As Xio's good friend, Abner knew all too well how keenly Beyonders of the Arbiter Pathway sensed supernatural activity within their own "jurisdiction."
Even at Sequence 7, Xio might have noticed if he secretly used a Beyonder Ability. And Admiral Amyrius, who had just entered the Governor's Mansion, was a genuine Demigod of the Arbiter Pathway—an Imperative Mage who could impose rules on his "jurisdiction" at any moment!
If the admiral had not immediately discovered Abner under Psychological Invisibility, it might partly have been because he was not particularly skilled at that kind of detection. The main reason, though, was that Abner had done absolutely nothing since the admiral entered the mansion.
That was precisely why Abner now felt trapped. He did not even dare move, for fear Admiral Amyrius would notice a subtle change within his "jurisdiction," think of Psychological Invisibility, and conduct a more thorough search.
But I can't stay like this... The Pure White Eye could remain open for quite a long time now, but two hours was still its limit. What if the admiral stayed all night?
If Abner had not still been clinging to a shred of hope, he would have left this scene outright and challenged a different part of the Dream Labyrinth.
Just then, a door opened on the second floor. A middle-aged man came down with a coat hastily draped over his shoulders. He had black hair and blue eyes, and his features bore a strong resemblance to Amyrius's, though his forehead was higher, the bags under his eyes slightly swollen, and the corners of his mouth had yet to droop.
From the servants' forms of address, Abner learned that this was Amyrius Rieveldt's younger brother, the governor of Olavi, Aston Rieveldt.
Aston went straight into Amyrius's office and asked what was