Ding-dong—
The elevator doors opened. Qiu Ran clutched Nomi's head and rushed out in a panic. Li Aoz followed at an unhurried pace, his eyes fixed on Qiu Ran ahead while his peripheral vision constantly swept the surroundings.
Though he knew he had already cleared out everyone on the first level of the shelter, Li Aoz did not think caution was a mistake.
Besides, he had already encountered an Imitation Human. He truly did not dare let someone he knew out of his sight.
"Where are we going?" Qiu Ran asked anxiously.
"To the ICU first. We'll ask Nordly."
Li Aoz kept one hand on his sword hilt at all times, staying half a step behind Qiu Ran and not daring to let her leave his sight.
Even as oblivious as Qiu Ran was, she noticed the change in Li Aoz's attitude. She hesitated before saying:
"Are you... worried about me now?"
She phrased it tactfully, deliberately emphasizing "now."
But what she really meant was, You weren't like this before. Did something happen to make you act this way?
"Is it because of that shapeshifting Esha Armed just now—"
"Trust me."
Li Aoz's reply was curt.
He did not want to explain too much. To human nations, learning of the existence of Imitation Humans was more dangerous than the Imitation Humans themselves.
Qiu Ran pressed her lips together and said nothing more.
"I don't know what that thing did to you just now... I trust you, but please trust me too."
Although she had witnessed many unbelievable things Li Aoz had done along the way, he was still only human.
"I'll try."
Li Aoz did not dare make an absolute promise in his heart.
He was not a smart man. With Charm as his only Primary Attribute, Li Aoz did