Chapter 258: Chapter 258: Mastermind

“Please get in.”

Once Lana was seated, the car pulled away smoothly. The driver discreetly sent a message to Hector.

………………..

Hector was in the middle of a meeting when his phone vibrated. He frowned, glanced at it briefly, and ignored it, assuming it was just another unimportant notification.

Only after the meeting ended did he finally check his phone.

The moment he read the message, he cursed under his breath.

“Damn it…”

He usually checked every message without fail. Today, of all days, he had assumed it was spam.

Without hesitation, he contacted Lucian and relayed everything.

Lucian’s eyes narrowed the moment he heard it.

“If that’s the case,” he said coldly, “we need to trace the source first.”

He paused, his gaze darkening.

“Normally, assassination attempts would’ve slowed down by now. Instead, they’re increasing.”

Hector rubbed his fingertips together thoughtfully.

“Is it possible,” he asked carefully, “that Lana offended someone far more powerful?”

Lucian was about to answer when his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen, then slowly arched an eyebrow.

“It seems… that’s exactly the case.”

Hector understood immediately. Lucian had been monitoring Lana for a long time. He knew her movements, her actions, and her growth.

If Lucian had reached this conclusion now, it meant he had already identified something crucial.

“So what do we do?” Hector asked.

Lucian fell silent for a moment before replying. “For now, we dodge.”

His voice was calm but firm. “This enemy is much stronger than before.”

Hector nodded in agreement. Protecting Lana was not a loss in his eyes. On the contrary, it was an investment.

Lana was a mystic cultivator.

If nurtured properly, she had the potential to support an entire city. The people around her could rise alongside her, possibly even becoming influential officials or the ruling power of that city.

By comparison, offending the government was insignificant. If it came to that, they wouldn’t hesitate to protect her.

Lucian, however, had a far simpler reason.

He didn’t want Lana to be hurt.

…………………

When Lana returned to Lucian’s mansion, she went straight to her room and began cultivating once more, immersing herself deeply until night fell.

Later that evening, she changed into a flowing gown.

Just as she stepped out, she ran into Lucy and Lucian.

They both froze. For a moment, even the air seemed to still.

Lucy blinked, then murmured unconsciously, “She looks like a fairy straight out of a fairy tale.”

Lana flicked her hair back proudly.

“Of course,” she said with a grin. “I’m a fairy who descended upon this world to soothe human eyes.”

At her shameless declaration, a faint smile tugged at Lucian’s lips.

Lucy shook her head helplessly, amused.

Meanwhile, Mr. Crow puffed out his chest and proudly nudged Lana’s shoulder.

He didn’t say it aloud, but he was extremely satisfied with her choice of dress. The colors complemented his own feathers perfectly.

Standing together like this, it almost felt as if he and Lana truly belonged together.

Lucian asked in a calm voice, “Are you going to a party or some grand occasion?”

It was then that Lana realized she had completely forgotten to tell him where she was headed. A faint crease formed between her brows.

“I’m going to a birthday party,” she said quickly. “Betty’s birthday party.”

Lucian nodded calmly, as if committing it to memory. After a brief pause, he seemed to think of something else and added, “Free up your schedule three days from now.”

Lana blinked, momentarily confused. She studied his profile, searching for clues, but decided not to pry. ’If he’s saying this, he probably needs my help.’ She nodded obediently.

“I will.”

Then, almost instinctively, the words slipped out before her mind could stop them.

“Are you going with me?”

The moment the sentence left her lips, Lana froze.

So did Lucy.

Lucy’s eyes widened in shock. She had never imagined Lana would ask something so… bold.

It wasn’t that she looked down on Lana. Rather, she knew her boss too well.

Lucian was famous for maintaining distance from women. Even with Lana, he was always composed, restrained. Lucy had never seen him act intimately or touch Lana unnecessarily.

So this question felt like a thunderbolt.

Lucian, however, looked at Lana as if the question were perfectly natural.

“Yes,” he replied calmly.

Then he extended his hand.

Lana’s breath caught.

For a split second, time seemed to rewind. In her previous life, Lucian had done this countless times.

Escorting her out of cars. Offering support when she stepped onto a stage. Always there, always steady, making sure she never stumbled.

That strange, aching familiarity surged through her chest.

Without thinking, she placed her hand in his.

Lucy felt as if she had just been slapped.

Earlier, she thought Lana was being audacious. Now, she realized something far more unsettling. Lana wasn’t acting oddly at all.

She was acting… familiar.

As if this was normal between her and Lucian.

Lucy swallowed hard. ’I need to reassess Lana’s position in his heart.’

Once inside the car, Lucian glanced at Lana and spoke casually.

“Did you help someone named Blake on these past days?”

Lana’s eyes darkened slightly. ’So it’s connected after all.’

She nodded without hesitation.

“He’s from one of the political families,” she replied honestly. “I helped him because I wanted to build a connection.”

There was no pretense in her tone. No embarrassment. She never felt the need to sugarcoat her intentions in front of Lucian.

Lucian chuckled softly, clearly amused.

“I figured.”

Lana then turned toward him, curiosity flickering in her gaze.

“So… is this the Rivers family’s rivals? Or their political opponents?”

Lucian shook his head.

“No. It’s the Rivers family themselves.”

Lana narrowed her eyes. “Did I offend them?”

Again, he shook his head.

“Not all of them,” he clarified. “Just someone who desperately wants Blake removed.”

Lana released a quiet sigh of relief. ’Good.’

If she had truly offended the entire Rivers family just by trying to make a connection, that would have been a disastrous trade.

“Have they done anything to punish the mastermind?” she asked next.

Lucian’s expression turned thoughtful.

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