This time, the deafening thunder also booms in Daphne's as well as Mr. Yalle's eardrums.

"Captivated by Chrono?..." Daphne forces her tongue which gets stiff in sudden to ask. "How do you know?"

All of a sudden, something rings inside Stairmount's brain. He quickly gets away from Daphne, and walks toward the outside of the alley.

Startled by Stairmount's strange behavior, Daphne automatically is about to chase him when her ultra-cyber minipad chimes and stops her. She takes the ultra-cyber minipad out of her pocket, thus quickly reads the incoming message she has just received.

"Daphne, just get in touch with telepathic messages."

Daphne is stunned. She stares confusingly at Stairmount who continues to type on his ultra-cyber minipad as he walks away. Soon after, she receives another message.

"My parents have been captivated by Chrono. That means, they begin to target the people closest to me to catch me. Chrono is infamous for its bad ways, that is, captivating the people closest to their victims to catch them. But they have not yet known that we have a close relationship. Fortunately, we are in disguise. But from now on, it's time for us to cut off direct contact immediately. If we want to be in touch, just send a telepathic message. And not by direct contact."

Daphne raises her head, gazes at Stairmount who has just sent another message, and has now disappeared from the alley.

"There is something I want to check. Please stay here while waiting for me. It mustn't take a long time. But even if it'll take a longer time for you to wait, you don't have to worry about this. Obsidian is the safest place in the entire Emerald, even in Jupiter. Those who are eager to create racial riots will die immediately if they are caught setting foot in this area. So, please wait for me, okay? I will come back as soon as possible."

Daphne stares anxiously at the end of the alley where Stairmount's figure has long disappeared from behind it. She bites her lip hard. Then, she forces her shaking hands to send that telepathic message, "Okay Sir, we will wait here. But, please keep your promise. Whatever happens, you must return here in safety!"

Copyright ©️ by boundless_universe

***

Taking off his disguise, Stairmount is now at the end of the road in the Obsidian area, and walks hastily towards one of the Chrono offices in this location. The office is really small and no one would have guessed that this is evidently one of Chrono's offices due to its inconspicuousness. However, these kinds of offices are the important ones. Because of its unobtrusive design, it becomes very suitable for doing any undercover work.

"For example, to conduct surveillance, especially on those ethnic Saturnians who have the tendency to defect." An old man is sitting in the office. This man has been nearly seventy, but the glint in his flax-yellow eyes is still as sharp as an eagle which is ready to slash its prey. His hair that has turned white for most still leaves some bright-striking red color. His clothes are elegant and of a high standard, a clear sign that he is no ordinary person. His appearance is calm, and cold. The appearance of those who always succeeds in eradicating their enemies without needing to say much.

He calmly waits for the person he has just sent the message to. And right when the guest came, he immediately turns his head toward the guest. "Welcome back, Mr. Stairmount Rivers," He said calmly.

Panting due to the panic that strikes him, Stairmount feels his breath gets tighter as he realizes whom he is waiting for. "You are..."

"Let me introduce myself, Mr. Stairmount Rivers. My name is Bryan Landlord," The man continues, still in his calm manner.

Stairmount gulps his saliva in panic. How come he doesn't recognize this old man sitting in front of him? In fact, he wonders why this incredible person might know him. "Good afternoon... Mr. Landlord... Chief Executive of Chrono..."

Mr. Landlord smiles. As the chief executive of Chrono, his appearance is completely different from the other Chrono personnel who are mostly haughty and rude when dealing with him. Mr. Landlord is calm, cool, and doesn't appear dangerous… but somehow, that impression instead scares him to death. His legs feel so weak that he can't hold his weight anymore.

"Please have a seat," The voice tone of Mr. Landlord as he offers the seat to Stairmount sounds friendly.

Stairmount is not in a good mood to sit down, but his legs are so wobbly with fear that he is forced to sit in the chair in front of Mr. Landlord in the end, thus staring at the chief executive with high tension. As personnel of Chrono, Stairmount is well trained to be calm in any situation. He is in a state of high tension or even severe panic right now, then it means that something he is facing has exceeded the threshold of ordinary problems.

After all, why should this person exist here? They take my parents as captives just to give bait so I come... and then they'll punish me, torture me, and that's it... it's a job the lowly personnel usually do, he shouldn't do it in person! What the hell is actually going on here?!?

"Actually, I've been eager to meet with you for a long time, Mr. Rivers, unfortunately, it's very difficult to do, and I can just be face to face with you right now," Mr. Landlord opens the conversation.

"You sent me that message?" Finding that Mr. Landlord seemingly plans to take him into a spin of niceties at first, Stairmount soon asks straight to the point.

Still showing his calm manner, Mr. Landlord replies, "We certainly know that you won't keep staying in Pluto, and that your destination is to return to Jupiter - more exactly, to Obsidian. Have you ever wondered why can you enjoy such an easy journey? It's not without precise reason."

Stairmount never asks why his return journey can be so smooth, he just feels grateful, God is evidently willing to help him. His breath hitches again as he thought about what actually has happened. Chrono doesn't even bother tracking him down, because they have already planned something easier and more effective to get him to come on their own.

All this time I am just hanging around like an idiot, such worthlessness. Perhaps... I indeed should do as James suggested...

Copyright © boundless_universe