"Hmm...It isn't a bad place," Milena admitted, her hands on her waist as she looked at the double staircase of deep, dark wood leading to the mansion's upper floor. Glenn blinked, before turning toward her in disbelief.

"What did you say? Not a bad place? Are you fucking insane?" He questioned with shock, his eyes opened widely in disbelief. Sahro and Liara, who were listening from the side, nodded frantically. Milena moistened her lips and shrugged.

"It's a nice mansion, yeah, but..." She smiled innocently, "...Did you forget I used to live in the Court?"

Glenn spent a few more seconds looking at her with awe and shook his head. No matter what Milena said, this mansion was the best place he ever had in his life. A workshop and armory in the West Wing, a Library and servant quarters in the East Wing, and a massive kitchen, dining hall, and relaxation room in the Northern Wing. The upper floor, after a quick exploration with everyone, is revealed to be dedicated to private suites all secured with reinforced iron doors and with balconies offering views of the sprawling garden and the District of Silverhomes. There even was a small observatory located at the northernmost point of the upper floor. The room was topped with a domed glass ceiling and contained several brass telescopes and astrological tools.

This place was everything he ever desired.

"...Without the swimming pool," Nelg commented dejectedly. Glenn's eyebrows flinched, but he didn't bother replying to his sword, rather using his time to enjoy possessing such an amazing place.

'Possessing is a grand word for something that is lent to you by the Cleaner's Workshop,' Diamanes mocked. Glenn ignored him too and instead turned to his companions, smiling widely.

"Alright then. I propose we all settle in our new place for now, and then discuss how to proceed during dinner."

Sahro, Liara, and Milena nodded, all happy with this suggestion. Glenn left them to choose their rooms, grinning secretly as he had already reserved the one with the best view. He headed for the dining hall which could easily welcome twenty persons to eat at the same time, and which led to the relaxation room. Once he arrived there, he collapsed onto the biggest sofa and laid down on it, heaving a deep sigh.

"I'm going to go to war, then..." He muttered, unsure of how to feel about it.

"...Why is it disturbing you?" Diamanes asked aloud, puzzled, "You already were fighting one with the Thorn's Cult after all."

Glenn brusquely sat up and scoffed at his left hand.

"A war? I'm just defending myself from them."

"What about using the Black Heirs to destroy them in the Sewers?" Diamanes demanded knowingly with a wicked grin. Glenn pressed his lips together, before grunting in annoyance.

"Tsk! Whatever, they were the ones to pick a fight with me."

"...That's a lie. You burned their stash of drugs first, remember?"

Glenn rolled his eyes and leaned back on the sofa, staring at the ceiling lost in his thoughts. This INK-DEF mission promised to be the deadliest venture he had ever undertaken since coming into this world, Limbo. While the previous incidents were, well, incidents, now he was going to head into enemy territory knowingly, and probably end up facing off incredibly dangerous enemies. No, it wasn't probable—it was a certainty. He might even have to fight one of these...Celestial clowns or whatever. Calling themselves Gods.

"Tsk! But..." Glenn rubbed his chin as he recalled Giselle's tale which she shared with him a year ago. She did say that the self-called gods were the ones who kicked them out of the Ink Dunes. The Black Heirs aren't weak people; in fact, they might be one of the strongest military forces in King's Rise. At least, in the Fringe, no one comes close to them. Their talents are simply rotting away in the Sewers because they aren't accepted inside King's Rise.

"And they're also a little dumb. I still can't understand why they didn't choose to leave the Sewers and settle in another part of Munirp. Nothing stopped them from creating a small town and living thereby killing wild monsters and selling their services like some mercenary group," argued Diamanes. Glenn tilted his head to the side, grimacing.

"You're not wrong, but the Black Heirs are too proud for that. Additionally, I don't think they can willingly accept to abandon their comrades slaving away inside the city. And their leader's grandson is still in Baron Howard's hands. They have plenty of chains holding them back. I do wonder what would happen if I managed to get rid of all these chains though..." He suddenly pondered as the corner of his lips curved upward. Unbeknownst to him, the mouth in his left, purple palm grinned widely as well, mimicking him to perfection.

"Maybe we should concern ourselves with the most important thing first? Like, how are we going to survive fighting some bastards that are above our ranks and all that? I don't want to fight no Ruler!" Nelg questioned worriedly. Glenn shrugged and sank deeper into the sofa.

"Well, it wouldn't be the first time I'd be punching above my weight. And, fighting opponents stronger seems to be the perfect way for me to..." He frowned, realizing something, "...rank up. Wait...Do I have to be at the brink of death every time I want to create another Circle?" Glenn suddenly shook his head.

"No, this doesn't make sense. I created a fourth Circle and discovered the Milky Way in my Mana Heart only thanks to my Mana being drained away...It wasn't going to kill me..."

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"But it was still a crisis. I think you're onto something, Glenn," Nelg commented excitedly. Glenn stood up and looked at his clenched fists. If...If he wanted to know more about this world, about Diamanes, about how to come back to Earth, and to simply survive, he needed to get stronger. He didn't have a choice about that. But...each fight always had the risk of him losing his life. And if he died, everything would be over. There would be no other chances to find out what happened to him, to understand why the hell would the Gods all call him under a cliche name such as "Paradox", nor to go back to his sister. Glenn winced as he thought back to Lina. What did she become after he disappeared? How did she endure it?

'I hope she didn't give up on her dreams...' He silently thought while closing his eyes. He remained in this position for a while until Diamanes' nervous laugh disturbed him.

'Uhm...that's embarrassing.'

Glenn frowned, his eyes still closed, 'What do you mean?'

