"Roxana Xander…she is one of the leading researchers!" Maya snapped out of shock and said.
Kyle on the other hand gaped at Varian as he pointed a finger at him. As his finger shook along with his body, he asked. "Y-You are the disciple of Evander?"
Varian nodded nonchalantly at Kyle and focused on Maya. "Yeah. I have some…private business with her. Any information about her is fine."
He could approach her as the disciple of Evander, then try to form a connection before slowly prying into the truth.
If she was not a high awakener and he had her daily routines, Varian was confident he could force a confession from her.
Even the Astor Clan's butler, peak Level 6 confided his secrets under his machinations. If Roxana was only a researcher, then her level would surely be not high.
His chances of successful interrogation were high. All he needed was her information which was deliberately avoided on the meta net.
"Roxana…" Maya knit her brows together, hanging Varian's heart in his throat.
Was it too difficult even for Maya?
As far as he knew, Maya's father was one of the top-tier scientists. To give perspective on his status, he was an honorary professor of the Academy of Sciences.
Despite not being interested in politics and power plays, he could be the Chancellor of a cluster.
A cluster was the combination of a hundred cities and Earth had only ten thousand cities merged into a hundred clusters.
"If it's inconvenient, forget it." Varian waved his hand like it was not a big deal.
Perhaps it was too much of favor or perhaps, Roxana was too aloof to approach.
Seeing that Varian misunderstand, Maya hurriedly shook her head and said. "It's not that. Except for some online articles, she was silent for almost a year. She gave some lectures in our academy every year, but none this semester."
"Oh." Varian nodded calmly on the surface, but inwardly, his suspicions were confirmed.
Roxana was directly linked to his mother's death and by extension…Sia. If it was her, the sister of Julius Xander, then it makes more sense.
She had the power to manipulate the Dungeon bureau. She might even have asked a mind awakener to erase his memory of Sia.
But…erasing all traces of her existence, did she take Sovereign Julius' help?
Varian suppressed the barrage of questions and looked at Maya.
She tapped her comm and called her dad. After a minute, a hologram popped up showing a middle-aged man.
He had a large stature. With brown hair reaching his shoulders and an overgrown beard, he looked like a man too busy to be disturbed.
His physique looked more like a mercenary than a researcher.
"Uncle Haru, how are you doing?" Varian and Kyle greeted him.
Haru smiled, causing his beard to rise, and replied. "I'm good."
Seeing the three of them in the room, he rubbed his beard and laughed. "So you guys made up? I guess it's thanks to Varian, haha."
Varian coughed while Kyle and Maya blushed.
Haru leaned back in the chair as the hologram zoomed out and showed him inside his all-white lab filled with metals, beast cores, and aura crystals.
He then looked at Varian and clicked his tongue. "Look at you, I remember Maya saying you got into Defense Academy like it was yesterday. How were the days?"
Varian shrugged. "It's just getting better."
Haru had little knowledge of the outside world events. Or he could have known that Varian went missing and there was even a federation-wide announcement to find him.
He must have known about Kyle and Maya only through her maid, Sabina.
Well, what could one expect from his schedule?
Thankfully, he would answer Maya's calls. It was just unless it was necessary, Maya would not call him.
That was the reason she announced. But the real reason was...
Maya waved at Haru and pouted. "Dad, Varian needs your help."
"Oh?" Haru raised an eyebrow and rubbed his beard. Apparently, doing that gave him more ideas. "Go on. I'll do what I can, you saved Maya's boyfriend anyway."
"Uncle Haru, I have a name. Kyle!" He interrupted his soon-to-be-father-in-law.
Haru looked at Kyle. Suddenly, his eyes turned red, and gnashed his teeth as he growled. "You're dating my daughter…my precious daughter. My little princess! I'll break your legs!"
"Cool down, dad!" Maya hurriedly interjected and waved her hands. "If you're like this, I'll ignore you."
All anger was drained of Haru's face and he looked at Maya with a pitiful face. "See…my daughter is already taking sides with her boyfriend."
Then, he turned to Kyle and gnashed his teeth. "This is why, boy, you need to be beaten up."
"Gulp!" Kyle swallowed looking at his crazy father-in-law, but soon, he braved himself and said. "Beat me if you want! But I love her more than you ever could!"
Haru gaped at Kyle and looked at him like he heard the most unbelievable thing. "I love her more than you do!"
"No! It's me, her hubby!"
"It's I, her daddy!"
Varian gasped at the ridiculous scene and felt that it was better to leave.
'If I got such a crazy father-in-law, could I control himself or would I end sneak up at night and beat him up?' He realized why relationships are difficult or he thought he did.
"Stop! One more word and I'm leaving two of you." Maya interjected, her words had the effect of a bomb, silencing all opposition.
"…If you say so, my little princess." Haru backed off first.
"Whatever you say, sweetie." Kyle patted her back and secretly smirked at Haru.
"Dad, do you know about Roxana Xander? Varian wants to contact her. Pretty please!" Maya pleaded with sparkling eyes.
Her cuteness could've melted even iron hearts. As the target was her father, it was a CRIT!
"Oh, Roxana? Roxana's contact is….wait!" Haru's words halted and his body stiffened.
With his enhanced senses, Varian caught the shrinking of his pupils, the fine layer of sweat down his forehead, and the faint, but clear sound of his blood flow that suddenly rose.
Haru turned to Varian with a stiff smile and said slowly.. "R-Roxana is dead."