One-Eyed Monster

The story of the father and son continued, but Igor couldn’t bear it anymore. He felt that he initially came to resolve a misunderstanding, and now he had created another one, which was putting the cart before the horse.

So he looked at Perkins, implying if he had any way to make them stop.

Perkins shrugged. At this moment, it’s not good for anyone to intervene. Didn’t you see Stan Sol was frozen on the side, not saying a word?

What to do then? Let Hustace scream and cry hysterically like this? If he doesn’t stop soon, even Igor himself feels uncomfortable listening.

Who can bear to see their friend suffer like this, right?

But Igor had no way to comfort him and could only rely on Perkins.

”Why rely on me? I’m a bystander just like you!” Perkins said in confusion, feeling frustrated. He had always wanted to stay as a quiet observer, but this Igor just had to push him onto the stage.

”You’re not like me at all!” Igor’s eyes widened.

”How am I not? We’re both just onlookers, aren’t we?” Perkins grew unhappy. How could it be like this? Same bystanders, but why should anyone hog the spotlight?

”You’re their family! How can you be like me?” Igor had a strong argument, and that reasoning seemed to hit Perkins hard.

”What you’re saying makes it seem like not saying a few words would be letting the family down!” Perkins looked bewildered, thinking this was quite serious. Should he go up and say something?

”Of course, you have to take responsibility for your family. Look at Hustace crying so...” Igor initially wanted to say how sorrowful Hustace seemed, but at that moment, he suddenly realized that Hustace seemed to have stopped crying, and he felt a burning gaze towards them.

As the controller in the Inner World, Igor felt this was a disgrace. He hadn’t noticed the change, being too absorbed in talking with Perkins.

Igor’s distraction allowed Hustace and the others to gradually realize that there were others here.

Initially, Hustace and Rostov thought everything around them had dimmed, leaving only the three of them. But suddenly seeing Igor and the others appeared disturbed their emotions.

It was as if their humiliating state was being witnessed by others, which was a bad thing, so they had to see who was secretly watching.

As the controller, Igor could end all this at any time, but that would go against his original intention. He came to resolve misunderstandings, not to create another one, although a misunderstanding had already arisen... Hustace’s gaze clearly said, ”Damn it, you guys were eavesdropping!”

”Um, ahem, we don’t know anything, carry on!”

Rostov and the others frowned, looking at them as if watching monkeys.

”Come on, continue to connect emotionally. It’s good for you. I’m telling you, people, at a certain point, need to release their feelings. It’s good for themselves; otherwise, repressing all emotions inside might cause harm...”

”Alright, alright, you don’t need to say more.” Stan Sol interrupted the voluble Perkins. Seeing the situation, he knew it was time to discuss his matters.

”Okay, you all carry on.” Perkins made gestures, urging Hustace and the others to continue communicating.

”This is the Inner World. Don’t get too emotional,” Stan Sol said quietly.

Governor Rostov had heard of the Inner World concept before, so he wasn’t very surprised. Having been a prominent figure in the professional world, these spells didn’t shock him much.

Hustace had also encountered such spells on Guru Mountain before, so he wasn’t surprised either.

”Now, we should get back to the point. Here, we can only connect emotionally, so everyone should be more honest with each other,” Stan Sol suggested.

”I agree!” Perkins concurred from the side.

”Be your bystander and stop getting involved!” Igor nudged him.

”Why is my involvement stirring trouble for you? This matter concerns me too.” Perkins glanced unhappily at Igor.

”How could it concern you? Give it a rest!”

”Didn’t you just say, I’m their family.” Perkins shrugged, launching a counter at Igor.

”Uh... all right, you win.” Igor didn’t even resist, content to be an observer.

Perkins was actually concerned about Tobin himself, feeling that he must find out where Tobin was, or else returning to his homeland would be meaningless this time.

”Alright, let’s not waste words. Governor Rostov, I have no intention of harming your son. I only used him as a bargaining chip,” Stan Sol stated bluntly.

”I know, with your abilities, no one here is your match. Even the Roots couldn’t deal with you. Who else could prevent the harm to Hustace?”

”Since you know, why can’t you meet my demands when I ask? Is my request so unreasonable?”

”It’s not unreasonable, but some things aren’t as you imagine,” Rostov calmly replied, maintaining his governor’s composure during negotiations, making no concessions, ”Luona has always been grateful to Tobin...”

”Stop with the useless words! Just let us see Tobin!” Perkins shouted from the side, ”I say, Lord Governor, why are you being so secretive?”

”I’m not hiding... You just can’t figure this out!” Governor Rostov grew a bit agitated, an emotion visible only within the Inner World. As a politician, he was skilled at hiding his emotions, but in the Inner World, those standards do not apply.

”Just say what it is, and then we can figure it out while listening!” Perkins also grew anxious.

Igor observed, wondering why Perkins was in such a hurry, and how the situation escalated to this point.

”Don’t be so aggressive!” Rostov said, ”Some things are better left unknown to you.”

”I don’t care. I came back just to see Tobin. Tell me, is Tobin not here anymore?” Perkins shouted loudly.

”I haven’t seen Tobin for a long time, must be many years. Father, is Tobin really not in Luona anymore?” Hustace followed up with a question.

These successive questions left Governor Rostov at a loss for what to say. This was precisely what he was trying hard to hide.

”No, Tobin is here in Luona, as familiar as the back of my hand. I can feel it!” At this moment, Stan Sol said.