Chapter 18: Chapter 18

When Loren stared at that staff member for a while. Googlᴇ search Nov3lFɪre.ɴet

By this point, the staff member was huddled behind the window, practically scared to tears.

"Don't trouble her anymore, come to my office to talk."

A somewhat helpless sigh came from behind Loren.

"Finally showed up, thought you'd keep playing turtle." Loren chuckled lightly.

He then picked up the silver metal case, put away his license, and turned away from the window.

The person he really wanted to see had already appeared.

An elderly man with full silver hair was looking kindly at Loren approaching him.

Greetings rose and fell throughout the hall.

Hearing these sycophantic words, Loren curled the corner of his mouth upward.

If he hadn't shown up, you probably wouldn't have dared to speak at all.

Loren came before the old man.

The old man nodded helplessly at Loren.

In a spacious office on the second floor.

Loren and the silver-haired old man sat opposite each other, gazing across the distance.

After entering the office with Loren, the silver-haired old man had been looking at Loren with complex emotions, not speaking.

As if he didn't know where to begin.

Seeing this, Loren wasn't in a hurry to speak either.

After sitting on the sofa, he placed the heavy case beside his feet.

Then, Loren casually plucked a feather from the crow on his shoulder, transforming it into a revolver.

He began playing a little game - disassembling the revolver, then reassembling the parts back into a revolver.

If it was about patience.

Loren always had plenty of time to spare.

After Loren had disassembled and reassembled the revolver in his hands three times.

The silver-haired old man finally lost some composure and broke the silence in the office.

"This matter is more complicated than you imagine, involving many things."

The old man's tone carried admonishment.

"Were you involved too?" Loren's gaze toward the silver-haired old man held a trace of confusion.

According to common sense, as a branch chief of the Interstellar Hunter Association.

With his prestigious reputation.

He shouldn't be associated with trivial matters like missing persons.

"Not exactly, but they... offered too much."

"I accepted a commission, the content being not to leak any information about this matter."

"You know, our association's intelligence is, at times, second only to Federation Agents."

"So, someone paid hush money in advance."

After saying this, the old man fell silent again.

Waiting for Loren to digest his words.

Loren played with the revolver in his hand and chuckled lightly:

"Funny coincidence, I accepted a commission too."

"Can you give it up?" The silver-haired old man sighed.

"My client paid with something very precious, I can't let her down." Loren's tone turned somewhat dangerous.

Finally getting exciting, really gets the blood pumping...

The revolver in Loren's hand began spinning on his fingertip.

"If that's the case, I understand." The silver-haired old man's expression turned grave.

The silver-haired old man fell silent again, the atmosphere in the office growing heavy.

Would Loren go crazy here? That would cause quite some damage to the association...

The silent silver-haired old man suddenly thought of something and spoke again:

"You still owe me a favor, don't you?"

"Four years ago, I personally recommended you to join the Interstellar Hunter Association."

The tension in the office eased.

The revolver spinning on Loren's fingertip also stopped.

"Dear Chief, are you sure you want to use up the favor I owe you for something ?"

Loren's tone turned lazy, no longer dangerous.

"Can't let you cause a scene here."

"Both you and I know what would happen if you didn't get the information you wanted."

"There's no extra budget here for renovations..."

The silver-haired old man spread his hands somewhat helplessly.

"You really know me well, Chief."

"I'm getting curious now, how many Spirit Stones did you receive?"

"That made you willing to use your personal favor."

Loren looked curiously at the silver-haired old man before him.

"As an Interstellar Hunter, when you take money, you deliver the service."

"I'm about to retire, I'm old."

"I still want to keep a good reputation and enjoy my remaining years in peace."

The silver-haired old man's tone carried some melancholy, appearing quite sorrowful.

Hearing this, Loren scoffed.

He didn't believe a single word the old man said.

This old man opposite him was no benevolent character.

"My grandson is studying at a good university in another star system, Mecha major."

"Mecha majors burn through Spirit Stones quite a bit."

Seeing he couldn't fool Loren, the silver-haired old man resentfully told the truth.

Having satisfied his curiosity, Loren shrugged and said nothing more.

People with attachments always act irrationally.

Putting away the revolver in his hand, Loren picked up his case and prepared to leave.

"What a pity, I never expected this would drag you into it."

"I have a feeling I'll regret using up this favor."

Seeing Loren preparing to leave, the silver-haired old man's tone also softened.

Although somewhat regretful, today's matter was essentially over.

When this kid Loren went crazy, he had no desire to stop him.

"There's a famous saying among Interstellar Hunters: Once you've chosen, don't regret it."

"You taught me that yourself."

Loren, standing up, replied with a smile.

After taking two steps, Loren suddenly smiled at the corner of his mouth, remembering something.

"Oh yes, wish your grandson success in his studies."

"Hope he doesn't run into me someday under certain circumstances."

Hearing Loren's words, the silver-haired old man frowned.

Although he thought it unlikely Loren would target his grandson, he felt Loren's words carried hidden meaning.

Watching Loren's dashing departing figure, the silver-haired old man's heart suddenly stirred.

"Can you give me one of your revolvers?"

The silver-haired old man stood up and called out to stop Loren.

This old man chose to trust his long-dormant intuition.

"I remember giving you one four years ago."

"Mind telling me what you want it for?" Loren turned back to ask.

"To give to my grandson." The silver-haired old man stated his purpose directly.

Loren chuckled lightly and generously plucked another feather from the crow on his shoulder.

After a flash of light, it transformed into a revolver.

He raised his hand and tossed the revolver to the silver-haired old man.

"Seems you really love your grandson."

"Tell your grandson to remember to feed it plenty of Spirit Stones."

"Also, stopping me from causing trouble at the Interstellar Hunter Association only used up part of the favor."

"There's still a bit left."

"And this revolver makes you use up the favor completely."

After saying this, Loren headed toward the door without any attachment.

The silver-haired old man looked down at the brand new revolver in his hand, sighed, his thoughts inexplicable.

This sigh contained both relief and regret.

"Loren, if you keep investigating, even you might die."

The silver-haired old man didn't know what he was thinking, but still chose to say this somewhat abrupt statement.

"Is that so? Then I hope I die spectacularly."

Loren didn't look back, leaving with his heavy case, leaving only these words behind.

The office door opened and closed.

Only the silver-haired old man remained in the spacious office.

Looking at the brand new revolver in his hand, he murmured quietly:

"Had I known earlier, I wouldn't have taken that commission..."