Chapter 350 - Evolved Danger

"Evolved ones are difficult to detect – most especially those whose host can still think clearly."

Huh?

"Evolved ones?"

Alinea sighed, taking pity on the poor, confused and overwhelmed woman. "There are many types. Let's say this one is a boss-type instead of the usual weak minion."

She explained things akin to a game to make understanding easier.

"I see."

Finally, Yuuka understood. "But you are not yet sure if my parents are really infected, right?"

"Your mother, we are not sure as we haven't seen her," Gin answered truthfully. "But as for your father, I'm afraid that based on that conversation you mentioned, he's already infected."

"But how did you know?" Yuuka asked. "Didn't you need to see him before to confirm?"

Gin and Ryuu exchanged looks before answering.

"For a father who doesn't even force you to attend cultural shows knowing how much you dislike them, even if it will give your business more connections – do you think he is someone who will still force you into a marriage you already said you didn't want?"

Yuuka froze, and everyone knew instantly that she realized now how truly weird that was. True enough, even if Yuuka already knew before that she wouldn't marry for love, her father had asked her opinion about Suzuki Aki before arranging their engagement. If she refused before, she knew her father wouldn't mind. So now…

"My brother might be a rising star in the business world and a good choice for a son-in-law, but there are other better candidates who are not attached yet," Alinea reminded her.

The Suzuki family was rich, yes, but not so high up that would tag Aki as the best in-law a business family could gain. In fact, the gap between the Suzukis and the Homuras were so great that they wouldn't even mingle socially if it weren't for the fact that they belonged to a special group of "people". Even Yuuka's family, the Makis was higher in status than the Suzukis as the Axis Corporation was a much bigger and older business empire. The Suzuki Raiden Group's only been around for more than two decades as it was started by Akihiko after his marriage to Kaoru.

"Are you telling me that his strange insistence for me to marry Aki is a sign that he's infected?"

Although it was indeed strange, to say that it was a sign of infection was a bit ridiculous.

"Weird, but yes."Gin shrugged. "The infection amplifies a person's selfish dėsɨrės and would only strive to get them – by hook or by crook."

Alinea sighed, remembering Okada Koharu's obsession. "It will remember the greatest wish of the host before it took over and would only obsess on that matter."

The reason why Koharu shifted target from Hiroaki to Ryuu was that Koharu's ultimate dėsɨrė was to be a princess and she's not really in love. The only reason why she targeted Sonoda Hiroaki before was because the boy looked strong like a prince in her eyes. It's why when she bumped into Ryuu out on the streets, she didn't have problems switching targets, and most especially since her naughty husband had also released his divine powers, making his charms amplify.

"He must have wanted you to really marry Big Brother," Alinea sighed.

"Well…"Maki Yuuka thought for a while as if trying to remember something from a long time ago. "I think it's my fault," she said hesitantly. "I think I might have said that he's the best husband material for me."

"Oh…"

"Well, in any case, regardless of the reasons, the fact is that he's infected," Gin said. "As to what extent, we have no idea, but we will check. If your mother is fine, we will try and take her here as well. But for your father, as we have told you earlier, we apologize, but I want to let you know that we will try our best. If we can still save him, we will."

Yuuka nodded. She understood what remained unspoken. So long as her father's not yet a lost cause, he would not be killed.

"If… If my father has to die," Yuuka started, her eyes reddening as her lips trembled. She loved her parents – her father most especially as she's a daddy's girl. But she understood clearly that if the infection was not stopped, more people would be affected. "Could you let me see him first?  You don't have to let me speak to him. I just want to see him."

Her request might be impossible, but she wanted to try asking.

"We will," Gin and Ryuu promised and Yuuka was at least ȧssured.  

"You don't have to return to your house today. All you may need will be bought and delivered here," Gin explained.

The heavy conversation ended, and the men excused themselves. Gin went to find his bride, while Ivan returned to his room to rest. Ryuu, on the other hand, went to seek Aki to explain things to him. He didn't want the older Suzuki to continue dealing with Suzuki Daizo as it had gotten so dangerous.

Before, they couldn't detect the shadow lurker in the old man. However, just earlier, before Maki Yuuka's call, a fluctuation in the air was felt, and it was similar to a harpy's. Whatever Daizo's shadow lurkers had evolved into, it would be nasty.

They already knew that Suzuki Kaoru might have done something to seal the shadow lurker before to stop it from taking over Daizo. But the old man's negative emotions were so strong that it had broken free. Worse was that it must have eaten the power from the seal and had turned into something that they couldn't identify.

"The people will prepare a room for you here," Alinea told Yuuka after the men left. She took the other girl's hand and gave her an encouraging squeeze. "I'm so sorry this has happened to you."

Yuuka shook her head. "It's not your fault. We are just…unfortunate it seems," she added with an ironic laugh, and Alinea patted her shoulder.

"I will check the preparations for your room," she said.

"Can I help? I will be the one imposing on you so I should at least do something, "Yuuka said, but Alinea shook her head and smiled at her.

"It's fine. You've been through so much in a short time. You should just stay here to relax. Or you can go take a walk in the gardens while we prepare. I will just come and find you later when your room's ready so you can rest too."

Yuuka sighed heavily before nodding. "I'll take you up on your offer then," she said as she stared at the beautiful garden. "I'll go take a walk. I need it badly…"