Chapter 5: Unexpected Guest

Inside the operating room, an elderly doctor examined samples spread across a wide table. An operating bed sat at the center of the room.

From the doorway, a young woman’s voice called out in panic.

“Doctor! We have an unexpected situation—we might need help from outside!”

He didn’t flinch. Her habit of panicking over minor issues reminded him of his late wife.

She pressed on, “The patient isn’t responding to the antidote. He’s running a high fever. What should we do?”

“Bring him here,” he said, calm as ever.

As the patient was wheeled in, Reema noticed the doctor carefully climbed down from the short, armless stool he’d been standing on.

Grabbing it, he carried it over to the operating bed and climbed back up to examine the patient at eye level.

He gestured silently for Reema to position the patient. As she did, he reached for his stethoscope—only to realize he’d left it behind.

With a quiet sigh, he stepped down again, retrieved it from the table, and returned to the stool beside the bed.

Watching this unfold, Reema muttered under her breath.

At this rate, the patient’s going to die.

She reached out. “Please, let me assist,” she offered.

The doctor glanced at her briefly, then turned back to the patient, ignoring her hand.

Frustrated, she stepped away and moved to the far side of the room to pray. Glancing back at him, she imagined, just for a moment, picking him up like a child to move things along faster.

The thought almost made her laugh—almost. But she shook her head, realizing the situation was too serious for that kind of thinking.

She closed her eyes and resumed her prayers.

***

Outside the infirmary, near the wide stretch of green fields, Kyle had just finished his warm-up when he noticed the children still watching him, their expressions clouded with confusion.

Uneasy under their gaze, he took a few steps away, hopping on one leg.

When the kids started to follow, he shifted into a limp, exaggerating each step while using his stick to extend his stride as he turned to the corner of the building.

Once he turned to the corner, his eyes landed on a narrow ledge running along the side of the building’s wall.

Without hesitation, he drove his stick into the ground for support, stepped onto the lower edge with one foot, then hurled the stick aside.

In one swift motion, he leapt up, caught the higher ledge, and pulled himself onto it, pressing his body low to disappear from their sight.

By the time the kids rounded the corner, the alley was empty—he was gone.

From above, looking at the children, Kyle smirked.

It reminded him of a flock of fish that lost their target and were now moving aimlessly in different directions, but only one boy remained; he looked up and smiled with bright eyes—it was Ryan.

He glanced up, amazed at how Kyle reached the upper ledge.

How did he get up there so fast without using his legs?

Then it clicked—

He used the stick… I didn’t know it could help you jump higher!

A grin spread across his face.

I should try that too. Looks fun.

He looked around, making sure the other kids had dispersed, so they wouldn’t bother Kyle.

Kyle, sitting on the edge, called down, “Do all of you kids just think about playing and sleeping? Is there anything else you can do in life?”

Rayn looked back at him with a surprised look on his face replied, “What else should we do? As the oldest, I also help the villagers with some tasks, but right now I can't because of the recent poisonous bugs.”

Kyle frowned, surprised. “Poisonous bugs?”

Rayn answered, “Yes. They’re bugs attracted to crops, and they attach themselves to plants, spreading poisonous gas. But recently, they’ve been acting strangely—I can’t help much.”

From afar, a voice interrupted, calling Ryan to help the villagers carry some baskets. He glanced at Kyle and said loudly, “Well, help is on the way!”

He turned and waved goodbye to Kyle.

Kyle smirked and looked beneath him.

How will I get down now?

Realizing that he now needed help, he refused to admit it or ask Ryan for assistance.

***

Inside the operating room, after half an hour of inspection, the doctor finally managed to inject the patient with a stabilizing sedative and said, “He’s stable now. He didn’t respond to the antidote because he was drugged before coming here, which seemed to be preventing the antidote’s effect. But his body managed to overcome it—and showed a reaction.”

Reema appeared surprised. She hadn’t expected the patient to survive. She relaxed her shoulders.

“I am glad that it worked.”

The doctor climbed down and returned to the table of chemicals.

Reema asked, “Doctor, did you read my report about the recent changes in the bugs’ behavior?”

“I did.”

He continued. “They were exposed to multiple elimination chemicals. Their defense mechanisms have adapted. Now, those responsible might escalate to even stronger chemicals—which could make things worse.”

