Nikolai spent a long time thinking to himself, watching Sarah and her work and reflecting on what he could do. However, it came down to one answer. No matter how dangerous it might be or even if it became a trap.

‘I have to use anything to help save my mother.’

[Are you sure… what if something happens?]

He couldn’t blame his mother—there was nothing she could do. In fact, the problem was his pride. Could he discard his pride and accept help from the enemy to gain more information?

‘I won’t blame you, it’s my choice.’

[I worry about you!]

‘I know.’

“Sarah, you can go home early tonight.” Nikolai’s voice was stern, but he could see the bags under her eyes and the reaction of her eyes scowling at several of the issues she needed to deal with.

“Ah… but Nikolai, some of these documents need to be done today!”

“Is it something difficult? Can I not finish them for you?”

He didn’t want to overwork his thralls and squires because, one day, that could lead them to betray him.

Or maybe they will die due to being unable to focus at the moment they need to.

Sarah looked back with a conflicted look, unsure whether to ask. Her eyes lowered while tapping the keyboard as if debating inside her mind how to answer. “Are you sure?” She asked with a quiet voice, like a rabbit asking a wolf for a favour. Not to eat them, of course.

‘If only she wasn’t my squire, I am sure someone else would take her off my hands with a cute voice like that.’

His lips turned upwards.

“Go to your mother.” His words made her freeze for a moment as she was gathering up her things.

“Thank you… I thought you might have forgotten about her.” Sarah smiled with relief in her eyes and was thankful that she could see her mother once more. “She is happy with the new medication… I am thankful.”

Nikolai felt glad that she could speak to him so honestly and nodded. His arms lifted her from the seat and set her on the sofa. “Don’t worry, let me finish it. Make sure you get some rest.”

‘To look so tired while being a hybrid, she must have avoiding sleeping for days… maybe even a week.’

***

The moment the door shut behind the young hybrid, he started finishing the documents. The last two pieces of information were not of much importance; there were only several requests for a meeting.

One of the most interesting came from a male who sent various private emails to Sarah. ‘oh it’s that damn creep from before.’

Nikolai didn’t really like the way he spoke so arrogantly to Sarah. So, he began to research the company he worked for and took out his phone, messaging Selene for some help.

[You are going to crush his company just because of that girl?]

‘Well I promised to take care of her, what if I ignore it and then suddenly she gets into a dangerous situation, hybrid or monster. They are still ladies.’

There wasn’t a reply like usual, so instead of waiting, he began tapping the keyboard rapidly, finishing the other simple tasks that Sarah needed to do. He started copying documents and checking for errors. These things were something that Nikolai could do easily.

It wasn’t like he minded; if anything, he felt quite amused.

‘It’s like being at college again, haha.’

[Did you enjoy college?] She asked with a concerned voice.

Her question caused a sigh to slip from his lips as he continued working, not bothering to answer. He used to hate thinking back to those days, and the memory of Mari was too intense. Yet now, somehow, thanks to the women who came into his life, Nikolai felt nothing when remembering anymore.

‘I think I did, looking back now… even with the bad things and failures. Those were fun times.’

[I feel like there is so much I missed because of my mistake…]

‘Well mistakes happen, let’s stay together in the future, mother.’

“Oh… Selene replied!”

[From Selene]

Mmm~ you owe me big time for this!

I’ve found a lot of information about the man. His private life is messy. He is married with two mistresses—the company isn’t his, and he’s actually in great debt because of a failed contract.

There are three pages of dirt I’ve found on him in the past hour.

So, I believe he is trying to trick you. Would you like me to help?

I can purchase the company and use my private forces to deal with him. (Cute cat emoji)

Well, let me know… I miss you~ so stay at my place soon, okay?

I love you (Cat with a heart emoji)

—

[After all, this girl is an amazing daughter-in-law!]

‘She is… if this was Nikita, she might have been able to solve the issue, but it would definitely have caused more bloodshed.’

Nikolai quickly responded to her message, asking her to give him time. There was something he needed to deal with, and it was not related to a woman in case she worried.

