Chapter 6: The Urge

The moment Evan stepped out of the Pei residence, the expression on his face returned to its usual cold indifference.

A black vehicle was already waiting near the entrance.

"Young Master."

The man standing beside the car immediately straightened when he saw Evan approaching.

Darian Voss had been Evan’s adjutant for years, long enough to recognize the slight changes in his master’s mood even when Evan himself revealed nothing.

Today, however, Darian found himself more confused than usual.

He had accompanied Evan to the Pei residence because of last night’s incident.

Evan’s Fated Guide had been identified more than a year ago, and the news had caused quite a stir throughout the Empire. As the highest-ranked Sentinel of his generation, almost everyone had paid attention to the identity of the person Fated to him.

The problem was that Lumi Pei possessed no detectable Guiding energy.

Over the past year, the Sentinel Committee had repeatedly urged Evan to choose another Guide. Considering the increasing instability of his condition, remaining connected to someone who could not Guide him was considered dangerous for both of them.

Evan had never cared.

To him, the identity of his Fated Guide had never mattered much.

And when the Pei family suddenly proposed the exact same thing that everyone else had been urging him to do for the past year, Darian had expected Evan to agree without much thought.

Instead, Evan had rejected the transfer.

Then, he had scheduled the Fated Bonding Ceremony himself.

"Young Master... are you sure?" Darian asked, looking at him with a hint of disbelief. "The second twin is merely a citizen."

Evan slowly turned his head. "Merely a citizen?"

Darian’s mouth twitched, "Yes. That was what I was going to say before I realized I might not be very wise today."

Evan gave him a cold look.

Darian immediately straightened. "I withdraw my statement."

Evan turned his attention back to the Pei resident,"That mere citizen slapped me out of my hell last night."

Darian went quiet. Then his eyebrows slowly rose, "You mean... She slapped you... like a slap?"

"Yes." Even’eyes slightly furrowed.

"And you came out of Rampage?" Darian couldn’t hide his surprise.

"Yes." Evan answered short.

"So... At the time I found you last night—"

"Yes!"

Darian stared at Evan for a few seconds before looking down at his communicator. "Should I put that in the official report?"

Evan’s expression remained unchanged. "No."

"I thought so." Darian quietly typed something into his communicator.

Evan glanced at him. "What are you writing?"

"Nothing important." He shook his head and continued typing.

"Darian." Evan already frowned.

"I’m just making a personal note that the Empire’s strongest Sentinel was defeated by a slap."

Evan’s expression darkened.

Darian immediately added, "For research purposes."

Evan, however, had already turned his attention toward the car waiting for him, "It wasn’t the slap."

Darian looked at him.

"At least, not entirely," Evan continued. "Something happened before I regained consciousness. I don’t remember enough to know what it was."

There were only fragments left from last night. A voice breaking through the chaos in his head, the strange sensation of something reaching him when everything else had already disappeared, and then the sharp impact across his face.

Whatever Lumi Pei had done, Evan was certain of one thing.

A mere slap could not pull an SSS-rank Sentinel out of a Rampage.

"That’s why you refused the transfer," Darian said, finally understanding.

"Until I know what happened, she stays as my Fated Guide."

"And the Bonding Ceremony?" Darian asked just to make sure.

Evan stopped beside the car, "I need her close enough to find out."

Darian nodded thoughtfully before opening the door for him. Evan climbed inside, and Darian followed from the other side a moment later.

The car continued through the city, the silence lasting only a few moments before Darian glanced at Evan. "Where should we head now?"

Evan looked out of the window. "Headquarters."

Darian’s brows lifted. "You want to go there immediately?"

"They were eager enough to discuss my condition after last night’s Rampage." His tone remained completely calm, "I’m sure they will be even more eager to see me this morning."

Darian almost smiled. "I suppose it would be rude to keep them waiting."

"Exactly."

The vehicle changed direction toward the Sentinel Headquarters.

As the car moved fast, Darian looked back through the window as the Pei residence slowly disappeared from view. "But they really do look alike."

Evan turned toward him. "They’re freaking twins."

"I know they’re twins." Darian frowned. "I’m saying they look exactly alike. If no one had told me there were two of them, I wouldn’t have noticed."

Evan rolled his eyes and looked away.

Darian continued thinking about it for another moment before suddenly saying, "You know, if the Pei family decided to cheat you and sent Celestine in Lumi’s place, I probably wouldn’t even notice."

Evan’s gaze remained on the passing scenery outside.

A few seconds passed. Then the corner of his lips slowly lifted. "Do you think they would do that?"

Darian turned toward him.

The amusement disappeared from his face almost immediately, "It seems like you already think about it."

Evan’s smirk deepened slightly as he continued looking out at the passing scenery.

"I wouldn’t be surprised."After all, the Pei family had already decided that Celestine was the better choice once. It wouldn’t be surprising if they tried again.

"If they dare to do that..." Evan’s lips curved slightly. "I am more than willing to see how it unfolds at the Fated Bonding Ceremony."

Darian glanced at him.

There was something about that faint smile that made him feel a little sorry for whoever was foolish enough to try.

"You already have a plan?"

"No." Evan’s answer came without hesitation.

Darian raised an eyebrow, "Then why do you look like you’re waiting for someone to make a mistake?"

Evan’s smirk deepened slightly as he continued looking out at the passing scenery.

"But anyone who dares to deceive me should already know how it will end."