I grow stronger by making my wife happy.

Chapter 159: 159:another thank you.

Just then, his communicator vibrated on the bedside table. The unfamiliar number caused him to raise an eyebrow.

”...That’s strange.”

Ravenna looked over.

”Who is it?”

”I don’t know.”

Silver picked up the communicator and accepted the call.

”Silver Ruddington speaking.”

A calm female voice answered almost immediately.

”Good morning, Mr. Ruddington. This is the Delta Four Contractors Association Research Department.”

Silver straightened slightly.

”The Research Department?”

”Yes. We were hoping you would have a little time to visit us before you leave the Sanctuary.”

His curiosity immediately grew.

”Is something wrong?”

”Not at all. We simply wish to thank you again, personally, regarding the Moonlight Flower incident.”

Silver exchanged a glance with Ravenna.

”I see, but...”

”We insist... we won’t take much of your time.”

”I’ll be there shortly.”

The call ended. Ravenna tilted her head.

”The Association?”

Silver nodded.

”The Research Department. They said they wanted to thank me, but they had already done that. Wasn’t the reward enough?”

”Do you think something is wrong?”

He shook his head.

”They sounded pretty cheerful; they probably found something or want a confirmation.”

Ravenna nodded, frowning slightly.

”Then let’s not keep them waiting.”

Less than thirty minutes later, they entered the familiar Contractors Association building.

After confirming Silver’s identity, a staff member escorted the pair through several secured corridors before stopping outside a modest conference room.

”Please, go right in.”

Silver thanked the employee before opening the door. Inside, three familiar researchers sat around a table covered with reports, maps, and sealed specimen containers.

The oldest among them immediately stood.

”Mr. Ruddington. Thank you for coming.”

Silver offered a polite nod.

”You said this was about the Moonlight Flowers.”

”Indeed.”

The researcher gestured toward two empty chairs.

”Please, have a seat.”

Silver and Ravenna sat opposite the researchers. Once everyone had settled, the elderly man folded his hands together.

”First... I wanted to apologise for the sudden call.

Silver smiled modestly.

”I understand.”

”Also, we would like to thank you again for what you’ve done. And because of that observation...” The researcher slid a folder across the table. ”...our investigation progressed far faster than expected.”

Silver opened it. Inside were several photographs of clusters of Moonlight Flowers, spore samples, and maps marked with dozens of colored circles.

”We’ve now identified multiple contaminated locations throughout the Green and Yellow Zones.” The researcher continued, ”The spores have proven extremely valuable. They’ve allowed us to begin studying how the flowers spread and how they affect surrounding ecosystems.”

Ravenna looked over the maps with interest but didn’t say a word. Another researcher adjusted her glasses.

”Without your initial record and observations, we may have missed a lot of things before our observations could come to a conclusion. Our first identification had only been vague, but you...”

Silver closed the folder.

”I’m glad it was useful.”

”You’ve likely prevented the contamination from spreading unnoticed.”

The room grew quiet for a moment. Silver hadn’t expected them to be that fast. He had thought it would take a while.

The elderly researcher smiled.

”Of course... You weren’t the only contributor.”

Silver looked up.

”Oh?”

The researcher nodded.

”Once our notice was distributed to nearby Sanctuaries and checkpoints, contractors began collecting additional samples.”

He opened another report.

”Most teams recovered only a handful.”

He flipped through several pages.

”However... One individual submitted an extraordinary amount.”

Silver became curious.

”Really?”

The researcher smiled.

”Enough to significantly accelerate our research.”

Silver rested one elbow on the table.

”Who was it?”

The researcher glanced down at the report in front of him.

”A young contractor. His name was Dillian... yes?”

For just a fraction of a second... Silver’s expression froze, and his heartbeat skipped.

Silver had expected their paths to cross eventually, but this was just too early and through the research report nonetheless. This was just something else.

Fortunately, years of keeping his emotions under control prevented anything from showing on his face.

He simply nodded.

”I haven’t heard of him.”

”He’s relatively new,” another researcher explained. ”But exceptionally capable. He seems to possess an unusually keen eye for environmental changes.”

The elderly man smiled.

”His sample quality has been outstanding.”

Silver couldn’t help feeling a faint sense of admiration. Even without the System... The world’s protagonist was already distinguishing himself.

”So he’s the one who found the largest number of spores.”

”Yes. Far more than anyone else.”

Silver considered that quietly. It fit, the protagonist naturally encountering opportunities. But he wasn’t in the least bit jealous; Dillain was his own person, and he was just him; he had only been briefly shocked by the coincidence.

He looked back toward the researcher.

”Which Sanctuary is he operating from?”

The researcher consulted another document.

”Checkpoint Nine.”

Silver nodded slowly.

”I see. So we’re unlikely to meet any time soon.”

The researcher chuckled.

”Not unless one of you changes your travel plans.”

Silver smiled politely.

”I was simply curious.”

The elderly researcher carefully closed the folder.

”In any case... We wanted you to know that your report made a genuine difference. The Research Department appreciates your cooperation.”

Silver inclined his head.

”I’m happy it helped. If I encounter anything unusual... I’ll report it.”

”We would greatly appreciate that.”

After exchanging a few more words, the meeting concluded.

One of the researchers even handed Silver a small certificate acknowledging his assistance with the investigation. It carried no monetary reward. Only the Association’s official seal and a note thanking him for contributing to Sanctuary research.

Silver accepted it graciously.

As he and Ravenna left the administrative wing, neither spoke until they stepped outside the Association building.

Ravenna glanced sideways at him.

”You’ve been unusually quiet.”

Silver smiled faintly.

”I was just thinking.”

”About the spores?”

”Partly.”

”And Dillain”

Silver hesitated before nodding.

”I suppose so. He is talented and lucky.”

”Tell me about it.”

Ravenna folded her hands behind her back as they began walking toward the hotel.

”The world is full of strong people.”

Silver looked up at the clear blue sky.

”Yeah. It really is.”