Chapter 135: Many Changes

Zaid stared at her with some curiosity.

’Are these effects of the loop? The loop isn’t perfect, so naturally there will be some suspicious situations,’ he thought.

Although it might be a coincidence, given how precise it was—just like before—he doubted that was the case.

"You can call me Zaid," he told her.

They chatted casually for several minutes before Scarlett served him his meal.

"What happened? It’s strange that your friends..." She frowned at the use of that term and looked at Valia. "Your peculiar friends suddenly came looking for me, even though you were so badly injured,"

Zaid explained a few things to her briefly before changing the subject.

"I’ve been out of town for several days. Has anything happened?"

Scarlett rested her hand on her chin as she thought, then nodded.

"There’s a lot of talk about you at the Mercenary Guild. They call you ’Faceless,’ and they consider you a hero," she said with a mischievous smile.

Zaid flashed an embarrassed smile. "Forget about that."

She laughed softly before continuing. "There’s also been a lot of activity at the Awakened Academy."

"Oh, really?" Zaid raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. Apparently, an unknown organization broke into the facility, destroyed two student apartments, and kidnapped some students."

"Kidnapping?" Zaid frowned. "Who?"

"Search warrants have been issued throughout the city, since it happened just after dawn. Two people were kidnapped: an E-Rank student named Erick and another of similar or lower rank named John."

The muscles in Zaid’s face tensed. He dropped his spoon, revealing the turmoil in his heart.

"Is something wrong? Is it too hot or too salty?" Scarlett started to get up to do something about it, but Zaid shook his head.

"No... It’s just that I know those two. I was just surprised," said Zaid, forcing a smile so she would sit back down. "Tell me more about that kidnapping."

"Your friends?" she asked, her eyes widening.

"Something like that."

"Unfortunately, I don’t know anything more than that. I didn’t look into it because I didn’t think it was necessary. But if you go to the guild, someone there will surely be able to fill you in. It’s all over the news in town—even the Dean of the academy himself came out to say a few words,"

Zaid nodded and began to eat more quickly.

Scarlett talked about other things, but Zaid wasn’t listening to her anymore. His mind was racing as he processed the new information.

This hadn’t happened on his first try. That much was clear. So what had changed?

Zaid finished his meal quickly and stood up.

"Sorry, Scarlett, we’ll talk more another day. I’ve got some things to take care of."

"Huh? Are you leaving already?"

"Yeah. I’d like to ask you to do something for me... Can you make me a large batch of healing potions? I’ll pay you well and get you whatever materials you need."

Scarlett didn’t have time to refuse, since Zaid didn’t wait for her answer. He already knew the answer from the first time, so he didn’t need to hear it again.

She stood there stunned, watching him walk away.

-

’Damn Zayn...’

As he left the house, his gaze turned deadly cold and murderous.

’So this is your way of telling me that you’re going to make my life a living hell even inside the loop.’

’You’re powerful. I won’t lie to you... so powerful that you’re scary.’

He clenched his teeth and his fists. "But I don’t run away from fear."

First, Zaid went to the Mercenary Guild.

Nothing had changed from what happened on the first day. It was exactly the same, with a few different words and some more moving scenes—perhaps because this time he returned a week earlier than he had the first time.

They promoted him, briefed him on what had happened at the academy, and named several suspects, most notably the Shawn Family and other local families.

There was one name they didn’t dare mention.

Zaid knew what it was.

’The Church.’

It had to be.

In his opinion, it was likely that, if he had died for good, those two would have been kidnapped by the Church to carry out dirty missions for them. Perhaps the fate of that bandit he had to kill was similar.

’Even more so because of the presence of that old friend of John’s,’ he thought.

Zaid didn’t stay at the guild for very long. He had something more important to do.

He returned to the Academy by the same route he’d taken the first time, hoping to find Erick lying in that alley while holding that book.

He crossed at the right streets and soon found himself in the same alley.

Erick wasn’t there.

Still, he took the trouble to walk down it. He checked the trash cans and reached the dead-end alley.

"Shit," he turned to leave, but just then a light breeze blew against the high walls.

Then a sound reached him, like the turning of a page.

Zaid looked up, just out of curiosity.

