Chapter 81

Chapter 81

While questioning Faceless, Ye Mo was looking at the photo frame on the cabinet. After a while, he turned his gaze back to Faceless, gathering his courage to ask about his father's situation.

Faceless quickly glanced at the clock on the wall and spoke first, changing the subject. "Are you hungry?"

Ye Mo instinctively reached for the nutrient solution in his pocket and handed his own tube to Faceless.

Faceless paused for a moment. His eyes followed the tube to Ye Mo's face. This was also the first time he had properly looked at Ye Mo.

Black hair, black eyes. When he sat there obediently, the sharpness of his mother's features wasn't very apparent.

But his mother leaving him behind must have meant she felt some love for this child, right? Faceless's thoughts drifted to how he would answer if Ye Mo asked how his mother viewed him and what feelings she held for him.

He could then tell Ye Mo truthfully that she had loved him very much too. Loved him enough to go against her own principles, loved him enough to relegate the family, which had always been her top priority since becoming the heir, to second place.

Ye Mo pushed it forward slightly, urging Faceless. "I have another one."

Faceless silently reached out and took it. He flipped the bottle to the side with the instructions. With just a glance, he recognized it as the cheapest type, barely meeting daily energy requirements. It was insufficient even for adults, let alone a child in his developmental stage.

Faceless had seen many children suffering from malnutrition due to long-term consumption of these.

Ye Mo had already taken out another nutrient solution.

Faceless quickly picked up the photo frame he had placed on the bedside table and handed it to Ye Mo. "This is your mother."

Ye Mo instinctively took it. Faceless casually swapped Ye Mo's other nutrient solution for the type he usually used. Ye Mo didn't notice at all, gently stroking the photo.

Faceless stood to the side. "Stay here tonight. I'll change to a room upstairs later."

There was a suite upstairs, and it wasn't assigned to anyone else. Faceless had originally been assigned there too, but it was too quiet. Faceless couldn't sleep; after so many years of living, he had gotten used to the noisy environment of the Wanderer Star Sector.

As if just realizing something, Ye Mo stood up, placed the photo frame back in its spot, reluctantly shifting his gaze away. "I have to go back for a little while."

With that, Ye Mo turned his head, bit off the cap of the nutrient solution, quickly swallowed the liquid inside, and then walked to the window, nimbly hopping onto the sill. He placed one hand on the windowsill. "I didn't say goodbye to my friends when I left. I'll come see you again tomorrow."

Faceless instinctively reached forward and grabbed his wrist. "You're not staying here?"

"I live in the western suburbs."

The western suburbs bordered the garbage dump, the lowest and most chaotic part of the Garbage Star.

Faceless discreetly scanned Ye Mo's body, trying to pick up on any previously unnoticed clues. The clothes weren't new, and he had just checked; there were no external injuries. "I'll take you."

His words were carried off by the wind. "And properly thank the kind person who took you in."

Hearing this, Ye Mo obediently climbed down and stood beside Faceless.

He watched as Faceless put on gloves and a hat, finally throwing a cloak around himself, leaving almost no skin exposed. Then Faceless turned to Ye Mo, draping a black, hooded cloak over him, pulling up the hood to conceal Ye Mo's appearance, revealing only the lower half of his face.

Faceless skillfully led Ye Mo out, turning down different corridors from time to time, all the way downstairs without encountering anyone. Even though the first and second floors of the building were full of people, Ye Mo even heard voices several times, but Faceless always managed to avoid them perfectly.

They took a hovercar directly and passed through without any checks along the way.

Following Ye Mo's directions, the hovercar stopped downstairs. Ye Mo looked up from below, saw that the light was still on, quickened his pace, taking two steps at a time on the stairs, almost running up.

Faceless maintained a distance, following behind Ye Mo.

The door wasn't locked; Ye Mo pushed it open.

There were quite a few people inside who had been arguing about something.

"...It's confirmed he went to the station. That bus's final stop is the central district. The driver said he remembers a pretty kid getting off there..."

"...How would I know how he got on the train? He didn't even have any money."

As soon as Ye Mo pushed the door open, the conversation inside stopped. Ji Ting was the first to approach Ye Mo. He grabbed Ye Mo's collar. "Didn't I tell you not to run off? And you went to the central district? In the middle of the night, so many people were looking for you."

A hand reached over Ye Mo's shoulder, grabbing Ji Ting's wrist, forcing him to let go.

It was Faceless.

Only then did Ji Ting notice Faceless behind Ye Mo. The scene fell into an eerie silence.

Faceless moved Ji Ting's hand a bit away before releasing him. He looked at Ji Ting and the others; there were quite a few young people. There were many organizations like this in the Wanderer Star Sector.

Faceless's gaze lingered on Chris for a moment. He had an impression of Chris—the former heir of the Clay Empire. But shortly after receiving the heir title, he was exiled by the suspicious Old King. Faceless had been in the Clay Empire during that time.

It seemed his younger brother, who succeeded him, was looking for him, but the plan was temporarily shelved due to the Insect Tide.

