The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]-Chapter 259: Dark Locked Room

When Nyla came to ManaTech on Friday early afternoon, she didn’t expect much to happen. She thought she would only test her improved equipment, then take it and leave. It was supposed to be just a short visit.

However, she did have some time reserved, just in case. Not because she thought there might be something wrong - ManaTech always provided excellent services, so it was unlikely there would be anything to correct - but rather... Because she was on a lookout.

For Ava.

She had already been hoping to run into the woman the last time she came, but unfortunately, she hadn’t managed to so much as catch a glimpse. Now, if she failed this time, who knew when she would next have the opportunity? Although no one was exactly checking her schedule or controlling what she did... That was only because she was always fulfilling all of her missions diligently.

And she had a lot of them. Like, truly. Slow days such as this one were extremely rare, and Nyla couldn’t even remember when - or if - she last went on proper holidays...

But it seemed she had no luck this time either. She looked around carefully as she walked through ManaTech’s cool hallways, following one of the employees, but the familiar reddish-brown ponytail was nowhere to be seen...

"This way, please," the employee suddenly stopped, opening one of the doors, and gesturing at Nyla to come inside. And Nyla stepped forward...

But stopped right at the doorstep. "Why is it so dark in... Ah!"

Taking advantage of the fact that Nyla was distracted and her guard was down, the employee suddenly pushed her into the pitch black room. Then, before she could react, he shut the door... and locked them.

He was also a high-ranking Esper, it seemed, with great reflexes and speed at least comparable to hers.

Nyla immediately tensed up, but she didn’t panic. Rather than pointlessly screaming, she quickly analyzed the situation in her mind, first trying to recall everything she had noticed about the man leading her here, and next she was supposed to consider possible reasons as to why he had locked her inside...

Before she got to that part, thought, the lights in the room suddenly turned on. The door was still locked, but now that her initial shock had passed, she realized she wasn’t stuck in the room alone. She turned around...

"Lane?" she blinked, staring at the pink-haired man blankly, completely dumbfounded. He was the last person she would have expected - mainly because she didn’t think he would have wanted to talk to her, not after all those years - but at the same time, he was also the person who made the most sense.

After all, it was hard to find people crazy enough to challenge the Allens by kidnapping their heiress, and with good enough connections to organize something like that in a place as secure as ManaTech.

Only Lane.

Lane, who was sitting on the desk, fiddling with one of the pens he picked up from the desk organizer, and playing with the chair by pushing and turning it with his legs resting on top of it. And unusual position to take by (or, well, on) the desk, but also very... Lane.

He tilted his head slightly, and curved his mouth in a smirk. "Long time no see! Or, wait. I guess it hasn’t been that long, not for our standards at least, huh?"

Nyla only pressed her lips in response, not knowing what to say. It really hasn’t been long this time. Not even two weeks. It was nothing... Especially when compared to YEARS.

The silence didn’t last long, though, as Lane quickly got annoyed by it. "Come, sit down," he said, pointing out with his chin at the sofa meant for the clients. "Let’s have a chat, shall we?"

And so Nyla did. Awkward as she felt in this situation, she wasn’t afraid of Lane or anything. It was just that he didn’t quite know how to act or what to say... After all this time...

But at least Lane came somewhat prepared, so he could lead the conversation. "So. I’ve heard that back when I was locked in the mansion by our wonderful parents, you made some sort of deal with them so that I could get out... Is that right?"

"H-huh?" Nyla flinched, her eyes widening. "Where did you hear that?"

"From Ava."

"And where did she hear that?"

"From our beloved mother’s assistant," Lane answered, causing Nyla’s eyes to grow even wider. She seemed genuinely surprised... Of course, it could have been just an act, but Nyla had never been good at hiding or faking her emotions. And it seemed to be true up to this day, judging by her behavior back at the international Awakened summit, especially at the gala...

"Why, is that wrong?" he asked with a scoff.

"No, that’s not it... It’s just, I didn’t think that you would hear about it..." Nyla lowered her head, fiddling with her hands.

"Why? Is there any reason why I shouldn’t?"

"No, not really... I just, um." She paused, pressing her lips. "I just asked our parents in private, and I didn’t think they would tell anyone about it. So I was just surprised, that’s all."

"Hmm," Lane let out a non-committal hum, twisting the pen with his fingers. "So, what was the deal?"

"Huh? Ah, well... Just to let you leave at least for two days and stay at Ava’s. I thought you might like it better than at our mansion... You hate it there, don’t you?"

Of course Lane did. But, that wasn’t what he was asking about.

"I already know that much. I want to know what you offered them in return."

"Wh-what?"

"Oh, come on," Lane couldn’t help but roll his eyes. "There’s no way they would let me go just because you asked nicely. You might be their perfect Miss Heiress, but I know you don’t have that much sway. You had to offer them something valuable enough... So, what was it?"

"Ah, this..." Nyla pressed her lips again, hesitating for a long while. Until eventually, she said, "I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you that."

CRACK!

The pen in Lane’s hands snapped.

"Oh?" He tilted his head, his lips twisting in a mirthless smile, as his eyes narrowed. "Is that so?"