By the time their lively dinner finally wound down, the sky outside was fully dark.
Thankfully, liquor was expensive in the Slums, and with Crownslayer suppressing her squad, none of the Reunion Movement operatives got drunk enough to start trouble. Otherwise a few of them definitely would've keeled over from the hype.
Unlike Crownslayer—who spent the entire meal sitting on pins and needles—the oblivious operatives treated Lucian Sinclair like a fellow Infected and bombarded him with curious questions about Angels, making Crownslayer's stomach twist with stress.
Right before everyone left, Lucian pulled out a small box of Red Sugar from who-knows-where and handed it to Misha.
"Misha, share this with your mom. If she feels unwell, melt two pieces in warm water for her. Just tell her it's sugar water."
Her eyes sparkled. "Wow! Big brother's sugar! Usually Xiaoling only gives us one piece each—I've been saving mine! …But giving Misha this much—are you sure it's okay?"
Lucian ruffled her hair. "Of course. But it's our secret, okay? Don't tell anyone."
He made a shushing gesture, and Misha copied him, hugging her sugar tightly as she hopped back toward home.
On the dim street, Lucian quietly exhaled and turned to the glaring Crownslayer.
"Thanks for waiting, Lyudmila. So, did your squad decide to give us some private time, or was it your personal request?"
"Go die." Crownslayer's voice was pure rage.
She frowned impatiently. "What did you even give her? Telling her to eat it with her mom—don't tell me it's poison?"
Lucian's gaze was clear. "If I said it was a miracle cure for Oripathy, would you believe me?"
To his surprise, Crownslayer didn't immediately scoff.
Instead, she actually looked a little conflicted—like she half-believed him. "…So you really are a doctor?"
"Not exactly. I only know simple bandaging and first aid. Cooking is where I'm confident."
Lucian smiled openly.
Dinner had given him something important—he finally understood why Misha hadn't been coming to the Great Courtyard.
The Reunion Movement had come to Lungmen to recruit members. Whether direct recruits or undercover agents, both were useful.
Following Crownslayer's strategy, they prioritized people who had escaped from Ursus, since they would sympathize most with Infected suffering and be the likeliest to join.
Misha's mother did fit the criteria, and she truly wanted to join.
But right when she was about to, her health collapsed. She had been bedridden for two days.
Misha hadn't been coerced—she was simply staying home to take care of her mother.
But the reason didn't change the outcome. The Reunion Movement still intended to recruit them, and Lucian still wouldn't accept that.
Walking with Crownslayer through the dark Alley, Lucian said quietly, "You need to leave tonight. Just today—I can keep this quiet. Hurry."
Crownslayer stuck her hands in her pockets, gripping her Dagger. "You don't have to tell me. They saw us together. If I kill you now, they'll still suspect us. We're leaving."
She accepted his warning.
Truthfully, even though Crownslayer trusted no one who wasn't Infected, tonight had changed her impression of him more than she expected.
Using the last moment of calm, she asked, "That story you told—escaping from home and surviving in the wild. Was it true? Or just acting?"
"One hundred percent true." Lucian chuckled. "The only thing I didn't mention is that someone escaped with me. My childhood friend. We suffered a lot. Because I know what starvation feels like, I decided I'd learn to cook the best food possible. My family will never go hungry again."
"…" Crownslayer stayed silent for a long moment, her gaze flicking away. "That's… impressive. Okay. I believe you."
Lucian smiled so honestly that Crownslayer's mental defenses cracked.
If even this expression was fake, then he would be the greatest actor alive—even Talulah, the Reunion Movement's proud leader, would have to bow down to him.
Crownslayer realized it then: this man wasn't Infected, but he had suffered. Being homeless, wandering, starving—maybe that was why he empathized with the Infected.
Then a thought struck her. "Wait. You said you escaped with your childhood friend?"
Lucian had mentioned earlier that Laterano didn't accept Infected—anyone discovered must be Exiled.
Ursus needed forced labor for its mining projects, so Infected became slaves sent to icy hellholes.
Compared to that, Laterano's rules were rigid and cold, but still offered a slim chance.
But if she combined these two things—
Crownslayer's expression darkened. "Your childhood friend… became Infected?"
"…I refuse to answer."
Lucian's expression collapsed—rare for him—then he quickly covered it up.
But Crownslayer was already sure.
(I see… This man chose to walk with his childhood friend after she became Infected. No wonder he accepts the Infected so easily. But judging from that reaction… she's probably—gone.)
Crownslayer wasn't someone who fantasized or romanticized, but she wasn't heartless.
She had hated Lucian's flippant attitude earlier—and the misunderstanding that they were dating had humiliated her beyond words.
But if all of that was just him carrying the pain of losing someone he loved…
Half of her resentment evaporated.
She sighed softly. "I get it. Just live your life well, you good-hearted idiot."
"Ah, wait."
Lucian, oblivious to all the dramatic conclusions she had drawn, called her back casually.
The fluorescent streetlight above him flickered as he pulled out another bag of Red Sugar.
"This is for you. Consider it a scam. Eat it as candy if nothing else."
Crownslayer eyed it suspiciously. "Seriously? There's no way there's a real Oripathy cure. Are you trying to con a kid?"
Lucian rolled his eyes. "If it were just a placebo, I'd shout from the rooftops that it's a miracle cure. Worst case, treat it like a last-ditch gamble. You've got plenty of critical patients, right? Shove some in the ones about to die."
"Tch. Your mouth is annoying."
She snatched the bag like a delinquent schoolgirl leaving a convenience store.
This time she really was leaving. Without looking back, she waved lazily. "Next time we meet, I'll still cut you down. If you oppose the Reunion Movement, I'll kill you. Goodbye."
Lucian didn't back down. "That's my line. Don't do anything bad, Lyudmila."
She didn't stop him from using her real name. Her black silhouette slipped into the night and vanished.