Panic finally surfaced.

Robert began to struggle violently against the restraints.

"No!" he shouted. "If that was your plan, then why didn’t you do it earlier?! Why wait until now?!"

Eric stopped just inches away, his gaze steady, almost impressed.

"You’re still observant," he acknowledged with a small nod. "That’s good."

Then his expression shifted, something colder settling in.

"But you still don’t understand the real problem. Your actions...your relentless attempts to kidnap Ivy and your decision to side with the superior beings...had already crossed a line that could not be undone."

Robert shook his head.

"You didn’t just betray us... You chose extinction over humanity; that thought alone had been enough for her to give a direct order."

Eric mimicked Ivy’s tone.

"If the liquid was to be injected into Robert... he was to remain conscious through all of it."

Robert shivered in fright.

"Wait! Wait!" he shouted. "I can help! I know things...important things!"

Eric didn’t react.

That silence was far more terrifying than anger.

"I’m serious!" Robert continued, almost pleading now.

"My parents...they can help! They can stop the superior beings!" His eyes darted wildly, searching for even the slightest shift in Eric’s expression.

"I’ll tell you everything! Even about the portal..."

Eric suddenly stopped.

The shift was subtle, but it was enough to make Robert freeze mid-sentence.

Then Eric slowly pulled a chair and sat down in front of him.

"All right," he said quietly.

Robert blinked in stunned confusion.

’What... just happened?’ His thoughts stumbled over themselves as he stared at Eric.

’Why did he stop? Why isn’t he forcing it anymore?’

Eric rested his elbows lightly on his knees.

"We already have a lot of information," he began, his tone composed.

"The problem is... we don’t know which parts of it are true." His eyes locked onto Robert’s. "So I would very much like to hear your version."

Robert hesitated, his mind racing.

Then he narrowed his eyes slightly and asked cautiously, "What kind of information do you already have?"

Eric let out a short laugh.

"Do you still not understand your situation?" he replied.

"You’re not the one asking questions here. You should be worrying about your own survival. If you want to stay safe... start talking."

Robert clenched his fists tightly.

After a brief pause, he finally spoke, his voice lower, more controlled. "Ariana... has already taken over June."

Eric’s expression didn’t change much. He gave a small nod. "That matches," he murmured.

Just days ago, the entire base had been thrown into confusion when an unusual announcement had been issued...every resident was instructed to go to sleep at a specific hour.

The order had felt strange, but it came directly from the base leadership. No one dared disobey... at least not for long.

Those who resisted were quickly warned that they would be expelled.

Expulsion from the base meant exposure to a world already teetering on collapse. So eventually, everyone complied.

On the second night, when the base finally fell into complete silence, they found what they were looking for.

An intruder.

From their earlier encounters with Pearl and Keith, they had learned something disturbing...superior beings, when fragmented within human hosts, caused their vessels to remain awake at night.

It was unnatural, unsettling, and it became the key to their search.

Door by door, they investigated. And eventually, they found her.

Aunt June.

Ivy had been furious.

But she had restrained herself, killing Ariana outright would mean losing June as well.

Worse, acting recklessly could alert the enemy.

And that was a risk they could not afford.

Because if the enemy felt cornered... they might force their puppets to self-destruct...just like what had happened to Pearl and Keith.

Eric’s mind briefly drifted to Ember.

She had visited them again and again, sitting beside their lifeless forms.

They had underestimated the power of the superior beings...Forrero and Jeff...and paid the price for it.

Pearl and Keith had fallen into comas... and never awakened. And since it had happened suddenly they couldn’t do much.

They wouldn’t make that mistake again.

That was why Ivy had made another decision.

Robert needed to be interrogated.

But under no circumstances could he find out that Ariana had not actually been captured.

Back in the room, Eric’s gaze remained fixed on Robert. "Continue," he said quietly.

Robert swallowed hard, his throat dry as he spoke. "June... she went out for some kind of hunt, and then..."

Before he could finish, a sharp sound echoed through the room.

Smack.

Eric’s hand struck across Robert’s face with sudden force.

The sting burned instantly, leaving Robert frozen in shock.

"Why...?!" he began. "Why did you hit me?!"

Eric’s expression had turned cold.

"That," he said flatly, "was for lying."

Robert’s pupils contracted sharply.

"Do you really think you can get away with lying to me?" Eric continued, his voice low but cutting.

"Before all of this... before the powers, before the base... I was a psychologist." He leaned in slightly, his gaze piercing.

"Truth and deception are not things you can hide from me." A faint pause followed. "Do you still want to test that?"

Robert fell silent.

Eric straightened slightly, continuing in a calmer tone.

"We already know that June hasn’t left the base," he added. "Which makes her condition... even more concerning."

Robert gulped.

He closed his eyes briefly, gathering his thoughts, and when he opened them again, there was hesitation there...uncertainty.

He was just about to speak.

And then...the syringe appeared. Right in front of his eye.

The needle hovered dangerously close to his iris, so close that even the slightest movement would drive it straight in.

Robert instinctively leaned back, his breath hitching violently.

Though he was still bound to the chair, his body strained backward as far as the restraints allowed.

"What are you doing?!" he shouted, panic fully taking over now.

Eric’s voice came out calm... almost indifferent.

"Warning you," he replied. "Because I’m running out of patience."

With that, he slowly pulled the syringe back and returned to his seat, as if nothing had happened.