Deactivation

Judging by Natalie's reaction to his question, Jean could sense that his mother seemed to grow restless. With that thought in mind, Jean immediately turned back and checked the time on the wall clock. Immediately he saw the time displayed on the clock, a wave of realization hit him.

Turning to face Natalie with an understanding gaze, Jean sighed.

What he had realised was that it had past more than two hours since the start of their conversation. At this point, Jean clearly understood the source of Natalie's restlessness. At first, he had thought that it was the question that he asked, but after noticing Natalie sneaking glances at something on the wall behind him, he decided to confirm what she was looking at. The moment he realized that it was the clock that she was looking at and immediately read the time, he seemed to have deduced what had irked her mood.

But what Jean didn't understand, was that it was not the time that the conversation had taken that was making Natalie restless. Instead, it was Jean's unending questions about the mysterious spot that were clouding her thoughts to the point of making her restless.

What made her grow even more restless with the situation that the matter about the spot was in, it was that what he feared for was happening before her eyes. And this was the fact that with each question that she was answering, Jean's curiosity about the mysterious spot seemed to increase.

Since she knew that this growing curiosity of his son might result into him going ahead to ask other people about the powerful people despite her warning him during their conversation. She immediately felt the urgency of bringing the conversation into a break. She wanted to use the break to warn the boy on the matter so that he can control himself and refrain from falling for the urge to ask other people about the matter.

'After all he is just a boy, he might forget and do a blunder mistake that might threaten his life and even mine.'

Natalie thought to herself as she heaved a sigh.

"I would love to answer your question. But before I do that; I hope you are aware how precarious this information can be in case it falls into the wrong ears."

Natalie stated in a low tone that made Jean realize how serious the situation was. Albeit he had considered the information as sensitive since the moment Natalie warned him about it, the tone at which Natalie was talking with made him to almost regretting hearing the information.

At this point, he didn't need someone to remind him that his life was at stake as long as he had such information with him.

Suddenly, he felt like leaving the initial plan of asking his grandpa about the powerful individuals. But when he thought about his approach on the matter, he didn't feel the need of not going ahead and asking his grandpa on the matter.

'I shall just tell him that I read these stories in novels at school. That way, I shall avoid sharing any unnecessary information with him. Although that would only be important if he is also an exception when it comes to information concerning the mysterious spot.'

A moment later, Natalie resounded.

"Now, to answer your question; In case it happens that you visit the spot with a stranger, the stranger won't sense anything."

"And why is that so?"

Jean asked out of curiosity.

"The reason is very simple. As I told you earlier, the spot remains dormant as long as a stranger is around it.  What you dodn't know is that, the moment a stranger steps in this compound, the spot immediately deactivates itself that's in case it was active by the time the stranger was entering the compound. The way that happens is beyond my understanding but all I know  is that; as long as the stranger is around it,  it can never activate itself even if you happen to be around, too."

With that, Natalie went mute to allow the boy digest the information.

'How I wish I could be born of the same lineage as the powerfulindividuals,  perhaps this way I could have the chance to understand the working of this mysterious spot.  This could be a very interesting adventure.'

Jean had started wishing to be among the powerful individuals in order for him to have a better chance of exploiting the spot, since the mundane state that he was in couldn't give him any advantage to explore the spot since it seemed dangerous to him.

But the moment he recounted the restrictions that Natalie had told him that the government had put in place to curb the powerful individuals from accessing the city without permission,  he barred his teeth as he cursed his luck.

'So, for me to have a chance to exploit the spot in case I had the opportunity to be among the powerful individuals, I have to be as powerful as the guy that discovered the mysterious spot? I guess I might even need to be more powerful than the guy because the guys guarding the city must have increased their power ranks in the course of the past years.'

Jean pondered.

Natalie's reply gave him an assurance of his safety in case a stranger asks him to take him for the forest tour sometimes in the future.

"That's better. But just to ask; How comes you said that grandpa discovered the presence of the mysterious spot in the forest after the death of the powerful guy. And according to your explanation, it was the same guy that taught grandpa how to imbue the connection to the spot in our bloodline?"

Jean asked after a moment of brainstorming.

For a moment,  Natalie was stunned. She was bewildered by Jean's wit. Although the two had stayed for more than fourteen years together, never for once had the boy showcased the level of wit that he was displaying since the two entered their new residence.

It was as if their new home was a catalyst to the boy's hidden wit. But since she couldn't confirm get a hand on this possibility, she just let the matter slide.

She had intentionally given out the contradicting statement for her own reasons,  but never for once did she expect the boy to figure out this.

Now that the boy seemed to have deduced this, she had no other choice other than giving her explanation.

Clearing her throat and glancing at the boy with a curious look,  Natalie gulped.

"It is good that you figured out that."

With a frown,  Jean blinked severally.

"So, you did this on purpose?"

Letting out a gentle smile, Natalie caressed her hair as her expression turned serious.

"No! What I told you was a hundred percent right. It is only that I didn't give an explanation,  ant that was because you didn't demand for it. But now that you are demanding for it, who am I to deny you a chance to understand this. If this is going to stop you from seeking such sensitive information."

Although Natalie had the urge of calling for a break to their conversation, she finally  decided against it. The reason she chose to do this, was because she believed that the more she could answer Jean's questions, the more she would be reducing the chances of the boy asking strangers on the same matter.

So, despite the boy's questions seeming unending, she was determined to answer as many as possible in the attempt to curb the boy's curiosity.

When Jean heard Natalie's reply, he almost protested but immediately refrained from the act.

'How can I ask someone else? As if I don't love my life.'

"What I didn't tell you, is that the powerful guy tricked your grandpa for him to teach him the technique to imbue the connection into his bloodline."

Suddenly, Jean wore a complicated look as he struggled to keep a straight face.

Deep inside, he was feeling disappointed that his grandpa could be tricked. He wasn't a fan of this thought at all that he almost doubted Natalie's sincerity. Something deep inside him, kept telling him that Natalie was lying. But since he couldn't put a finger on it, he chose to trust his mother.

"How?"

Jean asked after a short moment of silence.

"As you already know, the guy had broken the government's rule of restricting people of his ki d from accessing the city without their consent.  Since the guy had broken the law and it was only your grandpa that noticed him when he came to survey the land that this house is standing in after he bought it. The guy felt threatened,  but since he was a goodwill individual,  he didn't want to kill your grandpa, so, he decided to negotiate with him. In the process, he decided to turn the table and convince your grandpa that he was in danger since he has come in contact with  him.

He told him that, the government officials will sense that he was in contact with the powerful guy and therefore shift the blame on him in case he decides to bring them to the powerful guy and they don't find him. Since your grandpa didn't sense any ill intent from the guy, he decided against reporting the guy. This was the moment the powerful guy chipped in with his trick."

With that, Natalie went mute as tense silence hanged between the two.

At this point, Jean was anxious to find out the kind of trick that could overcome his own grandpa.

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