Glancing at the cross on the monk's chest, the man lowered his voice: "Why don't you consider joining the relief organization?"

Todd frowned.

Throatbone rose from his chair, leaning forward, his face dark: "Mr. Todd, haven't you considered that you carry the legacy of Sutherland? If the Church discovers it, or... if someone denounces you, all that awaits you is the judgment seat and the stake..."

Before he could finish speaking, a pebble fell onto the table.

The next instant, Black Sheep stood between the two, his face toward the Adam's apple, his back to Todd, his voice sounding more serious than ever before.

"Mr. Todd, please go home today."

The monk stood up, sensing the tense atmosphere between them, and hesitated before saying, "But you...?"

The girl's voice grew louder: "I have something important to tell my brother! Please go home first today!"

elder brother?

Todd glanced at the pale-faced Adam's apple and realized that since it was a family matter, it was not appropriate for him to stay any longer, so he took little Jerry and left the dark room.

Throat Bone sat back in his chair, looked at his sister, shook his head helplessly, and said, "Your mind still hasn't changed?"

Black Sheep sat down opposite him: "I told you, today is my last performance."

The other party's resolute attitude filled the man with a deep sense of frustration: "Marcus Byrne, who grew up with you, pleaded with you for three years to give up your trip and stay at the monastery, but you refused. Mr. Todd has only spent less than a day with you, and you've already offered to stay?"

Her hand, tucked into her pocket, tightened its grip on the translucent glass crystal. The girl nodded and said, "Beside him, I can see a completely new world, a world unlike anyone else's. So, I beg you, please don't bother him anymore..."

Throat Bone picked up the tarot cards on the table, randomly drew one, and laughed as he looked at the image: "Not bother him? Once he understands the true meaning behind the Sutherland legacy, it will be his turn to bother the world..."

On the flipped card, a man with his hands tied behind his back is hanging upside down from a T-shaped tree trunk.

——————————————

The next day at noon, when Todd, preoccupied with his own thoughts, arrived at the entrance of the underground laboratory, a familiar figure was already waiting there for a long time.

Dressed in casual women's clothing, the black sheep, now clean-cut and without makeup, sat on a large leather trunk and said to him with a smile, "Mr. Todd, I've been kicked out of my family. Could you please take me in? Oh, by the way! Please don't call me Miss Black Sheep anymore. My name is Karin Forman."