Omega Manual chapter 19

Evaporation

The streets of Leisau were even dirtier and more chaotic than those of Lansai.

Various shacks, containers, and even plastic tents crowded together, almost completely covering the original streets, leaving just enough room for two people to squeeze past each other. The ground was littered with trash, homeless people sleeping everywhere, and the air was filled with a nauseating stench of rot and mold.

Shelley barely took a few steps before the smell almost drove him back.

He had thought the garbage dump outside the city was exaggerated enough, but inside the city was even worse.

Worse still, no one seemed to react to it. Everyone moved about like zombies who had lost their sense of smell, occasionally looking up at them with predatory eyes, making him extremely uncomfortable.

If Irey, a tall Alpha, wasn’t by his side, Shelley had no doubt these people would swarm him like hungry wolves and tear him to pieces.

“Boss.” Irey’s hand on his shoulder suddenly startled Shelley.

“I told you not to wander off in places like this; it’s dangerous.” Irey lowered his voice, pulling him closer.

An Omega’s senses are naturally more sensitive than ordinary people’s. Walking through the pungent stench mixed with various pheromones, Shelley was almost suffocating until Irey released his pheromones, enveloping him in a fresh oolong tea scent, allowing him to breathe again.

“Feeling better?” Irey squeezed his shoulder.

After a moment of silence, Shelley spoke. “I came to Leisau once, a long time ago, six or seven years ago, when I had to transfer trains for a business trip.” Irey looked at him.

“Back then, Leisau was a small city but it had hotels, subways, and cinemas. The place where I transferred had a breakfast shop that made great sandwiches with steak and a unique jam created by the owner. I never had it anywhere else,” Shelley said. “I kept thinking about going back to eat it again but never found the time.”

“Lansai used to have cinemas too,” Irey said. “They sold fruit ice creams for ten bucks each. My sister couldn’t resist them, but they weren’t much different from the ones in the supermarket across the street.”

Irey looked up. “Building a city is hard, but destroying it can happen overnight.”

Seeing the streets full of homeless people and garbage, Shelley couldn’t help but feel regret.

After his differentiation, his understanding of Lansai and Leisau was limited to knowing these cities were classified as lower districts by the government, but he had no concept of what that truly meant.

How could he, living in Nantes, imagine people living in such a hellish environment?

Couldn’t they have chosen another route? Couldn’t they have bypassed Leisau? Even sleeping in the car might have been better than entering the city.

Irey noticed his thoughts. “Even if we avoided Leisau, there are still places like Duhaat and Marwen. We can’t sleep in the car every night. And if we don’t enter the city, where will we get food and supplies?”

“So, where do you suggest we stay tonight?” Shelley pointed at the garbage and ramshackle shacks. “Does this look like a place with any livable accommodations?”

“Either we find a family to stay with or crash in a bar for the night,” Irey shrugged. “It’s your choice.”

“I don’t want to choose either,” Shelley frowned.

“Adapt to the local customs, young master,” Irey spread his hands. “Places like this don’t have hotels. You can’t be picky without any options—”

Before Irey could finish, Shelley suddenly walked straight up to a homeless man and threw a bill into his dirty clothes.

The homeless man’s cloudy eyes widened, staring at the Omega in front of him.

“Where’s the best house in Leisau now? Who lives there?” Shelley asked.

The homeless man quickly grabbed the money, carefully putting it in his pocket, and pointed in a direction. “Follow this road south to the end, then turn left. There’s an old house. The person living there is a salt trader who controls the salt business in all of Leisau.”

Shelley nodded and turned to look at Irey. “Let’s go.”

“Go—where?” Irey caught up to him. “Even if you know, what can you do? Even if you want to stay overnight, they might not let you. The salt trader isn’t short of money, you—”

“I’m going to buy his house,” Shelley said.

Irey was stunned.

When Irey stood in the middle of the old house’s living room, holding the keys, he realized his boss was serious.

The salt trader’s subordinates said their boss had never been so happy. Not only did he pack up quickly, but he also wanted to invite them for tea. After Shelley politely declined, the salt trader excitedly shook his hand for a long time, grinning from ear to ear as he left.

