The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]-Chapter 74: No Compatibility

Xavier wasn’t all that tall. When they were standing side by side, Lane could tell that he was at most Aidan’s height, possibly even a bit shorter. His face was alright, especially his eyes, so dark they were practically black, quite magnetic. Really not that bad. And his body was lean, with well-defined muscles. It was clear he trained...

Plus he was an Esper. A B-rank Esper. So, no matter how he was before his Awakening, he was bound to be good from now on... Truly a great vessel to possess.

"So, are you new here?" Lane asked casually, as they were standing in the hallway, waiting for their test operator to get access to another testing room.

"In the Association? Yeah, I guess. Although I’ve actually awakened six years ago," Xavier smiled in response. "How about you?"

"I’ve been here around two months. But, if you don’t mind me asking, what were you doing the past six years then?" freeωebnovēl.c૦m

Xavier shrugged his shoulders lightly. "Ah, well. My parents kind of pressured me to finish uni first, haha. So that I have a backup plan, you know?"

"So, you’re joining as a field agent now?"

"Yeah, that’s the plan. I’m not assigned to any team yet, but I’ve already completed all the Combat Training while doing my degree, so I’ve been told I can join one of the top teams straight away!"

"Oh, that’s great, congratulations! And... what is your ability?" Lane finally posed the most important question, almost holding his breath as he was waiting for the answer.

"Toxic Ooze. It’s a sort of liquid control type, mainly offensive. I can create some sort of dark goo, which can melt a lot of materials. Kinda weird, but it’s fairly useful, or so I’ve been told."

"Huh." The corners of Lane’s mouth twitched, wanting to ride up all the way to his ears. Still, a smile too wide would come off as weird, so Lane suppressed it, only settling for a light one. "That sounds pretty interesting."

"Does it?"

"Yeah! I think it’s quite unique."

"Hahah, thanks!" Xavier laughed out loud, his laughter resembling a gurgling mountain spring, cascading on the stones.

It really wasn’t bad. In fact, quite useful, especially at a B-rank. Maybe not to the point that Lane would bother going after it under any normal circumstances, but since their compatibility was almost non-existent...

No compatibility meant that their wavelengths were too similar. Which, in turn, meant that Lane as an Esper would have almost exactly the same compatibility with Guides as Xavier...

So, if he took his place, no one would notice anything off, as there wouldn’t be any significant changes in matching rates.

An opportunity like that was extremely rare. To have compatibility so low happened only twice to Lane so far, once seven years ago with 4%, and the other time three years ago with 3%. It was a chance that couldn’t be missed.

The problem was how to set everything up. In order to possess Xavier, Lane would have to sever his link with Aidan first, and then meet up with Xavier in his real body...

It wasn’t impossible, of course, but it would require more work than usual. Lane had to plan a bit more ahead. Especially the meeting with Xavier. That was the most difficult part.

"Are you from the Capital originally?" he asked, pretending to make just a light small talk. It came up a bit too forced, due to Lane’s excitement and impatience, but luckily, Xavier wasn’t too perceptive, and hadn’t noticed anything odd. He just smiled, as he answered,

"Nah, I’m from city D! I moved here to study. How about you?"

Great, at least his parents shouldn’t be nearby.

"I’m from here. So, do you live alone?"

"Uh, yeah... I used to live with my friends from..." All of a sudden, Xavier paused mid-sentence, his eyes turning hazy.

Taking advantage of the fact that they were alone, with the only surveillance camera pointed at his back, Lane activated his hypnosis ability.

"Tomorrow... I mean Thursday, at 1 AM, come to Northwall Park alone," he quickly whispered, instantly turning the ability back off, the red glow vanishing from his eyes.

A few seconds later, the light returned to Xavier’s eyes. "...uni..." He paused again, blinking a few times, disoriented. "Wait a moment. What was I saying?" he furrowed his brows, struggling to recall.

"I asked you what was your major?" Lane tilted his head, observing the man.

"Ah... Was it? Sorry, I seem to have spaced out for a second... Well, anyway, I majored in pharmacy! What about you?"

"Oh, I..."

"I apologize for taking so long!" the test operator finally came back, saving Lane from having to continue the conversation. "I will start the second machine now, so please take a seat, it will all be ready in a minute!"

The test operator turned the machine, pouring fresh liquid Mana stone into the basin at the top. He pressed a few buttons, setting everything, and ran the calibration test. "Alright, everything is set! Please put your hands in first... And now, Mr. Jenkins, please activate your guiding..." He paused, observing the numbers on the screen. "Huh, it’s still the same?"

Once again, the matching rate displayed was 1%.

"Eh... Would it be alright for you two to try direct guiding? To compare your experience with the results..." The machine operator suggested. There were still other machines in the Association Headquarters, but if he were to turn them on as well, only to get the same result again, he’d end up getting scolded for wasting resources...

After all, such a low result wasn’t exactly unbelievable. It was the same as with matching rate over 95%. Chances of finding a match with the compatibility so perfect - or so terrible - were slim, but not non-existent.

"Um, yeah, that’s fine with me!" Xavier pulled his hands out of the jelly, extending one toward Lane. "Mr. Jenkins?"

"Yes." Lane took the hand, activating his guiding again.

"I think the result might be correct," he said after a minute or so. "All of my Mana seems to miss..."

"The same for me. I can tell the guiding is entering me, but I don’t feel any results," Xavier agreed.

Their connection was like a flimsy net, leaking everything that passed through.

"...Alright then." The operator let out a heavy sigh, thinking about the comments he’s going to hear from his supervisor. He could almost hear it already, her harsh words as she critiqued him for using the second machine just because he didn’t think to double-check it first... He only hoped that the costs wouldn’t be withdrawn from his paycheck.

"Mr. Jenkins, thank you for your help, you can go now. Mr. Owens, you have one more test, right? Please wait a moment, I’ll get everything ready now..." he sighed again, getting up from his chair.

Meanwhile, Lane had already got out of the room, after exchanging brief pleasantries with Xavier. He rushed to return to the office, to quickly wrap things up, clock out on time and go home. There were a lot of things he had to sort out before his scheduled meeting with Xavier. Clear out anything that connects him in any way with his past identities, buy a car as ’Aidan’ to drive into the Forbidden Zone, and then...

He paused in his steps.

There was still the request from Damien waiting for him to accept. Should he meet up with the man one last time...?

Lane hesitated for a moment. Once he came back as ’Xavier’, things would no longer be the same. No guiding sessions, or anything that came with it...

In the end though, he only shook his head.

No, it was better not to. Sending a message, to let the man know that he was alright and totally not dead should suffice. If they were to have a face-to-face conversation, chances were that Damien might sense something is off.

And besides, Lane would see Damien again soon anyway. Damien just wouldn’t be aware of it, that’s all... After all, without the guiding, he no longer would be able to recognize Lane.

A faint pang of pain squeezed Lane’s chest, making him involuntarily grasp onto his shirt. Did Aidan have a heart condition or something? If so, then that was even more the reason for Lane to switch identities again.