Welcome to the Innocent World - Chapter 63

Chapter 63: Where is my Fucking Husband!!!!

I ran a hand through my hair, the tension twisting in my chest like a vice. “But what would they gain from this?”

The rooftop was quiet, save for the occasional gusts of wind swirling around us, carrying the night’s stillness along with an eerie chill.

I held my head as questions crashed through my mind in waves. My chest was tight with the frustration of not knowing, of things that didn’t add up but were staring me in the face.

Alpha stood beside me, her expression as composed as always, yet her eyes held an unspoken understanding of the turmoil I was in. After a pause, she reached out, placing a hand on my shoulder with a rare show of comfort.

“It’ll be okay, Master,” she said in her usual calm, matter-of-fact tone. “Don’t worry.”

I exhaled slowly, allowing the words to settle over me. After a moment, I straightened, nodding to reassure her—and myself. “I know,” I replied. “It’s just… Athlea. She just lost her brother, like that.” My voice faltered, thinking of the devastation I’d seen in her eyes, the hollow grief that had left her shattered.

Alpha’s gaze remained steady, her tone as straightforward as always.

“It’s hardly surprising, Master,” she replied. “Given that he was working with a member of the Alliance.”

I let out a short, dry chuckle, unable to argue with her logic. “You’re right. It was only a matter of time,” I agreed, my gaze drifting over the edge of the rooftop, toward the city lights stretching far below.

A cold breeze swept across my face, bringing a strange calm. I closed my eyes, letting the wind tousle my hair as I took in a deep breath, trying to let go of the suffocating thoughts, even if just for a moment.

“Master…” Alpha’s voice broke through the silence, drawing my attention back to her. She shifted slightly, her gaze sharpening. “There’s something else I want to update you on as well.”

I turned to her, an eyebrow raised. “Oh? What is it?”

She hesitated, a rare thing for Alpha, before speaking. “It’s about Athlea’s husband. You asked us to gather information on him, right?”

“Yes… Yes, I did,” I replied, a flicker of realization cutting through the fog in my mind. I’d almost forgotten about that.

Alpha continued, her tone steady, but her eyes betraying a hint of intrigue. “His name is Luci Chrollos. He’s a chief manager at a major trade and corporation company in Latros.”

“I see…” I murmured, my mind already piecing things together. Luci works in Latros is something I already knew but hearing that name stirred something deep within me. Latros wasn’t just a country to me; it was a breeding ground for darkness, the territory of those twisted alliances that seemed to seep into every corner of power.

Fluga… the Alliance… they all had roots there.

Alpha’s gaze remained fixed on me, studying my reaction as I processed the information. I sighed, leaning against the edge of the rooftop, and prompted her, “And?”

“And,” she said, a trace of tension coloring her normally calm voice, “I feel like there’s something he’s hiding from everyone.”

“Hiding?” I echoed, narrowing my eyes. “Hiding what, exactly?”

“We couldn’t dig too deep. It’s buried in the basement of the company, in a restricted section that only a few select individuals can access,” she replied, her voice holding a note of frustration. Even for Alpha, there were limits.

I let out a low whistle, impressed despite myself. “So, he’s got secrets stashed under his workplace? Fascinating…”

“Precisely,” Alpha replied, her eyes flashing. “The location itself is… interesting.”

I looked at her, curiosity piqued. “And where exactly is this company of his?”

She shifted her weight, her tone turning even more serious. “Near the port station in Latros.”

Her words hung heavy in the air. My mind went blank for a second, the pieces clicking together with startling clarity. The port station—the same location that the Alliance member had whispered about, the same place where their leader had summoned me to join them.

The red symbol I’d seen on the Alliance members, the strange circumstances around Arno’s death… and now Luci, connected to it all in some hidden, twisted way. Everything pointed to a single destination.

“Latros,” I said aloud, my voice barely more than a whisper.

Alpha’s gaze locked onto mine, her expression knowing, as if she’d come to the same conclusion.

I took a deep breath, turning to face her fully, my voice unwavering. “We’re leaving for Latros right after Arno’s funeral tomorrow. Start the preparations.”

I didn’t need to say anything more. Alpha gave a low bow, her expression one of resolute determination. “Yes, Master,” she replied, her voice steady as she vanished into the shadows, already taking steps to carry out my orders.

With her gone, I turned my gaze down toward the hospital’s entrance, where Athlea was slowly making her way out, her shoulders slumped, every step heavy with sorrow. She looked as if she’d aged years in the past hour, her face pale and expression empty.

I leapt down to meet her, catching her attention as she reached the side walk. “Hey, Athlea,” I called softly.

She looked up, her red-rimmed eyes meeting mine before she crumpled into my arms, burying her face in my chest as fresh tears fell. Her entire frame shook with the force of her sobs, and I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close as she let her grief spill out.

I gently patted her head, murmuring words of comfort, though they felt hollow in the face of her pain.

“It’s okay… I’m here,” I whispered, leading her to a nearby bench and helping her sit down.

She took shaky breaths, clinging to me as though I were her last anchor. Between sobs, her words tumbled out, broken and raw.

“Where is he?” she choked out. “Why isn’t he here… when I need him?”

“Who?” I asked softly, my brow furrowing as I tried to make sense of her words. “Athlea, who are you talking about?”

She pulled back slightly, her face contorted with anguish, her voice rising in frustration and anger as she shouted,

“My… my fucking husband!”

The words echoed around us, raw and filled with betrayal, and her shoulders shook as tears streaked down her cheeks.