Money really can make the world go round.

“How much did you give him?” Irey put his luggage aside.

Shelley was washing his hands in the bathroom, checking the utilities. Despite the house being old, everything worked well: hot water, a working stove, and a bathroom with separate shower stalls. Overall, it was quite good.

“Twice the market price?” Shelley said absentmindedly, wiping the mirror.

Irey looked at him in disbelief. “You paid twice the price for a house you probably won’t even stay in?”

“One or two times the price makes no difference to me.” Shelley breathed on the mirror. “It wasn’t expensive.” Not. Expensive. At. All.

Irey sighed, tossing the keys on the table. “Boss, I suggest you don’t say things like that in the future.”

“Hmm?” Shelley had polished the mirror, which now reflected a clear image despite some rust at the edges. He glanced at his reflection, a satisfied smile on his lips.

“It makes me want to find a quiet night to kill you and inherit your wealth,” Irey said.

Shelley turned, his pale gold hair framing his blue eyes filled with amusement. The mirror’s reflection captured the bright light on one side of his face, the other blending into the dim, warm glow.

“Go ahead,” Shelley said with a smile. “You can try.”

To Irey, Shelley’s eyes were strikingly blue. Not like the sky or the ocean, but with a dazzling brilliance that seemed to draw people in.

Like the surface of Blue Lake.

He quickly broke eye contact, focusing on unpacking. Shelley blinked and continued inspecting the bathroom.

The salt trader had left almost everything behind except for personal items, even leaving a fruit plate on the tea table. Shelley opened a cabinet and found several unopened sets of toiletries.

“Need the bathroom?” Shelley stood up. “I’m going to take a shower.”

“No,” Irey said.

Shelley nodded, took a set of toiletries from the cabinet, and locked himself in the bathroom. Soon, the sound of the shower filled the room, warm steam escaping through the cracks.

Irey stood up from his luggage, walked to the bathroom door, and slipped his hands into his coat pockets.

After traveling together for so many days, this was the first time Irey was so acutely aware that only a thin door separated him from the naked Shelley. A door so thin he could easily break through with little effort.

He placed his palm on the door, feeling the damp mist seeping through the wooden cracks, subtly moistening his fingers.

“Boss,” Irey called out.

Shelley, startled by the close voice, quickly composed himself and squeezed shampoo into his hand. “What is it?”

“How’s your wound healing?”

So that’s all he wanted to ask.

Shelley glanced at the mirror, seeing the scabbed bite on his neck, some edges already peeling.

“It’s scabbed over. It’ll be fine in a couple of days.” he splashed water on his face. “If you tell me I can’t shower now, I’ll punch you.”

Irey laughed. “You can’t beat me.”

“I can hire someone,” Shelley said, lathering his hair with foam. “There are always Alphas stronger than you.”

Irey leaned against the wall, pausing for a couple of seconds before asking, “Boss, when’s your next heat?”

Shelley’s hand froze.

The question felt like a needle piercing clear liquid, spreading and fermenting unusual colors before disappearing, the subtle change already irreversible.

“I…” Shelley found his voice unnaturally hoarse, quickly clearing his throat to sound normal. “About twenty days.”

Research showed that an Omega’s heat was more unstable before bonding, easily influenced by drugs or Alpha pheromones, causing early or frequent heats. After bonding, pheromones stabilize, and cycles normalize. Even temporary marks provided stability during their duration.

But a bonded Omega loses the right to choose a mate. Only the marking Alpha can soothe their heat; any other pheromones become torturous.

Traveling with Irey, Shelley had never considered this issue.

Would they reach Mount Yinbu before his next heat? If not, what then? Would he have to be with Irey?

Like the first night they met at the bar…

Back then, it didn’t seem like a big deal. Now, just thinking about it made his scalp tingle, nerves electrified.

Something had changed.

The marking tool that he had casually found on the street turned into Irey Halton, who lazily called him boss in a hoarse voice.

“Why are you asking about this?” There was a trace of nervousness in Shelley’s voice that he didn’t even notice himself.

“Nothing much.” Irey shifted his posture outside the door. “Just thought I should let you know, my sensitivity period is also coming soon.”