MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Chapter 822: You Read?

Within minutes, the team arrived at the lobby as usual. It was packed with people, but compared to yesterday, where this place was filled almost to the brim, the lobby could be considered empty in that sense.

”It seems people are within their rooms,” Anthony stated as his sky-blue eyes tore through the greatly reduced population.

”I think most of the mid-tier and low-tier races have locked themselves up within their rooms as they’ve come to the conclusion that staying hidden is the best course of action. After all, their apartment and rooms are basically their safe house. Whoever designed this place thought it all through,” Vega stated flatly.

Anthony and Kingsley nodded at her words. ”Let’s sit at another place today,” Anthony suggested.

Together, they moved. Yesterday, they sat directly at the bar, but now, they decided to sit within the fully opened space of the lobby.

’They are here,’ Anthony thought as he sensed three familiar presences in the direction he was walking in.

”Anthony,” he heard his name as someone called out. Anthony didn’t need to ask who it was, as he recognized the voice; it was Charles.

Without pausing, the team headed towards the direction where Charles, Aura, and Bills sat together. Charles sat with a glass of alcohol in his hand, Bill sat with none as he remained as impassive as the moment when he first met Anthony, and Aura sat calmly with Akira nestled in her arms. She held a phone in her hand, seemingly refreshing a page as though waiting for something.

”I didn’t expect to see you guys here,” Vega echoed as she moved, occupying an empty seat.

”Well, we can’t be cooked up in our rooms. We have the ability and power to remain safe within this building,” Charles replied. His tone was light, but beneath it was a layer of truth; they were strong enough that fear was simply not a factor. Kingsley also sat, occupying the last empty seat, leaving Anthony standing, but Anthony didn’t speak. With a thought, Quantum Manipulation activated, particles trembled as he created exactly the same seat everyone was occupying. Without another word, he sat.

”Good morning,” Aura uttered without lifting her gaze, her blue eyes still fixed on her screen. Her fingers moved with practiced ease, tapping, scrolling, refreshing.

”Don’t mind her, she is a bit occupied at the moment. Her phone and laptop are practically her best friends,” Charles spoke with a sigh. ”At our level of existence, I wonder who still uses normal mortal devices like phones and all that,” he added. A slightly exasperated smile tugged at the edge of his lips, the kind that came from witnessing a habit too frequently to be surprised anymore.

At those words, Kingsley’s golden eyes shifted towards Anthony and Vega. They didn’t speak. They simply raised their hands and their own phones materialized in their palms. Seeing the scene, Charles froze, simply caught off guard. He hadn’t expected Anthony and his girlfriend, Vega, to be just like Aura.

”What are you doing?” Vega asked, her eyes shifting towards Aura. Her tone was curious rather than judgmental, the question driven by genuine interest.

Although Aura hadn’t looked up, she knew the question was addressed towards her. ”Refreshing a novel page, waiting for my bonus Chapters,” she replied calmly. She spoke as though this habit of hers was the most natural thing in the world, unbothered by anyone’s opinion.

”Aura,” Bills finally spoke for the first time in the presence of Anthony, Kingsley, and Vega. ”The author you are waiting to upload the Chapters is simply a mortal. Don’t place too many great expectations on him. He isn’t like us,” Bills concluded, reminding Aura that her favorite shameless author was just a mortal man.

Anthony, Vega, and Kingsley’s eyes turned towards Bills as though saying ’He speaks?’ Bills simply returned the gaze as though saying ’Yeah, I speak.’

”I know,” Aura replied with a sigh. Her phone vanished into her space ring with a thought. Her expression softened, but the faint disappointment remained in her eyes, as though she knew she would continue checking regardless.

Anthony shook his head as his gaze tore away from Bills, shifting towards Aura as he asked, ”What novel are you reading?” He leaned slightly forward, genuine curiosity touching his tone.

”You read?” Aura asked, their blue eyes meeting midair. There was a flicker of surprise in her expression, though it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

”Yes, although it’s been a while since I last read something,” Anthony replied. Since his reincarnation he hadn’t exactly read any novel, but he couldn’t say that, so he chose to remain ambiguous with the detail.

Aura nodded her head, saying nothing more. From her arms, Akira, who had simply been watching without a word, rose to her white furry feet. With a gentle, effortless motion, she jumped towards Anthony, landing easily on his lap. She simply settled in with comfort.

Anthony, surprised for a moment, simply smiled as he stroked her black fur on her back. Akira relaxed instantly, her tail swishing lazily. Aura simply sighed as she shook her head; she knew Akira was only going to Anthony for food. Vega leaned forward as though trying to talk to Akira; after all, who doesn’t love a cat?

Akira’s black eyes met Vega’s purple ones for a moment, then she ignored her as though saying ’What does this human even want?’ Vega blinked, taken aback, then slowly leaned back in her seat, mildly defeated by a cat.

A bartender walked towards where they sat, asking if Anthony, Vega, and Kingsley needed any drinks. After receiving their orders, the bartender bowed a little, then left calmly. Within seconds, he was back, serving the drinks. He bowed and stepped away again with professional precision, barely making a sound.

”Have you three finished exploring?” Aura suddenly asked.

”We have,” Kingsley replied as he drank his alcohol calmly. ”But yesterday we decided to stay within our apartment, but here we are again.”

”What changed your minds then?” Bills asked, gazes turning towards him once more as he spoke. Slowly but surely, he was inserting himself into the conversation after staying mute yesterday.