'I think she might have heard AND seen us talk together,' Diamanes said nervously, chuckling slightly. Glenn paused for a second before brusquely standing up with his eyes flashed open. Liara was standing at the door with her mouth and eyes opened widely. The two stared at each other awkwardly for a moment, until Liara unsheathed pulled a dagger out of nowhere, and dashed toward him. Glenn eagerly raised his hands peacefully, trying to defuse the situation.

"Wait, wait, wait! No, don't—" Nelg in his sword's form appeared in Glenn's hand, allowing him to barely parry away the dagger aiming to pierce his left hand. He gritted his teeth and pushed her back, but she stepped into the air, jumping on nothing, and assaulted him again with a distraught expression and tears welling up in her eyes.

"Liara, don't—" Clang! "—Argh, no, it's not what you believe!" Glenn exclaimed as he stood on top of a table. Liara was crouching on a chandelier, her gaze sharp and yet saddened. Nonetheless, she paused once she heard Glenn's words as if giving him a chance to explain himself. Glenn heaved out in relief, before glancing at his left, purple arm.

"I am not possessed, even though it might look otherwise—" Liara squinted, making him hurriedly add, "—and yes I know that's exactly what someone possessed by a demon would say. But, uh, this is more of a companion than a demon, even though he does appear to be slightly evil sometimes—"

Liara dashed once more with a resolute expression, two daggers appearing out of nowhere once again and flying next to her. Glenn swore and was about to use Gravity Manipulation to block her attacks, but the Black Heiress simply collapsed on the floor ridiculously, completely drained. Glenn stared at her confusedly, before suddenly remembering the place they were in. They still hadn't received the Clearance to use their energies in the Bourgeoisie!

"Darn, she must have succumbed to Mana exhaustion. Lucky me, I guess..." Glenn muttered as he slid Nelg back into his sheath. He walked up to Liara carefully lifted her and brought her to the nearest sofa, making her lie upon it. He made sure her head was well positioned before dusting his hands off.

"Well, I guess that's another person who will know about your existence, Diamanes..." He sighed, while the entity in question laughed.

"Isn't it funny how the two persons who know of me are Black Heirs?"

Glenn shook his head dejectedly, "...What a mess..."

"We heard the sound of fighting, what happened—oh," Milena exclaimed as she barged into the relaxation room, blushing when she saw Glenn sitting next to Liara. Glenn closed his eyes, wondering what kind of excuses he should use to explain this misunderstanding, but it was already too late. Milena ran off with her cheeks flushed red, saying that "she needed some air" or something. Sahro chuckled and was also about to leave until Glenn grimaced and gestured at him to come over.

"Well, lucky you, I suppose. Haha!" Sahro laughed as he sat on an armchair nearby. Glenn rubbed the corner of his eyes and sighed, before changing seats, leaving the whole sofa for Liara to sleep on.

"I don't know what you believe, but it's probably wrong. She..." Glenn bit down on his lip before rolling his eyes and opening his left hand for Sahro to see. Diamanes was smiling widely within his left palm, showing his peerlessly white teeth proudly, and without a hint of shame. Sahro froze, before sighing and hiding his face in his hand.

"...Might as well introduce that idiot to Milena and Javier too now," Sahro decided. Glenn stood up brusquely, confused.

"What? But—"

"But what? What do you fear? They already know you're fucking weird, and yet they still chose to follow you here," Sahro waved his hand dismissively, "...Do you think they'd care about the demon living in your conspicuously, evil-looking left arm?"

Glenn winced, hesitating.

"I mean, he does have some good arguments—" Diamanes tried to say, but— "Shut up," ordered Glenn and Sahro at the same time, successfully shutting the entity up.

"Hgn..." The discussion seemed to have woken Liara, who suddenly sat up and reached for the dagger at her waist. Or rather, the dagger that was at her waist, for Glenn had already taken the liberty of stealing the weapon away earlier, in prevention of such a situation. Sahro stood up and stared at her silently. The Black Heiress' eyes went from Sahro to Glenn, and she slowly leaned back on the sofa, unsure. Glenn made an awkward smile before sighing.

"I'll explain everything over dinner, so I don't have to repeat myself, alright?"

Sahro scoffed and sat back in the armchair, "You might as well use the occasion to tell us how you ended up with this annoying, tiny piece of shit."

"Hey!" Diamanes protested, Liara tensing up when hearing the entity's voice. Glenn raised his eyes toward the sky and clenched his left hand shut.

"...I'll consider it," he said, while secretly wondering. If he was going to tell them everything about Diamanes, should he also...share the truth about the place he came from?

The fact that he came from another world? As Sahro said previously, they were comrades who followed him blindly into a mission that had certain chances of killing them, without knowing what said mission was.

"...Can I also get my introduction? Or am I destined to only speak to you and Diamanes?" Nelg asked with a hint of sadness. Glenn pressed his lips together, grimacing.

'Are you able to voice your opinion? Like Diamanes, I mean?'

Nelg remained silent for a moment before replying, "...Not yet."

Glenn sighed and brushed his hair back, 'Then we might as well wait until you're able to speak in the real world. That way, it'll be a little easier to convince them of your existence.'

'Ah, sucker! He can't speak in the real world, what a loser!' Diamanes mocked pettily. Both Glenn and Nelg ignored his irrelevant opinion, instead wondering whether Nelg would ever be able to speak his thoughts aloud, or if he was going to be perpetually stuck inside Glenn's head.

Milena suddenly entered the relaxation room, her cheeks still a little rosy. She was dragging Javier behind her, who was showing the same deadpan expression as usual.

"I—I'm back, and I even found Javier creeping around. Should we eat, then?" Milena said while avoiding Liara's gaze.

Glenn shook his head and stood up, "Sure, let's eat. We have lots to talk about."

This was going to be the most important discussion in his life, and if he fucked it up, he was going to regret it forever.