Chapter 501 (1/2)

As the two figures approached each other, Hank eyed them both carefully. Ezekiel because of the information he had just revealed to him, and the young man because he was the obvious answer of who had yelled with such concussive force. Perhaps his Skills related to sound or air pressure?

When the two stopped and regarded each other for several seconds, Hank could see the resemblance between them. Strangely, they were a demonstration of opposites, even while sharing many features. The young man was tanned and athletic, while Ezekiel was thin and pale, like a scholar. The son seemed to burn with health and vigor, while the father had pale skin and always had bags under his eyes hidden by his glasses. The sun’s face was full of warmth and joy and the father hesitated, fear clear in his frantic eyes.

But both of them shared dark hair, prominent noses, and sharp eyes that made them striking, even if neither was handsome in a traditional sense.

Although Ezekiel had only shared a bit of that emotional scar inside of him, Hank felt a thin threat of empathy for the man. Which made Hank wonder how he would feel to be reunited with his own father, had he not died prior to the System. Honestly, the old man would have thrived in this environment, that bastard. His lectures would be absolutely insufferable.

With his arms wide, the son tackled Ezekiel, and for a few minutes, they lay there, exchanging quiet words. After 5 minutes passed, the two stood quickly, brushing themselves off, and Hank noticed that the boy wasn’t wearing any shoes.

But the closer he looked, the easier it was to see how calloused and worn the kid’s feet were. Did he always walk around like that…?

The individuals from both Zones had gathered to witness the reunion between father and son. They stood apart, Zone 32 near the cottage, while the Zone 1 group stayed near the spot where the cooking fire was made. But both groups seemed to have small smiles on their faces, enjoying the pleasant ambiance.

Everyone but the man Tykes, who glowered at the two.

“How… how did you survive?” Ezekiel asked, giving his son a once-over with his eyes.

The young man shrugged. “Probably the same way that you did. I-... uh, I became a potion brewer. That’s why I came along with this group; they sell my wares.”

Hank’s eyes narrowed at the hitch in the young man’s voice. It smelled like a lie. “Really? I’d love to see the work of a master potion brewer.”

Belatedly, he saw Laurel’s glare and felt her pinch, but Hank pressed his lips together stubbornly. Sure, maybe it was rude of him to call the young man out so directly, but Hank wasn’t a man that took being lied to well. Besides, why would he lie to his father about how he survived?

Maybe because he needs to kill a person to keep living, a dark part of Hank’s mind whispered, He shoved that voice back.

The young man turned and regarded Hank, a small smile on his face. The punk looked fucking amused at Hank’s interruption, like he saw through the challenge for what it was, and had something prepared to deal with it.

“We haven’t formally met,” the young man said, extending a hand towards Hank. “My name is Randidly Ghosthound. A pleasure.”

“The pleasure’s mine,” Hank said, reaching out and taking the extended hand while doing his best to ignore the glares from Laurel, Ezekiel, and Tykes that were burning six holes in his back. The handshake was firm and quick.

*****

After pulling his hand back, the man tipped his hat towards Randidly. “The name’s Hank Howard. You weren’t here for our earlier discussions with your party, but I’m the leader of this political expedition. I don’t suppose you would be willing to send a message to someone you know back in a Village so we may make contact?”

Randidly smiled helplessly. Of course, he could, but he believed things were better done in person. Besides, based on the information that Dinesh was feeding him via message, the people from Zone 1 were woefully under-equipped against the high-level threats they would face. Walking into Donnyton would do a lot to help correct their perspective on the System.

At least, that was what Randidly believed. Beyond finding the Creature’s involvement in Zone 1, he couldn’t find it in him to be too concerned with what the individuals from this other Zone did. In the end, Randidly had supreme confidence in the people of Donnyton, regardless of whether he was there or not; they weren’t so weak as to be overwhelmed by the petty tricks utilized by politically minded forces.