Chapter 180: I don’t want to look stupid!

The door opened.

Myles stepped back inside, the familiar incentive spirometer in one hand.

"Here."

Blake visibly brightened.

"Oh, thank you so much!"

Myles handed it over without another word.

Blake adjusted himself against the headboard and placed the mouthpiece between his lips.

Slowly, he inhaled.

The indicator barely rose before a sharp ache spread through his ribs.

"...Mm."

His shoulders instinctively tensed.

’Ah, how annoying!!!’

He went a little deeper this time, but his lungs weren’t too happy about it, it seemed.

The plastic ball climbed a little higher before dropping again.

"..."

His breathing trembled halfway through.

It wasn’t nearly as good as last time he had used it.

’Looks like I got a bit too much worse...’

He rested the device on his lap for a moment before trying once more.

Eventually, after several attempts, he managed a decent breath.

’There.’

He lowered the spirometer with a small sigh.

"I definitely have to get back into the habit."

Myles quietly watched the entire exercise.

Blake placed the device on the bedside table, then looked directly at Myles.

"I’m still doing what I said. I have everything I need to prove it. Do you trust everyone here, despite anything I could say?"

"They are anything but untrustworthy."

The answer came without hesitation.

Blake slowly nodded.

"Alright. I’m not even going to reveal things they shouldn’t know. It’s mostly information concerning them. A few things...will probably surprise everyone though, even you."

Myles let out a nearly inaudible sigh.

He reached over, fingers gently brushing Blake’s bangs away from his eyes.

"I know your personality. You are never going to change your mind."

Blake smiled.

"So that’s your way of saying you’ve accepted it."

Without another word, Myles walked towards the bed and got Blake in his arms... as many would call it, in bridal style.

"I hope you don’t seriously plan on carrying me like this outside, in front of everyone."

Myles tilted his head.

"There’s nothing embarrassing about. You can’t walk properly."

Blake stared at him.

"That’s not the point."

He poked Myles lightly in the cheek.

"I can just use a cane or something."

Myles looked at him for a second.

"I see."

Without another word, he carefully placed Blake back against the pillows, then left the room.

Blake blinked.

’Where did he—’

Less than five seconds later, the door opened again.

Myles walked back inside.

Holding not just any cane.

A beautifully crafted metallic cane with intricate engravings spiraling down the shaft, polished so perfectly it reflected the room’s light.

The handle curved elegantly, accented by dark silver details that made it look more like an expensive collector’s piece than something meant to help someone walk.

Blake stared.

"Do you people just have fancy canes lying around?"

Myles handed it to him.

"Thank you?"

He planted it on the floor and slowly stood.

His right foot behaved reasonably well.

The left, not so much.

The moment he shifted his weight, his ankles complained violently.

"...Ngh..."

His knees wobbled.

Before he could lose balance, Myles quietly took Blake’s free hand, supporting just enough to steady him.

"Sorry."

Blake looked up.

"Huh? For what?"

"I only have this cane."

"That’s not exactly what I expect you to apologize for."

Despite himself, he laughed.

Together, they slowly left the room.

The hallway outside was surprisingly spacious.

The walls were dark gray, and there was minimal decoration.

Everything looked practical rather than comfortable.

Farther ahead, an open central room came into view.

Several sofas, a long table, a few chairs...

The others were already there, simply sitting together.

The conversation stopped the moment Blake entered.

Estelle was the first to smile.

"So, Myles said you wanted to propose something. He mentioned it before disappearing for a while."

Carefully, with Myles still supporting him, Blake reached one of the chairs.

He lowered himself into it.

Myles remained standing beside him, leaning casually against the wall with folded arms.

Every pair of eyes settled on Blake.

He took a slow breath.

"That’s right... I’ll start with something none of you know."

The silence was already quite overwhelming.

"I’ve infiltrated AL-TECH facilities five different times. And every single infiltration ended successfully."

Alexis immediately frowned.

"How? You expect us to believe you bypassed AL-TECH security, both when entering and leaving? You’re a below average human."

Blake stared at him completely unimpressed... below average human? Seriously?

In any case, he wasn’t about to explain everything he had, like for example his strenght. It wasn’t a smart move.

"The reason I managed to navigate well within the facilities is because I have the blueprints."

Complete silence swayed the room, even Alexis stopped moving.

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

Blake could almost feel everyone’s attention sharpen.

"I bought them at an auction."

Zlatan slowly leaned back.

"Interesting, we had our eyes on those too. Myself went there himself, actually."

His smile widened slightly.

"Did you know that?

Blake widened his eyes.

"Really?"

He looked toward Myles.