“Elimination chemicals?” she asked.

“Why would anyone go that far? It wasn’t even that bad.”

He sighed, then explained.“The new landlord’s interested in this region. He bought up all the surrounding land. Wanting to ‘clean it up’, they ignored the natural ecosystem. I saw this coming. That’s why I sent a request asking him to stop. But the reply came too late.”

“What did he say?” she asked.

He replied.“That his son is already here, and will take care of it. So we have to wait and see.”

A young boy stood behind the door, stunned by what he overheard. It was Kyle—he was heading toward the room when a conversation about poisonous bugs caught his ear, and curiosity pulled him closer.

The new landlord? Father? And his son… Me?

Immediately, he made his way to the hallway, picked up the phone, and dialed. The moment he heard the voice on the other end, he swallowed hard.

“Father… It's me, Kyle. I wanted to ask about the bugs. How should I deal with this? Is it true the land belongs to us?”

A pause—then a cold reply: “Not us—yours. Your land, your problem.”

The line went dead.

With those few words, Kyle’s face turned pale, stunned.

That land?… the one I nearly died because of the dogs guarding it?

He remembered that his family was known for raising guard dogs, but hadn’t thought it was connected to the current situation.

Your land. Your problem! Is he serious? I can barely walk, let alone save a village…

Shaking his head, he turned back to his room, still reeling—only to stop short. Something felt… off—A weird presence crept behind him.

***

In the vast city, the Dotrofort Estate owned large tracts of land and wielded power through a wide network.

For generations, they had adopted loyal members into their family, growing their influence. The family was currently led by a man in his thirties, pale-skinned, with white, closely cropped hair and blue eyes.

He was leaning on the floor in a dimly lit room, focused on a chess game with his younger brother. Beside him lay a large white tiger, watching over the game.

Breaking the silence, his brother asked, “Aren’t you being too harsh on him? How do you expect a ten-year-old to take on this responsibility?”

Then he continued, “If I were in his place, I would’ve thrown punches at your face.”

Feeling the cold gaze of Kyle’s father, the younger brother's face tensed as he muttered nervously.

“Sorry… maybe that was a bit much. But still, you could show him you care.”

Without looking up, Kyle’s father replied, “I wasn’t the one who told him to run away.”

“You know that’s not true,” his brother said. “He had to go, and you know it.”

“I’m not heartless.” Kyle’s father said.

“I’ve already sent more keepers after him since he left.”

Then he added, “Given the recent circumstances, they should be able to help him.”

***

Back in his room, Kyle felt a presence behind him. He turned, but no one was there. Dismissing it as his imagination, he took a few steps forward—until he heard the door close and lock.

His eyes widened as he spun around to find a mid-teen boy with reddish hair, standing by the door with a smirk.

Holding the handle firmly to ensure it wouldn’t open, the boy said, “Hello, young master. It’s been a while.”

He gritted his teeth, shooting the boy an unwelcoming look.

Why is this bully here? Of all people, they sent him?—Asper.

With a sneer, Asper said, “You know your family—they don’t trust you or even care about you. That’s why they sent me to set things right.”

Just then, a knock came at the door, followed by a voice calling out, “Kyle! Are you in there?”

Asper smiled and said, “Is this a new friend of yours?”

Kyle stood silently, processing the weight of what he had just heard, while Asper opened the door and cast a sly glance at a boy around Kyle’s age.

“And who might you be?” he asked.

Surprised by the unfamiliar face, he replied, “Ryan.”

Asper stepped out, placing a hand on Ryan’s shoulder, and said, “Well, Ryan, it’s nice meeting you. I’ll be leaving now, so take good care of Kyle. He seems… upset.”

After Asper left, Ryan entered the room and saw Kyle lowering his head and standing in silence.

He waved his hand in front of his face, but he swatted it away.

“Go away! Leave me alone,” he growled.

Ryan was taken aback; he wasn’t expecting that reaction.

He was fine a while ago. What made him so angry?

Unsure of what to do, he quietly left, and confusion was all over his face.

Still looking down, Kyle called out, “Alessia!”

A voice promptly responded as the maid hurried to stand before him. “Yes, young master?”

He ordered, “We’re leaving. Let’s return to the mansion.”