Chapter 103: Revelation Victor raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Golems? That’s a neat twist. Wish I could’ve seen it."
Xin almost choked but maintained a tight lip.
Patrick’s eyes lit up as he turned to Victor, his excitement contagious. "I know, right? You’ve got to watch the recording. Lord Schrodinger summoned these massive golems that were practically indestructible. Doom Serenity couldn’t figure out how to beat them!"
Victor’s fingers tapped on the table while he stared at Xin. "It’s interesting how newcomers can bring a fresh perspective to the game. They’re not burdened by the history and expectations that long-standing players might carry."
Patrick agreed, a grin tugging at his lips. "Exactly! Anyway, I just had to tell someone about this. Lord Schrodinger’s golems were incredible, but Xiaxia stole the show in the end when she challenged Tristan to a one-on-one fight! Ha! She showed him whose boss! I wish you could’ve seen it, Victor."
Amid bites of his sandwich, Victor’s laughter bubbled forth. "Sounds like quite a show. Maybe I’ll catch the recording later, Xin."
Xin’s attempt to drink water resulted in a sudden choke as he looked away.
Patrick, ever quick on the uptake, sensed an unspoken exchange between Victor and Xin. "Alright, you two, what’s the secret chatter about?"
"Isn’t it intriguing? You can decipher gossip from afar, but a straightforward fact right under your nose stumps you," Victor playfully teased Patrick.
Confusion clouded Patrick’s features. "I’m not sure I follow."
Victor shifted his gaze to Xin, an unspoken message in his eyes. "Maybe you should ask Xin about it. Should we ditch class and play the game right now?"
Patrick’s brows furrowed as he grappled with the puzzle, the pieces finally fitting together. "Wait, Lord Schrodinger . . . Lord Schrodinger . . . Come to think of it . . . you have the same account name."
With a swift gesture, Xin covered Patrick’s mouth. "Shh, keep it down."
Patrick’s eyes widened, and realization dawned on him with a jolt. "You’re Lord Schrodinger?"
Xin’s subtle nod confirmed it.
Victor chuckled. "Took you a while, didn’t it?"
Patrick’s curiosity overflowed in a torrent of questions. "But . . . I thought you weren’t joining any guilds. And you were just starting the game. How did you defeat Doom Serenity? Those incredible skills, the golems . . . How did you summon so many? Can you elaborate on your abilities? And your class? What is it?"
Victor intervened with a reprimand. "Hold on, that’s enough. Personal information like class, stats, and abilities are like a player’s hidden arsenal. You shouldn’t just reveal them to anyone, even friends."
The cafeteria buzzed with the usual chatter, the clinking of cutlery against plates creating a symphony of mealtime ambiance. Patrick, however, seemed trapped in a world of his own thoughts, his brows knitted together in concentration as he stared at Xin across the table.
"Xin," Patrick began hesitantly, "I still can’t wrap my head around this. Lord Schrodinger, is actually you?"
Xin’s expression remained blank as he nodded. "Yes."
Patrick’s eyes widened, his jaw slightly slackened as if he were grappling with the enormity of this revelation. He looked at Xin with an incredulous mix of surprise and amazement. "But how? I mean, why? Why join Snow Angels?"
Xin’s response was matter-of-fact, delivered with the calm assurance that Xiaxia wasn’t embarrassed by him. "Because Xiaxia is my sister."
The statement landed like a thunderbolt in Patrick’s mind, shattering his preconceived notions. "Wait, hold on . . . You mean to say Xiaxia, the leader of Snow Angels, is your sister?"
Xin nodded.
Patrick’s reaction was nothing short of a bomb blowing his mind away. "Whoa, wait a minute! This is so sudden. I need a minute to process this. Xiaxia is your sister? Snow Angels’ leader? I can’t believe this."
Across the table, Victor’s expression remained unperturbed, as he had already known and done his research. He sipped his drink before chiming in, his voice casual but laced with a knowing undertone. "I can see the resemblance."
Patrick shifted his gaze to Victor; disbelief coated his face. "You knew?"
. Victor’s grin was lighthearted. "Of course. Xin is meticulous about his anonymity, but he wasn’t careful enough to dodge my detective skills."
Patrick’s hands gestured in bewildered exasperation. "And you didn’t think to tell me?"
Victor’s laugh was almost too carefree. "Where’s the fun in that? Besides, I wanted to see your reaction."
Patrick’s groan was a mix of exasperation and amusement. "You two are something else. I can’t believe that I only know about this now!"
In the midst of the conversation, Patrick’s contemplative gaze shifted back and forth between Xiaxia and Xin. A thoughtful expression crossed his features as he pieced together the puzzle. "Now that you mention it . . . There is a resemblance. I recall Xiaxia’s hair used to be white until she started dyeing it."
Xin’s response was a measured silence, his expression unreadable.
Patrick’s enthusiasm, however, proved insurmountable. Shifting his attention, he looked at Xin with eyes gleaming with hope. "Xin—"
Before Patrick could fully voice his thoughts, Xin interjected with a decisive tone. "The answer is no."
A faint sigh escaped Patrick’s lips. His hopes were dashed prematurely. "I haven’t even asked yet."
"I can guess," Xin replied, his gaze steady as it met Patrick’s. "You were about to inquire about publicizing that I’m Xiaxia’s brother."
Patrick’s gaze flickered away, mumbling half to himself.
Xin continued, his stance unwavering. "And my answer remains no."
Victor’s voice joined the conversation. "Consider this, Patrick. If you reveal Xin’s connection to Xiaxia now, it could link Lord Schrodinger’s identity to him. In the wake of the recent war, that could make him a target."
Patrick’s frustration was evident as he muttered, "I know . . . I’m just hopeful, but I won’t go against Xin’s wishes."
Xin’s appreciation was clear in his response. "Thank you."
Victor further reassured Xin, his tone sincere. "Pluto might be fond of gossip, but he does respect boundaries. Rest assured, your secret is safe with us."
A moment of quiet lingered before Victor offered a cautionary perspective. "However, Xin, you should be prepared. Sooner or later, people will discover your relationship with Xiaxia."
Xin’s gaze met Victor’s, his response solemn. "I understand. But for now, I’d prefer to keep it undisclosed. I’m still at a low level, and I want to explore Eternia without interference."
Patrick nodded in agreement. "That does make sense."
Victor chimed in with affirmation. "Given the recent events, maintaining a low profile is a wise move."
As their conversation continued, the class eventually resumed.
At the end of the class, Xin and Victor engaged in further discussion until the classroom emptied.
Later, as Xin reached home, his intention was to engage in the game with Victor.
However, as he opened the door, he was met with a scene that he had anticipated.
In the foyer, Xiaxia knelt, her expression carrying a clear request, her eyes locked onto Xin’s.