"You were there?"

"I was."

Myles answered calmly.

"But you couldn’t have been the man I saw. He had a different face, a different build and a different voice. Even his heartbeat."

Blake smiled awkwardly.

"There’s actually an explanation."

He reached into his bag.

Everyone’s eyes followed the movement.

Then, a bright red mask with black and golden details appeared.

"This was the mask I was ever given for the mission."

He slowly placed it over his face.

The transformation happened immediately.

His body stretched taller.

His shoulders broadened.

His black hair appeared.

Dark eyes.

Sharper facial features.

Even his clothing shifted into luxurious attire fit for an aristocrat.

The room exploded into movement.

Alexis stood instantly.

Estelle took one step back.

Tania’s gaze sharpened.

Zlatan’s smile disappeared.

Even Myles’ eyes widened, only slightly, but enough for Blake to notice.

Everyone unconsciously prepared themselves.

Blake quickly removed the mask, his ordinary appearance returned just as suddenly.

"See? When I wear it, I become someone else. My entire body changes, so my organs adapt too."

He looked at Myles.

"That’s why you couldn’t recognize me at all."

Myles nodded.

Blake mentally sighed in relief.

’Woah, he definitely knew I was lying about not knowing he was there, thank god he kept it to himself...’

Estelle stared at the mask.

"...Where did you even get something like this? This isn’t ordinary technology."

Blake shook his head.

"I genuinely don’t know, it was simply given to me shortly before my mission."

Myles spoke again.

"There was something else, too. I couldn’t perceive you well. I was able to feel everything, but it constantly felt like my mind was slipping."

Alexis crossed his arms.

"That’s right, you told us about that. Hey, when he couldn’t detect you, that was because of the mask or what?"

Blake scratched the back of his neck.

"Partly? I also have rather ridiculous stealth skills."

Alexis immediately shook his head.

"No. Stealth alone wouldn’t fool any biological detection, especially his."

Blake raised one finger.

"I wasn’t finished. Listen to everything first. If there are still questions afterward, I’ll answer them."

Alexis clicked his tongue.

"Whatever."

Tania finally spoke.

"You keep talking about a mission"

Blake nodded.

"The majority of my missions were aimed at sabotaging AL-TECH."

He reached into his pocket again.

This time, a deformed ring came out.

The room reacted instantly. Everyone stood and gathered around almost simultaneously.

Estelle covered her mouth.

"You completed it?"

Blake nodded.

"My third infiltration was into AOP, where I found the black stone that was needed to complete it."

Everyone touched it, and Blake let them.

"I discovered about the missing part after reaching Alfred Hicth’s office during my second infiltration at AL-TECH. I found notes mentioning the incomplete blueprints."

The holographic blueprints popped out as soon as he pressed on the gem. the completed plans across the table.

"They’re useful, but outdated. They don’t include everything that exists today. And they probably still contain areas that no longer exist."

Zlatan quietly studied them.

"Still, they’re invaluable."

Blake nodded.

"They’re the reason I successfully infiltrated a-exp, too."

He looked around the room.

"During that infiltration, I obtained alien body parts from six different species."

The room froze. Not a single person spoke.

The atmosphere turned heavy.

All pairs of eyes silently measured him, but Myles’.

Blake felt the pressure immediately. Still, he continued.

"I want to help all of you."

Everyone looked up.

"Find your... alien ancestor (?)."

The silence that followed made Blake feel quite uneasy, so he continued.

"I don’t know your biological traits, but... I analyzed the samples. I’ve already compared blood patterns, if none of you match those six species... I’ll continue searching and infiltrating to collect samples, until I find yours."

Alexis abruptly stood.

"Wait."

His brows furrowed.

"You’re doing all this for free?"

"No, I want something in return."

"What?"

The uneasiness increased double.

Blake smiled sheepishly.

"I’d like to know all of you a little better."

Everyone immediately got caught off guard.

The moment later, they were staring at him in a way that made him feel stupid.

He immediately began waving both hands.

"N-not like becoming friends... that’s not what I mean! I just... want us to understand each other better, I’ll make an effort too. You don’t have to trust me immediately. I don’t expect that. I just don’t want every conversation between us to begin with everyone assuming the worst."

Another long silence followed.

Then, a quiet chuckle escaped Zlatan.

Blake froze.

"...?"

He slowly looked around.

Alexis wasn’t glaring nearly as much anymore.

Estelle had a hand over her mouth, hiding what looked suspiciously like a smile.

Even Tania’s expression had softened by the slightest amount.

They still looked cautious, still evaluating every word.

But, for the first time...

They looked quite amused.

’This wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for, but...’