Damon took three steps up the stairs.
Inside the room, Ester grabbed the back of his clothes.
He stopped.
Did not turn around.
"I already know this feeling."
"Good."
"You're going to say no."
"No."
Damon finally looked over his shoulder.
"Predictable."
"You just discovered there's a man who probably spent centuries turning his own body into an extension of the network, and your first reaction was to start walking toward him."
"We don't know where Sector Zero is."
"That makes it worse."
"I was going upstairs to ask."
"Lie."
"Partially."
Ester pulled him back.
Damon did not resist.
Aurelia watched the scene while still leaning against the side of the open capsule.
"Does she always do that?"
Xue Lian answered before he could.
"Frequently."
"Does it work?"
"Sometimes."
Damon pointed at both of them.
"I'm right here."
"Unfortunately," Ester and Xue Lian answered together.
Xue Mei started laughing.
Even Aurelia smiled.
Vorn only closed his eyes.
