CHAPTER 89: REALITY CHECK

Kent’s phone buzzed as he navigated through the city streets in a black sedan. He then glanced at the screen, his grip tightening on the steering wheel as he read the message: "I’m on my way." The contact displayed as "Agent Liam."

A heavy sigh escaped Kent’s lips as he shook his head. All morning they had waited, and now, just as he was about to drive to Liam’s premises to check on him personally, the elusive agent finally decided to respond. At the next intersection, Kent executed a sharp U-turn, changing course back toward headquarters.

...

Meanwhile, Liam had just finished sending the text, then he dropped his device, and without hesitation, he bolted up the stairs to his apartment, taking them two at a time. The dimensional time displacement had thrown his entire schedule into chaos, but there was no time to dwell on the implications now.

He had a quick shower to wash away the lingering disorientation, followed by the selection of a fresh suit from his wardrobe. The entire process consumed roughly forty minutes, and once ready, Liam descended from his room, headed out of his apartment, and in a streak of lightning that coursed through him, made his way to the facility in a flash.

...

The was a knock on Director Grey’s office door, and when permission was granted, Liam entered to find Grey seated behind his desk, his expression etched with obvious displeasure. Kent stood beside the director, his face a mask of professional neutrality that somehow conveyed more disappointment.

"Good morning, Director," Liam began, attempting to maintain his usual composure.

Grey’s response was immediate and cutting. "You’ve been unreachable."

Liam understood the frustration behind those words, but instead replied, "I had to deal with a personal problem," keeping his explanation deliberately vague.

Grey dismissed the excuse entirely, his focus shifting to the matter at hand. "We’ve got the list here." He slid a piece of paper across the desk.

Liam’s demeanor changed instantly, as he stepped forward and reached for the document. The list contained addresses scattered across the nation, with several extending beyond the country’s borders. There were eighteen locations in total, each one representing a potential target in his intended war against the House of Somnahira.

As his eyes scanned the carefully compiled list, Grey’s voice cut through his concentration. "These are the ones that aren’t hidden."

"Hidden? So there could be more?"

"Yes, there could be," Grey confirmed, with his tone grim. "Even after all this time, the whole structure of family branches remains complex enough to defy complete mapping."

Liam’s brow furrowed as confusion clouded his features. "What do you mean?"

Grey released another sigh, "Family branches take different forms. Some are built to look like research facilities—this is a common Quillforte practice. Some branches could even be entire estate neighborhoods, like number seven on that list..."

Liam’s attention immediately shifted to the specified entry, his mind cataloging the address and location details.

Grey continued his explanation without pause. "Some could be a squad of three persons living under a roof, or an entire extended family living under a big house."

He paused briefly, allowing the information to sink in. "Some are big, some are small. Some branches have strictly members who share the same bloodline, while others let humans live amongst them or work for them under their protection."

The words triggered a memory from Liam’s last operation—Gianna and Felix, the humans who had worked for the Quillfortes. Grey’s explanation suddenly began forming a clearer picture of the enemy’s structure, and Liam found himself nodding as understanding dawned.

"The whole point I’m trying to make," Grey concluded, "is that they take different forms and patterns, and many we simply can’t account for. It’s part of the reason we haven’t engaged in direct confrontations with any of them, until recently."

"Hm..." Liam muttered, his mind processing the strategic implications.

Grey’s next question came with this unexpected gentleness. "What happened in your dream?"

The inquiry brought back a flood of unwanted memories. Liam’s jaw tightened as flashes of that dreadful night replayed in his mind. "It’s all hazy right now," he admitted reluctantly, "but every piece of it felt real, and I couldn’t fight back. I felt helpless."

Grey leaned forward slightly, his expression becoming more serious. "This family is one of the most dangerous to deal with. Some of their members have the ability to pull people forcibly into dreams. Fewer still can kill their targets within dreams, and such targets will die in the real world. Their strengths dwell in the night and in darkness."

The revelation was sobering. But rather than intimidation, it sparked something else in Liam’s eyes, this cold determination to still push forward. "So we strike them when they least expect it," Liam said, his voice carrying a dangerous edge, "During the day, when we are all awake."

Kent who was listening, shook his head and released a frustrated sigh. Liam was being stubborn again, charging ahead without considering the full scope of the danger.

"You’re not listening," Grey said, his patience clearly wearing thin. "They are not any less dangerous during the day. Do you even have an effective way to counter a dream pull?"

Liam’s confidence faltered slightly. "No..." he admitted reluctantly. "I haven’t given it much thought, but all I need to do is not sleep, right?"

Grey shook his head firmly. "From our gathered intel on them, dream pulling doesn’t require you to already be asleep, it forces you to sleep sleep. Being asleep already before a Somnahira gets into your dreams only removes the part where they need to force it themselves."

"I was already asleep that day..." Liam conceded quietly.

"One more thing," Grey continued, his tone growing more serious. "It was never the family head herself that came for you in your dreams. If she had, you wouldn’t be able to wake from it. My guess is, it was a capable dreamweaver."

Liam’s brow furrowed. "Dreamweaver?"

"Yes, dreamweavers," Grey explained patiently. "Members of the Somnahira family that can direct or control the scenes you see in a dream. They directly manipulate the effects you feel whilst dreaming."

Liam fell silent for a moment, processing this information. Then a question occurred to him. "How do you guys know so much about this family but had nothing much on the Quillfortes we just faced?"

"Because most of these details are from some of our allies who themselves have rejected their families," Grey answered. "They tell us most of what they know concerning their families, and that in itself is a lot of help."

"Like President Nacht?" Liam asked, though it wasn’t really a question that required an answer.

"Yes, like Nacht," Grey confirmed, understanding that Liam had already deduced which family the President came from. It was obvious anyway, seeing that they had both just emerged from an operation together.

Liam sighed heavily, finally beginning to grasp that the situation was far more complex than simply charging in with overwhelming force. He had no idea how to deal with being forcibly pulled into a dream, much less how to fight effectively within one. "So what are you suggesting?"

Grey leaned back in his chair, choosing his words carefully. "Right now, focus on getting stronger. Whatever you do that keeps you evolving, keep at it. If there’s anything we know, it’s much harder to pull someone into dreams if they generally have more magic power than the puller."

Liam shook his head in frustration, and Grey continued with a grimmer tone. "But then again, our enemies are gods and demigods. They are not at a loss for magic power against humans."

The words hit Liam uncomfortably and worry etched itself across his features as the full scope of what he was facing became clear. Moreover, every minute they spent without finding his sister only deepened his torment.

Grey recognized the look of despair creeping into Liam’s eyes. "I assure you, Liam, we will find your sister. We just have to do this a bit more carefully."

Liam nodded, his resignation obvious, but frustration still burned within him. Without a word or warning, he simply transformed into a streak of lightning, racing through the electrical systems of the facility before disappearing entirely.

The moment Liam vanished, Grey released a long sigh of relief. This outcome was actually better than expected.

"How did you manage that, sir?" Kent asked, clearly impressed that Grey had somehow managed to reach Liam and prevent the entire plan to assault several family branches head-on without any real strategy.

"I don’t know," Grey admitted honestly. "But we don’t have much time either, so whatever Lucien plans to do with this kid whilst having Ophix hold his sister captive, he needs to do it quickly."

As the words left his mouth, a wave of guilt washed over Grey. The truth was, he did actually know where Liam’s sister was being held—a fact that made every reassurance he’d given feel like a betrayal.

He then turned to stare out the window, his reflection showing a man torn between duty and conscience.