Only I Am A Reader

'It's a pretty awkward situation, but I have to do what I have to do.'

The fact that Cassian let himself be caught might have been just an obscure rumor on the internet, but those who were responsible for handling him after his capture knew what happened far too well.

After the appearance of so many villains, the authorities evolved to create ways to counter or suppress their abilities during their incarceration.

It didn't matter if it was using advanced technology or through the abilities of other superhumans, they had to do it if they weren't going to publicly kill every superhuman that made a mistake.

However…

'We are practically different people, so I guess this doesn't count as taking my words back?'

There was one exception to that rule, and that was Cassian!

No matter what method is used, the Lord of Shadows couldn't be restrained or detained… At least not against his well.

Thankfully for them, Cassian had the intention of retiring so he struck a deal. He would stay in an empty wing of any of their prisons and behave himself on two conditions.

One, be given good food every two to three days, and second, he would have complete coverage over any of Aurora Dawnbringer's news.

'They even got me a plasma screen TV.'

Although it felt like an invasion of privacy from Aurora's point of view, those responsible readily agreed to his conditions.

It wasn't like he was asking for exclusive news, he was just getting what the public was getting from behind bars.

They even assigned an employee who would specifically turn on his TV whenever Aurora was being mentioned!

'A stalker or…'

Considering his identity as a villain, something like this was already pretty tame, but Leo couldn't help wondering if he actually had the potential to become a stalker or if this was just one of the evolutionary routes of his intense curiosity…

'Well, it's not like that side would change now that I'm here.'

The new Main Quest was quite illusive, but it practically meant that he had to continue Cassian's hobby. Also looking back at his past experience as Baekho, Leo recognized a certain direction.

'Is it all about what my alternate self wants?'

Killing Geochin might have been the best for Murim, but didn't Baekho stand to gain the most? At the very least, he didn't have to sacrifice himself and hand his soulmate to his rival slash enemy.

While Baekho himself might have been more selfless, the Main Quest seemed to want what was in his best interest.

In the same manner, Cassian might only appear to be entertaining himself on the outside, yet his interest in Aurora might be deeper than he thinks.

'Just another unconfirmed theory.'

Just by starting his third True Reading, Leo felt like he already gained a lot of information that was worth contemplating.

Naturally, it was easier to spot the pattern the more one experienced something time and time again.

'Anyway, let's get out of here.'

While information about Aurora was readily available here, Leo could get it from outside just the same. After all, even if he was a retired one, he did have the memories of a tricky villain.

He could navigate this modern world like the back of his hand, especially the darkest parts of it!

"Haaaa…"

Taking out a deep breath, Leo tried to calm himself down as much as he could. He had been suppressing it until now by flooding his mind with thoughts, but now that he had to do it. His excitement was starting to overflow.

Whether it was his first attainment of the supernatural or his second one, Leo always had to start from the ground up, especially in the case of someone like Arthur.

However, just by being here now, he was starting out with a full arsenal of Special Abilities that Cassian had cultivated over the years!

Rather than being only capable of too little, he had too much that he could do. And since Leo still hoped to sneak out silently, he didn't want to freak out and overdo it.

'Consider it as calmly as possible…'

The list of abilities in his mind was so expansive that Leo didn't even need to check his Personal Book to find something that he could use.

Of course, Leo was still itching to see his new page, but he couldn't let his excitement get out of control just yet. This had to wait till he left this supposed maximum security prison.

'Why don't we go back to the roots?'

Holding back the truly interesting abilities, Leo went back in time to the time Cassian had first awakened. His ability's name was…

'Moving Shadows.'

Unlike the ability's suggestively cool title, the first ability that Cassian awakened was as literal as it could be. He could only move a person or an object's shadow away from their body.

No matter how one looked at it, it was incredibly useless!

Naturally, an Awakened's ability could evolve once he had used it long enough, one could also absorb Enigma Stones to take the shortcut to enhancing it.

However, there was no potential in an ability at the level of a street magic trick. Even if it rose past the basic level, it would become a useless concealment ability at best.

'Let's move my shadow then.'

The darkness in this whole wing was meant to counter Cassian's ability at the start, but he had already transcended the limitations of his ability.

Cassian's eyes literally glowed in the darkness, allowing him to form a shadow whenever and wherever. Considering how the people responsible gave it up fast, this was obviously not his only bypass.

As Leo stepped towards the bar, he watched his shadow easily pass through them before it started glowing in faint purple.

At the same time, as the ominous light from his eyes intensified, the purple glow enveloped Leo's body whole. Not long after, his body started melting into the part of the shadow that was still linked to him!

Following that, the two stretched links were pulled back into the main part of the shadow, and the glow disappeared. Now that Leo was part of it, the shadowy spot could still be maintained in pure darkness.

'It's really great to be the one that's cheating.'

Blending under the guise of the darkness, Leo's transportation medium silently toured the prison unseen…