Annan and Little Bat tensed—one ready to fight, the other ready to flee.
"Oh, my little Annan is adorable even when he's nervous~"
The Staff in the Council Chairman's hand suddenly creased and burst into an exaggerated aria.
"I told you your Staff could talk!"
But that wasn't the point. Annan looked at the Council Chairman, who seemed to have seen through him long ago yet had done nothing.
"I don't quite understand..."
"Will you let me explain later?"
The Council Chairman took the Fruit of Corruption and stepped through the Portal.
"Child, I mean no harm. You can tell her whenever you like, but please don't disturb her rest right now."
The Council Chairman spoke to the wary Olin.
Olin's answer was to charge for the door. Just as she was about to leave the room, the Council Chairman raised his Staff behind her.
An invisible Barrier bounced Olin back. The Barrier that had once protected Annan had become their prison.
"Kyle!"
Annan shouted, urging Little Bat to act.
Kyle looked up at the ceiling. "What a lovely pattern..."
"You have to do something!" Annan yelled.
Kyle looked troubled. At that moment, the Council Chairman shot him a glance. "Do you want me to drive you away again? You haven't collected Annan's fee yet, have you?"
"This floor is awfully shiny..." Little Bat lowered his head again.
"Don't waste the Crystal here. I'm not your enemy. I just need you to keep this secret for a while," the Council Chairman told Annan.
Annan could only give a dry laugh and hide the Crystal behind his back again.
As the Council Chairman was about to leave the Barrier, the past few days flashed through Annan's mind. An unbelievable suspicion struck him, and he blurted out:
"You're trying to bring Vitalig