Faceless hadn't paid attention to the Clay Empire for a long time. He nodded. "I'm his uncle."

"Thank you very much for taking care of this child. I will send gifts later."

Ye Mo glanced back at Faceless. Faceless's voice just now was somewhat hoarse, not his natural tone.

Chris stepped forward first. His attitude was very amiable. "Then, do you know he has amnesia? We need to confirm you are truly his relative."

"After all, you must understand, this is too much of a coincidence. Anything will do—video, photos."

There were no instruments here to compare genes, so photos and videos were indeed the most suitable.

Faceless didn't move. He still had videos of Ye Mo before he was born, never deleted.

If it were in a nurturing center, this wouldn't be allowed according to regulations, but he couldn't help but record Ye Mo responding to his tapping.

Chris was considerate. "If you don't have any, you can borrow some from your family first, like his parents."

Katia, originally in a corner, had now stood up and moved to Chris's side.

Ye Mo also turned to look at Faceless. "Can you contact my father? He's still alive, right?"

Faceless was silent for a while before speaking. "I will hand you over to him, but not now."

The safety protocols on Ye Mo's body hadn't been lifted yet. Faceless couldn't turn back now, but Ye Mo was different.

"Can't you tell me the reason?"

Faceless shook his head. "But I'm not deceiving you. You are my family."

He leaned down slightly, pointing at Ye Mo's chest. "Between us, our blood is connected."

Ye Mo looked at Faceless for a few seconds, then turned to look at Chris. "I believe him. I've seen my mother's photo."

And that initial sense of familiarity, although it was familiarity with his mother's other brother... Ye Mo pondered, maybe he was closer to that other uncle.

Ji Ting, impatient by nature, was the first to speak. "Hey!"

Even Faceless was stunned for a moment. This kind of unwavering, complete trust between family members was something he hadn't experienced in a long time.

Faceless finally said, "I don't actually have any photos, but I have a genetic testing device. You can come with him."

Chris responded first, smiling, "Alright, thanks. We appreciate it."

...

By the time the test was done and the report was ready, it was already very late.

Chris and the others were shown to a suite on the fourth floor, which conveniently had room for all three of them. The moment the door closed, Chris's smile vanished.

"He's an outsider."

What Chris didn't voice was that Faceless felt familiar to him, as if he had seen him somewhere before.

Ji Ting wasn't surprised, though. Besides the people from Hungry Wolf, most people living here were outsiders. But Chris wasn't one to make idle comments. Ji Ting frowned.

"You mean..."

Outsiders were divided into two categories: those with legitimate identities in other countries, and those who hailed from the Wandering Starfield. The latter were more complex, including space pirates and organizations within the Wandering Starfield, but they were usually not the friendly type.

And Ye Mo clearly didn't belong to this category.

"But they are actually related by blood. Maybe his personality is just a bit special."

Chris still frowned. Even though Ye Mo had lost his memory, he still bore the traces of training. That upright style was clearly characteristic of military training.

But he had personally seen the results of the genetic comparison. Finally, he said, "Perhaps."

...

Ye Mo was still in Faceless's room. The suite Chris and the others were in had other empty rooms, but Faceless insisted that Ye Mo stay here.

"It's safer here."

If enemies attacked, Faceless could react immediately.

Moreover, before moving in, Faceless had thoroughly searched the room to ensure there were no bugs or tracking devices, and he had also set up signal jammers.

Since the suite was larger, it would take more time to check and secure.

As if afraid Ye Mo might be unwilling, Faceless added, "You take the bed. I'll sleep on the sofa."

"That's not necessary. We can share half each. This bed is big enough."

Ye Mo wasn't really opposed. The room here was much better than his previous one. He was just a bit shy.

Faceless brought him pajamas. "No need. I'm used to it at night."

He was active in the Wandering Starfield as an assassin. During missions, he could fall asleep anytime, anywhere, and would be awakened by any disturbance just as easily.

Faceless probably wouldn't sleep at night. During missions, he had shared rooms with companions before. Both would pretend to close their eyes, slow their breathing, and lower their heartbeats, but in reality, both knew neither was asleep.

"Just endure for one night. Tomorrow, the suite upstairs will be ready."

Ye Mo was still concerned about the other sleeping on the sofa. "I sleep very quietly. I'll leave you a big space..."

Faceless casually agreed and pushed him into the bathroom.

By the time Faceless finished showering and came out, Ye Mo was already asleep on the bed. He curled up, just as he had promised, sleeping very quietly, leaving a large space for Faceless. He even used only a tiny bit of the blanket, just enough to cover his body.

Faceless walked over, turned off the lights, leaving only a small night light in the corner. He paused by Ye Mo's bedside, pulled the blanket up for him, and carefully tucked it in.

Then he sat on the sofa and closed his eyes.

The entire room was filled with Ye Mo's light, steady breathing. Faceless thought he would stay awake all night, but in reality, he quickly fell into a deep sleep.

It might even be said it was the most peaceful sleep he had had in many years.