Ste exined, "The main thing here is that we''ll need Hull''s approval even if I send someone over to you."


    Susanna asked, "What about if Ronald sends them?"


    "Still needs his approval."


    Susanna shouted, "No way!"


    "So, even Ronald isn''t all-powerful here in Ferrond? There are even times when he needs someone else''s permission?" Susanna''s face fell as she thought


    So.


    Ste added, "The thing is, Hull''s a master when ites to traps and mechanisms. From the moment you step through the door of his mansion, it''s one challenge after another. If you''re not someone he trusts and hasn''t had his permission, you might not make it five steps in."


    In other words, going to Hull''s turf without his consent was pretty risky. It was potentially deadly, even.


    Susanna was puzzled. "What?"


    This guy''s a real danger ma, huh?


    Susanna took a sharp breath. "Five steps, and one''s done for?"


    Ste had to admit, "Walk in on your own two feet, and you might end up as dust


    in the wind. For innocent people, that''s too cruel."


    Dust in the wind? Done for? That sounded seriously dangerous. Even if Hull agreed to let peoplee, who''d dare to risk it once they knew it was his ce? One wrong step, and it would be curtains.


    Susanna sighed, "Yikes!"


    Indeed, it was brutal! So basically, living there meant risking her neck.


    Hearing Ste say that, Susanna couldn''t help but nce nervously around the


    vi. "Does that mean his entire vi is booby-trapped?"


    "Most likely, yes."


    Susanna was speechless.


    Ste said again, "So, don''t mess with anything on that side of the vi unless you want to trigger something."


    That was no joke. It could be deadly.


    Susanna''s heart skipped a beat. It was good that she wasn''t the type to fiddle with


    things in someone else''s house, or she''d be in big trouble.


    "So, I need to get Hull''s permission before you send anyone, right?"


    Ste agreed, "Exactly."


    Susanna''s face fell again. From what she''d seen over the past few days, Hull was a bit peculiar about people. The cook had onlysted a day before getting fired. He was too hard to please.


    "What should I do then?"


    "Go talk to him!"


    Susanna was at a loss for words. ''Talk to him, right... But he probably won''t agree, will he?"


    There was no one around, proving Hull was a lone ranger. The fact he even let her stay was a huge favor.


    Ste exined, "If he says no, I can''t just send someone over."


    Susanna screamed in surprise, "What?"


    So, she''d have to work hard to get his approval first?


    Before Susanna could say anything else, Ste interrupted, "Oh, I can''t talk now. Gotta go."


    She vaguely heard a man''s voice on Ste''s end before the call cut off.


    Susanna listened to the dial tone, feeling a bit overwhelmed.


    Taking care of Hull? No way.


    Maybe she should talk to him and convince Ste to send someone over. She really couldn''t handle this. Though she wasn''t stuck in


    old-fashioned gender roles, she and Hull weren''t exactly close.


    Dragging her feet, she headed upstairs. Tiptoeing to Hull''s room, she knocked on


    the door. Judging by her pace, it was clear how reluctant she was.


    There was no response, so she knocked again.


    Still nothing! Had he already passed out from a fever that quickly?


    Worried, Susanna pushed the door open, urgency overriding caution.


    And there he was.


    Hull emerged from the bathroom, a white towel slung around his waist. Water droplets glistened on his


    ?


    muscr chest. He was fresh out of the shower.


    Susanna barely managed to swallow, her mind going nk, her pulse racing out


    of control.


    Hull saw her and, noticing the trickle of blood under her nose...