Mikhail sat down with the support of a chair while he tried to fight through the pain.
Daniel moved back after patching the cut on Mikhail's face, his upper body rolled in bandages.
He put the first aid kit aside and looked at both Mikhail and Kevin.
"This should do for now." He said in his deep voice. "If you see even a slight sign of infection then visit a doctor."
Mikhail nodded his head in response and leaned back on the chair.
After his fight with Herbert, he had informed the military about the dead body and rushed to Daniel's office.
Because his body was filled with bruises and cut marks, he thought of getting himself patched up before returning home.
'….If mother had seen me in that bloody mess she would have locked me inside my room forever.'
He was well aware of how obsessive his mother could be about his health and safety.
Mikhail glanced at Kevin who sat on the side with an icepack on his face.
By his side was Methew, sleeping peacefully on the table.
Kevin noticed his gaze and flipped his finger without a word.
"I'm sorry for wasting your time, Sir Daniel." Mikhail said, looking back at him. "…I had no intention of making you late for home."
"It's fine." Daniel dismissed his concern with a wave of his hand. "It's not like I have anyone at home."
"You are not married?" Kevin asked, tilting his head. "Aren't you already old enough?"
Daniel looked at him and smiled. "We are formally meeting for the first time." He said, extending his hand. "The Monarch of the King's rank."
Kevin shook his hand and immediately puffed his chest. "I have heard a lot about you."
"Same." Daniel replied. "They say you will be a pain to keep under control."
"Who are they?" Kevin asked, raising his brow.
"The churches of course." Daniel replied, folding his hands. "They are always eager to bring High Class people under their wings."
Kevin nodded and glanced at Mikhail who remembered the thing about the Saint.
"By the way." Mikhail started. "What do you think about the Saint rank in the church, Sir?"
Daniel quietly looked at him, his eyes wandering back to Kevin without a word.
"Saints generally have a lavish lifestyle that is funded by the church." He said thoughtfully. "…But the church also forces them to be really devoted to their God or Goddess."
Kevin frowned. "Why?"
"So they can expand their religion." Daniel said vaguely, walking towards the coat stand. "I would always suggest anyone to stay away from the church….It's a nasty place."
Daniel wore his overcoat and his vintage hat before he looked at them. "Let's head out."
Mikhail nodded as he wore his own shirt, grabbed Methew and moved out of the building.
He had left his hunting items in the office and planned to retrieve them later.
Daniel began to lock the place while Mikhail and Kevin stood outside.
It was already past eleven o'clock and there was almost no single soul on the street.
Mikhail looked up at the sky and saw the beautiful night sky lit up by countless stars.
Kevin stretched his body before he turned around to look at Mikhail.
"I will see you in the morning, right?" He said, smiling. "We got class, remember?"
Mikhail nodded his head and replied. "We only have like ten days before the college screening."
It was going to be an important event for both of them and Mikhail had no plans to settle for any other place except the Imperial University.
Daniel walked by their side with a cane in his hand. "Shall we?"
He walked in front and the other two walked by his side.
The people of the city were often told by the government to sleep early because of various reasons.
Particularly because of infectious diseases that were carried by mosquitoes who only roamed outside at night.
"I had a wife once." Daniel suddenly said, glancing at Kevin. "She was with me for ten years."
"Ah." Kevin said awkwardly. "I am sorry for your los—."
"She is not dead, boy." Daniel cut him off with a scoff. "We got a divorce."
Mikhail noticed the sadness in his voice that he did his best to mask.
'Looks like he still loves her.'
"Was she not happy with your detective work?" Mikhail asked softly.
Daniel smiled and nodded. "She loathed my work after what happened with the prince." He said. "She even forbade me from seeing my daughter."
Mikhail didn't ask anything else. He was sure they had their own reasons for the divorce.
They kept on walking together until they reached an intersection.
Kevin walked on the left. "See ya."
Mikhail smiled at Daniel and walked towards his own home with Methew in his arms.
Daniel remained silent, standing in his place without a word.
He took out his wallet in which he had a small family photo.
…His family photo.
---
Mikhail returned home and stood outside the door.
He was preparing himself to answer any questions his family would throw at him.
He took in a deep breath, opened the door and walked inside.
"I am home." He said to himself.
The hallway light was dimly lit as he walked inside.
In the main hall, his mother sat at the dining table. Mikhail walked closer and noticed that she was sleeping.
'You could have slept inside your room.'
He sighed and gently touched her head, which immediately woke her up.
With groggy eyes, she looked up at him. "Hm, Mikhail?" She whispered. "Why were you so late?"
"I was in Sir Daniel's office for work." He lied. "Sorry."
"Are you hungry?" She asked, standing up. "Let me warm up the food."
"I ate outside." Mikhail said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "You should go to sleep now."
"Don't you need to eat anything?" She asked. "I can—."
"I am fine." He said, opening the door of her room where Eric was already sleeping. "Good night."
He closed the door before she could protest and let out a sigh.
Mikhail walked back to his room on the second floor and opened his door.
He turned on the light and placed the sleeping Methew on the bed before lying down by his side.
His body screamed in pain but he didn't think too much of it.
Mikhail willed his status screen to show up as he observed it.
==========
> Additional Skills:
Scholar's Aura (passive)
Black Spike (active)
==========
'This will come in handy for sneak attacks and is more useful for my current self.'
He looked at the assassin's skill he had chosen for a long second.
Mikhail turned his head towards the switch and raised his finger like it was a gun.
A black mist appeared at the tip of his finger that turned into a small needle.
Mikhail fired the needle like a projectile at the switch, turning off the light.
Mikhail's lips curled up into a satisfied smile.
'Nice.'