"We know the guy who helped you is Ryder Flynn," Mark declared in full confidence as if he had always known it.

Ray's face went pale as he heard Ryder's name? They knew it? How did they find out? He had cleared all evidence. How could they have known?

Hearing his name, Ryder also grew stunned as his expressions changed. He quickly controlled his emotions before anyone could notice as he realized what was happening.

'This bastard! He is bluffing! He is using the same trick I used in Handerson! What a cunning Bastard! What luck, he got the name right,' he thought as he noticed Ray's face.

He couldn't help but shake his head in disappointment. It was confirmed that Mark knew he was right now. He could only correct it all by going back in time, but he was listening to Janus' advice. He couldn't use his Time Powers unless absolutely necessary, or he had a possibility of getting in trouble with the gods.

He could only do one thing at this point. Kill Mark and get stronger as he finishes the mission. After that, the only thing he could do was to defeat the King with the increased powers.

One of the quest rewards was that he would be four times stronger. That should be enough to kill a King, he thought.

Ray also considered the possibility that he might be bluffing. If that was true, he had to control the situation.

The only way to get out of the situation was by giving an excuse as to why he was so stunned before it was too late. He could only make it genuine if he were fast in it.

A smirk appeared on Mark's face as he realized that he had received the answer. He was about to laugh heartily as he bragged to Ray how he had fooled him with his trickery, but before he could even open his mouth, Rat took the lead.

"How do you know about my sister's boyfriend? Did you arrest him? Tell me you didn't hurt my sister? How could you be so stupid to think he's the guy! Tell me he and my sister are safe!" Ray stood up from the bed in urgency.

He walked towards Mark, but he couldn't even take two steps forward as the handcuff was tied to his right hand and the bed which kept him back.

'Boyfriend of that girl?' Ryder thought with a weird look on his face. He understood what Ray was trying to do, but seriously? Boyfriend of his girlfriend?

'He must not be thinking straight because he was overwhelmed, but it's such an easy lie to catch. All they need to do is call his sister or bring her here. He has also caused his sister to be dragged in the middle,' he thought.

He wanted to step forward and smack Ray for being such an Idiot. That guy gave him away unintentionally. That was understandable, but he also got his family in danger. Ryder knew the importance of family, so he was even more furious.

"You were stunned because she is your sister's boyfriend?" Mark asked, gobsmacked.

"Yeah. You didn't know it? That means you didn't arrest him and my sister because of your misunderstanding? Good," Ray let out a relieved breath as if he was actually glad.

He walked back and sat down on the bed.

"He isn't the guy. And I'm sure none on your list would be that person. I'll actually tell you the truth. I have never talked to that person. We actually used the offline mode of message exchange. There is one thing I know, though. From the way that person talked, they were most probably a girl," Ray explained as he stuck to his lie while adding another thing to give them more to think about.

"Call her."

An old voice suddenly sounded.

Ray looked in the direction where that voice came from, only to know that it was the voice of the old man who was standing behind silently with a cane in his hand.

"Call who?" Mark asked, confused.

"His sister. I believe he is actually the person we need. Your little guy is definitely lying. Call the girl. You'll most probably find out that he isn't her boyfriend," the old man said in an emotionless tone.

'As expected. The others weren't idiot enough not to try it. Ray made a big mistake,' he thought.

" Right. I did find her number. I was also thinking about getting her here to have a chat about her brother. It looks like it'll be the right time to call her," he let out as he grinned.

It was only now that Ray realized how bad he had messed up. If they called her, Ryder was going to get caught since his sister would say that she didn't have a boyfriend.

He opened his mouth to say something, but as soon as he opened his lips, he felt as if he was suffocating. It was as if someone was strangling his neck. He looked around and noticed that the old man was gazing at him.

The old man's eyes were shining in red color somehow.

'Magic? Or are his eyes artificially modified that can make him hypnotize me into thinking that I'm being strangled,' Ray thought as he placed his hands around his neck.

Ryder also noticed what was happening.

'Is this what his power was? The other guy could use wind blades. This guy can also use something in a long range. Is this telekinesis or something else? He must have a range as well. I can use Protection of Aria to be unharmed by his ability for a short time. That should be enough to kill him. I should only do that after I get stronger than last time because I can't take the risk,' he thought.

He had decided to wait until the man called. Only if he had no other choice was he going to do it inside the room.

Mark started dialing the number. It was written on the list of special mentions as the weakness of Ray.

Placing the phone near his earlobe, he started waiting for the call to connect as he walked back and forth.

Ray was still feeling like he was being strangled.

"If the guy is actually your sister's boyfriend, you don't need to worry. Don't let out a single word if he isn't your informant. Let your sister confirm it. We would believe her. If he is the informant, you can speak before the call is disconnected. We'll have our answers both ways," the old man said softly as he grinned.

His eyes returned to normal.

Haaah!

Ray took deep breaths as he was finally able to breathe. He looked at the old man like he was looking at a monster.

Such powers and such disregard of laws! This could only mean that the guy was from the evil organization. Ryder was right! Mark was the mole in the organization who had leaked the information, helping the guys escape on time.

Didn't that mean all the missions related to Uprising have been traps to keep them occupied while actually giving them free rein? Those guys had such high reach! Just who were these guys?! He couldn't believe it even though he had realized it now.

Even after knowing, he couldn't say a word since he was going to be killed if he said anything. Not only that, his sister might be in danger after that since these people won't stop their search. He also couldn't say anything as that would mean that he was actually lying and Ryder was actually the informant.

He could only hope that a miracle would happen, and the girl would say that she was Ryder's girlfriend. He did understand that it was highly unlikely.

"Hmm? It's not connecting. I tried two times," Mark wondered as he gazed at the screen of his phone.

He gazed back at Ryder, who was silently standing in the back since the start.

"Handerson, you try as well. Maybe he told her to place my number in a blocklist since he was already suspicious of me before getting caught. He didn't know anything about you. He must have told her to keep my number blocked. Try from your number.

"Alright," Ryder replied as he picked up the call.

He hadn't told the man anything, but he had already messaged the girl about saying that Ryder was her boyfriend to save her brother's life. He also told her to keep Mark's number blocked since it was going to act as a signal to him that she received her message.

He had already realized this might happen as soon as Ray had told about him being his sister's boyfriend.

He had started typing the message sneakily right then.

"Right away. I'll have the call on speaker," Ryder replied as he brought his phone out of his pocket that he had kept there after sending the message.