“From this information, it seems he hasn’t had any interaction with this world as a stranger, nor does it look like he’s been remotely replaced or controlled by some will.”

“So, my answer is that, at least on the surface, he’s just someone who has only just awakened.”

“But…”

The voice paused for a moment, the machine faintly emitting a roar from high-speed operation, before continuing: “Four years ago, he once went to the hospital for a checkup due to severe mental illness.”

“Four years ago?”

Grace Cooper frowned and asked, “What symptoms?”

“According to his own description: dizziness, headaches, auditory and visual hallucinations, sensory disorder, intense depression, and overwhelming oppression…”

“…But the final examination results showed everything was normal.”

“…”

Grace Cooper’s expression suddenly became serious, sitting up straight: “That sounds like a state influenced by a mysterious source.”

“Yes.”

The electronic voice replied without any inflection: “Those mysterious sources that watch over the city can, for certain reasons, seize the will of certain individuals in this city through influences that cross space.”

“But he’s different. You and I both know that no individual can maintain the integrity of their self and sanity under the influence of a mysterious source.”

“…”

The tense Grace Cooper furrowed her brows even tighter, but her tensed muscles slowly relaxed: “Yeah…”

“If he really was affected by a mysterious source, someone who’s been influenced for four years straight…”

At this point, she couldn’t help but give a wry smile and said, “Let alone whether he’d mutate or not, the pain inside him would probably be enough to drown the whole city, right?”

“…”

“That kind of situation is impossible.”

The electronic voice also gave its conclusion: “So, I believe he is a clean individual.”

“His level of isolation and reclusiveness isn’t unique among the young people in this city—there are actually quite a lot like him.”

“Usually, people just think this kind of behavior is a bit degenerate.”

“At most…”

At this point, even the extremely rational and steady electronic voice hesitated slightly, choosing a rather human-like word:

“A bit sick?”

“…”

Grace Cooper nodded, her expression tinged with sadness in the misty light. After a long while, she said softly, “No matter what, the potential he’s shown is enormous, and we don’t have any other choice…”

“Just hope that when he learns the truth in the future, he won’t blame me…”

“…”

The next day, Henry Bennett was already up very early.

He didn’t know why, but he had actually slept surprisingly well last night.

For the past four years, he’d often suffered from headaches, his whole mind seemingly soaked in pain and fear for years, and yesterday, after learning the truth about this world, his fear had reached its peak.

But in such a situation, he suddenly calmed down, as if he’d gained the courage to face things calmly.

At this moment, his mother was already up as well, making breakfast in the kitchen with the clatter of pots and pans.

Henry Bennett didn’t want to see her, so even though he was awake, he just sat on his bed, waiting for the sounds from the living room to fade away.

Around 8:30, he heard the courtyard gate open and close—his mother had gone to work, and only then did Henry Bennett come out of his room.

He didn’t expect that as soon as he entered the living room, he’d see the breakfast left on the table, along with a note and some cash held down by a carton of milk.

“Brat, I’m off to work.”

“Dating isn’t free, you know. If you’re going out with such a pretty girl, don’t be too stingy.”

“…”

Henry Bennett was momentarily stunned.

So she misunderstood his relationship with Grace Cooper, and, considering he hadn’t been working and had no money, gave him some pocket money?

A strange feeling rose from deep inside him.

What was this?

After signing a contract with the city, was the city itself, and the people living in it, starting to show him kindness?

Or was it just his mother’s own feelings showing through?

Just a moment ago, he’d thought nothing could surprise him anymore, but this note and the two bills left him with a complicated feeling.

After a long silence, he sat down, ate breakfast, and put away the note and pocket money.

After breakfast, he just sat quietly at home. Now, he was ready to face anything, but unexpectedly found that there didn’t seem to be anything urgent waiting for him to face.

Grace Cooper hadn’t said much yesterday, just showed him the truth about this city.

She said there would be someone specifically assigned to guide him, but who exactly was this person, and what was he supposed to do?

As he was thinking about this, the phone rang at just the right moment.

“How did you sleep last night?”

Grace Cooper’s voice was still so calm, with a hint of laziness, as if she didn’t quite fit in with this world.

Henry Bennett answered honestly, “Very well, very soundly.”

“Very well?”

Grace Cooper was a bit surprised. Previous newcomers, after learning the truth about this world, were either restless and called her all night, or even committed suicide that very night.

And Henry Bennett’s answer was “very well”?

“Yes.”