Page 233 of Light Leech

Ralia held up a hand. “Patience, girl.”

“What are you looking for exactly?” Denji asked.

“Whoever sent this thing after Naoma, or whatever triggered the therapist to attack her.”

“And if he had a Gui,” I said.

“Improbable,” Denji said. “We really should worry about–”

“Yeah, yeah,” Ralia said. “Stay with us for a bit and we’ll get to education. We know that’s what matters and once Boyband wakes up he won’t let us forget it.” She knocked on the desk. “Sweet Light, I’m in.”

“And?” Naoma asked.

“Jojac Minton. Fifty one, father of one, seems like a pretty clean guy. Reviews media in his spare time on the neuronet. No messages or anything of the sort related to a bounty or any reason to attack you.”

“Are you digging deep enough?” Akna asked.

“That’s not how this works, and with my mod acting all zegged up, it’s even harder. You really are just another Boyband, aren’t you?”

“Piss–” Akna stopped herself, but we all laughed, knowing what was going to come out.

“Is this not a regular thing?” Denji asked.

“Getting attacked?” Abbas asked.

Denji nodded.

“Sure,” I said, but it’s never like this. “Have you seen a Gui?”

Denji shook his head. “I mean, I understood what they were, but when I heard that you had bound yourself to one, that was an entirely new concept. You’re a Cross follower, so you should understand. You might believe in those ancient prophets and stories, but that doesn’t mean you wouldn’t be shocked to see one with your own eyes.”

Zhu, can we show him?

“Do you trust this man?”

As much as I can.

“Assumptions have been knives to you as of late. Why trust your most intimate secret unto this childish man?”

I’m not going to argue.

“As you demand.”

A black aura pulsed around my arm, giving it a muscular and clawed shell, though the black light was quick to fade. I almost reprimanded Zhu for the weak display, but he was not wrong to be weary. My trust had been stretched thin and was already torn by multiple people.

As with all the worst matters in my life, this was bound to repeat.

“Zeg!” Denji exclaimed.

“It’s usually more vibrant.” Naoma said.

“And something like that came out of your therapist?”

“A therapist used something similar.”

“Do you think the enemy figured out how to hone Gui?” Abbas asked.

“Are you sure this is the enemy?“ Akna asked.