Chapter 845

I said goodbye to my parents with a twinge of regret for not whipping up one last meal for them. Then, I slung my knapsack over my shoulder and set off from home once more.

Nico and I agreed to meet at the college before heading to Lagado together. But upon arriving, I discovered it wasn't just us two. Professor King and the couple, Matthew and Helen, were joining us.

The mix seemed peculiar, but Nico filled me in—Professor King was off to a class reunion while Matthew was showing his new wife the ropes of his family business.

At first, it was just Nico and me, and I felt a bit uneasy about it. But with three more familiar faces joining our crew, I found myself breathing easier.

And having Helen along for the ride meant there'd be no shortage of lively conversations to keep the journey from feeling too lonely.

When we rolled into Lagado, we checked into a pre-booked five-star hotel.

Nico and I had originally planned to opt for a clean and safe guesthouse to cut costs. It wasn't