"Huh? Just because I'm not going, you aren't either?" I raised an eyebrow. "...That's kind of creepy, not gonna lie."

"Hm...no, I just find you pretty interesting," Ming Hao replied. "It would be a shame if you died here, so. But why are you wearing a mask? I almost didn't recognize you, geez."

Interesting...? Huh...now that I think of it, he was the one who solved that dilemma back in the Magic Training Room, huh? Does that mean...he caught on to the abnormality of my magic? And if he did...was he the one who leaked the information to Liu Jian?

Hm...wait, Liu Jian is the principal of the magic academy at Shanghai, the Magic Capital. Ming Hao just mentioned he could bring me to the Magic Capital with no problem...and he had used 'we' when referring to himself. That means he must have someone with him here who will safely bring us to Shanghai.

...With a little bit of reasoning, anyone can tell Ming Hao has some sort of connection to the city, and possibly with Liu Jian as well. I'm not completely sure yet, but if he was indeed the one who leaked my secret...

...I may have to silence him.

I looked around, and then back at him.

"Come with me."

"What? Wh-"

Before he could protest, I grabbed him by his collar and dragged him along with me.

*****

Once we were in a isolated area of the mall, I glared at him.

"What was that for...?" Ming Hao muttered.

"I have something I need to ask you," I said darkly.

He looked up at me, confusion in his eyes.

"...Do you know Liu Jian?" I asked, not giving away too much. If I asked him 'do you know my secret' right here, then even if he originally didn't, he would now know I had some sort of secret. That would be an extremely dumb move of me.

"Liu Jian...? Yeah, that's the principal of Shanghai Magic Academy, right? Wasn't he one of the judges at the Advancement Exams?"

Huh, so he knows who he is. This still isn't enough to confirm my suspicions, though. Time to dig a bit deeper.

"Have you ever talked to him before?" I asked, slowly getting closer and closer to the point.

"Personally? No. Why?" Ming Hao responded without the slightest bit of hesitation.

It didn't seem like he was lying, but...if it wasn't him who leaked the information, then who did? And besides, even if he didn't tell Liu Jian directly, he could've told a third party, and the third party then told Liu Jian. If that is the case...then things are a lot more complicated, and bad for me. I would have to kill every single one of the people in the chain to successfully safeguard my secret, and I really didn't want to do that.

I sighed. "Nothing...but what did you mean earlier when you said you found me 'interesting'?"

Ming Hao blinked. "I mean, of course you're interesting. No one in this city hasn't heard of you, the boy born without any magic. But all of a sudden, you are able to defeat me, the student council vice president, and take the throne in the Advancement Exams? That would make anyone curious."

I narrowed my gaze. "Is that really all?"

"Yeah. I mean, I'm also curious about how exactly you managed to destroy an Awakening Orb a while back, but I wasn't able to figure out anything by analyzing your mana."

"Analyzing my mana?"

Ming Hao flinched. "Oh! Whoops...I wasn't supposed to say that...damn it!"

"..." I had no words. Was this clumsy kid really the person who leaked my secrets? Because if he is, he's a damn good actor. I won't rid him of my suspicion for now, but I also won't keep investigating for the time being...as I have noticed someone listening in to our conversation for a while now.

"Whatever. See you," I said, then began walking away.

"Hey, wait up!" he called out, and I turned around.

"What?"

"Uh...mind leaving a phone number or something? Today it was all just you asking me questions. I still got plenty of questions for you," he replied.

Hm...I guess if we establish a method of contact here, it'll make it easier for me to get to him if I ever find evidence it was him who leaked my secrets. Might as well.

"..." I wordlessly pulled out my phone and opened up my contacts. Clicking on my own profile, I turned the phone screen towards him, and he quickly typed in my phone number on his own phone.

Soon after, I received a ring on my phone, and I declined the call as Ming Hao sighed in relief.

"Okay, it works. Thanks."

I stuffed my phone back in my pocket after saving his contact, and left the area.

"See ya!" Ming Hao hollered from behind me, which I gave no reply to.

As for the person who had been listening in to our conversation...she began walking away as soon as she saw me walking in her direction, still thinking I hadn't recognized her yet. But with her beautiful long black hair and otherworldly features, along with her perfect figure, it would be harder for me not to recognize her.

Kuku...good try, Obsidia, but it seem that though you may be extremely powerful in physical strength being a dragon and all, you still have a lot of room for improvement in the eavesdropping sector.

*****

After a good while of following Obsidia, she finally paused walking, and I sighed.

"So? Done trying to shake me off?" I asked, folding my arms.

"...You noticed me back there, human?" she turned around and eyed me.

I nodded. "You have some serious work to do on your spying skills if you want to try doing this again the future."

"..." she fell silent, unsure how to respond to my teasing.

"So. How did you get to the safe zone? Did you run into any of those monsters on the way?" I continued.

"...I did, but they were not much trouble."

I sighed. "Of course they weren't...to you, anyway. You're a dragon, after all. I assume you also noticed something off with the rain?"

She nodded. "I cannot quite place my finger on it, but there is definitely something abnormal with the rainwater. Normal humans cannot detect this, but since I am a dragon, I am not only unaffected by whatever chemicals that have been mixed into the water, but also can tell its abnormality."

"I see. Looks like that rain is indeed what's turning humans into monsters. It stopped a while ago, but it could start up again anytime," I muttered.

"...Human," Obsidia suddenly said.

I looked at her in confusion. "What?"

"It seems...you have made up with the other humans."

"You mean the girls?"

"Who else could I be referring to? I noticed you all behind me back at that mattress store."

"Ah, so you did..." I murmured.

Qing Yue gave us away after all...I didn't stop her quick enough in time, it seems.

I cleared my throat. "A-Anyway, it's not like we 'made up' or anything...we just uh...happened to run into each other, yes."

Obsidia raised an eyebrow slightly. "Really...it seems to me you have only grown closer than before. If I were to take a guess...you saved them from some sort of predicament, correct, human?"

Curses! Are all dragons this insightful, or is it just her?!

"A-Ahem...I don't know what you're talking about."

She spun around, turning away from me. "You can keep lying to yourself if you wish, human, but anyone can tell from an outsider's perspective that you care about the girls far more than you admit to."

With these as her final words, she began to walk away, but I stopped her.

"Hey, wait-"

"What?"

"Uh...are you going to say hi to them? The girls. I'm sure they would love to talk to you."

"...I will," she responded briskly, then began to walk away. But after a few steps, she stopped again.

"Human...before you fulfill your deal with me, I forbid you to die. Don't forget that."

I chuckled. "Loud and clear, ma'am."

"Hmph...I'm not old enough to be called ma'am yet, human."

Well...from the way you talk and compose yourself, you certainly do seem old enough. Not that that's a bad thing, but...well, either way, I'm not saying this out loud.

"Right...see you," I said.

"...Farewell for now."

As she disappeared from sight, I began pondering my next steps.

"Now then...what do I do now?" I wondered out loud, before suddenly, I felt a vibration coming from my phone.

I pulled it out to see what it was, and narrowed my gaze when I saw the message Song Qian Long had sent me.

[Kai Kai...it's begun. The second phase of the invasion is here.]