Then he added that if she could, Selene should take the company if it’s profitable—otherwise, crush it and the man. It may not seem very ethical, but in the business world, this is how everything goes.

‘Sarah is my squire. Of course, I have to spoil her from time to time.’

The moment Nikolai finished the message, he finally decided.

‘Mother, I’m going to the tower for two days. Then, I will meet Alucard and discuss what he wants to tell and ask of me. Even if it means I will suffer… to save you is my number one priority.’

[Haa… you really don’t have to go so far.]

‘I do, Mother. There might be many women and lovers in this world, but there is only one Elizabeth Bathory… you cannot be replaced for me or Dad.’

There was silence in the office as Nikolai moved to the couch and laid down. The entire space was his and filled with various pictures of art that Sarah had hand-selected.

A few hours passed until his eyes grew tired. Nikolai’s eyelids flickered, and eventually, his body began to drift off into a comfortable sleep. The moment he slept, Elizabeth’s illusory figure sat beside his face and stroked his cheeks.

[You foolish boy…]

[Even though I feel guilty and don’t want to ask you to bring me back…]

[I cannot reject the offer. I want to be able to feel your soft, chubby cheeks… and meet your father again.]

She stroked the cheeks she could never reach. At the very least, Elizabeth wished she had enough power to become material. It would help him in dangerous situations and not let him do so many things alone.

However, there was one thing that could not leave her head.

It was the image of her, Nikolai and Ivan sitting at a family dinner, with the girls in his life also joining them for a meal.

[Once a ghost resigned to die… then you have given me the hope to keep holding on.]

[Nikolai, Mother won’t give up either!]

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Thus, her hands pressed together while forming a pink aura, the power of her soul force growing much more compared to before.

***

—Midnight, the Nexus Tower area

Nikolai enjoyed the brief nap in Sarah’s office, ate a quick meal before coming to the Nexus and prepared for his current task.

‘Ten floors.’

He planned to complete ten floors within the next two days, so reaching the fifteenth floor.

The moment Nikolai entered the tower district, he noticed a few familiar faces, having come here for a few hours each day to train with Risa. Many would linger outside to sell potions or items to help.

However, some had different motives.

Several monsters had tried to climb the tower and enter the dungeon to gather the materials, yet after multiple deaths, they now waited for foolish people to enter.

Nikolai didn’t mind because he received reports from Sarah about the ones that approached his thralls and tried to con them—most of those people were now dead.

‘The sixth floor… will it be corrupt or normal?’ Nikolai thought while walking to the entrance of the tower. Since he reached the fifth floor with Risa, there wasn’t much difficulty. At least until the fifth floor, the difference was quite noticeable.

‘Corruption.’

The black corruption reminded him of the cave from the wrath mission. It made Nikolai feel a sense of danger, the reason for splitting the worlds and this strange, evil presence that leaked into the worlds.

‘Is the true reason because our races fought against each other… or is there some other truth, that only the royal families know?’

There is one thing Nikolai learned: to trust what he saw with his own two eyes.

He entered the dungeon’s sixth floor to find it was quite open, with plants and glowing blue stones to light the way. He could not see the walls or ceiling, with blue light illuminating the entire place with a strange hue.

‘Interesting…’

“Ah!” He stepped to the side, barely avoiding a bear attack.

The bear roared before charging forward, slamming into the floor. It flipped to the side, with an enormous claw trying to tear Nikolai’s face.

A black bear, twice the size of normal bears, with a slightly enlarged claw and exoskeleton across its back. It wasn’t entirely a living monster; it was a mutated monster.

A beast-like monster with a mutation.

Nikolai’s foot slammed down to the side, causing the bear’s attack to miss, twisting its body. It roared, swiping at Nikolai’s legs, but a swift step backwards caused the bear’s claw to slam into the ground and cause a small crater.

The beast growled with rage in its eyes, but it was too late for any counterattack.

Nikolai moved in front of the bear and slammed his fist into its throat. His fist penetrated the bear’s hide, and blood and flesh oozed from the hole, causing the bear to collapse on the floor.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep