Robert stared at him, shaken to his core.

’I can’t lie anymore... not like this.’

Taking a shaky breath, he spoke again, this time with far less resistance.

"To implement soul transfer... from the superior beings’ side... physical contact isn’t necessary," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "They only need a medium..."

Eric’s fingers tapped lightly against the arm of his chair.

"Define it," he said. "What do you mean by a ’medium’?"

Robert frowned.

"You’re probably wondering... why Pearl and Keith were infected in the first place," he began slowly.

"On the surface, it might look like Keith left the base too often and got exposed somewhere outside... but that’s not what happened."

He lifted his gaze toward Eric.

"Soul fragments aren’t always transferred through direct contact. They can be instilled through indirect methods... like air... or even specially designed perfumes."

The moment the word perfume left his lips, something flickered in Eric’s eyes.

’Perfume...’ His thoughts immediately jumped to a recent name that had been circulating within the base...a rising perfumer known as Purser.

"So that newly opened perfume shop... the one gaining attention recently... its perfumer is connected to the superior beings?"

Eric was already halfway to standing, his instincts urging him to act immediately, but Robert shook his head quickly.

"You’re overreacting," he said. "That’s not what I meant."

Eric paused, his gaze narrowing slightly before he settled back into his chair.

"Then explain," he said.

Robert exhaled slowly before continuing.

"Do you remember... when one of the superior beings gave a woman named Raya a task?" he asked. "She was told to spread a milk-based perfume around Ivy."

At that, Eric gave a small nod.

"I know," he replied quietly. "Ivy told me about it."

As one of the core members who often stayed close to Ivy, he had been involved in multiple discussions and strategies.

’Nothing around her is ever random,’ he reminded himself.

Seeing that Eric was already aware, Robert hesitated for a brief moment before continuing anyway.

"That perfume wasn’t just a scent," he said.

"It had an additional effect. Anyone who smelled it... would subconsciously form a connection with the superior being behind it. It strengthens their influence... deepens the bond."

He swallowed slightly, his voice lowering.

"But it doesn’t work on everyone. The person has to be significantly weaker than the superior being... both mentally and physically."

Eric frowned immediately, his expression turning skeptical.

"That doesn’t align," he said. "From what I’ve seen, Pearl and Aunt June aren’t mentally weak."

Robert shook his head, a faint, almost weary look crossing his face.

"Pearl was weak," he corrected.

"She had just given birth. Her body was already at its limit, her mind exhausted."

He paused briefly before adding, "And Aunt June... she’s older. Her resistance isn’t as strong as you think."

Eric fell silent, processing the explanation.

Robert continued, his voice steadier now.

"Even after establishing a link, it’s not guaranteed to hold. In fact, the superior being...Forero...tried to connect with Ember as well."

A faint shake of his head followed. "But Ember was too strong mentally. The connection couldn’t be maintained."

Eric’s mind immediately formed an analogy. ’It’s like casting a net into a vast ocean,’ he thought.

’You might catch something... but most of it slips through.’ Only those who were vulnerable...those who couldn’t resist...would remain trapped.

"So in the end... only a few connections held," Eric murmured.

He paused, then his eyes sharpened slightly.

"No... there should be another one," he said, looking directly at Robert. "Other than Aunt June... is there anyone else?"

Robert shook his head slowly. "No."

Eric studied him carefully, searching for any hint of deception.

Finding none, he leaned back slightly.

"Are you certain," he pressed, "or do you just think there isn’t?"

"I don’t know," Robert replied calmly, meeting his gaze without hesitation.

Eric held the silence for a moment longer.

"Fine," he said. "Then let’s talk about something else." His tone turned neutral again. "Where are your parents?"

Robert lowered his head slightly, his expression unreadable.

"They’re already in space."

Eric’s eyes flickered.

’Space...The safest place to escape the chaos on Earth... no zombies, no collapsing economy...’

If they had prepared in advance, they would have converted their wealth into something stable...gold, perhaps...ensuring their survival.

But something didn’t sit right.

Eric took a slow breath.

"If they just wanted to escape the apocalypse," he said, his voice thoughtful but firm, "they could have built a bunker. Hidden somewhere remote."

His eyes narrowed slightly. "Going to space... that’s not just about survival."

A faint pause.

"That’s intentional," he concluded.

Robert remained silent.

Eric chuckled softly, though there was no humor in it, as he idly adjusted the syringe in his hand.

Robert visibly stiffened, a shiver running down his spine.

"They’re helping the superior beings, aren’t they?" Eric continued.

Robert hesitated for a fraction of a second before speaking, his voice low.

"They’re monitoring Earth... making sure nothing interferes with the plan."

Eric gave a small nod, as if confirming something he had already suspected.

"Then they must already know," he added, his tone sharpening slightly, "that the zombie virus is beginning to weaken."

Robert gave a faint nod in response.

Eric’s expression darkened slightly.

’It’s come to this...’ he thought. ’Not just fighting something beyond this world... but fighting our own people as well.’

He looked back at Robert, his next question coming out steady and deliberate.

"Then tell me... after learning all of this, what do you think the superior beings will do next?"

Robert shook his head. "I don’t know."

Eric didn’t press further. Instead, he moved on.

"Last question," he said, his voice lowering slightly. "What is Ariana planning with the portal?"

His gaze sharpened.

"From what we know, opening a portal requires immense sacrifice... especially the inner cultivation."

The moment those words were spoken, Robert’s eyes flickered with unmistakable shock.

’They even know about that...?’ The realization hit him hard. ’Then... does that mean... they might already have Ariana?’

He lowered his gaze, his voice quieter now.