The cramped room.
Xu Yuan appeared suddenly, his hand on his sword hilt as crowns of light appeared above his head, one after another.
He waited.
His whole body was taut, Spiritual Power surging. He was ready at any moment to unleash his Crown-level Imago and fight with everything he had.
One breath.
Two breaths.
Three breaths.
Nothing followed him.
Through the walls, Xu Yuan could even hear a television to his left, a couple whispering to his right, pop music downstairs, and footsteps running upstairs.
Newcomers could only get the most basic rooms here.
If they wanted a better place, they had to spend Merit.
Yet those sounds kept coming, and they gave Xu Yuan an unexpected sense of safety.
After several more minutes passed, he finally relaxed.
No strange signs was good news.
Whatever that thing was, Maria was no pushover.
Knock, knock, knock—
Someone was at the door.
It was almost midnight.
A sweep of Xu Yuan's divine sense told him who it was.
Had the Alliance discovered what had happened, or was this about something else?
He walked over and opened the door.
Marcelo stood outside, dressed in a riot of colors.
"Got a minute?" Marcelo asked.
"What is it?"
"I'm throwing a party at my place. Drinks are on tap, the girls are hotter than the last, and a few of my brothers are there. It's a good chance to introduce you around," Marcelo said, chewing gum.
"At this hour?" Xu Yuan asked.
“The night's only just getting started.” Marcelo grinned, showing a mouthful of white teeth.
"..." Xu Yuan said.
Getting to know more Returners would certainly help him gather information.
But not tonight.
What if the Monster followed me here? I'd drag other people into it.
"Another time. Sorry, I have something to