Chapter 314
Hermann’s eyes showed no hint of a smile or sympathy as he looked down at me as I was kneeling before me.
His expression was one of disgust, as if looking at something filthy lying on the ground.
With an icy, cold voice, he began to speak.
“Miss Valentine, you have many uses. So, I’m still contemplating how to deal with you.”
“…What?”
“If you’ve been imprinted, then killing you would be easy. In fact, it wouldn’t be a bad idea. It’s the simplest and cleanest way to neutralize Sir Claude, who’s been a major obstacle to our grand ambitions.”
“…”
“Of course, if you haven’t been imprinted, that wouldn’t be bad either. Even I am curious about what makes a Guide so irresistible that someone like Sir Claude can’t live without one.”
I had seen eyes like Hermann’s before.
It was during the compatibility test, when it was announced that my matching rate with most Espers was unbelievably high.
Watching the Espers’ gazes change instantly, I was reminded of a documentary about d**g addicts. I felt like I had become the coveted d**g they craved.
Though he wasn’t affiliated with the Center due to his position as Prime Minister…
Hermann was also an Esper.
I involuntarily scooted back. But I was blocked by the legs of an Esper standing behind me.
Hermann took another step toward me, bending down.
“So, to help me make a wise decision, I expect you to answer my questions truthfully from now on.”
He whispered, his eyes glistening.
***
“I’ve already been imprinted on.”
I lied confidently.
Hermann raised an eyebrow, surprised that I answered so firmly despite him saying he would kill me if I was imprinted.
Of course, I didn’t want to die. But I had a reason for answering this way.
When Claude discovered that I was a Guide, I told him that while I was indeed his Guide, I didn’t know how to perform guiding.
Claude had answered calmly, saying it was fine.
And then he added…
〈We’ll just keep trying until it works.〉
〈…What?〉
Though he was teasing me, any Esper might react similarly.
I hadn’t been imprinted and didn’t know how to control guiding. But if I told Hermann the truth, his reaction would be predictable.
Given my high guiding purity and unrealistically high matching rate with most Espers, he would try to extract guiding from me no matter what. He would simply keep touching me until it worked.
Claude only threatened me with harsh words to enjoy my scared reaction but was actually endlessly lenient.
Hermann, however, was different.
He had managed to keep dozens of Guides imprisoned in the New D**g Development Research Institute under the guise of a state-owned pharmaceutical company, thanks to his power as a prominent figure in Arteon.
He wouldn’t hesitate to show his true colors to extract guiding from me.
Even if the guiding worked, it would be a problem. Unlike Claude, Daniel had experienced guiding from many Guides and had told me that my guiding was on a completely different level.
If I had a high matching rate with Hermann, his reaction wouldn’t be any different. It was a horrifying yet plausible assumption.
It was then.
Hermann’s hand suddenly grabbed my face, his touch cold and engulfing.
The moment his wrinkled hand touched me, I felt chills running vividly down my spine.
It wasn’t the fear of death I had once felt when Claude touched me.
It was the revulsion and disgust of touching something horrifying, repugnant, and dirty.
I clenched my jaw to keep from making a sound. I bit down so hard that the warm tears that had welled up in my eyes began to flow down his fingers.
If it meant I could escape this touch, I would have gladly thrown myself off a cliff.
Regardless, Hermann didn’t care. He twisted my face left and right with a grimace and finally acknowledged.
“Your guiding isn’t working. So now, I suppose it’s time for me to kill you.”
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