amused smile.

"Oh, I don’t think that’s the issue here, Uhtred." She cast a side-eye at Diya, whose face seemed to be undergoing a intense internal war. She then looked back at Uhtred. "I think Diya here was expecting something a little diff—"

"—I think I’ll be taking my leave now, Uhtred!" Diya stood up abruptly, cutting Zara off as a deep red flush flooded her entire face.

"Are you okay, Diya?" Uhtred asked, genuinely concerned. "Your face is bright red. Is it fatigue from the Tower? Do you need rest or—"

"—Thank you for the concern, Uhtred!" she said rather loudly, cutting him off completely. "I—I just have some... pressing matters I need to... y’know..."

She stammered out an incoherent excuse, let out a nervous chuckle, and hastily bolted from the room without another word.

Uhtred was left sitting there with a look of complete bewilderment and concern, watching her practically scamper out of his manor.

Suddenly, a realization dawned on him, and he facepalmed loudly.

"Damn!" He looked over at Zara. "It was a ’girl issue,’ wasn’t it?"

Zara raised a brow, her expression thoroughly amused. "And by ’girl issue,’ you mean what, exactly? Like her period or something?"

Uhtred’s expression turned awkward, and he cleared his throat at Zara’s blunt directness.

"Well, yeah... that."

Zara snorted. "Trust me, Uhtred, it’s definitely not that kind of ’girl issue.’"

Uhtred raised a brow, about to ask what Zara meant by that, when she suddenly leaned forward in her seat, her expression turning serious.

"So, you said you wanted to learn how my power works, right?"