There was a book about to fall, perched on top of a wall.

Zaid reached for it.

And he froze.

*The Shadow God Dies*.

The cover was exactly the same as the one on Erick’s book.

The author: Anhur J. Baldree.

What amazed him most was that Erick’s signature was in one corner of the book.

’Seriously? It’s his book.’

He had been here until recently. And if his book had been left behind, it meant that something more important than a book was in danger: his life.

Zaid climbed onto the wall and looked around, hoping to find some other clue.

He saw footprints that soon disappeared into the yard of the house next door.

There was no way to follow them any further. At that point, he had either been caught or perhaps set off down the street until he was caught.

’Kael... Building 13, 87th Street. The Shawn Family.’

Zaid nodded repeatedly and ran toward that location.

He glanced at the building. From top to bottom... there were many members of the Shawn Family, but the kidnapped victims were nowhere to be seen.

’Maybe the Dean can find them. I’ll go back to the academy,’

Zaid didn’t bother any further and returned as quickly as he could.

He slipped through the crowd at the academy and reached his room... This time, he couldn’t get in right away. There was a whole contingent of guards there.

Part of the building had been destroyed on this floor, so there was a lot of debris.

"Restricted area—you can’t go in."

Zaid frowned. "That’s my room."

"So?" The guard stared at him. "It’s been completely destroyed. I’m sure you’ve been informed—you can’t go in."

"I just want to check on my belongings."

"Restricted area—you can’t go in!" The guard thrust his shield forward and slammed it down on the ground. The impact created a slight tremor that immediately drew attention.

There were a lot of onlookers around.

"Hey, isn’t that Zaid Zachary?"

"Did he live here?"

"I heard he was a classmate of Erick, the student who was kidnapped..."

"Shit, so they were friends..."

"It must be tough."

"Why are you worrying about some piece of trash?" a man suddenly exclaimed from behind the onlookers and took a few steps forward.

"It’s Luke Shawn... Be careful."

"Hey, that’s Professor Robinson Shawn, too... What are the Shawns doing here?"

"And the other one is Jackson Clark. It seems like these rich people have issues with Zaid Zachary—I’d heard something about it before."

"Hey, you piece of trash, Zaid. What brings you here?"

Zaid turned and looked at them. He frowned the moment he realized the most important person wasn’t there: Kael.

’So many changes. How annoying.’

"What? Don’t you like seeing me?" Luke Shawn laughed and stopped right in front of him.

Zaid shrugged. "Looking at you is like looking at shit. Do you think anyone would like that?"

Luke’s eyes widened. "You..."

"Don’t bother me. I’m busy."

Zaid figured that if they wouldn’t let him in to take a look, then he might as well go talk to the dean.

However, before he could take a few steps to the side to get around Luke, Luke grabbed him by the shirt and stopped him.

"Say that again."

Zaid looked down at his wrinkled shirt and turned menacingly toward Luke. "I’ll give you three seconds to let go of me. If you don’t, I’ll make you eat that dirty chunk of rock over there."

Luke tightened his fist even more. "Do you want to die?"

"Three." Zaid began to count.

Luke didn’t move. He even tightened his grip even more.

"Two."

Robinson stared at them from the side. He was a master of tests, but he had no intention of getting involved in this.

"One."

Zaid smiled and raised his hand. No one could see how fast he moved—until Luke found himself grabbed by the neck.

"You dare!" Luke strained to throw Zaid to the ground.

But he couldn’t even move. His body suddenly flew through the air and tumbled across the floor.

Dazed by the situation, he tried to get up. But Zaid put his foot on Luke’s head and pinned it to the ground.

"I’ve put up with you for a long time, you little piece of trash. But I’m getting tired of having to put up with you."

Zaid grabbed the rock he’d mentioned and crouched down in front of him.

That was when the others were finally able to react.

Jackson turned around and looked at what was happening. Zaid had his back to him, so he didn’t hesitate to lunge at him.

"What’s a piece of damn trash doing here, thinking they’re better than us?" Jackson snapped, kicking Zaid in the lower back.

Zaid didn’t flinch. He felt the movement and simply turned around. The leg got stuck in his arm, completely immobilized.

"Your turn will come—just be patient."