Reason.

On entering the building, I could see how well-furnished it was. Surely Lu Gu is no small fry.

There was gold, silver, diamond, bronze, and many other rare earth elements. Something that only the wealthy can possess… no! Even the wealthy won't own so much.

Though people can still earn them through their understanding of the earth. People like old man Jay are supposed to have millions of these rare materials, but he… 

Picking up the sounds of footsteps, I stopped in my tracks, hiding my presence to the best of my ability.

Stomp stomp

"The boss' visitor has arrived," said a male dressed in an armor plate. He seemed to be the leader of the group.

Scrutinizing his subordinates. "No one is allowed close to the meeting room… including us!"

As he said authoritatively, they all saluted, marching away in steady steps. "Sir!"

After the brief meeting, they separated in different directions, making my work easier.

Since they had talked about a meeting point and not getting anywhere close there, I just had to watch their movements and go through the least used pathway. Though not a sure thesis, I still had an inkling that it would work out.

Following my thesis, I passed through the least used pathway, arriving at a storage room… if my knowledge serves me right.

There were numerous boxes, bags, and other storage materials, which brought about my conclusion. Despite the room content it still looked neat and nice.

"You must be happy?" A husky voice said. I could hear the voice, but not see the voice owner. It was as if they had a barrier that blocked my earth's senses.

Having no choice but to move close, I detached myself from the earth, tiptoeing to what I considered the room center, avoiding all obstructions.

Finally arriving at my intended position, I hid behind a large box, activating all the needed artifacts I had on me.

Back when I finished talking with Big Mom, she had offered me some artifacts for masking my presence. I did my best to reject them politely but lost to her in the end.

Clearing those distracting thoughts from my head, I tried to eavesdrop on them.

"Not yet," said another, calmly. 

Hearing that voice, my body couldn't help but go numb. It was a very familiar voice… one I'll never forget.

"Gran…?!" 

I tried to call out, but I was caught off guard… I couldn't speak or move. I was just like a programmed machine that couldn't move without the will of its master.

"You still have that grandkid of yours… and the orb," said the husky voice, seeming to take deep breaths of air.

"Yes… though it isn't enough to accomplish my goals," replied the man I assumed to be grandpa.

"Hahahahaha! Sometimes I wonder how geniuses think?!" Laughed the husky voice, hysterically as he hit the table violently.

"No need for the bootlick," he said, sarcastically. "What about Jay?"

Hearing that question, goosebumps appeared all over my body. Grandpa knew Jay as my instructor and always advised me to get close; form a tight bond.

Since grandpa always talked badly against humans, I saw his advice as weird. After interacting with old man Jay, I found him to be a benevolent man, making me mistake him at times for grandpa.

Suddenly I could see the scene clearly, though the man I presumed to be my grandpa had his back to me.

"He's dealt with… your grandchild was helpful though," the husky voice said, he took out a space ring, directly placing it before grandpa. "It's all yours."

No! This can't be… it's all a setup. No…! An illusion, that got to be it.

No matter what I saw or heard, I felt it was fabricated. The fact that grandpa was associating with such a human… I thought he said we weren't humans?!

Taking the ring from the desk, I saw as he magically pulled out a round object from it. 

It had a brown color, with dried blood clinging to its exterior. If my thesis is right, then that should be a human core; where a human, no…! All living being essence resides.

"Hahahahaha!" Grandpa laughed hysterically, slamming his hand to the desk. "My dreams…! Ohh! I can't wait."

The expression on his face seemed crazed, similar to that night. Is he doing this for revenge… but old man Jay… Jaya.

"The girl?" Asked my supposed grandpa, eyeing the man before him.

"Hmm?" Licking his lips. "Would have loved to ravage the little girl. Too bad, that old man caught me off guard."

I could see how infuriated he was by Jaya's supposed escape… no! This is all a lie… old man Jay can't be defeated easily.

"I…"

Suddenly gaining back control of my body, I fell to the ground, attracting both men's attention.

"Avani?!" Said my supposed grandpa, seeming astonished by my presence.

"Ohhh! Seems the cat is out of the bag, Amrish!" Said the other in a mocking tone. "So what do we do now… keurgh!"

Not allowing him to end the sentence, my supposed grandpa punched his head, sending it flying several kilometers away.

Surprisingly his body still stood erect, if he was not messing with my senses then he had used the earth to hold the man's body still.

"W-what…?!"

I tried to complete my sentence but got cut off by my supposed grandpa's voice. "Avani… what are you doing here?" He asked in a sober tone.

"I-it can't be! Grandpa isn't evil!" I said, denying everything I just witnessed.

"You're right… I'm not wicked. I'm doing this for our revenge."

Saying this, he moved in my direction, his steps slow and steady.

"Where is master Jay?!" I screamed as I created more distance between us.

"Dead," he said, raising the brown core. "I orchestrated his demise, for this."

It can't be… all this…

"I had to do it… like I said… for our revenge… we can…"

I knew better than to challenge him, whether it was my grandpa or not… I could tell the end… my fall.

Battling with the urge to escape, I move toward the man claiming to be my grandpa at full speed, aiming for his head.

With only a finger, my full-power punch was stopped. "We're the only ones left my dear… can't let you follow the steps of our kind."

As he said this, I felt my body weaken. Maybe my life is coming to an end… foolish me! He seems to need me alive.

"Hahahahaha! Sorry Amrish, but I'll be taking her!" I could feel my body being drawn away from the grasp of grandpa.

"You?!!!" Yelled grandpa in an attempt to hold me back.

Boom.

Though my eyelids were heavy, I was able to watch the sight of grandpa flying kilometers away from us.

"So tell me girl… interested in forming a partnership?!" Said the giant female, grinning wildly.

That was how I separated from grandpa… discovering a family of weirdos. All of us have our insecurities, things we wanted to achieve, and a like mind.

    *To make our dreams come through*