Before Xiao Ran could leave, someone below reported that Ingram had awakened. Xiao Ran hurried back to the warehouse where Ingram had been sleeping.
The once-quiet warehouse remained quiet after Xiao Ran entered, but compared to when only Ingram had been sleeping there, it was now filled with countless people. It seemed as though they had returned to the time when Ingram had first boarded the Burning Legion—soldiers assigned to monitor him, researchers assigned to examine him, and even Basak sat among them.
When Xiao Ran entered, Ingram was already seated in a chair. Basak sat two or three meters away on the other side. That distance was enough to ensure Basak could appear before Ingram at the first sign of unusual movement. Fortunately, Ingram had no intention of doing anything. He merely waited quietly for Xiao Ran to arrive.
Upon seeing Xiao Ran, one of the researchers picked up something and moved toward him, but Xiao Ran waved the researcher off and walked over to Ingram himself. Looking at Ingram, who had his eyes closed as though resting, he asked, "How do you feel?"
"You came." Ingram opened his eyes and looked up at Xiao Ran standing before him. He spoke calmly. "I have never felt this good before."
From that brief exchange, Xiao Ran understood what Ingram meant and smiled faintly. "Congratulations."
"Thank you." Ingram spoke those two words softly, but his thanks were clearly not for Xiao Ran's congratulations. It was heartfelt gratitude for helping him break free from Yuzes's control.
To Xiao Ran, Ingram seemed somewhat different from before. The most obvious change was that his former sharpness had become restrained, and he had grown much more tranquil. There was also an added air of weathered mystery about him. Even his voice carried a touch more